Kuta

I chose Bali as a refuge from the rain because I planned to go to Indonesia anyway, and it's currently the dry season here. I arrived at Denpasar airport around 4 PM feeling quite tired and was amazed at how straightforward the immigration process can be at an airport: other than paying for the visa, I did everything myself and mostly online, and in the end, I didn't even get a stamp in my passport.

I skillfully maneuvered past all the taxi drivers who pick up tourists directly at the airport and drive them to the desired location without using a meter, but for an exorbitant price instead, and took a seat on the city bus to Kuta. However, I only realized after boarding that payment could only be made through an app - and I didn't have a SIM card yet, so no internet either. Fortunately, another passenger paid for me, and I just reimbursed him 40,000 Indonesian Rupiah in cash later.

Kuta is neither particularly attractive in terms of landscape nor sightseeing, but I already knew that it's a good place to learn to surf because the waves here are relatively small compared to most other beaches in Bali. And indeed, one only has to walk a little along the beach before being asked every few steps if one would like to learn to surf. Ultimately, I accepted an offer where I could surf with a teacher for an hour and then use the board on my own for another hour.

After a short dry practice on the beach to practice getting up, we headed into the water, and with the help of the teacher, surfing went really well. He always told me when to paddle, when to stand up, and which direction to steer. Alone, it was understandably much more challenging and less successful, and after the second hour, I was completely worn out; my knees hurt, and my fingertips were sore. I could return the board without much regret.

During a scooter trip, I explored the Bukit Peninsula in the south of Bali. There I visited the gigantic Vishnu statue and the Uluwatu temple and checked out some beaches where the cliffs looked fantastic, and I could watch surfers surfing more successfully.

The Vishnu statue is over 120m tall and stands on a small hill in the middle of the Bukit Peninsula, so it is visible from afar. For instance, I spotted it on a clear day from Kuta, which is about 10km away in a straight line. Surrounding it are green areas and a small amusement park. My experience so far is that guidebooks tend to be a bit overly enthusiastic about attractions. However, the guidebook mentioned that the entrance fee for the Vishnu statue does not justify the visit and that it's enough just to see it from the outside. I ultimately relied on that, and a few days later, I heard from someone else that it was indeed the right decision.

The Uluwatu temple is located at the southwestern tip of the Bukit Peninsula, and apparently, one can experience amazing sunsets with traditional dance performances there. I was there during the day, so I wouldn't have to struggle through all the traffic in the dark on my way back to my accommodation. In addition to the temple itself and the spectacular cliffs, the monkeys are another attraction. Or rather, 'attraction'? Everywhere, there are warnings to secure loose items to prevent them from being stolen by the monkeys. Still, a woman told me that her hat was stolen, and shortly after, I saw within five minutes how a man had his sunglasses and another man lost his mobile phone. Although the sunglasses were dismantled into parts, at least both men got their items back, but only in exchange for food. The monkeys have learned this barter concept by now. So, it really helps to secure your belongings.

On the way to Jimbaran Beach near the airport, where I watched the sunset while enjoying a chilled coconut, I also visited the area of New Kuta Beach. This is a 400ha (4,000,000m²) large area with a golf course, water park, and numerous hotels, which was planned on drawing board but apparently hasn't attracted the hoped-for number of visitors. I still found it pleasant to drive along the wide streets and watch people playing golf.

I spent the last day relaxing in a cozy café and on the beach because a hotel staff member had offered to take me to my next destination with his scooter after his shift in the afternoon. Those were by far the most exhausting 2 hours of transport so far, as I had my large backpack on my back, and with every acceleration, it pulled me backward. And since I was reluctant to hold on to the hotel staff member, I had to compensate for everything with muscle power. My thighs burned when I finally arrived, and I swore to myself never to do something like this again. Little spoiler: I did it again anyway :D