To 'Kuta' long story short....

It is fair to estimate that prior to any visitor's first ever visit to Bali, chances are their expectations are going to be high, and expect wave upon wave of tropicality and exoticism to lap against them at each fresh juncture, owing to the kind of imagery which they have been acquainted with in their background reading. Well, it's fair to say that, with the right kind of planning and approach, all of those expectations could be matched, since Bali does in fact come across as the kind of island whose reality perfectly reflects the kind of idyllic image which a postcard would represent. Surfers of the world descend upon the island as their surfing mecca, hence Bali's identity as a slice of Australian culture overseas, and those seeking a singular island culture may also find that the customs and rituals that are so inherently Balinese may not, indeed pertain to any other island nation culture on earth. Every paradise island must have a downside, the doubters would be quick to point out, and if I were going to be niggly here, then I'd say that Bali's main resort, Kuta Beach, is a commercialized affair, with many vestiges of the inevitable Western-style invasion, which I am not actually averse to myself, but can see why it isn't everyone's cup of tea. Beaches are not necessarily Bali's main draw card, but my attempt at boogie-boarding on Bali's very own Canggu Beach made me appreciate Balinese beach life, and also feel like a novice fledgling surfer with a long way to go before I mastered my craft. Hiring a driver for day trips in Bali is one priceless travel tip, and after conversing with my driver Putu mainly in Japanese (which outstripped his grasp of English!), I was able to get around some delightful places of note inland, such as Gitgit waterfalls, glorious Lake Bratan, and the Banjar Hot Spring resort. Putu also introduced me to two types of Balinese dance, one with male dancers involving some spooky-looking dancing barefoot on fire (!), and the other involving female dancers (Legong dance), as a side show at a restaurant, both of which made me realize that this was a culture unlike any other. Returning back to the UK from Bali, it occured to me that I was so very fortunate to have been able to have this kind of delectable travel experience, not to mention how much such a mammoth trek covered in just two weeks of my life made the idea of the tiring long-haul flight seem so worthwhile.