In Reply to: Reply to message posted by harmonie on Tuesday, 26. January 2010 at 19:31 Bali Time:
We stayed inside the Tirtagganga Water Palace grounds but this was some time ago and I've noticed the prices for their rooms have increased to a point I couldn't stay there again. If you use the BTF website search engine you'll find very cheap homestay recommendations for this area.
We hired drivers but i think the Perama shuttle bus goes to Tirtagangga.
What to do there - guided walks through the area are fascinating and inexpensive. The water palace guides also offer these walks but you don't need a guide for the palace grounds itself.
You can swim in the water palace pools - the water is from mountain streams and it's clean and very cool.
Late in the afternoon school children go to the palace grounds and you might see them practicing martial arts or just jumping in the pools. (Or scalliwags doing some illegal fishing)
Ask about any temple festivals in the vicinity.
What I didn't know about at the time of my stay is the Genjek musical performances at Tirtagangga. Apparently they are a must see, so ask the palace guides for info, or your homestay.
Amlapura is about half an hour away from Tirtagangga and has a market I absolutely loved.
Sideman is also not far away. We stayed here because the rice terraces are spectacular, but you could easily do a day trip from Tirtagangga.
From Tirtagannga you could travel to Amed, also about half an hour away, but i haven't been there so over to someone else for info :)