Ahhh, Bali.

I'm finally here and I'm finally able to say (now that I've been to the beach), that Bali, is amazing.

My hostel, Jolie Hostel Bali, is also amazing. Probably one of the nicest hostels I've ever stated in and for about $13 USD/night! Check them out, I highly recommend them if you come to Bukit Peninsula.
•lovely swimming pool, bigger and warmer and nicer than the one in Jogja (so far I'm 2/2 on evening dips--such a refreshing way to end a sweaty day)
•clean, new, modern and well designed--the common area is downstairs away from the rooms and they did not skimp when it came to decor--functional yet stylish
•real beds! Real sheets! Real, thick pillows and comforter!
•chilly AC--that actually works and is self-controlled
•wi-fi :)
•friendly, helpful staff that speaks great English

Today:
-Rented a motorbike for the day ($5 USD--1/10th of the cost from Italy) for the second time ever. Starting to feel more comfortable driving and really enjoying the ease of transport a motorbike offers. Love to cruise the windy, empty roads of the peninsula. Even honked and passed and crept like a local. And on the opposite side of the road! (I've been in a lot of countries with crazy driving but Indo is the first in recent memory where two lanes become four and people play chicken like you wouldn't believe, but somehow it all works out).
-Followed my map (worked out much better this time in comparison to Chianti!) and beach hopped all day.
-Beach #1 Padang Padang: Glorious blue water before me--this is the moment I've been waiting for! A tiny little cove reminiscent of the small beaches in Puerto Escondido, Mexico. Met two girls from Cali, super nice. Swam in the warm, soft water. Ate my favorite, banana pancake (looks almost like a really thin tortilla or a crepe and tastes different than our pancakes, but super delicious). Mellowed out and rejoiced that I actually found it!
-Beach #2 Ulu Watu: Further along the main back road and at the south west tip of the peninsula. A myriad of surf shops and warungs (food stands and cafes) layered in levels that eventually leads to another crazy staircase to the tiny beach. Very, very tiny. Lots of coral reefs, the surfers look like they're walking on water to get out to their waves. I swim, lounging in the see-thru water until my fingers wrinkle, and then I swim some more. It's so hard to get out.
-Beach #3 Balangan: After dinner but before sunset I find this beach down a new road. Much larger and again with the coral reefs, this beach is a beautiful stretch as it sits under the cliffs. Meet an Indonesian guy who takes me to a look out point, very friendly and of course, like all young people, wants to practice his English. Also, he doesn't have many friends here. He's moved from Jogja to Bali for work.