Balian Beach

A rustic surf spot on the southwest coast.  This video opens with Ketut bringing his cow back from getting a drink in the Balian River, just where the river dumps its muddy water into the Indian Ocean.  Ketut is a gnarly surf dude, nature boy, and entrepreneur.  He runs a warung on the beach, and a primitive homestay just up the road.

While motorbiking up that road, I passed a 70-year-old woman with a basket on her head, topless, wearing only a sarong around her waist.  I read later that traditionally in Bali, showing the thighs was considered immodest, uncovering the breasts was not.  Isn't it interesting how humans organize themselves into groups and make up rules about what is right and wrong.