Companion – Brian Morita, 2008

Oh what wonderful people we found in PadangBai. We stayed overnight in this quaint little fishing bay scattered with tiny, brightly painted wooden, one-man fishing canoes with sailing masts. I enjoyed the sunrise scene when all the boats came drifting to shore and dumped their catch mackerel – in the buyers buckets. North from Padang Bai is the resort town of Candi Dasa. From the main road one can has a photo opportunity beside a small lake filled with lotus flowers and lily pads. Squatting worshippers were making offerings of fruit, flowers and incense to the temple Gods while children played on the raised platform in the lake.

It was a lovely drive north through some of the most spectacular scenery yet. The terraced rice fields surrounded by the shear slopes of the volcanoes caught my attention. We arrived at Lipah Beach just in time for lunch and agreed to splurge for an upscale bungalow for two nights at Vienna Cottages right on a small private beach. Nice large Balinese style bungalows with exotic outdoor bathrooms right overlooking the calm ocean.

After two nights in this European guesthouse, we chauffeured another car and driver to take us to Tulamben, the site of the most famous dive in Bali, the Liberty Wreck. It was covered in brilliant coloured sponges and corals, including giant fan corals, and home to numerous amounts of large groupers, angels, and tiny tropical fish. The wreck itself was mangled beyond recognition: jagged pieces sticking out and holes to venture through, it made for two exciting dives. We stayed in another guesthouse located off the volcanic pebble beach for free! One can stay and eat breakfast for free if they go diving with the proprietor.

Even though the rains kept coming, it didnt dampen the days events. During the last morning, I took a long walk along the coast. I strolled past an abandoned temple ruin and an old run-down farmers shack. The land itself had been created after the volcano in the background exploded in 1963. There were many lava rocks sprinkled throughout the grass fields and interesting formations along the shores. It was very quiet, peaceful and with the light sprinkle, very refreshing.

The East Coast of Bali