:: Travel

Beach bumming in bustling Bali

Manisha Koirala

I have to say, I love Europe, I love everything about it. Coming from the subcontinent, living most of my adult life in Mumbai and experiencing the tropical climate, I’d often escape to the cooler Europe. Like the West sees the exotic in everything Indian, I used to find everything about Europe alien and thus exotic.

I’d be the first one to admit, once that wears off you realise there’s more you want from your holiday destination. And being a complete water baby, and somebody who loves to sit on the beach and get a tan, beach spots get my vote. And there are none that give you more warmth than those you see in the tropical belt. I love Seychelles, Mauritius, but Bali ranks on the top of my list.

It is one of the few thousand islands that form Indonesia, and many of them have their own charm. Some of them are remote, quiet and only inhabited by locals. Bali, on the other hand is very touristy and buzzing with life. It’s quite populated and the local flavour cannot be missed even though there’s a serious influx of tourists all round the year. Bali is divided into several regions; each has its own distinct quality. Whenever I am there I hang out in Kuta, which is the busiest spot, has evening flea markets and is a good place to party too. I have tried out quite a few resorts, cottages and guest houses here. If you’d like to splurge and relax, resorts are good, but what happens with that is you somehow end up spending most of your time in the resort itself. They have their own shopping arcades and all, and just manage to imprison you inside. If you are travelling with a group of friends, cottages by the beach front work out best and economical. Santa Monica cottage is my favourite place to stay in the Northern end of Kuta. The flip side of being in a touristy place like Kuta is that you have to be constantly on guard against touts. You have to be firm and just ignore them, not look gullible and they will let you be. As much as it’s the hub of party, modern swinging lifestyle, Bali is deeply rooted in culture and religion. There are many Hindu temples, which is a treat. You can go to the eastern regions to explore these temples and several cultural activities, like the monkey dance, which attracts tourists by hordes every evening. Visit the famous Garuda Vishnu monument, it’s a beautiful site. I see a lot of Indian tourists going to Bali these days, and enjoying the cultural heritage.

But for me, Bali is mostly about beach shacks, shopping and parties. If you want to go scuba diving, Bali is the place. I got my scuba diving license here. I like hanging out at the flea markets, walking through the stalls set up by tourists, selling their wares. Eating at small joints at these flea markets is a treat. The food in general here is hot but mouth-wateringly delicious. Beach shack Havana is my favourite here and that’s where I spend my days and nights, when the music begins. The best part about Bali is you can meet people from all over the world here and you can talk to people, make friends, exchange experiences and cultures. Bring down your walls, break your defences, because Bali is the place to set yourself free and let go of your inhibitions.

As told to Chhaya S.