Padang Padang - the monkey playground

As we headed further south onto the 'Bucket' we stayed in a small place called Padang Padang. The beach is the most beautiful we've seen so far, it's a small cove with white sands, cliffs to climb and monkeys to watch. Although the bay is known for being one on the most consequential waves on the island with forehand and backhand barrels over a shallow reef, this week has brought small surf and so has been an extremely mellow long boarders waves. As John and Dan have been venturing up the road to Uluwatu (a world class wave on it's day), Helen and I have been enjoying Padang. To get to the beach you have to climb down steep steps through a cave with monkeys that appear from all over. We have often wondered why the monkeys don't venture onto the beach. One morning, fairly early when Helen and I went to check the surf we found out they absolutely do use the beach, just early when there is no one about. It was spectaclar, like a monkey playground, there must have been at least 15 monkey on the beach playing a game, what looked like tig. There were a few more playing on a ruined junkung, one was pretending to be the captain. The shallow reefs make for great snorkling, we've seen clown fish, lion fish, baracudas, eels, puffer fish and many more colourful fish. The whole area that surrounds the beach has a real jungle feel. It is less touristy here with a chilled vibe. Oh and great food. Just next door is a mexican restaurant run by a mexican (the best kind). The burritos and chimichangas are Yum!!!