I happened to run into an old acquaintance last week, a man named Bhaskara. Bhaskara, otherwise known as Bas, used to work with Louis at ANZ Bank out in Denpasar. He is an easygoing, laid back sort of guy, which irritated Louis no end, for she tends to be more … well, let's say 'high strung'. Bas did not really need to work at the bank at all, for he did not really need to worry about money at all, coming as he does from one of the wealthiest families in Bali. Nonetheless, his father wanted him to get various forms of practical training in the world, and so Bas landed at the bank for a starter. The family owns one of the oldest hotel/resort properties on the Sanur waterfront, the oldest bakery in Bali, wide swaths of land here and there, and so on.
Since leaving the bank, Bhaskara has gone into the coffee café business and now has several cafes around the Sanur/Renon area. The cafes, like Bhaskara, are low key, laid back, friendly little places serving, until now, mainly local customers. I discovered, however, in our meeting that he had opened a new beachfront café in Sanur, up near the Bali Hyatt Hotel, which would, of course, be serving mostly tourists on a beach crowded with popular hotels.
Naturally, I made a point straightaway of going up there to check it out. Nine years ago, I often went to this particular beach to swim and soak up the sun, but that place has now disappeared. I really can't even see the beach I used to go to, as it has been paved over with endless restaurants, cafes, shops, and whatnot.
The place is called Oomba and offers mostly coffee, along with some simple foods such as pastries and sandwiches. The grounds extend straight up to the surf and there is a short stairway leading down to the sand for those who care to swim. As the oceanfront in Sanur is really one big, calm bay, there is little chance of the surf coming over the wall and into the café even in rough weather.
While sipping my coffee--cheaper than Starbucks, for sure, but no decaf available--I noted a pleasant looking spot right out front, directly facing the sea--a rustic table and a two-person bench--and hatched the plan to soon return of a morning and maybe enjoy a book and a sunrise. The trouble is that morning is no longer my time of day, for the mornings of late find me very stiff and painful, weak-legged, decidedly nonenergetic. I meant to go down there this morning actually, but it just wasn't happening. My body said No way, man. So much easier to take the short drive to Renon and the airconditioned environs of Starbucks. Afternoons/evenings, however, are not good either in this deadly hot season of the year, so it might be a while before I get back down to Oomba. For now, here are a couple of photos.
Since leaving the bank, Bhaskara has gone into the coffee café business and now has several cafes around the Sanur/Renon area. The cafes, like Bhaskara, are low key, laid back, friendly little places serving, until now, mainly local customers. I discovered, however, in our meeting that he had opened a new beachfront café in Sanur, up near the Bali Hyatt Hotel, which would, of course, be serving mostly tourists on a beach crowded with popular hotels.
Naturally, I made a point straightaway of going up there to check it out. Nine years ago, I often went to this particular beach to swim and soak up the sun, but that place has now disappeared. I really can't even see the beach I used to go to, as it has been paved over with endless restaurants, cafes, shops, and whatnot.
The place is called Oomba and offers mostly coffee, along with some simple foods such as pastries and sandwiches. The grounds extend straight up to the surf and there is a short stairway leading down to the sand for those who care to swim. As the oceanfront in Sanur is really one big, calm bay, there is little chance of the surf coming over the wall and into the café even in rough weather.
While sipping my coffee--cheaper than Starbucks, for sure, but no decaf available--I noted a pleasant looking spot right out front, directly facing the sea--a rustic table and a two-person bench--and hatched the plan to soon return of a morning and maybe enjoy a book and a sunrise. The trouble is that morning is no longer my time of day, for the mornings of late find me very stiff and painful, weak-legged, decidedly nonenergetic. I meant to go down there this morning actually, but it just wasn't happening. My body said No way, man. So much easier to take the short drive to Renon and the airconditioned environs of Starbucks. Afternoons/evenings, however, are not good either in this deadly hot season of the year, so it might be a while before I get back down to Oomba. For now, here are a couple of photos.
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