On the road again

We have discovered that the best way to travel around Bali is to hire a driver for a day trip to places around where we want to go next. Then get the driver to drop us off at that town at the end of the tour. It has been great and is usually almost the same price as just transportation to said town and you get to see a bunch of local temples or other great/not so great sights. The last few days have been around Ubud/Lovina and these are some of the highlights.



The rice terraces are absolutely amazing! They are everywhere and are the most gorges different shades of green. We spent some time getting to walk through one and it was like following a maze along each terrace. You had to be always looking ahead for the best line if you want to get anywhere.



One surprise stop was to a small coffee plantation. We got to see it grown, roasted, and grinded. They let us try a bunch of the different types. I’m no coffee person, but they were all great. I picked up some of to take back home with me, maybe some lucky readers will get to try some. This particular plantation specialized in Luwak coffee. Which is where an animal eats the beans then shits them out, then the poop is collected and its processed into what they say is the most expensive coffee on the market. Didn’t try any but did get to learn all about their poop.





We rented bikes one day and biked around Ubud. We found a designated monkey forest and saw monkeys doing all kinds of things! Ubud is also known for its artistic scene and there are galleries for all types of art and artists ever where you look. While they all seemed nice it was the Art Zoo that stood out. This place was mixture of modern art in all mediums. There were paintings, wood carvings, and metal works all mixed and matched and filled an entire warehouse/studio.





We traveled to Lovina with promises of dolphins and snorkeling... On the drive we stopped at a beautiful temple/garden at Lake Burtan. We made one more stop at a ancient hot springs. The volcano heated water flowed out from stone carved fountains. It was the perfect way to spend an afternoon.





Lovina itself was a nice quiet place. Not much going on, but a beautiful swimming pool all to ourselves and delicious fresh sea food with live music (a blink 182 cover was heard) more than made up for the lack of entertainment.



Another highlight was when rob and I found ourselves in the middle of a soccer match with a group of locals. This kind friendly group more than made up for the few hassling you at every moment to take a dolphin tour...



When we eventually relented and signed up for a trip, we were told to meet at the dock for 6 am. After sitting around for close to an hour we got on the boat. As we were making our way through the beach brake the engine kept cutting out, sending water from the breaking waves all over us and the boat. The drivers rutter was broken and he had to steer with a paddle I was instructed it was my job to bail water out the boat since he was busy steering. While seeing a few fins and jumps from the water was nice, baling water from the sketchiest boat I have ever been on is not an ideal way to start the day. The only thing that salvaged my morning was a delicious banana pancake and Ginger tea with coconut milk.

We are currently on our way to Sanur to catch a ferry to Nusa Lambogan. So far the driver hasn't spoken to us and has been smoking like a chimney. All while coughing up a lung and blasting the club beats. Although I can't judge him to much because I'm listening to Prety Lights... it's just that I like my taste in electronic music better.