my private bay

if you're there, you don't appreciate it enough. if you're away, you drool about it. and i've been drooling over my private bay: gilimanuk bay (or otherwise known in the diving world as bali's secret bay). i lived less than 200m from the bay, and my afternoon swims there were just fantastic. the bay overlooks a series of mountains in the west bali national park. on clear days the distant mountains of east java are visible, where the sun sets over them. i can't even begin to describe the wonderful feeling of serenity and calm that beset me when i'm floating in the middle of the bay with a darkening sky above me.

the water can be invigoratingly cold, that's why no one else swims there beside me, especially in the afternoons. even skandinavians donned full wetsuit and hood when diving there. wimps. but the last time i swam there--for a night dive--the water was unbelievably nice and comfortable. it was such a nice night of muck diving, getting lost, and feeling the world on your skin.

if anybody needs recommendations or info about staying and things to do in west bali, just holler.