Sometimes, a break is what
you need from the crowds in Bali. That is what I realized when I
visited Kuta. I felt disheartened with the constant background din that
comes with being in a crowded beach. There was this burning desire to
get away from the madding crowd. That is why I jumped at the opportunity
of visiting a secluded beach as soon as I heard about it from a local.
Although, secluded may seem to bit of a stretch.
The beach in
question was Balian Beach and it is on the same island as Kuta. Hiring a
taxi, I prepared myself for a journey over 1.5 kilometres. Although the
distance may not seem to be much, it felt to me as if hours had passed.
I have the difficult and winding road conditions to thank for that.
So
there I was looking at the lovely and quaint sight that Balian, a small
village, greeted me. I decided right then to spend a night. After all,
the place was peaceful. It wouldn’t be fair to say that the beach was
empty. No, the place had people but not enough to make it seem crowded.
However,
the crowds didn’t interest me. What I was interested in were the
gorgeous waves that made me want to take out my surfboard. I decided to
postpone surfing for a later time and instead take a walk. Being low
tide, the local fishermen were busy casting their nets near the mouth of
the river. There was something to be said about the grace that
accompanied their movements, being perfected by daily practice. Moving
on, I came across a stunning sight! Imagine palm trees and rice paddy
fields swaying under the salty breeze.
I decided to call it a day
and retire to one of the many accommodations available here. I opted for
a room on the second floor in a beach house. The view of beach and the
sea was fantastic!
The next day, I continued my explorations. I
focused my efforts near the river having heard from a local that the
place was good for swimming. The information was completely accurate and
I had a good time swimming. It also seemed like the perfect place to
wander about aimlessly which is exactly what I proceeded to do.
The
Balian Beach is one of the best surfing spots I have come across in
Bali. The waves are powerful and possess a long swell. It was a
challenge but I was up for it. Thanks to the presence of the river
mouth, the waves tend to have an A-frame. It made surfing all the more
enjoyable. However, I was warned by locals never to surf or swim in the
seas after spells of heavy rain or if the water seems murky. Bull sharks
are common and are often found near the river mouth. Beware of these
dangerous beasts.
As I watched the dusk settle over the beach, I
felt reinvigorated and ready to brave the huge crowds and the party
scenes in the rest of Bali. However, I think, that the true beauty of
Bali lies in these spots. Of course, that just may be me. After all, ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’.
- www.sethlestath.com -
