Little Sumo Girl

I know it may seem like I’m too young to start thinking about my future, but times are moving along faster and faster. Mom has already started telling me how important it is for me to learn to be an independent woman and be prepared to tackle the world…Apparently, this is something that grandma had taught her when she was young.

I’m planning to get a head start and have begun to reflect on what I wanna be when I grow up. Gotta start to see where my talents are, what my likes/dislikes are, etc…

Recently, I’ve been taken with the idea of becoming a Professional Beach Bum! I must say that Bali is the ideal spot to start training for this, and the great thing is that you can start at pretty much any age!

I love playing in the water, I don’t mind getting sand in my feet, hair, clothes, diapers, or even in my mouth! I truly love picking up sea shells in the sand, but most of all I enjoy having mom and dad chase me all around the beach. For some tall folks, they can’t seem to keep up with little me….Oh, and I also like running after balls at the beach, but this is not strictly a beach activity.

In my training to becoming the best Beach Bum, I’ve of course had the pleasure of checking out quite a few beaches here in Bali. Here’s a brief review of the recent spots I’ve been to (besides my usual spots at Seminyak Beach and Petitenget Beach)

Note that I might have to re-define my title as a Beach Bum….Bum does not quite seem appropriate for me considering I don’t actually like chilling at the beach – I like to move around, even if it means missing my naptime…There’s always too much happening to go to sleep!

Balangan Beach
This beach is on the Bukit Peninsula in the South of Bali. Stop by when heading towards Uluwatu, access through Dreamland. This is one of the many cool surfer spots that can be found along the South Coast, but it is still ‘tranquil’ enough if you plan to bring ‘little people’, like me. Unfortunately we went when it was the low tide so no swimming and barely any surfers there:( It was still a gorgeous day and the sand was nice and soft to play in. Must remember to come back and check this spot out at high tide.

Warning: As with most beaches along this coast in Bukit, you’ll have some steep steps to go down, so wear solid sandles…Mom’s flip flop broke as she was carrying me down to this beach. Luckily no one got hurt, we got to enjoy our afternoon in the sun…

Balangan Beach (Bali)

Batu Belig Beach
Along the southern coast of Bali, moving North-West starting from Kuta, you’ll hit Legian, Seminyak, Petitenget, Batu Belig before getting to Berawa and Echo Beach in Canggu. Batu Belig is smack in the middle of this ‘strip’ and is quickly becoming a hot spot to see and be seen, for the non-tourist folks…The popularity of the spot is marked by the new warungs that keep opening, the cool African parties and the recent opening beach party of La Barca!

Here are a few pics of Batu Belig, while it’s still quiet, and not too over-crowded!

Quiet spot to chill at Batu Belig Beach

Warung at Batu Belig Beach with little bridge (Max 3 people at a time!)

New development on the rise at Batu Belig Beach

Blue Point Beach
This beach is also on the Bukit Peninsula, on the way to Uluwatu and has some killer stairs to go down to access the beach. This spot is more ‘cozy’ and perhaps more ‘romantic’ for those who are into that kinda stuff…As you make it down the steps, you feel like you’re walking in a deep cave, à la Indiana Jones, and you then see your treasure at the end – Beautiful clear water waiting for you to dip your toes into!

Warning: There’s this little wooden staircase that leads you up to a lovely terrace with an amazing view – just remember to duck, otherwise you’ll bump your head like mom did ~ just as she was telling us to be careful, not to bump OUR heads on the rock!!

Blue Point Beach Cave

Blue Point Beach Crystal Clear waters

Geger Beach
I’d heard many great things about this beach situated in Nusa Dua and was really dying to head out to see for myself. The waters are supposed to be really clear and the currents ‘gentle’ enough for a good time to be had by the entire family. I finally got a chance to go with my second-cousins when they came to visit us in Bali – and they LOVE the beach as well….Hmmm, my first competition to becoming the best Beach Bum around…

It was indeed a really nice spot and perfect for tiny-tots to hang out without stressing out the parents. The water was really clear and the sand was nice and soft and perfect for burying your feet, making sand castles, etc. Unfortunately, it is starting to lose its charm due to HUGE construction sites all around it. The locals are already saying how it doesn’t have the same ‘feel’ as it used to… 😦

Kids can safely play at Geger Beach

Sunset at Geger Beach

Chairs at Geger Beach at sunset

Nusa Dua Beach
Although this beach is also on the Northern coast of the Bukit Peninsula, it is nowhere as relaxing and stress-free as Geger Beach. When you want to chill out, you go to Geger beach, and if you want the complete opposite, you head to Nusa Dua Beach. When we arrived with mom and dad’s friends, it was like a mad frenzy to park the car and then get the group ready for their snorkeling expedition. This is the spot to get an ‘adrenaline’ rush’! If you haven’t planned out your day and are looking for some kind of adventure, then come here and you’ll be presented with numerous ‘life-threatening’ possibilities (such as, jet-skiing, parasailing, banana boat, rolling donut!)

I had a blast sun-bathing and splashing at the pool of the Ramada Resort, while mom and dad’s friends went snorkeling, in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the Mola-Mola (ie. Sunfish) – Unfotunately, it didn’t happen 😦

Gutsy people getting onto boat for a snorkeling expedition at Nusa Dua

Adventures at Nusa Dua Beach

Sanur Beach
We headed to this beach which is situated on the North-East coast just north of Kuta, hoping to find an equivalent to Geger Beach. When we arrived, we noticed many tourists there. However, they were not chilling on the beach, they were all waiting to get onto the many boats ready to take them out to Nusa Lembongan, Lombok and Gili Island…We were almost tempted to get onto a boat to Nusa Lembongan, but by the time the adults managed to negotiate an acceptable fare for our group, it was already late and the boat was full…The rep for the boat tours started really pushing us to go on a tour in a glass bottom boat to Turtle Island…we kindly declined…

Given the great number of boat rides that initiate from this beach, there are alot of people and the water is not so clean – not great conditions for swimming 😦 Also, as you get closer to the shore, the sand is covered with big pieces of broken seashells, and just accumulated debris which makes it hard to get into the water without having your feet poked every which way…Alot of ‘Oooohs-Aaaahs-Ouch’ as we slowly tried to make our way to the water. We still had a nice afternoon playing in the sand, and we finished the day by watching my second cousin learn to fly a kite.

BTW, for those who want to learn to Kite Surf, this is the spot to be. There is a kite-surfing school and windy season is at its peak in July-August! During this period, you’ll see many people flying their kites at the beach, or the locals putting up their kites over their rice fields every day. And you won’t want to miss the annual Kite Festival in Sanur held at the end of July.

Boat heading to Nusa Lembongan from Sanur Beach

Trying to fly a kite at Sanur Beach (NB: those 3 guys were sleeping there all afternoon!)

Up in the Air - Kite flying at Sanur Beach

Powdery Sand = White Feet at Sanur Beach

For more Bali beach info, check out my other post at: Day Trip – Canggu & Uluwatu

Stay tuned for my next ‘What Do I Wanna Be When I Grow Up Segment’.

Let me know what you think about my ‘Beach Bum’ idea…!
I have a feeling mom and dad won’t like this too much – they’re already complaining about how much it’s already costing them to feed me, as my tummy keeps expanding…