Denpasar, In the City

Canoeing at Sindu Beach

Sindu Beach is located at Sanur Kaja Village, exactly 7 km to the east of Denpasar, and is frequently visited by people. According to Ni Nyoman Luh Sri, a soft drink seller on Sindu Beach “Sindu beach has been crowded with foreign tourists since August, whilst in June, July and December the beach is more dominated by the domestic tourist.” On routine holidays, for example, Saturdays and Sundays, and Hindu holidays in Bali such as Banyu Pinaruh, Ngembak Nyepi, Galungan and Kuningan, the beach is full of local people.

On religious holidays, said a mother with one child from Karangasem, sees the beach frequented by locals and students, visiting or spending vacations. ‘When this happens, every service man, such as parking officers, drink and food sellers will get busy with the buyers,” she said.
Besides swimming, people visit Sindu Beach to relax and refresh their minds after work, or taking care of the family. Blue ocean as far as the eye can see stretches along, with the Peak of Agung Mountain appearing on the northern side, and the hills of Nusa Penida Isle emphasizing their magnificence.
The soaring building of the Inna Grand Bali Beach Hotel is also an attraction for the visitor. Small and calm waves make it possible to take your family along to “taste” the Sindu beach water. Many sporting facilities are also available, such as canoes and speedboats for water transportation to enjoy the beach’s beauty, or just for fun.
People utilize this playing facility with their families. For canoeing the cost is Rp. 5.000 for an hour, whilst the traditional speedboat is Rp. 400.000/half an hour. Usually the local people rent canoes on holidays, so expect to queue up!
Boats are mainly rented by tourists. “Canoes are commonly rented by local people, whilst the foreign tourist takes more pleasure in using the traditional speedboat.” said the canoe man.
The beach is also crowded on “rerahinan” (Holy days). People often use Sindu beach as a place to perform ritual and religious Hindu ceremonies, especially the Sanur Villager. They perform melasti or “nganyut” (series ceremony of ngaben) at this beach often attracting the tourist.
Since Kuta’s bomb-blast tragedy, fewer tourists are visiting Sindu beach. Tourists, who visit Sindu Beach, will stay at a hotel in Sanur, mostly coming from Australia, Japan, and Holland. On average, there are about 20 tourists visiting the beach in one day. According to Luh Sri, this situation makes the canoe man or boat owner, and the seller, complain, because of the lack of numbers. “Massages and nail painting services costs’ have been reduced from Rp 200,000 to just Rp 20,000 per hand on the beach, but the tourist is still not tempted, “said a nail paint woman.
A drink seller we spoke to says, “Now is the quiet season, none of the visitors want to buy anything, It makes it difficult for us to pay the retribution to Sanur village,” she said. (BTN/Budarsana)