Dizzy spells at Novotel...
A couple of monkeys there, high on that hillside which is good news - gives me a head start on an escape route should things turn nasty! Although it's nice to see wild monkeys, that novelty has definitely diminished following a spell of aggression in recent times.
On the other side of this hill and heading back towards the sea as this coastal exploration continues. Thus far there hasn't been any sign of those booze and food shacks normally found on Asian beaches, not even a sunbed, just plenty of garbaged waste ground and open grazing land. Clearly this is a place where mass tourism has yet to discover and therein lies the charm of this undeveloped Indonesian village situated right beside the sea. Funny I should mention shacks and sunbeds, right on that ridge in the distance, yes, it's a shack, and a few sunbeds which actually I'm glad to see since a good rest and a cool drink will be most welcome.
An organised development here on this part of the beach. A couple of bars, restaurant and of course sunbeds. A quick scan of the menu here is enough to cause a nose bleed and a dizzy spell! A small bottle of water is ￡1 around 5 times the local price and food generally around 3 to 4 times more expensive - now that's what I call profiteering! And the Westerners look happy and content enough to pay the premium price as lunch orders are brisk. A high price for their spot in the sun though. A couple of hours here to recover over a nice coffee, about ￡1.50 and not an unreasonable splurge for a shady spot with a good sea view. An upmarket Novotel resort and the only one I've seen along the coastline at quite a hike from the village - they obviously have the monopoly on sun beds, for now anyway.
Refreshed and a little peckish, time to wander inland in search of some local cuisine. Through some marshland, and plenty of lakes well stocked with goldfish, the type Brits will pay good money for. lush greenery in abundance around here, plenty of rice fields, banana trees and palms. A small food stop just by the resort drive way, they only one I can see actually for quite a distance. I need to wake someone up looks like. Very sleepy little place, even the guard dogs can't be bothered! Eventually I get rice and some vegetables in curry. If I get sick, you'll know about it!
A couple of monkeys there, high on that hillside which is good news - gives me a head start on an escape route should things turn nasty! Although it's nice to see wild monkeys, that novelty has definitely diminished following a spell of aggression in recent times.
On the other side of this hill and heading back towards the sea as this coastal exploration continues. Thus far there hasn't been any sign of those booze and food shacks normally found on Asian beaches, not even a sunbed, just plenty of garbaged waste ground and open grazing land. Clearly this is a place where mass tourism has yet to discover and therein lies the charm of this undeveloped Indonesian village situated right beside the sea. Funny I should mention shacks and sunbeds, right on that ridge in the distance, yes, it's a shack, and a few sunbeds which actually I'm glad to see since a good rest and a cool drink will be most welcome.
An organised development here on this part of the beach. A couple of bars, restaurant and of course sunbeds. A quick scan of the menu here is enough to cause a nose bleed and a dizzy spell! A small bottle of water is ￡1 around 5 times the local price and food generally around 3 to 4 times more expensive - now that's what I call profiteering! And the Westerners look happy and content enough to pay the premium price as lunch orders are brisk. A high price for their spot in the sun though. A couple of hours here to recover over a nice coffee, about ￡1.50 and not an unreasonable splurge for a shady spot with a good sea view. An upmarket Novotel resort and the only one I've seen along the coastline at quite a hike from the village - they obviously have the monopoly on sun beds, for now anyway.
Refreshed and a little peckish, time to wander inland in search of some local cuisine. Through some marshland, and plenty of lakes well stocked with goldfish, the type Brits will pay good money for. lush greenery in abundance around here, plenty of rice fields, banana trees and palms. A small food stop just by the resort drive way, they only one I can see actually for quite a distance. I need to wake someone up looks like. Very sleepy little place, even the guard dogs can't be bothered! Eventually I get rice and some vegetables in curry. If I get sick, you'll know about it!
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