Day 12 Wednesday, Not a lot planned today except that I have arranged to go out to Bali zoo, which I see, has been talked about on this forum. For my two cents worth I think it's a great small Zoo, animals are all well kept, and the zoo being quite small is easy to walk around. The setting is just fantastic all very tropical, go figure! J
When I went to Bali zoo last August I had a still camera with me and this year I have a video camera so I thought I would go back to take some moving pictures. As I walked around the zoo this year it was apparent that the rain had affected the place as some of the enclosures that were green with grass last time were just mud this time. The animals are still in good shape and it is great walking through the walk in Avery I have birds that look like peahens walk right up to me and it makes for some great pictures. There are a good assortment of birds of all shapes and sizes in here and most will let you get very close, or in fact like my new friends walk up to you. Stoping at the main monkey cage I just watched as they all played and did regular monkey stuff. But there was one light coloured one I recon was a female that spent most of her time dive bombing the two black ones and she was aggressive but funny at the same time, a couple of times she would go for a swing on the ropes and not judge things too good and hit the floor before the rope was swung out to full length. Don't worry she never seemed to do herself any harm and continued to harass the two black monkeys. There are lots of interesting animals and birds here, and I took video of most.
My favourite are the Sumatran Tigers, they are magnificent animals and so big I get some really good shots here and find one of the tigers lazing in the pool as I turn up at there enclosure. As he is lying there he flicks up his tail wetting his face after which her gets up and with a shake walks towards me. Now the fence between me and this magnificent animal and I is just over three feet and you could easily put your hand in to pat him, not really sure you would keep your hand so please kids don't try this at home? Or anywhere else for that reason but hey they look so beautiful up this close and been my favourite cat ever. While I am at the big cats the monkeys are doing the loudest hollering that you have ever heard and I wonder over to take more video of them just going off.
On to the Lions which are in good condition but do look very out of place here. I do kinda feel a little sad for them, as they normally would live in a much different habitat than they are in here. It was good to see that they are still looking really good and the male is all better last time I was here the poor bugger had a bad cold and well he you don't need me to tell you when he had a runny nose how pathetic the king of the jungle looked, I think even he was thinking bloody runny nose and no Kleenex!!
The zoo has good facilities including clean loos and shop to buy stuff from you can get your picture taken with a big lizard or a large toucan and even a very large snake, not being fond of snakes that much I give that opportunity a miss!! LOL There is a nice looking restaurant and the gardens also are really nice, I do remember reading someone said its hot here and yes I second that I feel like I have been walking around with a waterfall on my back here and I would suggest here as an early morning thing not good in the middle of the day.
All the staff are very friendly but I noticed that this time compared to last August, and dare I say it since the second bombing there is only a small amount of staff compared to August. Looks like the lower levels of tourists are affecting even out here. I feel that it's not a well known place as I have seen very few adverts for this zoo. I have now been here twice and out to the Elephant park both different but most definitely worth the effort to go see if you can make it to Bali please try and get out to Bali zoo.
After leaving the zoo its off back to the Camplung Mas for a shower and change of clothing before heading out for a late lunch which I have down at Centro discovery Mall at Bali Colada, which is on the sea side of the mall looking out onto the Ocean so nice sitting here and looking out at the water and people walking around, at least today thee is no rain.
After lunch I go down stairs to see if my glasses ordered are ready, I used
Optik Seis which I must say was a wonderful experience from the moment I walked in the store with Alan last week to now picking up my new specs after trying them on I found that my vision was just like I expect it should be and I see like I have 20/20 vision. Thanking the ladies I leave and head back to Camplung Mas for a rest and a few drinks at the swim up bar. Tonight I am going out to dinner with Agus and his wife and daughter as his guest. We go to the same place we went to the first night I met Ketut last year. It's a little restaurant in Sanua called Just Grill, its near MacDonald's and on a main street sorry not sure of the name but I bet most taxi drivers would know where it is. The food is really lovely and there is normally a jazz band playing on the small corner stage. It's a good place to go if you want to have a little music in the background and fine food and wine, at a budget price. I did not pay on this occasion but on my last trip Ketut Agus his wife and I went had dinner drinks and a great time and it was less that 250000 rp. Not bad for roughly $35 Aus try doing that in Australia? LOL yeah might and I mean might get fish and chips if your lucky and still need to spring more for the drinks.
Agus picks me up to go to the restaurant at about 7.30 and introduced me to his daughter and I say hello to his wife having met her a few times now. We get into Agus's van, which is a little green Suzuki van that he tells me has great aircon you just need to wind down the window with a laugh, I wide down my window and we head off to dinner. Agus is a fantastic host and we have a good time even though his wife and daughter do not speak much English we all manage to have a great chat over dinner and then on the way back to the hotel. Agus tells me as we got into the van for the return trip he would go back via Denpasar and show me a few places at night. The drive back was good and Agus is a surprisingly good driver? I only say this as he normally as a driver taking him everywhere. We go past a street, which he tells me, is full of people that have lots of money and some real nice looking homes here. As we go through down town Denpasar I am still amazed as to the number of Warangs still open and doing a good trade with locals. It has been a wet night so most has a tarp covering them so the customers do not get wet.
I am dropped off at the Camplung Mas at about 10.30 and we all get out of the van both Augus's wife and daughter shake my hand and say thankyou before they leave to go home. Well its been a great day and a fantastic night so after saying good night to Agus and his family I head down to the pool bar to see if anyone is around and have a drink before bed.