Uluwatu

We were both pleased to leave the Rising Star Beach Resort (haha) for the long haul to Uluwatu. We were leaving the far east of Bali for the far south. Only about 120km but it took about 4 hours. It’s a problem when the navigator says left but the directions say right. It adds time to the journey! And frustration for the driver!!

The trip first took us back through Amlapura and onto Candidasa. We had thought of staying at Candidasa but were fed up with black sand or rocky beaches. Lonely Planet didn’t give it much of a review either. Seems that the coral reef was destroyed for lime for cement and subsequently replaced with a sea wall after the beach washed away.

Continuing on we reached Padangbai. From here the ferries and fast boats head to Lombok and Gili Islands. We shouldn’t have turned in because entry was restricted so we had to join the long line of vehicles exiting.

The journey south became slower, restricted by trucks. After a while it became divided road, a blessing, although attitudes and actions of drivers got sillier.

Much further south, after Sanur, we used the new toll road. Unbelieveable. It goes for 12.7km across Benoa wetlands. So it’s a causeway and it cost $US220M. Imagine what it would cost to build in Australia?! Despite using the tollway to avoid traffic, at a cost of $1, we still got lost (on it and coming off it). It has separate carriageways for motor bikes, keeping them away from cars.

The Bukit area is extremely barren, hot and arid. The overdevelopment here is matching that of Kuta. People come here for surfing, beaches and ocean views. We’re staying at Batu Jaran hill, between Uluwatu beach and Uluwatu temple. Other guests here are Australians and Americans. It’s a short drive to the beach and just a short walk to cafes and restaurants.