Bali Part Nine
Michael Taylor is currently in Bali, Indonesia, where he is spending three weeks exploring the sights, sampling the food, learning about the culture, and checking out what’s hot and what’s not in one of Southeast Asia’s most exciting travel destinations.
Michael is staying at several hotels and resorts at various price points during his stay. The first hotel on his itinerary is the Grand Mirage Resort, which is located in Nusa Dua, Bali, but not within the gated community. He spent three nights there, checking out 5 November 2012.
The second hotel on his itinerary is the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa, which is located in Nusa Dusa, WITHIN the gated community. He spent two nights there, checking out on 7 November 2012.
After spending five nights in Nusa Dua, which has been the site of intense tourism development over the last several years – this is where most of Bali’s four and five star resorts are located – Michael heads to Kuta, where an entirely different kind of travel experience awaits.
Something for Everyone
I hadn’t heard many good things about Kuta Beach. I knew that it was supposed to be touristy, it was supposed to have a long stretch of sand, and it was supposed to be popular with surfers from Australia.
Other than that, Kuta Beach – tragically enough – made the headlines of the world’s newspapers on 12 October 2002, when a bomb went off, killing 202 people.
Formerly a fishing village, Kuta Beach is located in Southern Bali. It was one of the first towns on Bali to see the construction of hotels and other facilities for tourists. This is where inexpensive hostels sit cheek and jowl with five star resorts.
Stylish Restaurants and Cheap Eats
You will find everything from stylish restaurants to inexpensive eateries severing cheap eats. There are trendy nightclubs and stalls selling tank tops and shifts, books and souvenirs.
If you’ve forgotten your surfboard, not to worry. There is no shortage of surfer supply shops in Kuta!
As for the beach, a two-meter white sandstone wall fence was built along the road a few years back to block the sand from blowing into the cafés and restaurants that dot the zone.
Considering its traditional detailing, it would be easy to assume that the wall had always been there, but not everyone likes it. Some people complain that the wall blocks the view of the ocean from the street. On the positive side, the wall also shelters the beach from the hustle bustle of the street, lending a sense of intimacy.
To Be Continued