June 8, 2008

• Bali Getaway - Day 2
  
  

  We finally managed to book a driver the nite before after we sat down looked through all the brochures that we had picked up from the airport and made a decision on which place to call. So we woke up early in the morning to get ready for breakfast and have time to sit back and relax before the driver and tour guide came to pick us up.
  
  Funny thing was, when i called Bali Hidden Paradise (the tour agency) the guy who took our reservation didn't ask for our room number or tel. number and it did not occur to me to provide that part of information as well.
  
  So after we had breakfast, i did a quick toilet run in case we would be on the road for a long period of time. When i came back to the dining area, i sat down and noticed that there was a guy standing next to the reception desk and holding a brochure looking rather loss. So i took the brochure of the travel agency and asked if he was our driver or tour guide. You should have seen the look of relief on our tour guide, Putu. So off we went and started our day long journey.
  
  It took us 50 mins just to drive out of the city because it was rush hour and we were packed car-to-car. While we were stuck in traffic, Putu really surprised me with his knowledge and his wanting to share with us as much information about Balinese culture and lifestyle. He also kept apologising about being stuck in traffic which was really fine by me since i should have planned better. I was just happy we had a day planned out to see some of the sights i wanted to see. Hubbie was really nice to let me plan the day even though i had asked him about it and he said whatever i choose is fine by him. As usual, being in a car (or ANY moving vehicle) makes me drowsy and not long after i dozed off till we got our first stop.
  

  
  
  Bali Herb and Spice Garden

  Before heading up to Kintamani and Lake Batur, we stopped at a herb, spice and coffee plantation where they grew all sorts of herbs and spices. The moment i got out of the car and took a few steps, the cool breeze hit me even though the sun was shining brightly! This is going to be good weather! We took a walk through and Putu showed us around and pointed out the different trees to us. At the end of the garden, they had a nice hut-like sitting area that overlooked a cliff of lush greenery. I don't have pictures of the setting because i was too busy enjoying the view and sipping on free hot ginger tea, Balinese coffee, ginseng coffee and hot chocolate (which was really nice and thick, Hubbie likeeeee....). I did buy a box of the ginger tea to bring to school and share it with the teachers because it is supposedly good for fighting and preventing colds and flus. With all the sniffles that goes around in the school from the lil kids, we need it.
  

  
  

  

  This sporting old lady picked up the ladle and Delicious and juicy Jambu (Guava)! Yummy!
  started to roast the coffee just for me to take my shot.
  

  
  
  Kintamani and Lake Batur

  I was definitely refreshed after having my caffine fix (really strong caffine fix) and being to breathe in the nice cool fresh air around me. Putu said he would stop us at a nice stop before the restaurant we were going to have our lunch at which would give us a good view of both the volcano and the lake. Perfect!
  
  

  

  The view was definitely breathtaking! The only down side to the stop were the persistant and very aggressive sales people hawking their wares. I was mobbed by a group of 4 young girls selling pencils with colourful wood-carved objects at the end. To make the long story short, i ended up with 6 packs of those pencils (a total of 60) for a total of Rp. 260,000 (39 SGD). Don't ask me why i didn't say no to them or why i bought so many ... but it finally flashed through my mind that i was like a celebrity mobbed by paparazzi . Only they didn't want a picture of me they want me to shell out cash . In hindsight, this was the only moment that put a big damper on my experience of Bali. To share with you how persistent they were, while we were having lunch at Restoran Siring Bali they continued to parade their wares in front of us from the outside (the restaurant had a good view of Kintamani and Lake Batur).

  
  

  The buffet spread at Restoran Siring Bali was nothing spectacular but for Rp. 60,000 (9 SGD) and extra for drinks i guess i can't complain. I wasn't hungry so i only nibbled a bit of this and that. Hubbie wasn't complaining about the food but he did mentioned it was dishes of various methods of cooking fish. Since was had time in hand to take photos, i went out to the outside seating area of the restaurant and took a snapshot of this view.
  

  
  

  
  

  
  Before we left the place, i braved the people selling their wares by wearing my shades in the hope i look less approachable, and took one last shot of the volcano.
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  Sebatu Spring Water Temple
  

  After driving away from Kintamani, we found out that Hubbie's sinus attack (the one he experienced during our flight over to Bali) happens at this altitude as well and not only when he is travelling on a plane. Hubbie started getting a headache shortly after finishing lunch and the more we drove down the mountain towards our next stop, the more the pain subsided. Upon arriving at Sebatu Spring Water Temple, Hubbie had to wear a bright orange sarong before entering the temple compounds while i had to tie an orange sash around my waist as a sign of respect. There is an entrance fee of Rp. 3000 ($0.45 SGD) each and if you want to use the toilet it will cost Rp. 1000 ($0.15 SGD). It will be good if you have small change since you drop your toilet fee into a see through plexi-glass container and no change is available. If not just take it as a donation to maintaining the temple compounds. The maintaining of the temple grounds is a job that is done by the villagers who live in the area. Putu was very patient and knowledgeable as we were asking all sorts of questions about the history of the temple.

  
  Natural spring water flowing into the temple's compound.

  

                                                                                  I found myself staring at this statue for a long time                                                     Balinese Goddess of Wisdom, Saraswat.
                                                                          and it felt like it was going to come alive and jump up at me!

  
  

                                                                12th Century temple structure.                                                                                                                                                        Hubbie in his orange sarong.
  

  
  Ubud - Terrace Rice Plantations
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  We made a brief stop at a popular tourist photo-taking spot and i managed to capture this scenic shot of one of the many terrace rice plantations that is a common sight in Ubud. We only stopped here for a while as we had to make our way into the town of Ubud. This photo of us is one of my favourite shots taken during our trip.
  
  

  Ubud Royal Palace
  

  One more stop in Ubud before heading off to Tanah Lot was a visit to the Ubud Royal Palace where the Royal family of Ubud still reside within the palace grounds. Lot of restoration works were being done by the villagers too and we found out that they were also preparing for a royal funeral as well. This was another short visit as after we toured the palace we only had 30mins to walk and explore the main street in Ubud. I withdrew some cash from the local ATM and bought a small pack of Tim Tams for Rp. 8000 ($1.20 SGD) because i was hungry and i didn't want to get too hungry that i would lose all appetite for dinner when we get back to Kuta.

  
  
  

                                                                                                  One of the many intricately design                                                         This cool bat jeep caught my eye.
                                                                                                and ornate doors seen at the palace.                                              Saw it as we were stepping out of the car.

  
  
  
  Tanah Lot
  
  

  Our final stop of the day and the one stop i was really forward to all day. The temple at Tanah Lot is pretty spectacular especially when it is set on the beach. During low tides, you could walk to the temple which was what we got to do but we did notice that the tide was coming in when we were leaving. When the tide is high, the temple looks like it is floating in the sea. We didn't see that but i can just imagine it being that way. Hubbie later told me that Putu definitely did not get many tourists like me snapping photos every single step of the way. Well i did tell the two to walk on ahead i will catch up with them.
  

  
  
  One of the only shots i managed to get of Putu with Hubbie.

  
  That's the temple behind us.
  
  
  
  

  

  When we got back into Kuta, we paid Putu and the driver for their services. It cost Rp. 420,000 ($63.20 SGD) for a 10 hours service. My friend, Mala who was in Bali 2 weeks before us paid Rp. 350,000 ($53.85 SGD) for only a driver. So for an extra Rp. 70,000 ($10.50 SGD) we got ourselves a guide. We decided that a Rp. 100,000 ($15 SGD) tip for Putu and a Rp. 50,000 ($7.50 SGD) tip for our driver was fitting. At first we weren't sure if the look of Putu's face was of shock or dismay since we weren't too sure how much to tip. However, Mala pointed out to me that the tour agency only charged us Rp. 70,000 more for his services so a Rp. 100,000 was more than enough. That made us feel better.

  After dropping our stuff in our room, we walked down the street to this restaurant that we have seen while driving up and down the street and the first time we saw it we said "No way! It couldn't be!". *grin* IT IS!!! It's Bubba Gump from the movie Forrest Gump! *heehee*
  

  
  

  
  
  
  As i was taking this pic another tourist who was walking by exclaimed "Dead on, man!" *heehee*
  

  
  End of Day 2.
  

  • 9:34 am
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