In Reply to: on my way to Pemuteran posted by sandie on Thursday, 1. July 2004 at 04:06 Bali Time:
The Road to Taman Sari. Through Bedugul. Stop at the Fruit and Flower market of Candi Kuning, where you can load up on all kinds of fruits for the next few days. Visit Pura Ulun Danu, on Lake Bratan. Continue pass Lake Buyan, and immediately on your left a sharp turn for the road to Munduk.
The road runs along Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan (Beautiful panorama). As you start going down the steep road to Munduk, among coffee and clove plantations, watch for a small road on the left to take you to the shore of Lake Tamblingan. The place is magic. Primary forest surrounds the lake.
Back on the spectacular, steep, winding road to Munduk. You can stop at the waterfall, just before the village: nice. Eventually, you get to Seririt (I love the place, don't ask me why). Bear West: you are now 32 kms from Taman Sari, Pemuteran.
Back from Taman Sari. Drive back to Seririt and to Pupuan. From Pupuan to Antosari, you'll see the most spectacular rice field vistas in Bali. The coastal road from Antosari back to Kuata/Sanur is very busy and of no interest. You can stop for a visit at Pura Tenaha Lot and at the Royal Temple of Taman Ryun.
Taman Sari. When I first got there in 1992, there was a homestay along the road, with 2 rooms, where hardly anybody stopped. First, Pondok Sari was built, and then Taman Sari. On one of the early trip there, I brought Chris Brown, and he loved the place so much that he is still there. He built 'Reef Seen Diving Center,' but over the last 5 - 6 years, horses are his obsession. I believe he has about 20 horses now, all imported from Java... Together with Pak Agung Prana, he started a Turtle Project few years back. There is also a new project, about 2 years old, to rejuvenate the coral reef, using electric power to make some kind of hydrolysis to promote the growth of the coral. It's small, interesting, and it works!
Things to do. Relax on the beach (not spectacular, but nice, and NO hawkers), or by the pool. Horseback riding in the National Park, across the road, or on the beach. Spectacular diving at some 5 diving areas, just nearby. Chris has built a boat last year, which can take you directly to Menjangan Island for spectacular diving (although it has deteriorated since we first arrived). Visit the nearby Temples of Pulaki and Melanting. Trek in the National Park (guide required) for few hours or a whole day (A whole day is pretty tough, as it is very hot). This side of the Park is a dry forest. The southern side is rain forest. Take the ferry to Java (30 minutes) across the Bali Strait and back (You'll get a small taste of 'real' Indonesia). Drive to Banjar village, about 1 hour away, on the way to Lovina, to swim at the hot, sulfurous spring (lunch at the small restaurant there), and visit the only Buddhist ashram in Bali.
Enjoy your stay in Bali.