Candidasa in a Hut on the Beach

After a fair amount of shopping and a few nights staying with Ketut at Pager Bungalows, it was time to leave Ubud and head north to Candidasa.

She offered, I could leave my shopping behind, less worry, getting it, in and out of the car, she said.  We decided,  I could pick it up on my return visit, on the way back through to Kuta and she promised to keep it safe.

A lovely man and an employee of Ketut, Made, lived in Klungkung. However, to enable him to make some money for his young family, he stayed and worked most of the time in Ubud at Pager Bungalows.  This of course, meant he didn't see much of his wife and family.

One night, after dinner, he tried to teach me how to make grasshoppers from palm fronds with his blunt swiss - like - army knife.  Mine seemed to resemble, well,  nothing really - but his, were magnificent.  The real thing.  If you saw one of his creations nearby, you would have believed it was a real grasshopper.

As Made, Ketut and the staff, carried my belongings down the small alley-way to my car and helped me pack it in, I was starting to feel emotional but I cheered up.   We all knew I had a reason to return, to pick up my shopping and other belongings I was leaving in their safe keeping.

Many hugs, good wishes and waving as I departed for Candidasa.

Is it strange to feel estranged from someone you have only known for such a short time?   Well maybe only in Bali - as I approached the town of Klungkung, of course I thought of Made and his blunt, fake Swiss Army Knife and decided - in order for him to show the tourists, his grasshopper making skills, he needed a sharper knife and it would be even more special, if it came from his town, the one he misses and has to leave to make money,  to send to his family.

After a little bit of searching - I found one!  How is it he touched my heart with his stories as he was making life-like grass hoppers with a blunt knife.

And so the journey continues....

Just like a local, 'toot-toot-ing' the horn along the way, to warn pedestrians on the road, of my approach, I was starting to get the hang of driving in Bali.  Many pot holes and funeral processions later, finally,  I arrived in Candidasa.

At some point, I did mention,  if you are into big resorts,  stop reading . However,  if you are into large huts, some,  two storey, over looking a coconut grove and beyond to the sea, tranquil surroundings polite warm welcoming staff, in-house massages - this is where you should go and - keeping reading.

Ida Homestay,  was a recommendation from my friends who inspired me to go to Bali in the first place.  They were right - it was lovely, relaxing, inexpensive and a fabulous welcome.

With just four huts, at the time I went there, now I believe they have five.  This was a tiny bit of heaven and even more removed from the hustle and bustle of Kuta.

This is a beautiful, tranquil surprise tucked behind a big wall just south of the big pond in Candidasa.  They don't have a website but you can call on +62 (0) 3634 1096. 

Just before sunset, at low tide, I would wade up to and climb the concrete steps to a restaurant.

This is a lovely, relaxing restaurant, with a cool breeze, a swimming pool and good cheap food.   Here I would have a drink and a Nasi Campur, a lovely dish, that has a little bit of everything and is a must try, when you are in Bali.

After a few relaxing days in my gorgeous, two storey hut, with mosquito nets, teak furniture on the verandah, breakfasts delivered, as soon as someone noticed I was awake and Lombok on the horizon, I thought it might be nice to hop over there for a few days and see what was there.

What to do with the car and all of my stuff?  I asked, if I pay for the nights I wasn't staying there, which was about $15.00 AUD a night, could I leave my belongings in the hut and my hired vehicle behind.  There was no problem, they would look after my things and the car.


They helped organise a lift, to the boat terminal.   With a towel, my snorkel gear and a sarong, I boarded the boat and headed off to Lombok.