My Days in Bali

Aplologies for the long delay – I have been cycling!!

Uluwatu

After my visit to the beaches I was chatting to other travellers who where planning to go to a concert by The Wailers, Bob Marley’s band. I bought a ticket and later in the evening we went to the Ulu Cliffhouse for the concert. It is a great venue with a big stage right on the edge of a cliff. There is only one original member of the band left but what a concert. I found my self in the mosh pit singing along with the best of them. Great evening. I know the sound is rubbish but join me at the concert. You are welcome to sing along, you know you want to!

Sunday – Canngu

I took Deet (the motorbike) to Canggu (Changgu). It is an interesting experience just getting there. Down many little back alleys. It is a beach resort about 25 kims away but in the traffic it takes about an hour. A very popular party place, second only to Kuta. Very touristy, riding along the beach area reminded me of Koh PhiPhi Don or Don Det (see my earlier posts from Thailand and Laos). Good, strong waves. I enjoyed a swim

Ubud

On Monday it was time to stop playing and start cycling, after all that is why I’m here. I was hoping to dive but they were all booked up for a few days, so Bobbie and I hit the road for Ubud. It is about 45 kms North, the ride was busy through built up areas all the way. Just as I entered Ubud I was very thirsty so I stopped for a Ginger and Lime drink and met the waiter who cycles and who gave me great information. On his advice I went up to Kintamani (more of this later)

Ubud is the most popular city for many reasons but spirituality and yoga attract thousands of tourists. I had to smile because many of the restaurants advertise their menus as:

“Vegan, Vegetarian, Non-Vegetarian”

Oh, and to understand the psyche, see this No Parking sign outside a pub (that serves craft beer!)

Ubud Architchture

The old city is built with the most interesting Balinese, Hindu architecture. All of the houses have their own large central area and temple. The Vintage Sunshine House ( now backpacker hostel) that I stayed in was a perfect example.

Ubud Architecture – the city centre is all similar

She had to spend one night sharing in this mixed dorm. She says it was a privilege to meet someone from a different sport. (You can see she is excited!) A true exchange of culture and understanding, although she admits not relishing the thought of swimming in the sea

For the 3 days I was in Ubud, I mostly wandered around and absorbed the sights and sounds. I did a cooking course – see my next post in What’s Cooking – and I went to the Sacred Monkey forest. This was not as impressive as I had hoped, more of a tourist trap than a nature reserve but worth a walk around.

Kintamani

But nice as Ubud is, it was time to hit the road agan. My cyclist friend suggested that I cycle up to Kintamani. “It is a beautiful route” he said, “through shaded jungle and countryside, it is do-able and well worth the effort.” I hopped onto Komoot, a great route planner for cycling, and plotted the ride. “Hmmm, 30 kms, steady uphill all day in high heat and humidity, what’s not to love?” So the next morning early, I set off for Kintamani.

Kintamani is a village on the edge of a volcano crater surrounded by the Batur Global Geopark. Mount Batur and Lake Batur are sensational. I knew it would be a tough day and it was that and more.

After 9 hours of cycling and pushing up steep inclines, many stops to rest and find a cold drink, also an enforced break due to a heavy downpour, I eventually emerged at the lip of the volcano.

Actually, I took the video the next morniing at breakfast, here is the view from the previous evening when I had found a room and had a shower…..

In the morning I relised that Bobbie was filthy from the ride/push up, the brakes were scraping on the dirt on the rims. So Bobbie had a shower – that is what hotel showers are for…. right?

I was aware that I have a long way to go as my visa is only valid for 30 days. So I needed to make tracks quickly. The ride from Kintamani to Singaraja was about 60 km of which nearly 40 km was an exhilirating, fast and somewhat dangerous downhill ride. Trucks, coming towards you, overtaking other trucks (not just one!) on blind bends are somewhat scary on a narrow road with no shoulder and you’re doing 40 kph down the road.

From Singaraja I rode to Pemuretan and Gilimanuk. Nice ride through the West Bali National Park.

At Gilimanuk there is a ferry to Java and a whole new chapter in this journey was about to begin.

Suddenly, I realised that my time in Bali was done.