Bali Hai
My apologies for the delay in posting my trip report--I had trouble uploading photos and the days were full! Most of you know that I am now home safe and sound, and I promise to get the trip details to you quickly. On Day 5, Kelly, I and Daylene, another member of our group, decided to take a 30 minute boat trip to an island to the east of Bali called Lembongan. My research indicated it is "the Bali you imagine, the way it used to be". We headed out from the docks at Sanur (30 minutes from Ubud) on a fast boat and half an hour later, landed on a beach lined with small kiosks. Our mission...to search out a quiet beach and maybe a spa treatment.
Our LP guidebook claimed it was possible to circumnavigate the island on foot in half a day, but when queried, the locals said no, we would need transportation. We decided to take up an offer of a ride to Mushroom Bay Beach ON THE BACK OF A MOTORBIKE! Three rather buff-looking young guys had materialized out of nowhere to offer a ride on their bikes, so we shed caution to the wind and hopped onto the back of their bikes. What fun!
The road wound up above the beach through the jungle, did a few ups and downs, and 20 minutes later ended at a small beach community. We decided to have lunch and a swim. When the weather turned ugly and rain began to fall, we found a cheap spa and I enjoyed a facial and a manicure given by a young women. In broken English she told me it takes 2 months training at a "massage" school to get a job. She had 2 children who were looked after by the grandmother. It was delightful talking to her and an hour and $14 later, I came away with another example of the Balinese kindness and spirit.
