Romantic Interludes Bali

A number of people come to Bali for a short break. And sometimes they make a friend that they want to share their holiday with. There are plenty activities on offer for couples in Bali. A romantic pair may want to fall in love while taking in a Kuta sunset, or they may want to get cosy over a meal in a five star restaurant, they may even want to get hot and sweaty dancing the night away in a Bali nightclub.

The problem with these activities is they are very public and occasionally it is important for newly formed couples to be alone. Bali offers a lot more things to do than hanging around Kuta and Seminyak. Here are a two of my favourite ways to have a romantic interlude while holidaying in Bali.

The love Boat

Sail Bali's Islands

Hiring a fifteen metre yacht may sound like an expensive enterprise. But with a bit of careful planning it can be relatively affordable, especially if you share the expense with a like minded couple.

Most yacht charters are fully catered. And I know one tour company that offers a chartered yacht with full accommodation in private cabins. So right away you save the money you would have spent eating in restaurants and staying in a hotel.  

On our charter we spent the morning lounging on the front of the yacht. Taking in the view and catching a few rays. We then arrived at idyllic Crystal Bay off Nusa Penida were we snorkelled and swam in clean and pristine waters. After a couple of hour’s snorkelling and diving from the yacht, we again set sail for a short journey around to an island called Nusa Ceningan.

Once we were on Ceningan Island we did a bit of sightseeing around a quaint Bali village. And then we made a short journey to the high cliffs that frame stunning Blue Lagoon. Here we went cliff diving into the spectacular waters that surround the island. This is an activity that is thrilling and a must try for anyone visiting Nusa Ceningan. After these activities my friend and I were exhausted. So we spent the afternoon sipping drinks and watching the sun go down on our beautiful yacht. I won’t tell you what happened after that. Suffice to say that love was definitely in the air.

Ceningan Sunset

The next day we set sail for Bali. And we were lucky enough to catch a stunning sunset as we pulled into Benoa Harbour. My friend and I sat on the front of the boat and watched the amazing colours that only a Bali sunset can offer. The boat I used for my romantic getaway is called Sri Tanjung. I will not mention the tour company’s name. But I will say that it offers exclusive Bali island tours at an affordable price.  

 Hire a car and drive around Bali 

This is a great way to get out and about and to be alone. Car rental in Bali is very cheap and Bali is very small. It is quite easy to drive around the island in a few days. There is also less traffic once you get out of the tourist hub. And hotel hire is far cheaper than in in Bali’s tourist areas. I once took a beautiful Indonesian lady traveling around Bali with me and this is the itinerary we used.

We started our journey from Kuta early in the morning and spent three hours driving until we reached Candi Dasa. Once there, we were able to hire a relatively cheap hotel. We then spent the rest of the day lounging around the pool drinking cocktails.

The next morning we continued our journey and we drove three to four hours to arrive at Lovina beach. This is a long drive so it is very important have plenty of good music. Saying that the scenery is nice and there is little traffic. Also the reward of arriving at a lovely hotel in Lovina and again sipping cocktails by the pool was well worth it.

Soka Beach

Next stop beautiful Medewi. This is a shorter drive and there is nice scenery to be taken in on the trip. There are also a few touristy stops that can be made along the way. Once we made it to Medewi we stayed in a charming and relatively cheap hotel right on the beach. I opened my room’s curtains and watched people surfing as the sun went down from my living room. This hotel’s location was very romantic and well worth the price I paid.

The next day we drove from Medewi back to Kuta. This is a dangerous and busy drive but the scenery around Soka Beach definitely makes it worthwhile.

Bali is often touted as an island of love and doing these activities with a new friend fulfills this promise. I should also mention that all the hotels we stayed at during four day trip were empty. And that we were able to book rooms when we arrived.

For more on cliff diving at Nusa Ceningan visit:  www.fb.com/baliraw

Warning:

Do not drink the cocktails in Bali. Recently there has been a spate of methanol poisonings on the island. If I wish to drink cocktails, I buy name brand bottles from a Circle K. Most hotels do not mind if you bring your own alcohol as long as you are staying there and you use their mixers.  


©Malcolm Scott

Balinese Working Girls

The Bali nightlife scene has undergone a subtle change over the last few years. The age group and origin of the working girls is altering. In years past, the majority of working girls were from Java, with a smattering coming from places all over Indonesia. The age of these women tended to range from the mid-twenties upwards. And a great deal were single mothers doing their best to support children or families. Javanese women found it difficult to travel to Bali at a young age. And they generally reached a higher level of maturity before they became part of Bali’s sex trade.

Recently a number of Balinese working girls have begun to trawl Kuta’s nightclubs in search of customers. And the age of these girls could be considered somewhat concerning. Some of the girls that leave the clubs with tourists for business encouraged sex. Would appear to barley meet Indonesia’s age of consent. Depending on the website, the lawful age requirement for female sex in Indonesia is 18 years. There is also a loophole in this law if parental consent is given and a marriage is involved.

Bali is a small island so most of Balinese girls live within close proximity to its tourism hotspots. If they don’t live close it is relatively easy to arrange the necessary transport. And most Balinese girls have a desire to work within Bali’s tourism industry. Also due to an improved education system, the majority of these girls can speak fluent English. These factors allow for an easy gateway into Bali’s tourist sex trade.

When Balinese girls finish their studies they are expected to find legitimate work in the tourism industry around Kuta, Seminyak and Sanur. And their families often encourage them to travel to these destinations. Unfortunately there is only a finite amount of work to go around and the jobs that are available do not pay well. Because of the gold rush mentality when it comes to Bali’s tourism industry.  Young Balinese working girls are forced to convince their families that they have found legitimate work. Then as long as they send money home, few questions are asked about their employment.

Balinese girls quickly learn that they can make large amounts of money by becoming involved in Bali’s sex industry. Most are from poor village backgrounds and nights spent dancing in nightclubs or eating in fancy restaurants hold great appeal for these young girls. There is also no shortage of rich tourists willing to pay for their company.  For many young Balinese women the temptation to join Bali’s sex industry is becoming too hard to resist.

©Malcolm Scott