While I was 'trawling this site like a woman possessed' (as another forumite put it), I came across many recommendations for drivers, but the one that seemed to stick in my mind was Ketut Sudana and his business, Bali Transport. So before we went, I organised for him to be our driver for a few days and I must say that it is one of the best choices I made overall for our trip. I hope my words can explain how good he was. He is a family man, working for himself with a nice car and good A/C, speaks very good English and from memory also Japanese. He is intelligent, good looking (awww) and a real gentleman. After previously exchanging some emails he had an idea of what we wanted to do and see, and made suggestions of trips we could do each day. He organised safari park tickets for us, and also the Gili Cat fast boat. He was able to easily talk to other Balinese people to make things easier for us. He took short cuts through villages, he explained anything we wanted to know about Bali and Balinese culture and beliefs. He answered all our many, many questions and took interest in what we could also tell him. He was very much a part of what made our holiday an awesome one, he will often be mentioned in the following JBR's to come. He always had a smile, I count him as a new friend and he will be my first point of contact for planning my next trip. He has a website at bali transport dot com. Please contact me for his email and mobile number.
So . . . . on day 2, the 1st day of spring in Australia, Ketut, punctually (as we would find out is normal) picked us up just before 8.30am to see the Barong at Batubulan. We visited the Batik factory at (somewhere:) and the silver factory at Celuk. Although we didn't make any purchases it was interesting to see the processes and have a look at the products and prices. The Barong was interesting and funny, I can't remember the price but I don't think it was very much, we were given a print out to explain the story the Barong was telling. As we were on our way to Taro, Ketut took us to Rapuan Cili, in Mas for lunch. Sunblock had noodles, Sunrise had a rice dish. The restaurant, the meals, the view and the staff were all beautiful, with drinks, and exotic birds whistling away out the front, less than $15 each.
From memory, we drove through many villages Tegallalong included, which we intended to go back to at some time, but never got there, through beautiful countryside, many sites to see go past and many 'did you see that?' ..... "OMG look what is on that bike". We checked in to Taro Elephant Safari Park at about 1pm. Not to be confused with Bali Safari & Marine park at Mara River. I had booked months before through Agoda, it was to be the highlight of our trip and it all went without a hitch. We were greeted with smiles and a welcome drink and cold face cloths, while our luggage was retrieved from Ketut and taken to our rooms. We were soon hand feeding and shaking 'hands' with the elephants, the keepers taking our cameras to take photos for us. The grounds are beautiful, the elephants are very well cared for, happy, beautiful animals, and OMG! What an amazing experience.
Sunrise and Sunblock then went off to treat themselves to a massage at the Park's Spa. We were later to learn that it was quite expensive by bali standards, but it was also very, very good and a new experience for Sunrise, being a full body, fully naked massage. After the massage we were shown to the bathroom so we could have a warm shower, good for the muscles after a massage, which we were expected to have together! Ummm, I don't think so, we are good friends, but not that good. Lol. Separate showers it was, while watching the elephants roam around through a big, (hopefully one way window). A cup of tea to top it off and we were out of there, off to visit the baby elephants and watch them have their bath.
Our Paddy room was beautiful, bathroom was 5 star, secure digital safe, fridge, a/c, robes and slippers. After a bit of a relax on our verandah, and a look around the souvenir shop we were taken on our night safari ride. Woohoo! Riding a real elephant, hehe, how cool. My elephant was Dawee and his carer Made made it a fun ride, showing me a Bali Kangaroo (cow), Don't worry. . . Be happy. . . in Bali. . . We returned to be shown to dinner in a beautiful setting under the stars and palm trees, within a few metres of the elephants eating there dinners. An absolutely beautiful 4 course meal, elegant tables, candles and good company. What a Great second day in Bali!!
The next morning we were awake by 7.30 and ready for another first, the bathing of 'Tugor'. Sunrise & sunblock armed with a hose and a scrubbing brush and the keepers armed with our cameras, it was scrubba dub dub one elephant in a tub. Amazing animals, I just adore them. Then it was off to another wonderful meal, alfresco watching the elephants, Fresh juice, coffee, banana bread or Danish, Bacon & eggs, sausage, tomato, a fruit platter and a cheese platter.
The daytime safari ride was great and a little longer than the night time one. Sunblock's ride was named Buspar, Sunrise's Taxi was Nopi cared for by Alex, again a lot of fun, he showed me the chicken hotel and the 'countryside' jungle was just beautiful, we stopped while Nopi had a fossick for a few morsels, and a tsunami (a wee) hehehe. They answered all our questions, including what their wages were and how they lived, Alex walked 3km each day to work and was expecting his first baby, he had been with his elephant for 10yrs. We tipped the carers (mahouts) and sadly, with huge smiles, said our goodbyes to our elephants. This was such an awesome experience!! Something that I will forever have fond memories of. The park is pristine, the elephants are definitely happy, well cared for and very much loved. All the staff are more than happy to help in any way, in the true Isle of smiles way.
TIP: Remember to charge your camera each night!! Ketut was there to pick us up at 11.30, finding us full of smiles and chattering his ear off about our adventures. We were off to Kintamani & Lake Batur, ketut took shortcuts through small villages with villagers often looking at us as they didn't often see tourists. We had a buffet lunch for a 100,000 each in a restaurant overlooking an awesome view. OMG! I love Sticky rice!! Or black rice pudding!!! Someone give me a recipe!! We purchased a whole bunch of bracelets (20+) from a lady out the front on the way in for 100,000, Cheap. On the way out there were like 6 or 7 girls hassling us, 'tidak, teri makasi'.
Next was a stop at a coffee plantation where we tasted Ginseng (Yum), cocoa, coffee, lemon grass and ginger. They had the Lowok animal, growing vanilla bean, cocoa (OMG a chocolate tree), coffee bean, lemon grass and snakeskin fruit. It did not cost anything for the tasting, Sunrise purchased some Ginseng, Sunblock purchase lemon grass tea. Ketut sat and talked with us, another fellow came and spoke for a minute or two . . . 'where you from?' . . . Australia . . . 'ah, Bloody good stuff this, Mate, bloody awesome'.
Next we visited Tirta Empul at Tempak Siring. It was interesting to see the natural springs, and we were fortunate to be able to splash some holy spring water on our faces making us 15 yrs younger. A fellow attached himself to us, showing us around the temple which we thought was very nice of him. Ummm, yes we soon found out that he expected us to pay him :)
On the way to Ubud we stopped 'somewhere' :) where I purchased a medium size dragon kite for my son and a smaller butterfly kite for my daughter. 250,000. I had an idea it might be a bit much at the time, but I was pretty happy still. Found similar in ubud for half the price, not sure if same quality. Ketut took us to Pt. Dirgahayu Valuta Prima in Jl.Raya, Ubud, so that sunrise could get some more money exchanged, again great for first timers, all given in 50,000 notes, the rate was 8125, OMG I had millions again, OMG there is so much of it, where was I going to put it all as it wouldn't fit in my wallet!! We checked into Kebun Indah where we would stay for the next 3 nights. We thanked Ketut for a great day & enjoyed a welcome drink. Our room was Kodak 2, very nice, comfortable, large bathroom, mosquito net, no fridge, safety deposit with reception, private verandah with daybed. Breakfast and afternoon tea was bought to our verandah each day, as were mosquito coils each evening. It was very quiet, serene, private, beautiful setting, nice clean, deep pool, with nice pool towels. And cheap!!
We had dinner at Meme's a fairly new restaurant/bar, Great Food, Excellent Service, Oh how I love the table service in Bali!! We both had grilled whole snapper, including 4 x soft drinks and a pinacolada 225,000, about $14 each. And tried not to fall in hole on the way home!!
More To Come.
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