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March 3, 2024
Bali, Indonesia: Benoa


The Balinese writing above this sign is not a translation of “Benoa Cruise Terminal.” Instead, it is a letter-for-letter transliteration of these English words into the Balinese alphabet.

We are docked in Benoa, a peninsula on the southeast coast of Bali. While it is a popular tourist area and a major cruise ship port, there isn’t a lot within walking distance of the cruise terminal.

After yesterday’s 11-hour excursion around central Bali, Gail was completely exhausted. She chose to stay aboard ship for our third and final day in Bali. She didn’t even want to venture out into the terminal to view the market stalls. Instead, Russell walked around and took photos of the area right around the ship.

Here are some photos of Benoa, as well as slices of Balinese life from our three days in Bali.


On yesterday’s 11-hour excursion to central Bali, we had sensory overload just from driving around the island. Here is the view out the front window, a cacophony of cars and scooters.


Rice paddies


A local produce vendor


A roadside meat vendor


A construction site


Bali is an amazing juxtaposition of the traditional and the modern


We are visiting Bali during the annual Hindu holiday of Galungan, when ancestral spirits visit the Earth. Every home displays a tall, decorated bamboo pole called a penjor.


And every morning, the women put out offerings to the gods


Another Balinese holiday is Nyepi, an annual New Year “Day of Silence” that falls on March 11 this year. For 24 hours on this day of reflection, there are no lights, working, entertainment, talking or eating. As part of this holiday, giant and elaborate Ogoh-ogoh statues of demons are created. This statue took many hours of work, but it will be destroyed and consumed in a ceremonial fire.


Some of the facilities were “straddle and squat” eastern-style toilets. You use the sink and bucket to “flush.”


Even at a western-style toilet, we had this helpful reminder


These next photos are from Russell’s walk around the cruise terminal at Benoa. Opposite the ship is a small market of local craft stalls.


The vendors are particularly aggressive here. Literally a dozen taxi drivers will follow you around, hoping to drive you somewhere.



The entrance to the cruise terminal is a traffic roundabout. In the middle of this roundabout is a gigantic Patung Catur Muka statue, featuring the four compass points. These statues can often be found where four streets come together. (Note cars for scale)


Walking a block in one direction takes you to this gigantic Barong fish statue (again, note car for scale)


Walking a block in the other direction takes you to this gigantic statue of Bedawang Nala, a turtle (with a dragon) from Balinese mythology


The street outside the cruise terminal is elaborately decorated with different kinds of statues


The tops of the streetlights


And despite the oppressive heat and humidity, there is shade to be found

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