Betel Beach: The Phenomenon of Disappearing Pebbles on the Beach

Padangbai Traditional Village is located in Manggis District, Karangasem Regency, on the east side of Bali Island. Padangbai Traditional Village is a place in Bali that holds a lot of deep cultural riches where the legacy of ancient traditions combines with stunning natural beauty. This amazing natural beauty includes tourism destinations ranging from non-religious tourism to religious tourism in the Padangbai Traditional Village.

The tourism that is most often found in the Padangbai Traditional Village is beach tourism because the location of this village is close to the coast. For example, Blue Lagoon Beach has its own charm with its beautiful atmosphere and is also quiet because it is far from the hustle and bustle of the city. Then, there is Bias Tugel Beach which has the whitest sand in Bali. Then, Padangbai Beach which also has white sand which is very soft and clean.

Apart from the three beaches mentioned above, namely Blue Lagoon Beach, Bias Tugel Beach, and Padangbai Beach. It turns out that there is a beach that is said to be a mystical beach in the Padangbai Traditional Village, namely Betel Beach. Betel Beach is a beach that is split from Bias Tugel Beach, where Bias Tugel Beach has white sand while Betel Beach has black sand.

Betel Beach (Source : Author Collection)

The journey from Denpasar City to Betel Beach takes approximately 1 hour with a distance of 45 km. Towards this beach, you will pass through a small, bumpy road where along the way you will be treated to the wind blowing from the shady trees around it. You also need to be careful because the road you are going to take is a bit damaged plus there are lots of sharp turns along the way.

However, all of that will be worth it once you enter this beach area where you will be greeted by the sound of roaring beach waves and cool sea breeze. Apart from that, the atmosphere of this beach is also very calm because the location of this beach is far from residential areas, so it is very suitable for those of you who want peace or are healing.

The alluring black sand of Betel Beach is an amazing natural wonder. Its unique color is created from minerals and volcanic materials which provide an unforgettable charm for visitors. Apart from the beauty of its black sand, Betel Beach is also known for a phenomenon where the pebbles on the edge of the beach can suddenly disappear.

Pebbles on the Beach (Source : Author Collection)

According to an explanation from one of the residents in Mimba Hamlet, Padangbai Traditional Village, Mrs. Ni Nyoman Dedes Sumiati. The pebbles on the beach will appear when there is a victory at Subak Temple in Mimba Hamlet, where it is said that the pebbles are money. If you're lucky, you might see this phenomenon happen.

However, apart from this phenomenon, local people usually carry out fishing activities around Bethel Beach. Even though there are big waves, this doesn't stop the people of the Padangbai Traditional Village from fishing on this beach, and many people in other villages even visit this beach to fish.

However, Betel Beach is not only about its mystical stories, but also about the unforgettable experiences stored in it. Apart from that, Mrs. Ni Nyoman Dedes Sumiati also explained several restrictions when visiting Betel Beach. He said that visitors who are menstruating or menstruating are prohibited from approaching this beach because it is said that there are people who are swept away by the current on this beach due to approaching the beach when they are menstruating. Then, Mrs. Ni Nyoman Dedes Sumiati also said that visitors who eat beef should not visit Betel Beach and that people who are pregnant are also prohibited from bathing at this beach.

Even though this is just word of mouth, it's a good idea to follow the rules and regulations stated by residents who live close to Bethel Beach. We don't know what things are behind the beauty of Bethel Beach. Besides, there is no place in this world that does not have invisible inhabitants. Therefore, it is necessary to respect and respect each other's things around us.