North to the beach...

Kalibukbuk Beach
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This area of Bali is collectively referred to as Lovina and comprises several beaches on the north coast, one of which is Kalibukbuk.  The beach is made of black volcanic sand and is best in the morning before the hawkers have been aroused by the presence of foreigners on the beach and the dogs are still asleep.  Sunrises are especially nice here and the beach is often lined with the long, thin catamaran fishing boats of this part of the island.

We were in Bali this time almost exactly one year after the tragic bombing in Kuta and the island was still a virtual ghost town expecially away from the major tourist routes.  Because of this, it seemed that every business, hawker, tout and school-aged child was trying to make up for all of their lost income by charging us double or triple what would normally be the case.  You can't really blame them, and we felt terrible, but, CHRIST! we couldn't make up for every tourist not there!

beach... of black volcanic sand...

Chillin' at Sartaya
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More details later...