Bali isn't just an island for tourists who want to experience the island's charm and culture; it's also a popular destination for active vacationers. The range of activities is vast, from trekking tours and whitewater rafting to beach surfing. We wanted to try the latter today. For wave enthusiasts, Bali offers a variety of recommended beaches depending on the weather. Since we're currently between the rainy and dry seasons, we had to base our choice on the prevailing wind conditions. The hotel porter informed us that our local beach was also suitable for surfing, and we were delighted to find waves about a meter high. Perfect for beginners like me.
Surfing in Kuta (Bali)
Now all we needed was a board. There are many small rental shops along the beach offering surfboards of all sizes. The rental owners are also happy to offer their services as surf instructors. The cost for a single board is 100,000 IDR (approx. €8) per hour. However, the price can be significantly reduced through skillful bargaining. We had only brought 100,000 IDR as a precaution and, after a 10-minute negotiation, were able to rent two boards for three hours.
Surfing itself is really fun. After a short technique lesson from Chris, we plunged into the waves, and after just a few minutes, I was already able to let myself be carried to the beach by a wave about 30 meters long. Getting up again proved a bit more difficult, and even after three hours, I only managed to stand upright for a few seconds. One day is definitely not enough.
For those who find the beach in front of the house too boring, Kuta also offers an offshore surfing area about 800 meters off the coast. The locals are happy to take you out in their dugout canoes for a small fee. Apparently, the waves are higher and longer there – but for us, it's a bit too much.
After three hours, we were pretty exhausted and sunburnt. So we were all the more pleased with the excellent service our hotel provided. Home@36 (which I would like to expressly praise again here) was offered. It was already 2 p.m., and since we had to check out by noon at the latest, we had already done so before surfing. Our luggage could, however, be left with the bellboy free of charge. When we went to collect it, we were offered a shower. In return, we were given another room free of charge and were able to use the hotel's wonderful, comfortable shower.
Sea Temple Tanah Lot
We spent the afternoon relaxing in a cafe before visiting the Tanah Lot sea temple in the evening to conclude our temple marathon.
The temple itself isn't particularly remarkable, apart from the fact that it stands on a small island in the middle of the sea. This made for some beautiful sunset photos.
