The very nice Sarinande Beach Inn is air conditioned, has big rooms, swimming pool and friendly staff. A short five-minute walk to the beach in one direction, and the same distance in the other direction to the main street. With only one night here, ex-Marine and I set off to explore the Seminyak area.

First stop was the beach stretch around the Sarinande Beach Inn. Onto the black sand beach with tourists perfecting tans and off the beach towards the upper echelon area of Seminyak. This is where the Oberoi…View image, Legian, and many other five-star hotels are located. There were also villas for sale and myriads of small boutique hotels..View image….around here (without exception, every fancy hotel, restaurant and shop had guards), along with very pricy shops. I went into one stunning shop selling jewelry opposite some of these hotels and there was nothing for under $75. (What did I expect?)

Seminyak Beach, Bali
It bears repeating that the climate in Indonesia is hot, hotter and hottest along with incredible humidity. Prepare to have clothes stick to your body, do lots of washing (laundries in the main areas will do 2 kilos/4.4 pounds for less than $1.00), and do not buy a sequined top for $400 U.S.! Can you even imagine wearing a sequined top in this heat?

sequined blouse in a posh Bali shop, Indonesia 

Seminyak’s main street ran for blocks filled with Internet, restaurants, warangs, small souvenir shops, tattoo parlors, massages that ranged from $5-10, but I was too hot and sweaty to even think of one, bars…View image… – including quite a few gay bars and men’s shops for gays with gorgeous clothes in the window. One shirt had faux fur down the sides and a t-shirt that said, “I’m fabulous.”

Seminyak shop with fabulous clothes for gay men, Indonesia
There is an overabundance of sights and original activities around Bali. How about a cremation ceremony? One was being held the next day. You must book ahead, aren’t told where the ceremony is until you arrive, costs $19 and includes guide, snack, mineral water, fruit and a sarong. You must wear a sarong and temple scarf at any Balinese temple ceremony. It is de rigueur and we’ll have to buy a sarong just in case there is a ceremony although some temples rent a sarong. That’s an idea. Open a chain of “Rent-a-sarong’s.”

Not active enough? Another brochure offered mountain cycling in the heart of Bali around Kintamani, high on a volcanic crater rim, and along backroads through villages. This package ran 350,000 rupiah ($35) and included everything from hotel pick up, lunch, and mountain bikes. A rafting possibility down the Telaga Waja River, a class IV river, covering 14 km/8.7 miles over 2-1/2 hours. Rent a motorbike, go mountain treking, diving, snorkeling and/or visit other islands close to Bali.

unusual spiked helmet to wear on motorbikes in Bali, Indonesia
There is a lot to do in Bali besides just sitting on a beach, although there’s nothing wrong with that! Dinner at Warung Mimpi…View image… for a cheap and delicious dinner, totally exhausted from this whirlwind sightseeing.

freshly made dinner choices at Warung Mimpi, Bali
Tomorrow morning, it’s on to Ubud for another one night stay. Darn, I’ll be sad to go. Half a day is not enough for Seminyak, Bali.

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