4th Dec - The abandoned Bounty hotel on Gili Meno

On 12th October 2002 two bombs ripped apart the Sari bar on Kuta beach in Bali, killing more than 200 tourists and locals. Visitor numbers immediately halved and business across island were forced into closure. Three years later, suicide bombers struck Bali again, consolidating the economic damage. One hotelier had just opened The Bounty, a large resort 28km away on Gili Meno, his bankruptcy meant the hotel was abandoned; and the buildings are now falling apart as nature reclaims the paths and pools and gardens.

On the way back from the silversmiths, after dark, I walked through this complex and it was pretty spooky, especially before I learnt that some of the derelict villas were still being used.

These mating butterflies - swamp tigers, are also found in Australia. Nature is wasting no time moving back in.

Over the years since closing, there has been talk of salvaging this huge site, but most of the dozen or so buildings are now derelict beyond repair, though a couple at least are providing free desert island accommodation for squatters.