Wow, the beaches of Bali were a complete disappointment and really just mind-blowing in the amount of trash that washed up and was dumped right on the beach. Apparently Nov-March is “Trash-Season” in Bali, where currents push trash back onto the beaches. There was plenty of old trash washing up, but there was also lots of very new trash, floating around, flotsam and jetsam from a modern world. A few restaurants and hotels seems to make a half-hearted attempt at cleaning up their beachfront, but the older the plastic, the smaller pieces, make it nearly impossible to get everything. These beaches were unswimmable and would be immediately closed if this were any other country. I for one am not going to go swimming when soggy diapers are washing up on shore. I have traveled far and wide and been to many countries rich and poor and NEVER seen anything like this. Since 80% of Bali’s population depends on tourism, you would think there would be some effort to combat the trash. Or they could at the very least do what other places do and clean it up daily. These beaches could be great. Or once were. Golden sand, nice breaks, long wide sandy stretches. Now it’s repulsive. This is not what I expected to be sharing about Bali, a place I’ve heard rhapsodized about by more than a few friends. I was not looking for trash to get these photos, rather I was looking to avoid the rubbish with every step.
Yup, all that’s shiny is plastic.
Memorial to the 2002 Bombings in Kuta.
Strolling along Legian Beach, Bali.
Lighting strikes near Benoa Beach, Nusa Dua, Bali.
Legian Beach, Bali.
Fisherman pushing their boat our to sea, Jimbaran Beach, Bali.
If you can’t swim in the ocean, it helps to have a wading pool to lie in.
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