UBUD, BALI - INDONESIA PART 2

Dec 10

DAY 53 – DEC 7 – SEMINYAK TO UBUD, BALI – INDONESIA

We got up and went for a walk about 9am. Tina wanted to head to the beach, I came back home for another swim and to pack.

I had a long call with Jado again – lots to plan for this other trip ahead for him too.

We had to check out at noon, so we walked over to find a hair salon for me. Finally found one, Tina waited while I had a hair treatment. We were back at our villa to grab our luggage about 2pm to catch a grab to Ubud.

OMG. At home, google told me Ubud is about a 30 min drive. It took 2 ½ hours of back road short cut driving and our driver was jerking the steering wheel the ENTIRE time. Can you say we were jarred by the time we got out of the car? Tina has to sit in the front of every Grab, even when it’s smooth driving – she gets horrible car sickness – so after this trip, even with drugs, she was not well!

This place was too gorgeous for words WOW!! We settled into our resort – it was basically little individual temple home in the jungle, overlooking crazy beauty and the pool. Free breakfast at this place. Got checked in.. decided to go for dinner.

We walked towards downtown. Stopped for Mexican dinner, it was so good!!! Then we walked through a whole beautiful market on the way home. Made it home by about 7pm just as it was really dark.

I showered, prepared for early morning – we have a big tour tomorrow.

DAY 54 – UBUD, BALI – INDONESIA

We were picked up 8am after our free breakfast at our AirBNB. We started with the Tirta Empul Temple. Tina is not a huge fan of water and doesn’t go in pools much, but this was one of the bucket list items of this trip for me.

Got changed into their sarong in a disgusting change room with another toilet at floor level type washroom. I was actually confused when I got in the water of how to do it, but our guide ADI, who was just great – explained that I must work my way from left to right and go to each fountain. Since I did not fully understand, nor am I their religion – I decided to quote a scripture as I approached each fountain. It was an amazing experience, I loved it! The water was cold, but I loved this experience and so glad I did it.

Then we walked through a local artist market and got a few little things. And made our way to a coffee plantation. What an absolute education, learned all about LUWAK coffee. Where they explained to us that an animal called a luwak loves to eat the coffee beans from the trees, but only eats the outer layer. All of the poop they can find in the forest from the luwak is collected, dried for 2 years, then the bean on the inside is removed, each bean by human hand individually, then roasted over an open fire for a long time. Then put into a huge pulverizing clay pot where they pound it into ground coffee, by hand. They sell this coffee as beans or as powder. The all-consuming tedious task makes this coffee very pricey. I didn’t try it, but I had to buy some to take home – where else would I ever try this in my lifetime? As we were leaving, they offered to put the lumak on my shoulders for a photo, so I said yes of course. What an experience.

Next we went to Ulu Petanu Waterfall. Another WOW!! The jungle in Ubud is like none I have seen before. A little reminiscent of the rain forest in Australia but otherwise, tough to take in how many shades of lush green can be in one spot!?

Then we headed to the Bali Swing. Well, I wish I had some heads up on this swing. Jorg went here as well 6 months ago but she went on a 2-person swing in her regular clothes. Tina was nervous and asked me to go first. If I had the chance to go 2nd, I would have had a better time I think. All good, I went for it. I was nervous for sure. They put a red dress on me, I really didn’t even know what they were doing. I had seen this long ago in photos but it didn’t really click for me. Swinging with a red dress with a long tail over the rice fields. Regardless, we got beautiful photos from it. What a spectacular opportunity!!

I was shaky after that and perfect timing, as they served us a beautiful lunch with 8 banana leaf boats of food to go with a tower of rice in the middle. Plus, dessert, wow! So good. We walked the property, found an infinity pool and many other great photo opp spots with massive hanging round straw seats, etc..

Then we went to what seemed like an amusement-type park for swings and other activities around and above rice fields. 100% absolutely breath taking. I asked Tina to ride the 2-person bicycle on a tight wire over the rice fields and yayyyyyyy – she agreed. Hilarious, she screamed the entire way there and back…. on the way back screaming “you’re peddling too fast, I’m losing my shoes” hahahaha. The video shows her with the legs straight out not peddling desperately trying to save her shoes. When I saw the video is when I understood what she was saying … oh my – so funny.

Then we went to the Monkey Forest. I have never in my life been surrounded by so many monkeys. They were wild!! Hilarious and so interesting. There is definitely a pecking order and a system. The older ones are the bosses! Every other monkey reveres this ‘order’. The older one can give a glance to a little monkey, and the little one scrambles out of site in fear of the older one coming over to swat it.

We could have probably stood here for a very long time watching this display of happy playing monkeys, so amazing! We finished walking through the forest and got a ride home.

We walked back down to the main area downtown Ubud, sat at a very cool spot for dinner overlooking the street.

A man named Patrick came to sit beside me, bought us drinks and we chatted for a while. He is from Belguim – traveling the world. Interesting stories.

I walked home to do some work, Tina stayed out later but it started pouring rain as soon as I walked in to our place so for me, good timing. She liked the rain and enjoyed her walking time out there.

DAY 55 – UBUD, BALI – INDONESIA

Well this day was a write-off. We knew it was to be a rainy day. We had breakfast, and walked downtown. It started pouring as soon as we got downtown. We did the full indoor market. At that point, we started walking outside and the rain looked like it was going to come hard again so I decided to get a grab home to work. (yes, I know I work a lot on holidays but my home time is coming soon and I am starting to feel the pressures and deadlines looming).

Tina stayed out for the day. The entire day literally poured rain so hard. I sat in my 4-post bed with netting and opened my windows wide. An absolutely magical day working in Ubud.

Tina walked in completely fully drenched. Walked in to the shower with her clothes on to wash them off. Too funny.

RECAP OF BALI – INDONESIA

BALI – Bali has 4.4 Million population, and 5 Million motorcycles. Bali is a small island and driving around the entire island, or across would not take much time with no traffic. There are 100’s of smal roads that if you know the short cuts are endlessly windy and sort of confusing. There are 3 main roads through this island. Some of the roads are super narrow, there are so many potholes, and so many motorcycles that driving around would definitely be a challenge. Easy enough to hire a grab or a taxi for not a huge expense.

Bali is as beautiful as the magazines show it to be. The Nusa islands were my favorite. I could spend some time there for sure.

SEMINYAK

The highlight of Seminyak for me was our villa. The weather was ok but not great. Beaches were beautiful. Shopping was good, restaurants and food was great. I loved the Grab motorbike option again everywhere!! People were kind. There were many amazing villas with private pools. Just super humid!

Population 4250. Surrounded by many other beach towns. Great place to go for a Bali beach trip!

UBUD!! You are an amazing place!! Adventure, shopping, lush green beauty in every direction! I loved the curvy, windy roads – each road was a new adventure. Some roads were quiet, beside a river and forest, then the next corner was a busy street of homes and shops. Many streets were one-way for cars, but motorbikes can ride both ways.

Population 75K. No beaches, but enough culture to keep you interested for a long time. Amazing beautiful place!

BALI, INDONESIA – overall you get an 8.5 / 10 from me. Beautiful! Adventurous! Just a little too humid for me.

PICS BELOW:

1. our new room in Ubud (a family temple estate turned into a hotel, the family still lives there too)

2. my Mexican salad 1st night dinner in Ubud - so good!

3. stumbled upon this art market our first night in Ubud

4. Tina got ice cream at the art market

5. our driver for Day 2 named ADI

7. out of order, last night market pic

6, 8, & 9 - Temple Empull .. we were given green sarongs with red belts mandatory

10. me waving to our guide who had my phone

11-12. this is an EAGLE / OWL!! never knew that existed