With Sunblock feeling better and breakfast on our verandah of Fresh fruit with yoghurt and honey, toast and croissants and yummy yummy real banana pancakes with palm sugar and proper fresh coconut. We checked out of Kebun Indah(3nights776,000) and Ketut picked us up at 9am, to take advantage of our previously arranged tickets to Mara River Safari & Marine Park. After being at the Elephant Safari Park, this one didn't quite cut the mustard. It was good, but not great. We just got the $35 package, it included a safari tour, one animal encounter and a couple of other things that I don't remember. The rain had thankfully stopped and it was quite very warm. We had photos taken with a white lion cub, had a walk- about snapping photos away. Then took the safari tour bus, it was great to see the animal without being surrounded by wire, but again it wasn't a huge OMG type thing.
The best part of the day was the two shows we watched. The first was the animal show, where the animals would arrive out of nowhere, for example an owl flew from a tree somewhere behind us on to the handlers arm on the stage. The cutest part was the Orangatangs (spelling?)of course. The other show was an African bongo group, which was great and a lot of fun (see my pics), they had dancers as well. We were given Bongo drums and then taught some 'stuff' so we could join in. How much fun!! They also got some people out of the audience to join them on stage and taught them some dance moves.
TIP: Remember to keep credit on your phone so that you can ring your driver!! Everything in Bali seems to be geared to make it easy for the tourist and therefore make their time as enjoyable as possible. So all was good when sunrise found the information booth where they can page your driver and then also ring them for you.
On the way to our next hotel, Ketut made some calls and booked our tickets for the fast boat to Gili Trawangan, which would be our next adventure coming up. This time we checked in to Alam Indah (same owners as Kebun Indah) in Ubud. This is a very beautiful place, very serene, each room is very private, very beautiful gardens complete with squirrels in the trees. We were greeted warmly with huge smiles and a nice welcome drink, while our luggage was taken to our room. Then, Sunrise and Sunblock turned into the Papparazzi, taking a million and one photos, then a good swim in the pool, before our afternoon tea arrived on our verandah, always freshly homemade cake & coffee. We also took advantage of the free computer access at reception. Hmmm, tired, what are we going to do for dinner, don't want to think too hard while in Bali, so of course we went back to Meme's (mums) and dined on chicken caramel, beef ribs and Long Island Iced Tea. We were welcomed back with huge smiles and great service. We walked up the road in search of some much needed phone credit and found a young guy name Sony at Ubud Sunrise Tourist Service, Pengosaken street. He sorted my mobile out for me and sunblock made an international call on their metered phone, $1 per minute. We walked back to Meme's and one of the girls rang Alam Indah to come pick us up.
Day 7 Monday
We planned to rise early, slept in of course, but sunrise still had time to jump in the pool before breakfast. Pineapple pancakes this time, sunrise has become addicted to pancakes and bananas, more fresh juice, fruit salad and yoghurt. Our driver Ketut arrived a little early and sat and talked with us while we finished breakfast and watched the squirrels in the trees, he looked so flash in his 'getup' all ready for our visit to the temple.
We left at 10am to visit Besakih 'the mother temple'. We had worn our own sarongs but Ketut had provided us with scarves for our sash. It is quite a long trip up the mountain to Besakih, but also very nice scenery, I am not sure but I think it took about 1 ½ hours or more. When we arrived there were many girls trying very, very hard to sell us some postcards which we really didn't need, they were VERY persistant , but I was starting to learn the ropes and we politely stood our ground. Sunrise did however find herself exchanging rupiah for aussie coins DOH!! We learn't that there are 4 types of temples: Clan temple, Village Temple, work? temple and Public Temple. Besakih is a public temple, there was a ceremony (cremation) happening so we couldn't go right in, there were many steps and it was quite hot but it was awesome and well worth the visit. Mt Agung rises behind the temple, but was half covered in cloud on the day. The view looking out from the top of the temple steps was pretty awesome also.
Ketut then took us to a restaurant with a beautiful view of Mt Agung, I don't remember the name. It was a buffet lunch, consisting of both mild and spicy dishes, and of course my favourite black rice pudding. I think it was 120,000. After lunch we walked outside where sunrise was almost p**ssed on by a tame-ish fruit bat hanging on a tree branch. He was eating water melon and was actually pretty cute.
We visited a traditional Balinese village compound, somewhere :) , which we found very interesting and Ketut was able to show us some of the things he had previously talked about such as the 4 different ceremonies when bringing children into the world and the stones that marked one of these, and also the place where newly married couples stay. They also had some hedgehog in cages, weird looking creatures. The hedgehogs dig up potatoes so they catch them and just keep them rather than kill them. Then It was back to Alam Indah for a swim and another shopping trip to Ubud market. Man o Man do we love them markets. How much are these . .. . 'how many u want?' 'special price for 3' hehehe. We bought wooden animals, bali bags medium size two for about 130,000, and earrings.
That night we decided to go to Laka Leke for dinner and the Kecak & Fire Dance. It is just up the road from Alam Indah . So Sunblock & Sunset left on foot under a very slight drizzle of rain, chattering as we went up Alam Indah's driveway . .. . 'how much did I pay for those earrings' . . . 'Can't wait for tomorrow' . . . 'oh that's a nice, big, colourful umbrella'. By the time we got to Laka Leke the rain was a comin' down. Laka Leke was very nice, we again had exceptional service being met at the gate by a lady and an umbrella. We had the crispy duck which was wonderful but Sunset's dessert of Banana Rolls with chocolate and orange sauce was to die for. I think the night cost me about 200,00 with a cocktail. The Kecak dancers went ahead in the rain the poor things, it was great and even though I didn't completely understand what it was about the 'kecakecakecakecakecak' will stick in my mind for a while. By the time we had to leave it was absolutely bucketing down rain. With that nice, big, colourful umbrella still sitting on the verandah at Alam indah we waded home through puddles of mud in the dark, pouring down rain, giggling as we went. Everything we do, Everywhere we go in Bali, finds us laughing till our cheeks are sore :)
So . .. Sunblock decided she was wet, and what do you do when u are wet, you put your swimmers on at 10pm and stand in the rain for a while then jump in the pool!!
Off to Gili Trawangan Tomorrow. More to come . . . .
Some pics http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2056974&id=1289375294&l=bf666906a2