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Published: December 30th 2010
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Another speedy ride through the unmade roads of Bali saw us arrive in a very sunny Lovina. We were definitely glad to have arrived and also to have left Tulamben. We were shown to our room and then shown the pool and the beach. We then sat in the restaurant for our welcome drink and a cold towel which were both very welcome. After a quick change we went to the poolside where our sundowners has been made up ready for us along with towels. A quick sunbathe in the heat and we took a well earned dip in the very cold pool. Not sure the pool was actually as cold as it felt but after laying in beautiful sunshine it certainly felt cold. We had been given a map of the local area so we could find our way around. We decided to go out for dinner as you had to order dinner at least the day before at our villas. As soon as we walked out of the back gate and onto the beach we were greeted by sellers and this trend continued our whole 10 minute walk into the centre of Lovina. They even try and sell things
to you when you are sat in the restaurants or wait outside until you get up to leave and then descend on you!! Unlike Thailand where a single ‘No Thank you’ would suffice it took at least 4 repetitions of ‘No thanks’ before they may turn away and walk away.
The following day was spent relaxing by the pool with the occasional swim. We were the only ones in the villas which was really weird and we kept expecting someone else to turn up. As late afternoon arrived we soon realised that no-one else was going to arrive so we were going to have the whole place to ourselves for Christmas!! We hadn’t booked dinner at the hotel for Christmas eve so we went for an early dinner in Central Lovina as we had an early start on Christmas day for the Dolphin Watching tour.
5.30am came on Christmas morning with the alarm clock and shortly after a knock on the door from the security guard to tell us the boat was coming on to shore. So we walked through the complex and out the back gate straight onto the beach and into the boat. A half hour
ride out from the shore and we caught a glimpse of the first dolphin. Shortly after another pod of dolphins surfaced elsewhere for a short while before diving again. Every time the dolphins surfaced the boats would head in their direction and they would quickly dive under again. By 7 AM there was about 30 boats out on the ocean which didn’t help the dolphins to surface close to anyone. A way out into the bay we saw a pod of dolphins playing and leaping but after all the boats turned to go to them they quickly disappeared. Despite this the dolphins were surfacing regularly with some jumping. Each pod that surfaced had at least 10 dolphins in it so there was lots to keep your eyes open for. At about 7.30 AM the dolphins had gone quiet and we started to head back to the beach. The captain of out boat had forgotten that it was low tide so we ended up hitting the shallow reef and having to paddle back out to deep water and go around the corals before beaching!!
After breakfast we were taken out by the villas as they were putting in a new
window and it was going to be noisy so they took us out to visit a Buddhist temple and hot springs. The temple was more of a meditation centre and was extremely quiet and relaxed. Lots of gardens and walkways as well as quiet meditation centres and a central structure. It was up in the hills so had good views of the surroundings but also meant it was really hot. We then went to the Hot springs which we were expecting to be spa type hot pools but it turned out to be just like a swimming pool only very warm. It was used by all the locals and seemed to be a place to have their weekly shower as well as a swim!! We spent an hour here before heading back to central Lovina for some lunch.
A shower and cat nap once back at the villas and we headed for dinner at the restaurant. Being the only guests in the place we had our own chef for the night and a very delicious and romantic meal - fresh fish in a Balinese sauce with rice and fresh veg. It was definitely a different birthday and Christmas but a
thoroughly enjoyable one with lots of sunshine.
Boxing day saw more guests arriving and a special Balinese dinner cooked by a chef from the outer Indonesian Islands who now lives in Bali. We took a trip to the market with the Villas owner and chef to the local markets to buy the fish and the vegetables for the boxing day dinner. There was traditional Balinese dance performed by children and then a guitarist and singer performed for a couple of hours. The food was absolutely delicious and we ate far too much of it leaving us feeling a little uncomfortable, and as we had spent the morning in the sunshine and were feeling a little hot an red as well so we were definitely ready for an early night.
The following morning was check out and a long trip to the airport ready for the overnight flights to Sydney.
Despite a good few days in Lovina we are definitely ready to leave. I think Mark summed up our feelings for Bali when he asked if we could go home to Thailand!!
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