For those that enjoy fresh air and exercise here is a fun way to explore Bali off the beaten track: group running trough rice fields, along the creeks, and subaks (the leveled rice fields). At the goal — a beer truck awaits those that didn’t get lost – loaded with ice-cold beer and some less relevant non-alcoholic beverages. It doesn’t matter when one arrives, but sooner the more beer.

These lovers of outdoor wellness and exercise are called Harsh House Harriers. They proudly refer to themselves as running clubs, or drinking clubs with a running problem.

How did it all start and where in the world are all the clubs

Apparently, a group of British soldiers got awfully bored in Malaysia in 1930ties and thought up a healthy way to explore nature and have fun. It is connected to a racing game called “Hare and Hounds” or “Paper Chase” played in English schools since the old days. The clubs got mighty popular and spread all over the world in the past century. At present, there are almost two thousand chapters in all parts of the world. Find more about clubs near you on this link.

Get ready for some serous dissing

They invented entire vocabulary: “hash” is the run, “hare” is the member who lays the trail, a group that follows is called the “hounds”. “On-on” is the call to others on the hash not to get lost. “Down-down” is an order to chug your beer, while standing in the circle. The “circle” is the gathering after the run led by the hash master where runners sing, drink beer, and individuals are randomly called to stand in the middle of the circle and do something embarrassing.

The newbies are called “virgins” and they get properly “christened” in the circle…. Anyone that attends the hash in one club more than 6 times you get their own notorious hash name. Here are some examples worth mentioning: Night Jar, Dancing Queen, Disco Wanker, Muddy Man, Chicken Shit, Gizzard, Labia, Screaming Lord,…

Recharge in pristine nature

Besides the socializing and fun, the run recharges your body and spirit. The eyes feast the green rice fields, the lungs appreciate the clean air, and the direct contact with the locals expands the mind.

The chase itself is great fun – crossing the creaks, climbing the hills, running between the rice fields. It is a unique experience of Bali, as the trekking paths are not marked and it is not safe to explore nature one’s own. If one decides to do it alone, it’s advisable to hire a local guide. And oh, the cultural delights you will encounter: local kids pointing the way to go (and sometimes asking for money); locals butt naked bathing in the creaks (lack of running water in their houses); farmers in pointy straw hats tending the rice fields. The runs are in the most beautiful natural surroundings, away from the tourist destinations, traffic and throbbing development of the south. The paths are chosen for those of average physical proves and targeted for all generations

One of my favorite moments from the runs is watching the white herons fly up from rice fields, flapping their large white wings against the green rice background -an authentic view found nowhere else in the world.

Networking anyone?

Hashing is also great way to network and meet new people. There are old hashers, part of the Bali community, owners of businesses, etc, but also tourists, travellers and hashers from other clubs from all over the world.

There are several chapters of Hash Hash on Bali: Hash House Harriers 1, Hash House Harriers 2, Denpasar Hash Club. All of them meet several times a week. To find out more about the hashes available on different locations on Bali I recommend this link www.bali-hash.com.

Red Dress Run

Once a year, Hash chapters all over the world do a notorious Red Dress Run. Both men and women wear outrageous red dresses while running.

Red Dress Run events are iconic all over the world. This year from May 9 – 11th there was a gigantic Asia-Pacific Inter Hash, while Bali hosted for the entire Indonesia in cooperation with Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry.

Jakarta Post reported there were 1984 participants from 30 countries. The runs were held at four famous tourist locations on Bali: Goa Lawah, Margarana, Sangeh and Tampak Siring. Goa Lawah in Klungkung is home to millions of bats that give it its popular name. Puputan Margarana Park in Tabanan is a historic place honoring heroes who died in the War of Independence. Sangeh monkey forest in Badung is famous for hordes of tame monkeys inhabiting giant nutmeg trees. Tirta Empul in Tampak Siring is a famous temple used for purification ceremonies built around sacred springs.

Rumor is out that Bali won the bid for hosting 2016 Interhash. About 6000 participants from all over the world are expected to participate at this internationally famous event. The sign up has already started and one can register on this link: It is bound to be a blast.