Does Bali have the best body surfing? How long can you travel? And a word about Bali dogs...

I have body surfed (over a 35 year period) the east and west coast of Australia, Mexico, South Africa but the waves in Kuta Beach, Bali, take some beating. Why else have tourists been flocking there since the 60's?

Legian Beach

On a good day you can travel 50 metres on a wave (sometimes one wave piggy-backs another for extra distance). You body surf until you:
(a) eat sand because you have reached the shallows;
(b) run out of breath;
(c) both.

Go where the surf schools go. These little waves are great for beginners and have maximum distance. Just watch you don't get too close when you body surf.
Legian is also good. I am writing this mid April, the end of the wet season. Seminyak body surfing okay but I can't go as far.

Tips (these might be obvious)

• Wait until the wave is about to break.
• Launch yourself by swimming strongly (freestyle) in front of the wave.
• Streamline your body (hands one on top of the other, fingers together, feet overlapping together, tuck your head under your arms, suck your gut in if you have a bit of 'middle age spread').
• Keep your head DOWN.
• I don't use fins, that's cheatin'
• Wear trunk style bathers, a zip is good for room key, etc. Speedos, second preference. Board shorts take too long to dry and can slow you down in the water.

A word about beach dogs
It is amazing the number of dogs on Bali beaches.  I didn't see so many last year. Legian has packs of stray dogs roaming from dawn 'til dusk. There are also a great dogs with owners (locals and ex pats), walking, playing with balls and paddling in the surf. Labradors are popular. 

How a dog took over a household

Day 1
Adopted RSPCA rescue dog (Jack Russell Cross 9 weeks old). Bought dog basket, intending pup to sleep in the laundry.
Day 2
Dog basket put under kitchen table. Kitchen door closed at night. Scratching at door from 6 a.m. to be let into rest of house.
Day 150
Dog allowed on bed at night.
Day 200
Dog sleeps in bed.

Good night

Good morning

Dogs change your life

Like having children, having a dog changes your life. Before we got a dog I thought the dog would live outside in the disused cubby house, that changed to - in the laundry, that changed to in the kitchen under the table, that changed to on our bed (or daughter's bed).
How I have mellowed!
I have a (one way) conversation with the pup, admire the consistency of his poo before I bag it in the local park, open the back door each morning so he can bark at the passersby on the way to work, give him non-doggy food like cheese and smoked salmon, spell out the word W-A-L-K to the wife so pooch doesn't hear the W-word too soon and get excited.

Speaking of that, it's nearly 9 am in Melbourne so  it's definitely time for his W-A-L-K.

In praise of dogs .... and a word of warning

Soon after my wife and I retired we adopted a RSPCA rescue dog. He was only 10 weeks old so he has grown up with us. It was an 18th birthday present for our daughter.  Langly was named by our daughter (her Lone Gunmen tribute, a short-lived The X-Files spin-off series). He is a win-win for whole family.
I never had a dog before so I didn't realise the delight of having a dog. Great company and a great way to get daily exercise for all concerned. Here are two recent photos - Langly is nearly 2 years old.



Just a word about pet insurance...
We used Woolworths Pet Insurance accidental  injury cover for 12 months. READ WORDING OF POLICY CAREFULLY. You have to be a lawyer. Investigating the meaning of the word "fall". Dodgy. We discontinued policy this year. Buyer Beware.