Went to Crackers toilets last Sat. and strangely enough decided to test the ale whilst there.
We, being a group of about 20 of us (including 11 kids from 4yrs to 12) went to the new Tree Tops adventure area which is in the Kebun Raya (Botanical Gardens) in Begugal.
Tree Tops has been set up for all ages.
There are different activities, four or five levels of difficulty.
All persons pre-fitted with a climbing harness.
The wee kids do activities about a meter up whilst the more daring are swinging through the tree trunks, walking tight ropes 15 meters up etc.
All ecologically correct, and by the looks of it great fun.
Apparently it takes about 2 1/2 hours to master all of Tarzan's capabilities.
I watched one bloke way up on this small platform having to pull a rope up from below then swing across to another platform with a catch'em-slow'em down net slung across the wide dappled yonder. He decided to take the net on feet first rather than body or head first and got a couple of reasonable rope burns from his legs going through the net, and then pulling back out of the net as the pendulum swung.
He was Dutch (not that had anything to do with it) so it didn't matter.
Other than small inconveniences like that, its completely safe (unless you're a moron) as you have two click'em on-click'em off thingies attached to the harness (note the terminology, I'm right into climbing obviously) and a set of pully wheels and are tied on all the way. IE. no chance of hitting the ground (unless you're a moron - or possibly an Aussie).
You may have noted I have used the terms "Apparently" and "I watched".
Chicken siht, you're thinking (maybe)! It takes a while to get 15 or so people harnessed up, so we're all lurking about checking out the fauna and flora, and adjusting parts in the areas being strangled by the harness straps, when suddenly it began to puss down, one could almost call it torential rain, after all it is kind of a rain forest type forest, (note the botanical terminology - right into nature I am).
After about 30 minutes it became obvious that there was not going to be any let up, it was de-harness, get refunds sorted, make a mad dash for the cars and another mad dash to The Crack (-ers bar and toilet [no evidence of the grill yet]).
The Crack has (almost) a swim up bar, for when we entered there was about three/four inches of water streaming through the place.
So in the end we DID get our Tree Tops adventure anyway, (we'll negotiate later, Cracker) navigating our way about from 8 foot barstool to 88 foot barstool (using Bintangs for harnesses). Admittedly most of the tidal wave had drained away with-in half an hour or so, much to the dismay of the kids who found the bar area a pretty good substitute for an ice rink.
It was suggested on more than one occasion that we move the bar to the toilets and use the bar as the pusser, as the toilets were warmer and drier.
Naturally, the staff were not expecting to encounter more than 3 people that Sat afternoon and tepid Bintang was au rigeur after the 2nd taster.
Later, after the rain stopped, we returned to the park, and as it was deserted, played on some of the lower of Tree Tops activities, (harnessless) until some spoil sport satpam informed us to get the ell out of there.
Great days outing, and suggest to all, its something else to do in Bali (at last), and consider giving it a go.
There are brochures about, but not well advertised as yet, so you may have to ask around. It pays to book, as they do get groups (bonding execs and school kids).
Its about Rp.150,000 for adults and I under Rp.100,000 for tykes. They will also arrange transport for groups. If in a group of 10 or more, or are a resident, discounts are generous.
Suggestion- wear shoes, go in the dry season, don't be a moron!