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To say that I picked up two guys on a street corner and spent the night drinking and dancing with them is, well, accurate.
For those of you who haven't travelled solo before let me explain to you how it works. You have to be comfortable in your own company. Happy to spend a morning, day and night finding your own way, independently exploring and wandering around revelling in the sights and experiences you encounter, seeking out new places to eat and sitting alone amongst locals and travellers alike indulging in people watching. Relishing the freedom it brings, the unique discoveries, the sense of liberation, personal achievement and privilege. But you also have to put yourself out there to meet other travellers, and if the current situation doesn't lend itself easily to this you need to find or create one that does.
My new hotel was everything a self proclaimed 'first class budget hotel' should be; clean, comfortable, friendly, affordable, quiet rooms, convenient location and a temporary home to other travellers.
Surfing was simply awesome. If you ever find yourself in Seminyak, go find Opy. Just along from the Ripcurl stand and toilet block amongst numerous amicable competitors you will find a gentle
and friendly guy running a surf hire/beach lounger/ beach bar with his friend. They know how to run a good business; they look after their customers. The best rates on the beach, safeguarding belongings and valuables and a 'come sit join us, play chess, meet my friends' approach. I quickly joined the string of his loyal customers who know they've found a good thing worth coming back to.
I'm chuffed to say that my Croyde Bay surfing lessons in previous years have paid off and on day one I was in my element, easily catching waves bigger and better than before. I was hooked and instantly made the decision to stay another day. Though as my first time surfing without a wetsuit I learnt a valuable lesson, wear tighter bikini bottoms or risk mooning all those behind you!
To state the obvious, surfing is a great way to meet other surfers. It pretty friendly out there waiting for waves. My new acquainces ranged from a friendly New Yorker yesterday, also out here 'finding himself', to two Indonesian guys today giving me helpful surfing tips and a commentary, most notably 'wow you're brave that was huge', after I got smooshed and
rolled along underwater when attempting to ride a monster; I didn't realise just how big it was until I was right at the crest looking down and there was no going back! Today's surf was more frustrating, it went like this: paddle out and wait for ten minutes during a calm lull, try my luck at the first or second huge wave that arrives, get creamed, then get beaten up by the whitewash walls from the following waves, wait until the end of the set to paddle back out (missing all other waves), repeat process. You've gotta love a trier but eventually, exhausted, stiff, sore, battered and bruised, though having learnt some new skills, I decided it was time to retreat for a beach nap followed by watching the sunset, beer in hand listening to the chilled out tones of the music from the beach bar (read table with stocked coolbox). Bliss.
I've been continuing my gourmand introduction to Indonesia, alternating between the cheap but delicious near to beach buffet for brunch and the excellent and exceptionally good value local food market just a stones throw from my hotel, where for less than £3 you can choose a fish that will be delivered to you barbequed, seasoned with spice and served with ample rice, greens and nuts. Beautiful 😊 I'd also recommend freshly squeezed orange and watermelon juice and spiced and buttered corn on the cob from one of the many stands. I may come back a little plumper, though having some extra paddling on my ribs to reduce surfing aches would be no bad thing!
So to return to the beginning of my tale. On my first night in Seminyak I met AJ, an American travelling with his Italian 'buddy' and he recommended heading to Kuta if I wanted to find a bar to meet others to spend the evening with. So in the interest of not becoming a hermit, to Kuta I went, belly full of bbq'd fish. I really must get better at judging Google map distances over here; I was walking for an hour, getting increasingly tried with sore feet but having invested too much time to head back. It's a funny old place out here. Not yet high season, Seminyak bars blast out music to empty seats and the occasional middle aged Aussie couple enjoying a bit of karaoke or live music. It had the feel of a place wanting and hoping to buzz at night and desperately trying to seduce anyone it could, yet ending up slightly tragic and unfulfilled. And then I reached Kuta. Oh Kuta. You are to Aussies what Magaluff is to late teenage Brits. A ghastly parade of tacky shops, seedy alleys with whispering invites to unsavoury 'delights' and brazen, throbbing neon lit bars serving overpriced and unpleasant alcohol ( I'd suggest giving dark wheat beer and so called mojitos a wide berth) to the crowds ready to let loose for the night. So what did I do? Well, I found a couple of guys on a street corner and joined them for drinks! To be precise, after an hour of hunting for a friendly place to meet and greet others I overheard them discussing where to go that night. So I went up and asked for their recommendation for a good bar. We got chatting and I got invited along. The rest is history of a fun night out with Ben and Adam. When in Kuta... I could say I got seduced into the club by the guys, but let's face it, you know it was the other way around. There are times in life you just have to let go and party, and boy do I love to dance. Quote of the night went to Ben who on the dance floor proclaimed 'you've completely transformed, when we met you were really proper and now you're like a different person!' Err yep, that would be me! I made it back in the early hours, shamefully/impressively (delete as appropriate) the last guest back, feeling that I'd successfully experienced Kuta.
For many things in life less is more and Seminyak and Kuta fall strongly into that category for me. I will no doubt be back here when in between places and will call by to hire a board from Opy, but for now it's off to the islands. To Nusa Lembognan and the neighbouring isles of Ceningan and Penida. Scuba diving, snorkelling, walking, cycling, exploring, relaxation and hopefully fish dinners are on the menu.
So for now, goodnight, I have a boat to catch in the morning 😊
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AlanJones
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Great entry Lauren. Now you can add travel writing to your many talents.