Bali

In fact it's a bizarre scene where the locals have to pay to get into the bars and the tourists get in for free???!!! The theory behind this is to stop the local prostitutes and gigolos getting in to prey on drunk and wealthy tourists who often succumb to their misguided affection. This makes for a very 'foreign' environment, and unfortunately, a feeling that you could quite frankly be anywhere. We stick it out for a bit, but don't really get into the swing of things, opting for a relatively early bed time and early morning surf instead of the 'all-nighter'.

We try a new spot once again today, a left hand reef break peeling off the bunker that supports the start of the airport runway - quite a background to say the least both in visual and audible terms. It's situated about ½ km out, so we manage for a small fee to persuade the local fishermen to take us out to the reef. Excited at the prospect of seeing something other than surfing on their local break, they are all smiles as we approach the reef laden with our relatively huge sails and boards, something they have never really seen before. Once out on the reef, we realise how offshore and light the wind is. However we still manage to catch a few waves, turning hard on the small clean faces, setting up for some fun aerials.

The waves can definitely be classed as fun, and given a proper swell would no doubt be pretty meaty. We are just stoked to finally get out on our wind driven machines and catch some waves, however big they are. The fishermen seem overjoyed as well - all that colour, movement and action, something that is completely new for them. As a result, every time we even came near their spot afterwards, they were overcome with the excitement of taking us out again, but perhaps more likely at the prospect of earning a week's wages in one go!

Our next stop is a spot called 'Canggu'. It takes a drive through mile after mile of rice paddies to get there, and gives us our first true look at Indonesian culture. We stop to take a closer look at the paddies when a fifty or sixty year old Balinese woman passes by, completely oblivious of us and naked except for a small, rough looking sarong. We are completely taken aback by this after observing the strict Muslim culture that requires all the women to cover themselves up head to toe. She has probably been working on these paddies all her life and the fact that there are a bunch of tourists stood there awe struck by her appearance doesn't seem to phase her in the slightest! If I was able to speak Indonesian I would have loved to ask her a few questions and find out more about what Balinese life is really like, but the old language barrier poses too much

of an obstacle to facilitate such an exercise! We therefore collect our thoughts and move on. A new day dawns and we find ourselves right over the other side of the island. This is 'Oka's territory'! The chance to sail starboard tack conditions with small slightly onshore waves could well be ours. Whatever happens the scene is a true picture postcard image of perfection - a long white sandy, palm fringed beach leading to a gentle turquoise lagoon, glinting in the early morning sun. Unfortunately once again, despite our efforts we are denied the session we are waiting for.

We finally reach the beach and are greeted by the most promising sight in windsurfing terms since we have been here in Bali - a moderate side shore breeze and a selection of breaks boasting fun, head high waves. We get straight out and enjoy a three hour session in the fun surf, and even manage to get a couple of jumps. There is a real feeling of 'search and discovery' about our day, sailing in a place that as far as we know has never been sailed before, and it's just the two of us picking off the set waves one after the other. What's more, there is nothing quite like sailing around in a pair of shorts all day. Certainly I shall remember this moment when I am in Sylt and Ireland for the events

there, battling against the elements with a 5mm suit on and numb hands - long may this trip continue!