day trip from Ubud

Bali Day trip from Ubud

So today we are going with the brother of a guy we met at Putra, the reggae bar, last night. his name is Dara and we will spend the day with him. First stop today is in Bedulu to visit the Elephant cave temple called Goa Gajah. We suit up in our sarongs and head down numerous steps down to the temple, and it is literally a cave, people still meditate in the cave nightly from 10pm until 5am in these little carved out spaces under ground, a man was at one end of the cave meditating as we walked thru. Outside there are separate temples and the fountains with the sacred water. We walk out the back side and there are rice paddies where the food is grown for festivities that take place at the temple, down the other side and down many more steps is the Buddhist temple, the remains of the original one have fallen down into the river below but are still recognizable. We hike back up and out and pay off the little guide we had who needed money for his 6 kids....

Back on the road..there are artisan shops everywhere no matter where you drive..and dogs everywhere..and temples.. The beauty of Bali is amazing, it is poor but everything here is beautiful and carved, Each home has a family temple, so everywhere you look in Bali there is a temple...and they are beautiful and decadent and big , many buildings, with daily offerings, all carved in wood and stone and lovely chiseled gods, it's really amazing to see, and smell, there is incense in the air always.

Our next stop is Pejeng and the rock temple. We walked down so many steps to get to this temple, I started feeling faint when thinking of climbing back out....not kidding...It is like 98 degree2s with 110 % humidity!!!! I was dripping when we got 1/2 back up.and with no breeze it is ridiculous, I am really not good with heat!! The temple was really cool tho!!!

We stopped at a coffee plantation next where they had every plant and tree you could imagine, herbs, oils spices,coffee's teas, chocolates, very beautiful and lush.

We started to climb, gradual climb and then we were on this skinny road the crater rim looking over to Mt Batur and active volcano. We stopped here on the rim in Kintamani for lunch with beautiful views of the volcano and lake Batur at it's base, quite spectacular. Now back in the car just as the afternoon rains come and we drive in a downpour back down the mountain. We pas thru Batubulan, meaning stone moon, this is where all the stone carvers are...miles of stone carvings line the road...huge Buddha's and statues down to little bitty one's, shop after shop, it is truly amazing how many artisans are working in this country. We pass next into Mas and all the stone carving turns to woodcarving.....on and on along the roadside.....

We pull over at Bukit Jambul for a stunning view of the rice terraces....it is amazing...but quickly we are swarmed by people trying to sell....and they come in 10's...so quick back in the car and keep moving..too bad absolutely lovely and peaceful here...

Back to Tjampuhan and out to dinner at Three Monkey's...a fabulous place to go if ever you are in Ubud....Lovely atmosphere set out in the rice paddies with umbrellas and nice lighting and the food was delicious!!!! Lovely last evening in Ubud.....