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Current Mood: Ooohh its Warm.
Okey Dokey... the fun has now begun. Will my bum cheeks take another hiding from the bike seat as i cruise through the Mountains of Bali? Will the Bintang get the better of me? Will the good old Nasi Goerang Ayam be the cure? read on and find out.
So Casey and i are out. We have finally escaped the Shaking city of Christchurch, unfortunately leaving some great friends behind. I would like to say a big thank you and great buzz to Ciaran, and the very super Kate (Panda Girl) we wish you guys the best and its a shame you couldnt come with us. For all of those Lads at Allied i met especially Ramon aka Prince and the almighty Gerry thanks for all of the help and the good times in a pish poor job! come see me anytime boyo's.
Casey and i flew out of Christchurch on April the 30th at 3am. oooh hang on a minute... that Date rings a bell. ahh yes Happy Birthday Casey. I actually remembered but she forgot. its the travel excitement i think. the trip was ok considering it was a 70 dollar
jet star jobby and a red eye flight at that. Landing in Melbourne the travel spirit kicked in. For four days we were off the charts busy. Going to see this person, going to eat there, few beers here etc. by the end we were a little relieved to be sitting in Melbourne airport finally being able to rest and get ready for the trip ahead. Bali.
Landing in Denpasar the sweat was on. I think i lasted a few minutes before saying, "oooh its warm aint it". Quickly in Asian Style we were whisked to a taxi and at the doors of Kuta.. and what a ride. The smells and sounds of asia never fail to bring big smiles to my face. Down an alley we trot and to the Berlian we go. Reccommended in the lonely planet as the best of the budget bunch i can't really argue. for 150,000 Indonesian rupiah we landed a double room (made from two beds) with Breakfast included. I have to say the Breakfast was the best start to most days. Two toast, Poached egg for me thank you please and a fruit bowl with tea my guts have never been
so pleased. now all i have to do is survive the day. I cant wait at this point for my very first morning at Kuta Beach. First things first. lets Get into those Bintangs.
Morning one and many other mornings in our first week we smashed the free breaky and went for a swim in what ever direction Casey would point. Yes boss, cheers boss is my regular answer. Kuta was where we would break the white Skin in though. the Beach is typical of all tourist towns in Asia. Touts everywhere selling everything from saarongs to blow dart poles. i swear they are crazy! so for the mornings as i said we were mostly baking in the sun and catching a few waves. Kuta beach on this very first day was as sweet as it ever could be. That Arvo we moseyed up through the town where the Bombings took place to find a little bar called the Bagud. Its a sort of sports bar but this has turned out to be the local. They boast the coldest Bintangs in town and nearly frozen they arnt far from wrong. Four Beers in we decide that we want to
get a bike but we had been reading that you need a lisence. if you have been reading in the past the only license i have is for my diving but never fear. The indonesian local license is near. We got talking with a guy called Ricki who put me intouch with a now good friend of mine Katut. He said that for 300,000 he would take me himself to the police station to obtain the super local ticket needed. so that was my plan. my second morning would be spent at the police station. Few beers later we were off to bed.
Ha my second morning was so cool. Katut popped by to pick me up and in to Denpasar we raced. Man these roads are nothing like what Koh tao used to be. this is serious. arriving at the police station we are ushered down to the back of the station to a remote ticket office facing a little bike obsticle course where i would take my test. Haha not even likely. My first 200.00 bought me right of pass so the test was skipped, Fingerprints and pictures were taken and an hour later i am fully
licensed. The experience would have a different story if i had of gone alone. i could see westerners there trying to evade the touts advice and frustrated from sitting there already for two hours with not even a whistle. Of to town we go.
For the next few days we simply swam in the mornings and rode around the local area checking out the different temperatures of beers and sampling the many varieties of Goerang. we took a trip down to the southern peninsula of Bali in the area of Ulawatu and Belangan where we chilled away from the many touts in Kuta and watched the surf crash on the beach. i am yet to get on a surf board. it will come.
So with all of the road Practice i was finally ready. i was in battle mode and i was going for the monster 7 hour loop of the mid country. We was to ride to see Jatuluwi rice fields and the small volcano, Mount Batukau. This trip was amazing but the pictures do it no justice. The only real shame was that the Volcano was shrouded in clouds.
The trip took from around 9am
until around 4;30 with the inevitable of getting completely lost on the way home. Kuta is a pain in the arse to get back into. but the trip started out with the typical Bali traffic, stopping and starting every 30 seconds but eventually tapered out to what the guide books talk of. Real Indonesian beauty. There was not a soul that would not help you, and not a smile not returned. the country its self is amazing. Winding roads sweeping through Rice Paddies (Ramone and Gerry would love it), with a cool breeze and the forever smell of Babi Guling (which is baby bacon or pork). for me this was great but for Casey not so much. the ride to the half way point was great but the Bum cheeks were taking that hiding. my Bum has never felt so numb. the slight incline on the seat falling forward was pulling my taters and my arse into all sorts of hot uncomfortable positions. Funny though it was next time in staying over in accommodation at the other end. Mount Batukau and Jatuluwi rice paddies. Give it a go.
For the remainder of our Kuta experience we are just going
to swim, eat and drink Bintang. i Promise that i will think of you all with every sip and mouth full. we are heading to Nusa Lemobonga for a dive so will check in later on.
Big love to the family and i hope you all are having a nose at the pics.
Brummy Niki Maguire (google)
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William
non-member comment
Oh boy, powder your bits!
Lovely post! The many hours of riding in Bali will stain your face with soot and most importantly, mess with your arse and balls. The solution: Baby Powder applied liberally. Go heavy on it! Have fun you two, love the photos. Will