Tag Archives: beach

Sanur Beach

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8

After spending a sultry, sweaty morning at GWK Cultural Park, we sought the solace of the seaside. Sanur Beach Market Place offered a beautiful beachside location for lunch.

1.Sanur Beach Market Bar & Restaurant2.Sanur Beach

Sanur Beach is Bali’s earliest beach resort, the golden sands a contrast to the dark volcanic grains of Seseh.

3.Sanur Beach4.Sanur Beach

We were appalled by the condition of some dogs we had seen in Bali but this fella looked very contented in the sunshine.

5.Bali dog

A group of musical orphans wound their way through the market. I couldn’t resist a donation, although I knew it wasn’t nearly enough.

6.orphans

Suffering the worst case of cankles known to womankind, I was easily convinced to partake of a post prandial fish spa. Despite his pedal sensitivity, Michael bravely accompanied me in the experience.

7.fish spa

The tiny, toothless garra rufa fish nibble enticingly at the unwanted dead tissue on the feet, fortunately leaving the good stuff alone.

8.fish spa9.fish spa

Time for another beer………

 

Busselton

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After a day spent savouring the digestible delights of Margaret River, and a peaceful amble through a magnificent Karri forest, we thought there wasn’t much else we could do to top off a wonderful day. We were wrong. We arrived in Busselton as the sun was setting, casting an eerie light to the east. The longest wooden jetty in the southern hemisphere, Busselton Jetty stretches almost two kilometres out to sea.

1a.Busselton jetty

Construction began in 1853 and the jetty was gradually extended until the 1960s. Closed to shipping in 1972, a period of neglect ensued, along with damage by a cyclone in 1978 and a fire in 1999. The jetty has since been restored and the Underwater Observatory at the end is on the list of things to see next time.

1.Busselton jetty

Toward the west, the descending sun was creating a spectacle.

2.Busselton

We were the only ones on the sheltered beach, the calm waters of Geographe Bay gently lapping at the shore. The changing palette was mesmerising as Sol slipped below the horizon.

3.Busselton4.Busselton5.Busselton6.Busselton

A perfect end to a glorious day.

7.Busselton

Seseh Beach

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Our first morning in Bali, we walked the few hundred metres from our villa to Seseh Beach.

1.towards beach

Undaunted by the warnings,

2.warning

we continued on past neighbouring properties

3.villa neighbours

to the lure of the ocean ahead.

4.just down the road

As we neared the beach

5.seseh beach

we were surprised and somewhat disappointed to find, not the expanse of untouched golden sand one might imagine, but a beach of black sand.

6.seseh beach

This western coastline is among Bali’s favourite surf spots, though not conducive to relaxing on the beach. The volcanic rock formations were fascinating

7.seseh beach

and the flotsam intriguing.

8.seseh beach

The fishing boats of Seseh village were patiently awaiting their next adventure.

9.seseh beach

We strolled back, past curious doorways

10.doorway

with intricate carvings.

11.another doorway

Returning to the villa, we were welcomed by the familiar shrines at the entrance.

12.shrines at villa

degustation decadence

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One of our favourite restaurants in the whole world (no, I’m not exaggerating), is right here in Burnie. Each time we visit Bayviews, I peruse the menu closely and, for quite some time, have coveted the degustation menu. There is a choice of a 6 course or 9 course menu and the option with each to have matching wines. On a recent inclement Saturday, we indulged, with a friend, in a long, leisurely lunch. We opted for the 6 course menu, accompanied by a bottle of the wonderful Josef Chromy Pinot Gris 2016. As usual, the view was spectacular

1.Bass Strait

and the ambience restful.

2.inside restaurant

We started with lightly fried southern calamari seasoned with a blend of herbs, citrus zest, black pepper and coriander seeds and served with a romesco sauce and fresh mix of local herbs, bean shoots and roasted peanuts.

3.calamari

The pan roasted Rannoch Farm quail, from southern Tasmanian, was served with a light corn veloute, crispy chorizo and a celeriac and red radish remoulade (try saying that after a couple of wines).

4.quail

Sourced from Macquarie Harbour on the west coast of Tasmania, the Atlantic salmon was paired with a fragrant yellow curry and topped with cuttlefish from Northern Tasmania, thinly sliced and shallow fried.

5.salmon

We were surprised to see some intrepid souls braving the water in pursuit of the perfect wave.

6.surfers

We weren’t distracted for too long as the fourth course was served. Slowly poached for five hours in a stock of spices, fresh herbs and aromatic vegetables, the chicken was incredibly tender. Sliced and served in the poaching broth and finished with a fragrant herb and pickled daikon salad, the flavours were exquisite.

7.chicken

The tamarillo sorbet palate cleanser was a lovely shade of pink.

8.tamarillo sorbet

The main course of the degustation is usually slow cooked Tasmanian midlands venison shoulder. The shoulder was unavailable, instead we had venison backstrap cooked medium, served with braised red cabbage, smoked plums, white onion puree and water chestnuts.

9.venison

Outside, the clouds had dispersed and the surfers were still keen in their pursuit.

10.beach

Inside, we had made it to dessert. Peanut praline semi freddo consisting of a light sabayon base combined with a caramel and peanut flavoured cream, served with a light chocolate mousse on coffee soil.

11.dessert

Our lovely friend summed it up beautifully…. “It’s like eating poetry”.

Lillico Beach

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There is one of those, “I must go there one day” places along the Bass Highway between Ulverstone and Devonport. I am ashamed to say it took me eight years in Tasmania before I pulled off the highway to explore Lillico Beach Conservation Area. The reserve is home to a colony of the world’s smallest penguins, aptly named the Little Penguin or Fairy Penguin. I entered the walkway and immediately spotted little concrete shelters scattered through the vegetation.

1.penguin burrow2.penguin burrow

The artificial burrows are used when there is a lack of natural burrow habitat and offer protection from predators such as feral cats.

3.penguin burrows

I wandered along the viewing platform, distracted by the spectacular panorama of Bass Strait at low tide.

4.looking west5.looking north6.looking east

The burrow designs are quite innovative and seem perfectly sized for a penguin who is only 30cm high and weighs around one kilogram.

7.penguin burrow

This important wildlife corridor hugs the coast for 2.5kms,

8.Bass Strait

the shingle beach and rock pools make for stunning scenery.

9.on the beach

If I were living at Lillico Beach, this would be my choice of home,

10.penguin burrow

if only for the location.

11.penguin burrow

There were no penguins to be seen on this day, they were all out fishing in the beautiful blue ocean. We will visit one summer evening to watch them waddling back to their burrows. I won’t wait another eight years.