BMTH live in Jakarta 2024

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This time around Ravel gets it right and BMTH (Bring Me The Horizon) are headlining the Nexfest festival in Jakarta which also features Babymetal. In this format there is no seating - which makes for a much more intimate experience - although you do have to arrive really early if you want to pick a spot right up close to the stage.  We arrived about six hours before BMTH were scheduled to start their performance and bought plenty of drinks to stay hydrated in the tropical afternoon heat (mind you, some of those were Iceland vodka mix!) This was a gig I had long been looking forward to - especially after the debacle last year. Not everyone likes BMTH of course. For deathcore fans the band sold out. For metal heads the band is not purist enough. And for the wider mainstream audience, the band is too heavy. You can't please everyone of course but there are few bands in the rock world which can match the sheer emotional velocity of BMTH. To bring metal and even aspects of metalcore t...
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Blue Lagoon, Padangbai, Bali

Padang Bai is a sheltered little bay in the eastern part of Bali. It’s idyllic enough but there is a downside – it is also the place where rust bucket ferries depart for the long and slow trip (anything from 5-7 hours) to Lombok. As a result, there is a lot of traffic coming through - mostly tatty trucks and belching buses.

But is it worth coming to Padang Bai, even if you are not getting the ferry across to Lombok? Well, possibly it is. If you are heading north to Amed, for example, and are too tired to continue your journey, Padang Bai is a good place to stop given the availability of affordable - albeit rather basic - accommodations like this one.

What makes Padangbai worth visiting, though, is its secluded beach called the Blue Lagoon.

It’s located to the north of the village and you just have to climb a small hill to get there. At the top there is a small carpark and a signpost showing the way. If in doubt just ask for directions.

Blue Lagoon, Padangbai

The Blue Lagoon is certainly a very nice spot and doesn’t get too crowded. When we were there, there were only a handful of other tourists - a far cry from the mayhem at Kuta! If you are lucky and the sea is calm – which is not very often! – the snorkelling is said to be pretty good. Otherwise just lie back and soak up the sun!

Blue Lagoon, Padangbai

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