Blue Point Cliff Bali: an extended version of St. Paul de Vence

 

Blue Point Cliff in Uluwatu, Bali Island is an alluring sunset viewing spot with the blend of charming steep pavements ala European old town and restless waves. It may seem like another ordinary surf beach in Bali, but with the picturesque view when the sunset is nigh, you will feel at ease.   

 

Padang-padang Beach, 04:23 pm.

It was another afternoon on an ordinary summer day. My friends and I were after the sunset. However, another hour waiting here was not worth a try. Padang-padang was overloaded, trashes scattered everywhere, an absolute turn-off.

Is Eat, Pray, Love to blame for the tourist boost in Padang-padang? It used to be an amazing tranquil beach, until more locals, mostly Javanese, are coming and doing picnic on the beach; a typical way of Indonesian family to spend quality time during holiday. Voila, we all know what’s left after they rolled their woven mat and go back home: trashes.

 

04:55pm

We chose to leave instead. So the story all started as one of us proposed Blue Point Bay Beach as our final destination that day. I haven’t really heard of it but it is located only around 10 Minutes drive uphill from Padang-padang. Along the way could be seen some billboards of The Blue Point Bay Hotel, which apparently the name of the beach derived from. The entrance fee was only IDR 1000 for motorcycles and IDR 2000 for cars.

 

Blue Point Cliff, 05:26pm.

As predicted before, the rocky road led us to the Hotel on the right side. The Blue Point Bay itself is located on the cliff on the south shore of Bali Island (Uluwatu). It is obviously a surf beach, as seen from the gorgeous-hunk-surfers walking around with barefoot carrying their surfboards. The narrow lanes, the stairways, the cafés, and the art shops were turning into a downright déjà vu.

   

It was another summer in a completely another place, the famous old city of Saint Paul de Vence in Côte d'Azur, South France. Blue Point Cliff, at that day, looked exactly just like that- minus European cobblestones. I walked down through the small pavements and enjoyed an amazing turquoise see through sea water.

 

  [caption id="attachment_115471" align="aligncenter" width="576" caption="The Platform: Blue Point Cliff is a place for young people. It is romantic and adventurous. (Source: Alegna88)"][/caption]

06:03pm.

The surfers were paddling back to the shore and had a brief dip in the water and some others were gathering around awaiting the sun to set down. The beach itself is located down below the cliff, surrounded by outstanding natural seashore grottoes. Visitors have to find their own way, descend the alley down the cliff and sometimes being lost. No worries, Balinese beach boys were to be found along the way, ask for direction may spare your time.

 

   

  [caption id="attachment_115487" align="aligncenter" width="576" caption="The Lonesome Surfer: The grottoes would be invisible during high-tide. Visitors only swim nearby the grottoes, as a surf beach is in fact told to be dangerous to swim in. (Source: Alegna88) "][/caption]

 

The time was getting closer. I rushed walking upstairs from the grotto to find nice platform watching the sunset.  As I walked through, the steep narrow pavements reminisced fondly of a brief stroll in St. Paul de Vence, whilst the art shops reminded me of souvenir shops selling lavender soaps of Provence and avant-garde French style white color blouses.

 

 

06:17pm

I finally reached the platform, located just right by the Café. The sun finally set down and its impressive scene had blown my mind. Undoubtedly, it was not an ordinary sunset viewing in Bali Island, the view in Blue Point Cliff was absolutely breathtaking. Clattering sound of glasses and cutleries had surprisingly made a solemn ambience. I looked down, it was a dusty concrete, no cobblestones. Good Lord, I was not in South France.

 

  [caption id="attachment_115479" align="aligncenter" width="576" caption="Blue Point Cliff: Saint Paul de Vence with restless waves. (Source: Alegna88) "][/caption]   

 

It took approximately six minutes until the sun bid us farewell. Finally, a sip of lime coconut water ended my sunset viewing that day. A sip of freshness that nowhere to be found in French Riviera’s St. Paul de Vence.

Salut!

 

Alegna88

dedicated to C.S. : let's keep the flame burns till' hopefully our next adventure; sleeping underneath the moonlight and find our back getting sore after spooning all night long until the morning breeze wakes us up.