Passing Kuta Beach this afternoon, I stopped for an instant to get a look at the goings and and to remind myself I live in a beautiful place. The entrance to the Kuta Beach, at the bottom of the beach road, Jl. Pantai Kuta, provides a particularly pleasant vie of the curving bay, low shady trees and the lifeguard tower. Imagine being lifeguard on Kuta Beach! You wouldn’t have to work that hard, but there would be plenty of time to reflect. If you are on Kuta Beach, the section between the 2 red and yellow flags is officially watched. Outside of that, you’re on your own.
Talking to a dive master the other day, it became more obvious how important fishermen are in case of emergency, in Indonesia. He told of one occasion where his boatman had disappeared, after dropping him and a client off in a channel. This was right next to the Lombok Strait, so if they had not run into a fisherman they would of had trouble. My friend said the fisherman told them he was not out there to take passengers, but was pursueded when told they would drown if he didn’t.
On Kuta Beach, surfers also play a role, as an extra safety system. One guy told me that years ago you could on the beach and watch some Euro about to drown, then the local guys would paddle out and say, “You want rescue?” “100,000rp.” Who’s going to decline that offer? Might as well charge a million rp, plus dinner at KuDeTa.
People thinking of coming to Bali, this is the time to come. Its low season, lovely weather, plenty of space in hotels and cheap prices!
