Hi All,
Just thought that I would share my day trips that I did last week from Sanur and Ubud.
We used "Teddy" Ketut Surdita who was recommended on here and he was great. Thanks to Sarah@yakka for sending me a list of suggested tours as it was invaluable.
On our first daytrip we started in Sanur and went over to Tanah Lot which had a fantastic ceremony happening. Wow all the smells, colours and music was amazing. After taking some lovely pics we set off for Pacung which had amazing views of the fields etc. Then it was time for Ulan Danu on the peaceful lake of Bratan. We had a yummy buffet lunch overlooking the lake where I tried the black rice pudding. I'm sorry but as much as I LOVE rice, this was not for me!!!
Teddy then took us right up to Gobleg to get amazing views of the 2 other lakes in the region. There we got our first sight of monkeys by the road awwwww how cute!!!! It was soooo much cooler up there and it even started to rain, but compared to the humidity down south it was bliss. I fell asleep on the way back down to Mengwi, and as it was getting on a bit we didn't stop to have a look, maybe next visit. We saw the colourful spectacle of the women with the fruit etc offerings parading down the street to the temple on the way back to Sanur which was such a treat. Oh how wonderful it must be to have faith!!! I am of no faith in particular but I must admit the Hindu and Buddhist faith seem the way to go.
Daytrip 2 was to a Barong dance first up. I really enjoyed it and it even kept the 4 kids enthralled. The music can get a bit monotonous, but the costumes were brilliant. I was starting to get a bit worried when the men were thinking that the boar's tail was his penis, but the kids all thought it was hilarious (toilet humour is all the go when you are 7 and 11). We wanted to buy some kites, so Teddy took us to a kite factory. Dilemnas galore, how do we get all the ones we wanted back home. We ended up getting 3 dragons, but I really wanted the gorgeous peacock. Now I know they are easily put on as handluggage, I definately will be getting one next visit. (hey I am already thinking like a seasoned forumite ie next visit lol). Next was a visit to a woodworking village where our friends bought 4 lovely hibiscus masks for their own piece of Bali that they have built in their backyard. The carver delivered the masks to their Mas hotel within a few days as they didn't have 4 masks ready. I think that they were around $35 each but don't quote me on that.
Ubud was the luncheon stop, with awesome views from the top terrace of the Indus Restaurant. Their coconut creme caramel dessert is better than a man!!!!!!
On the way back to Sanur we stopped to buy some Umbul Umbuls and Pekorub? (not too sure of spelling here). The Pekorubs are the crowns that are placed on top of the alang alang roofs of the buildings. Our friends bought a clay one, then spotted the painted one later on in our trip so they ended up with 2. The Umbul Umbuls are the colourful flags placed over long masts of bamboo. I am now the proud owner of a blue and a purple one, much to the disgust of my husband!!!he he he.
Sorry about the length of this rambling, so I will finish now and post the details of our last 2 day trips later on.
Terima Kasih