Dreamland

My first day in Bali was spent in search of the ever-elusive perfect beach. Expectations were high and anything less than postcard-perfect would not do. This took us to Dreamland, a dreamy cove hidden away in a luxury villa development. The beach is open to the public but there were so little people there it felt like we were in on some exclusive secret. Lonely planet wrote one line on how 'exquisite' the cove is, but really should have given budget travelers tips on how to stay in cheap guesthouses and weasel your way into the prime beach real estate of ultra-luxe hotels.

The waves at Dreamland are strong, and many pro surfers in the know make the pilgrimage to this site. Obviously the waves were too amateur for my mad surfing skills so I opted for infinity pool-side lounging in a beautiful restaurant located on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Some reading, conversations with locals, a couple bottles of Bali's finest Bintang, a breathtaking sunset, and delicious seafood curry brought the day to a lazy close.