Paradise found in Bali

The view from our resort in Bali outlooking the beach was simply breath taking. On our first night we were lucky enough to catch the sunset over the water. The sky stretched out endlessly over the horizon, lite up in a golden hue with the soft colors bouncing off the reflections on the water. As the silhouette of couples filled the shorelines, it was easy to see why this has become one of the top honeymoon destinations in the world.


As the night fast approached, we decided to venture out of the resort and find food on the nearby streets. Balinese food which typically is not spicy, would be a good change from the numerous Thai curry dishes I've been eating. Never really having been exposed to the cuisine before I was excited to see what it had to offer. However a quick scan of the menus outside the restaurants was a little disappointing as most of the choices of their local dishes consisted of fried rice, noodles and various satays.


We decided to try their fried noodles, which was served with a piece of fried chicken and an egg on top. The dish was over seasoned with soy sauce and various of other spices, however no particular flavor really stood out.


The satay we ordered was more atheistically pleasing than taste, as the texture was chewy and slightly bland. As a first taste of the local food, I was not yet impressed. The next few days the beautiful sunny weather continued, which made sunbathing and splashing around the pool the perfect pastime. Being as there really wasn't much to do on the island, I felt content to just lay around napping, eating and drinking and it was much fortunate for us that we stumbled upon the only hard liquor to be sold outside the resorts.


This clear spirit called Arak was perfect for mixing with juices and though it resembled vodka, was much smoother in a cocktail. As for the food, not being discouraged from the first night we continued our search for good local dishes, and was glad when our efforts prevailed. The following meals we had on the island was much better, with some of mine favorite dishes being crispy fried duck, that tasted like a deep fried thanksgiving turkey but juicier, beef stew cooked in a tamarind sauce with a slight chili flavor and a nine course meat platter selection with a savory pork shoulder stew and curry like beef with a jerky seasoning.














One of the things that really stood out to me was the amount of pork dishes offered on the menu for a predominately Muslim country. It was hard to tell if that was more due to the strong tourism presence or if Bali managed to maintain much of their own culture.


Walking around the island however we did come across various smaller temples that was clearly Buddhism influenced. It was nice to see their preservation despite the difference in cultures and beliefs of the country.


We finished off this leg of the trip in the most unusual way. Due to the overwhelming number of German tourists and the coincidental timing with Oktoberfest we caught an Indonesian version of the celebration. The entertainment was an odd mixture of cabaret dancers and actual German singers and musicians. Around the room Bali Hai beer was served by local girls in pig tails, dressed in traditional German clothes. Huge pretzels and half roasted chicken were consumed by everyone as some sang along to the numerous drinking songs played. It was, I'm sure nothing like what the Germans envisioned their holiday to be, but still nevertheless festive and a good effort and marketing strategy.


Rating
Atmosphere: The resort strip of Bali did a great job of not only presenting the exotic feeling of the island but also making the stay as comfortable as possible. Though certain parts were more than a little commercialized, I could have done without the KFC and Starbucks, it succeeded in integrating it in a way that the place still preserved it's local charm.
Food: This category I have mixed feelings on. Overall I can't say I feel strongly one way or another about it. As with all ethnic cuisines, there were definitely a few exceptional dishes, but all in all the flavors reminded me of a mix between chinese and malaysian food, without any additional twist of its own.
People: Though still friendly I was given the impression that most were that way not by nature but more through business needs. In addition, the people seemed more eager to make money and less likely to pass up an opportunity than the Thais.
Cleanliness: Since we never really left the resort strip, the area that we stayed at was relatively clean. The steps by the beach front properties were constantly being cleaned and maintained. The outer streets were fairly trash free given what could have been expected of the county.
Beauty: On the beach the view was truly amazing. Laying on the chairs overlooking the water at sunset, one could feel all their troubles and worries melt away. For a brief moment it was easy to forget that this place was still in a poor third world country.
Overall: What a beautiful place! Having traveled the world for the past decade, most places I've visited I deemed as a once in a life time trip. Bali however, is one of the few places I'd see myself returning to.

SCALE 1-10: 7.5