Exploring beautiful Bali

19.2.16

Today we have our very own driver, Puto with a Villa Ubud car.
Very smart and comfy.
We set off after our pineapple pancakes with caramel sauce breakfast at 9.15 am.
Our first stop was about 30 minutes away at the Elephant Cave Temple 15000 rp each to go in and complimentary sarong for men and women.

We spent about an hour there and saw the hugest spider web with the hugest spider in it.

After about another 30 minutes we arrived at the Holy Water Temple.
You have to have a sarong to go around, then to go into the water you need a different sarong and a locker.
This Temple was also  15000 rp
+ donation for sarong 1 + 30000 for both of us for locker and sarong to go in water.
It was really special, especially to go in the water and to watch people doing their rituals.

You are supposed to immerse your face and hair at the water fountains. Of course I didn’t but John did!

After a further stroll and getting accosted by salespeople selling t shirts, sarongs. hats, carvings, etc etc and after buying a wooden carved candle holder, we joined Puto again and drove to the Kintamani volcano and Batur lake, about another 45 minutes away.
The roads and scenery are fantastic, everywhere is so lush and green, beautiful fruit stalls and many bamboo decorations which are from the big 6 month celebrations that they have on the island.
As we approached the volcano road we were pulled over, at first I thought it was a check point, but you pay there, total 65000 rp.

The usual of clamour of people trying to sell stuff whilst looking at the beautiful view of the volcano and its crater lake.
We walked further along and found a small restaurant with the view and ordered noodles, rice and satay. Really tasty and what a wonderful place to sit.

Our next stop was the rice steps.

Absolutely stunning. A little tricky to manoeuvre getting down and worse coming back up. John took my hand to help me up but just yanked me instead of letting me get my footing and use some if my own strength. This resulted in a few choice words, pain in my arm, tingling in my fingers and partial loss of a toenail.
Apart from that I’m fine !

Further on and we came to the waterfall, just beautiful.

It was a long way down and even further back up all the deep steps, but so worth it.

We stopped at the top and had an ice cream and loads of water.

Today’s tour has been absolutely fabulous, all for the price of £23.

Puto asked if we wanted to be dropped in town, which was a great idea. I decided I definitely need a pedicure as I can’t risk keep catching my nail and its very sore.
Found a little place, upstairs with a pretty garden terrace.
A young girl, maybe 14, did my pedicure. Apart from the cotton wool to take my varnish off everything else just got put back in the plastic box!
Didn’t see anything get washed and hoping the person before me didn’t have any life threatening illnesses.

Meanwhile John had a Balinese massage from the young girls Dad.

Time for a wander around the shops, the roads sprawl in all directions, so hard to get your bearings and remember which bits you’ve already seen. I love that about it.

I bought a pair of Flippers flip flops which I’m assured by a friend are very good, the lady in the shop spotted my Bosnian (absolute bargain) Havaianas and said they are excellent quality but 3 times the price of the Flippers and stronger, so I’m not expecting these to last as well!

Went off in search of food, went to Gustis Homestay restaurant as it looked popular. I opted for 2 starters, no rice or noodles as I feel like I’m turning into a noodle. John had fish of the day and rice and banana fritters.

As we were about to leave the heavens opened and we made a run for it and found a ‘taxi’ man.
There’s signs around to boycott the illegal taxis but when its chucking it down its not a priority.
It’s been a fabulous day.

Really can’t say enough lovely things about this beautiful island.