Baywatch - Jimbaron 2

That night, our first in Jimbaron Bay, we decided to take advantage of the beach BBQ.

It was a beautiful night and the twilight was necromantic.  Islands always seem to have this bewitching effect.  We walked though the resort, and then along the wide bay, hand in hand, breathing in the sea mist and tantalizing smoke from beachside fires.

Twilight on the bay

Even the villa doors are enchanting.

Table set for two.

Nice.

Firelight on the water.

The BBQ was set up at the resort's "Beach Club".  There were cabanas with "dining beds", inviting under billowing, diaphanous, colorful canopies.  Russell and I had eaten in a "dining bed" in Amsterdam once.  It's not as comfortable as it looks. We chose a table in the sand instead.

Dreamy but not comfortable,
at least for dining.

There was live entertainment.  In between fire dancers, a live band performed.  They didn't sing in English but that only added to the exotic feel of the evening.

For all I know she's singing "Feelings".
It's in Balinese so who knows.

The dinner was all-you-can-eat.  Not a good idea for Russell.  I think I lost count after his third tour.  Now, all-you-can-drink and we're talking!

Basically you point at the fish or meat you want, which was artfully displayed raw on ice, and they cook it for you and bring it to your table with appropriate side dishes.  I love side dishes!  But first a ceasar salad made table side.  Just one of a few surprises...

Ceasar salad beach side - now that's a first.

Plate 1 with appropriate side dishes.

For dessert a chef prepared, get this, Bananas Foster, tableside.  This is not what I expect: A) on the beach and B) in Bali.  

But good!

Beachside Bananas Foster - all righty then!

We stayed for two rounds of fire dancers.  They were different than the ones we have seen in Hawaii or even Thailand, which were very traditional.  These guys were "sexified".  The women had breasts and sexy outfits, which included several costume changes.  The single male had a wash board stomach.  I nodded enthusiastically as he danced for us, shirtless.  Yeah!  I agree.  Shirts are so superfluous.  Mmmmm.  I suggested Russell take his off.  He refused.

The group performed to uber hip techno music as opposed to the usual native tropical measure. Who needs a steel band on the beach when you can have disco?  Yes I'll have another round please... of washbaord.

Equal opportunity candy show with fire.

After dinner we went back to our villa, and the plunge pool.  Nothing like plunging under the stars.

The next day we spent all day divided between the main pool and the plunge pool.  Decisions, decisions.

We spent our last dinner in Bali at the Italian restaurant on the property.  I know, it's weird.  But the chef was actually from Italy and had just been married the weekend before.  An Italian and a honeymooner !!!

He actually came to our table and we discussed how great the food is - in Tokyo.  He wants to study there so he brought it up when we told him we were living there.  He was funny in an odd way.  When we gushed about how nice the Balinese people were, he got the funniest look on his face. It was as if he couldn't believe someone would say such a thing.  Odd, considering he just married a Balinese woman.  Trouble in paradise?

Dining on Italian under the moon globes.

Happy diner.
Wow my teeth look so much whiter with a sunburn.

The next day we said goodbye to the bay, and the plunge pool.  Goodbye to the trash and stray dogs.  And as we navigated through the multitudes of multi-peopled scooters on our way to the airport, I ruminated on all I had experienced in Bali.  And I thought, if it weren't for the trash and stray dogs, I would have really, really loved Bali.  It actually feels like someplace else.  Someplace sincere, with its own personality, not just another tropical island.  It has its own music, food, dance, architecture, dress and landscape.  Kind of like New Orleans.  That's hard to find - anywhere.

Parting shot.

What? No farewell bouquet?

And its own fried chicken too!

Twelve hours later I reconsidered.  By the time I got home from Bali, two flights later, I had the worst ear ache of my life.  It seems I contracted a bacterial infection from the Balinese water.

UGH!