Bingin Beach doesn’t have much of a beach. Depending on the tide, the thin strip of sand at Bingin is either underwater or almost entirely shaded by the beachfront huts perched on wooden stilts. Even though there's little to no sand to hang on, there are tons of fun bars and cafes in those huts right on the shore.

You can sit in the blisteringly hot sun or under shade from an umbrella while you sip your ice cold Bintang and watch the surfers in the water. The break is right offshore, so unlike spots like Uluwatu, you’re close enough to see the action in detail. 

Mike went into the water to play around on a rented board (his had been dented somewhere between leaving Perth and arriving in Bali, so it was at the shop for the day). While he was out there, I observed the scene, people watching and basking in the carefree, happy atmosphere.

What's not to be happy about? It's an easy life. You watch surfers while you enjoy a fresh pressed juice, a tropical fruit smoothie or a grilled wrap sandwich. And of course a young coconut with a straw and a spoon is always a great option.

I looked to my right and into the hut next to us to see a man repairing surfboards. He smoothed epoxy over the dings and dents, then sanded the dried, uneven bits away to create a perfectly smooth surface, ready to carve through water once again.

I also took the time to further hone my photography skills - surf photography and otherwise - spoiled by some world-class subject matter. 

We really only had one good day at Bingin, when we were there for a few hours, enjoying the sun, some lunch and the waves. On another day, we went and checked the waves, then left, opting for better surf at another spot, Balangan.