Bali

Hi everyone,
From Friday to Monday we had a little "holiday within a holiday", flying to Bali for a break off the boat.  It was great.

On Friday we departed Medana Bay at 0500 in order to catch our flight from Lombok's airport which is on the south side of the island.  We flew on a ~50 seat Chinese turbo-prop aircraft for the 40 minute flight to Denpasar, arriving at 0830.  From there we took a 90 minute taxi ride to the town of Ubud in central Bali.  We spent the rest of the day exploring the town.  It is touristy but quiet.

Leavin' on a prop plane

On Friday and Saturday nights we stayed at Villa Areklo.  It is about 3km from town but the staff were very friendly, the pool was great, and the breakfasts were both fantastic food _and_ all you can eat.  The hotel didn't have hot water in the rooms and the electricity supply was erratic.  Recommended nonetheless!

Eggs anyone?

Rice paddies near the hotel

Many roundabouts feature impressive statues

Carvings

Art of all kinds

The pool at the hotel

On Saturday we took a 12km walk from Ubud through the surrounding rice paddies.  The scenery was great, walking along the edge of paddies, irrigation channels and creeks.  We saw a couple of snakes, countless butterflies and small birds, and quite a few ducks.  The ducks are kept by rice farmers since they feed on pests in the rice fields.  That evening we attended a performance of traditional Bali Legong dance which was amazing.  Great live music and wonderful dancing.

Seasonal decorative poles found on many streets

Wildlife 

Farms

Bali Legong dance

On Sunday and Monday we hired a car to take us up to Muntuk in the mountains on the north of Bali.  On Sunday we stopped off at a large temple, a coffee/spices plantation, a rice paddy "park", and saw several of the volcanic lakes.  The plantation featured Lewuk coffee (commonly known as "cat-poo coffee").  We stayed at the Munduk Sari Villages which was very nice and had a great view down the valley.  On Monday we headed south back to the airport, stopping at a wood carving centre and a Batik centre enroute.

Temple

Rice paddy park

Highlands

Highland lakes

Wood carving centre

Batik centre