0 Jerman Beach, a trace of Kuta's past

The white sandy beach located to the south of Kuta is popularly known as Jerman Beach. Some people also call this area, located near Ngurah Rai airport’s runway, Pasih Perahu Beach. I Wayan Suka, a caretaker at Celuk Waru Temple located by the beach, said some German people had lived there when working as airport construction workers. Jerman is the Indonesian spelling for German. 

“This place has been known as Jerman Beach since I was a child, because German people lived there,” the middle-aged man said, pointing at the coast. Inside the temple, there is a spring surrounded by a miniature of a boat. Uniquely, the spring runs with fresh water, even though it is located on the beach. There is also a dragon statue, known as Baruna, the guardian of the ocean. Tourists are not allowed to go inside the temple, but they can still see it all from the outside. Suka recalled that Jerman Beach used to be a seaport at one time. 

According to the official history books on Kuta subdistrict, Kuta was first mentioned in 1336, when Gajahmada and his troops from the Majapahit kingdom arrived there. The area was then known as Tuban, the same name as a coastal city in East Java. Abrasion has since eroded the port area. Some books mention the Kuta area as historically being one of the centers of trade in Bali. Jerman Beach is much quieter than Kuta Beach, which is located not too far along the coast. 

Scores of beautiful traditional boats line the beach, demonstrating that the area used to be a trade center. These boats are rarely been used for fishing by the fishermen nowadays, due to the unpredictable weather that forces them to sail further when they do go out. Besides, the fishermen now have an alternative income as tourist guides and can use their boats to take the tourists to the surf. Masseuses and souvenir sellers sitting under the shady trees while waiting for their customers is a common sight along Jerman Beach. 

Some hotels and villas have put out beach chairs for their guests. The blue sky, lines of traditional boats and, at the end of the day, the sunset in the background, provides a stunning view. Tourists can use the well-maintained path along the beach to walk, push their babies in a stroller, or ride bicycles along the shore and enjoy the peace and beauty.

source : bali daily