Bali (Saturday 16 July)

It’s kite season in Bali. The skyline is splatered with kites of all different sizes, shapes and colours. The dry season throws up perfect consistent winds and of course no rain so the kites fly – and so high.I’m hopeless at judging height but the rolls of string attached to these flashes of art in the sky must be huge. It is their time and they do it with style. And there us something nice about kites, I love them. The kites aren’t just a feature of the Bali sky’s. They were everywhere in Java as well.

I have switched location from Ubud to Legian on the popular beach strip that includes Kuta Beach. It’s slightly quiter at Legian and less ‘feral’ than Kuta. The taxi ride down from Ubud was great. My driver could speak English easily and I found answers to many questions. It is a special day on the Hindu calendar today and there are many locals around in traditional dress, visiting Hindu temples and having their special moment with their god (or gods). On such a day it is legal for them when they are riding their bikes in traditional dress to not wear helmets. The streets are lined with penjors. These are tall whispy flag like structures that are made only from products of the land. They are an offering to the Dragon God to ensure successful harvests. They are displayed for a month around this special day.

There are many dogs in Bali. Bali dogs are an intriguing lot. Most have homes to go to but many live on the streets and beaches and do their own thing. Rabies is an issue in this part of the world but the authorities are working hard to manage the problem. Rabies inoculation is free and dogs that have had their injection are easily identified by a red collar around their neck. No red collars signifies no rabies inoculation.

The street dogs here are characters. They roam their territory with a confidence, even arrogance, and seem completely at ease and content in their own space. They simply dismiss any attempt to attract their attention with the typical mindless doggy talk that we do. They just don’t give a shit!

We’re on the beach and the sunsets from here are stunning of course. The persistent hazy skies makes for spectacular sunsets, particularly over the ocean as it does on this side of Bali. Walking back along the beach in the soft darkness of a new night is pretty. The beach is lined with coloured lights and busy with people having fun, unlike Australian beaches where the day ends once the sun goes down. Music blares from the various hotel locations lining the beach but under the influence of a couple of Bintangs, it isn’t unpleasant. Huge spot lights are trained on the waves to add effect. I can appreciate the attraction of this side of Bali.

After tea we hit the nightclubs! Yep, that’s right – the night clubs! Was I the oldest person in the night club? Possibly. It was dark though and lots of flashing lights – there could have been somebody older. Got home at 4.30am.