Tour of Bali (18 - 20 Aug 2010)

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Very complicated wake up this morning but the start of a 3 day trip through all the extraordinary hidden places of Bali.

We would use the Sri Ratih Cottages in Ubud as home due to it's central location on the island and because Ubud is the cultural village of Bali and has plenty to offer also.

Our driver, Wayan Swann ([phone]), is a good friend of mine and I truly recommend him for your future tours in Bali. He is local, speaks perfectly english and is a real passionate about his island. He will bring you to undiscovered places by tour operators and will try to find different things to see instead of only temples or rice fields... The best!!!

He brought us to a Barong Dance close to Sanur which represents the eternal battle in between the good and the bad.

Then drove us on our first day North through Ubud to visit the Tegenungan waterfall and the Gunung Kawi Temple, which is in the middle of amazing rice terrasses and all kind of tropical greenery. The specificity of this temple is that huge scultures have been carved into the stonen walls.

Further North, Batur and its volcano and lake. He drops us into an indonesian restaurant in the small village of Kintamani offering a large buffet and... the most spectacular view on the whole valley!! All this for only 5 euro per person...

Back south direction Ubud we stopped at the temple of Tirta Emaul. The specificity of this temple is that people come here to clean themselves from their mistakes into holy water and fountains. It heals also from black magic sorcelery.

We went East on the second day and visited Bedugul with its lake and temple Ulun Danu which is the highest in Bali and encircled by the lake.

He drove us through the rice terrasses of Jatiluwih and decided to bring us to a waterfall and hot springs somewhere in the middle of the jungle where good roads become very hard to find.

On the way back we stopped at a very last temple called Luhur Batukau which is also positionned in the middle of nowhere's land.

Third day was a visit of Ubud and a well deserved massage!!! Life is good!!!

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Photos

Sanur
Barong Dance

Tegenungan
Tegenungan waterfall

Gunung Kawi
Bridge over small river to reach the temple

Gunung Kawi
Sculpture in stonen walls

Gunung Kawi
Rice terrasses

Kintamani
View from restaurant on Mount and lake Batur

Tirta Emaul Temple
Holy water fountains

Tegalalang
Amazing rice terraces

Ulun Danu Temple
Highest temple in Bali. 11 levels.

Jatiluwih
Wayan our driver and friend

Ubud
Murni's warung