B A L I S O J O U R N
D A Y 6
K U T A B E A C H ·
P A R A D I S E ·
D E C E M B E R 1 6 2 0 1 2
P A R T 1
Kuta Beach · Paradise · Part 1
I didn't have any plans for the day so stayed in to recuperate until late afternoon from all those tiring tours and nurse my aching crotch from the horseride the evening before. The weather was perfect. Set out for Kuta Beach finally.
After the previous day's sunset with Dewi the horse, I am certain this day in Kuta would be the epitome of what "paradise" means to Bali. And the saying was right spot on: "If God created Earth, he vacations in Bali". This album is one reason why one would easily fall in speechless love with this little humble island.
Once a sleepy village with a quiet, beautiful sweep of beach, Kuta today has become a popular beach destination in its own right, alive with tourists from all over the world, swimming, surfing or sunbathing by the beach. Others, casually dressed in shorts, T-shirts and flip-flops stroll along its main road, shopping around or enjoying meals at its many open air restaurants. When in Kuta you know that you are in a holiday town, and people here are in a holiday mood.
Back in the 1960’s the only hotel was the Kuta Beach Hotel, but soon without much planning, Kuta developed rapidly into a haunt for surfers and backpackers, while the high end market preferred to stay at the more sedated Sanur village on the opposite side of the peninsula. With time, Kuta’s popularity grew, and shops, restaurants, discos hotels, - from the simple to the exclusive - sprang up along the main road from Kuta to Legian, catering to the ever increasing holiday crowd, that not only included international tourists but also domestic visitors from Jakarta and other big cities.
On the beach, people enjoy parasailing, banana boat trips or swimming. Some local women offer traditional Indonesian massage on the beach, others were seen plaiting hair.
Before sunset, crowds rush to the beach waiting to watch Kuta’s legendary sunsets. As darkness falls, Kuta’s nightlife starts to throb with loud music from bars and restaurants, while shops stay open till late at night. Kuta’s main attraction is that everyone can enjoy the town without any prescribed dress code. Just don't go around fully in the buff. Public full nudity is still against the law in Bali except in selected resorts or villas.
Photos taken using Sony NEX-F3. No edits except cropping. Click on the images below to expand. Disclaimer: The photos herein and all other albums associated with Bali Sojourn are by no means a documentary. They're all touristy snapshots.
[ click here for part 2 | back to top | documentary gallery ]
[ back to top | documentary gallery ]