Bali III
.........and the Temples Go By
Oct 14, 2007
And the trip goes on...........On our return from the Island we were met by "our" driver who somehow found us on the beach with all the hoards of people.
Moved us to his van and we were off and running to the city of Abud where I hoped to find "My Inner Self". We had booked ourselves into a wonderful Hotel just down from the Monkey Forest and the center of town.
The Hotel, The Bali Spirit is located on a terrace piece of land that slopes down to one of the main rivers. As this is the end of the dry season the river is running but not as high as usual. We have adjoining rooms with the Carman's high up on the terrace.....an easy walk in off the street but a "death march" to breakfast in the morning down to the incline to the river side. Toni and Steve have been up early each morning watching the town come alive. The town is noted for its arts of all varieties to include painting, wood carving, sculpturing, cloth making to name just a few.
Susan and Toni have had a field day in all of the various shops. They are both after quantity as the prices are all very good and that just simply can't make up their minds as to which one to choose.
Susan's bags continue to expand as mine lighten and I'm able to leave behind my read books. As you all know I'm not a shopper and the thought of wondering in and out of stores with nothing specific in mind is not my idea of a day well spent.
Even though the hotel has to take you into town, the town is small and compact and much of it is within walking distance. The sales people are not nearly aggressive as the "beach vendors" were, but their patter and constant chirping become a bit tiresome after a while. The girls met a driver who really has become a lifesaver. He picks us up for dinner each nite and has taken us on all day trips to the interior. We went out to the "Mother Temple" to the north the other day...........then back down to the east coast and finally returning to the hotel after about 8 hours on the road. The cost for the day
was to have been $30 but came to $40 with a tip.
The road traffic, especially, in Abud and the surrounding areas has been quite unexpected. The shear numbers of motor bikes and cars on the road is a constant challenge to ones sanity. Everyone seems to anticipate the other's move and traffic moves at a frantic but safe pace. The two lane roads are narrow to begin with, but when you put two lanes of motorbikes going one direction and a car and another bike going the opposite direction, things become a bit tight......and with Toni being as vocal as she is the travels can sometimes become a bit tense.
I have begun to question, at times, Toni's priorities. She has more compassion for the stray dog laying asleep in the road than for the unattended child playing in the gutter as the cars and scooters zoom by. While we have seen and heard dogs get hit, the children have been spared.
We have had some great meals in Abud.......well for me one great meal and the other not so great. Shelly and Don probably ate at both of these fine restaurants, the first being Indus and the second being Mozaic. Indus served a wonderful meal with a Latin band entertaining us during the evening. Toni and Steve bought one of their albums and rushed home to play it only to discover that it was blank. Two nights later at the Mozaic we opted for the six course taster menu......... a bit bizarre as your choices on the menu were either a six or three course taster menu. As I said we opted for the six and I did fine until the "fois gras" (sp) course and from there on it was all down hill for me. The duck/goose got the best of me and put my head in the toilet for the next few hours and in the hotel room for the next half day.....I think I would have preferred the CD that didn't play rather than my ordeal.
My main concern was feeling well enough for the next leg of the journey to the mountains to the North Coast to a town called Lovina near the old Dutch capital city. Fortunately, travel day came and I was feeling good. Wayan, our driver picked us up at 9am only after a little bickering with the hotel.
Those "pesky" $100 bills continue to plague our trip and the hotel simply would not accept some of the older bills. I tried to pass a couple of them off and they refused. I paid the bill with a credit card and then they informed me that there were some additional charges that had not been included......I said fine and gave them one of the $100......they wouldn't accept it.....and a Mexican stand-off occurred. Rather than accept the "bogus" bill they tore up the charges, they just really didn't want to chance one of those bills with their banks. We have gone to ATM's now for all of our cash and I'm about to check what the rate of exchange has been.
We set out for Lovina with Wayan at the wheel and no confirmed reservations for the night. While we did have them for the next two nights our immediate night couldn't be confirmed. After a stop at one too many (pagoders) temples we were able to confirm by cell phone that they would be able to accommodate us for the next three nights........our most expensive villa yet at $350/nite for the 4 of us..................don't feel too bad for us as it was right on the beach with our own private pool and sunset views. The staff does a good job of keeping the vendors out of the complex. The grounds are immaculate and the breakfasts are wonderful. After a run to town the first day to the local Hardy's Super Mercado, not only were we able to re-stock the bar, but were able to get some peanut butter and jelly for our lunches. We are down to breakfast, light lunch and a soup and a snack for dinner. I know the heat has taken away much of my appetite.....and that's all for the good.
The Dutch had a great influence on the Northern region and as a consequence, the region seems more developed, more European in the layout of the cities.Wide boulevards front the numerous government buildings, all shaded by century old trees. The towns are neat and not as reliant on the tourists.The black beaches are a sight, dotted by vendors and palms. From the road you couldn't imagine all of the beachfront bungalows that line the coast.
We hired a driver today to help us locate another 2-nites of lodging before our return to Saner. We found a lovely spot down the road for $40/nite right on the beach. We will be there until the 17th and then Waylan drives to pick us up for our return to Saner. Toni and Steve leave 1am on the 18th. We on the other hand leave on the 19th, fly back to Duala Lumper and spend the night (on the airlines) and fly the next day arriving home mid-day on the 20th....I think I've got that right. We are heading back to the Tandjung Sari in Saner where Toni and Steve will get ready for the flight home and we'll spend our final two nites in Bali.
The trip has been full of sights smells, and tastes that isn't for everyone. While Susan and I are ready for other destinations, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that Toni and Steve have already begun plans for the trip back to Bali.
Well, its time for my mid-day peanut butter and jelly sandwhich with potato chips crushed in the center...............don't have the stomach to try the local milk especially because it sits in boxes on shelves in the supermarket...but boy that sure would compliment the sandwhich.
Torey, keeps asking for pictures, but they just won't let us hook anything up to these computers......the pictures will have to wait.
love to you all and thanks for staying tuned.....................gb
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