I am currently back at a favourite spot for many years.
Blue Moon Villas, perched high up overlooking sweeping bays with hundreds of brightly covered fishing boats returning after the nights efforts.
I rented a car for this trip as my travelling companion would certainly not go so far on the bike.
No problem, 300k a day for a small Suzuki that someone had kindly removed all the suspension from!
The worst part of clearing the hectic south was the horrible Bypass road.
Just past Sanur there was minor road works and this made a bad piece of road even worse with Canggu like queues of traffic all trying to merge to one lane.
On a bike, it would have been OK, but in the car it was just "wait awhile".
I always come up through Amlapura, cutting out to the coast past the beautiful Ujung palace.
I can remember this place as an abandoned derelict site.
The road entering from south now is very poor.
Since earlier trips either I have changed or the road has... likely both.
I suspect that many tour drivers will now enter the Amed strip from the north, although I haven't been that far up to see how the roads are there.
Around Blue Moon the road badly needs potholes filled or resurfacing.
Maybe the "tourist levy" will come into play and play a part??!
It is very peaceful here with light sea breezes and the mountains keeping heavy clouds away like a magnet.
Last nights meal was at Trattiora (sp?) because they had cocktails as required.
The meals were good and presented reasonable value, but I would have preferred somewhere more local.
Tonight will be a very old favourite.... Sails.
Mentioned many times long ago on BTF when it had a Kiwi owner who has sadly passed some time back.
Last time I was there his wife was running it....I am not sure now but will soon find out.
I have a rental bike now and will cruise the strip today to update on what is happening and go past some old favourites (Bayu, Apa Kabar etc etc)
A couple of nice relaxing days before returning to Kuta, morning walks and Poppies updates.