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Morning of the World

Sanur Beach, Bali - Morning of the World

Sanur Beach in Bali is known as the “Morning of the World”, and it’s not difficult to see why. Sanur faces east. I'm also very lucky to call this place home. Living in the grounds of Fairmont Sanur is just living the dream! It only takes me 5 mins to get to the beach, which is kind of like my backyard! I love being on the beach early, before the heat of the day arrives, but even better is grabbing my paddle board and heading out in to the sea while it is still dark.

There is something uniquely special about sitting out on the water and watching the sky slowly change from bruised dark blue purples, to soft pastels. When you see that hint of colour on the horizon, followed by the softest pinks, blues, orange and golden yellows that begin to appear, it’s like an explosion of colour, which for an artist is just magical! The sea is typically calm in the early morning, it looks like glass, as the jukung fishing boats haven’t started their day and the tourists have yet to arrive on their jet skis. You feel like you have the ocean all to yourself. Waiting for the sun to rise feels like a wonderful giant pause. All you see and feel is the stillness of the ocean as the day breaks. It is so peaceful and almost feels unreal!

I took this photo from my paddle board. I love how the jukung boats are silhouetted against the sunrise, just bobbing on the waves.

Pastel sketch of Sanur Beach Bali

Painting Sanur from my paddle board

You'll find me with my pastels on the beach most days capturing the colours and atmosphere of Sanur, but I also like to take things one step further — quite literally! Some of my paintings are done from my paddleboard. I tend to sit on the paddle board with my sketch book and mini easel out on the water and use the seawater to either dilute watercolours or rinse the pastel stains on my hands... it does require a bit of balance especially if a boat zips by you and creates a big wave! Being right in the middle of the sea gives me a completely different view of the beach and the morning light. I sketch what I see while I am out there, trying to catch those fleeting changes in colour before they disappear.

The wonderful thing about pastel is that I can work quickly. I can put down the soft blues and pinks of the early morning, add the warm sandy colours as the sun appears and capture the reflections across the water before the whole scene changes again.

Pastel of Fairmont Sanur Beach Bali sketched from my paddle board

Why is Sanur called the "Morning of the World"?

Sanur's nickname is particularly fitting because the beach looks towards the sunrise. The phrase “Morning of the World” is associated with India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who visited Bali in the 1950s and was struck by the beauty of Sanur's dawn.

And I think he had a point.

There is something very special about watching the day begin from the sea. You can also watch the sunrise with breakfast on the beach at Fairmont Sanur Beach Bali.

Photo of my breakfast sea view at Fairmont Sanur Beach

For me, Sanur isn't just about the beautiful beach, the palm trees or the traditional fishing boats. It is about that first light — the quiet colours, the reflections and the feeling that the whole world is waking up around you.

So if you are visiting Bali, set the alarm, get yourself down to Sanur Beach and watch the sunrise.

And if you happen to see someone bobbing around on a paddle board with a sketch book and an easel give me a wave no pun intended and I'll wave back …