Day Seven - Kuta

We've finally had some real sleep, unencumbered by alcohol and had over our eight-hour quotient. After a filling continental breakfast at the hotel, it's nice to start to feel human again and moreover, relaxed and revived.

After some more sun and swimming, we finally head out of the resort and into Kuta. Lisa's still not totally okay, so we decide not to eat there for fear of provoking her already volatile stomach and instead walk around for a few hours. Declining to a pay a mark up in taxis from the hotel, we walk to the Galleria and pick up a taxi there, paying under £3 for the 25-minute journey.

If you've ever seen Vietnam films depicting a mad Saigon, or have vivid images of Bangkok, then Kuta's not far off. From the total peace and quiet of Nusa Dua, Kuta is an atom bomb. The streets are completely filled with erratic drivers on mopeds speeding around the congestion of taxis and bemos. Wherever you turn there are hawkers enticing you to view their fake Rolex's, restaurants offering cheap beer and pirated Hollywood films to watch whilst drinking, and endless shops selling the same t-shirts, wooden ornaments and 'Versace' jeans. It's vibrant, it's brash and not a little tacky, but it is exhilarating to be around suck a cacophony of people.

We stroll (perhaps a romantic description) down to the beach to watch the sunset from a beachside bar. Unfortunately, since last we came these seem to have disappeared, along with the numerous warungs and barbequed corn-on-the-cob. Instead we sit on the other side of the road across from the beach, downing large Bali Hai's, admiring the reddening sky and the general hubbub around us.

My fears about pricing in Bali are confirmed when I'm asked for 60,000rp for the two large beers (£5). I hand her the notes only to be told the price is, in fact, 16,000rp and I'd misheard. Very cheap and fair play and kudos to the waitress for telling me. After leaving a healthy tip we wander the streets a little more before deciding to catch a taxi back to the hotel for dinner. We will be back here at least one to enjoy a proper night's drinking and shopping. But for now, my desire to break out of typical sunbathing holiday has been satiated.

It's an early start tomorrow as we're going to the middle of the island for white water rafting, followed by catching a taxi to see the sunset at Uluwatu. I now feel our holiday has truly arrived, and can't wait for the next week to unfold (though undoubtedly painfully rapidly).