Beach'in it in Bali

After Ubud we headed to the west coast from some sand and sun action. We spent a lot of time walking down the beaches between Seminyak and Kuta admiring the surfers and the huge waves. Everywhere signs were posted stating that it was two dangerous to swim so you weren't allowed past your waist unless you were attached to a surf board. We didn't mind though as the under toe was really strong and and it was easy to understand the caution.

Legion Beach

 We also took a tour of the south coast visitng Nusa Dua, Pandang beach, Ulu Watu temple and a sunset dinner at Jimboran. A perfect way to end our stay in Bali.

Nusa Dua

Sunset dinner in Jimboran

yum!

Bali Biking Tour

Our last day in Ubud we signed up for the cycle tour which consists of about 85% downhill riding through villages, forests and rice fields. We had a very talkative guide who explained a lot about Balinese life and customs including how all the children are named by their birth order (1st to 4th) so there is no need for baby name books!

Rice Terraces

To ride down we first had to drive up so we started with breakfast at the edge of a giant crater that overlooked Lake Batur and the Batur Volcano.

Breakfast view

 Second stop was a local tea and coffee plantation that demonstrated how different coffees are grown and harvested including the famous Kopi Luwak which is produced by the "Toddy Cat" who looks like a ferret more than a cat. The cat eats the raw coffee beans which is then digested and collected by locals and brewed into coffee. It can be sold in North American for $60 a cup but we could sample it for just $6. We decided to pass and just go with some of the undigested tea and coffee samples.

Tea and coffee sampling

Now for the bikes! We were fitted for a bike and helmet and set off on the downhill tour. They weren't lying about the downhill part and we didn't have to peddle much but we were really thankful our brakes worked! Along the way we stopped at some villages and at various rice fields in different stages of growth and processing. We were even able to help some of the local women harvest the rice.

Rice planting

Rice harvesting

At the end of the bike tour we were giving an option 45 minute uphill ride to get to lunch. Feeling like we hadn't really earned our lunch yet we decided to go for it. I can say that the ride was humbling as riding uphill in sun in 40 degree weather is not something I have experienced before, but we made it and lunch was even more delicious. 

A few of my favourite things

Our forth day in Ubud we signed up to take a organic cooking class that was organized by a local Balinese man and his wife. The day started of by visiting a local market where we bought some ingredients and learned how the market is set up. The market has a whole section just devoted to daily and special offerings that people can purchase to lay out in their homes and shops. 

Daily offerings

Next it was back to the local village to see the rice fields and pick vegetables from the family garden. Hardly any of the fruits and vegetables have seasons so most can be harvested year round. We picked serval things including water spinach, cassava leaves and lemongrass.

The cooking class was small, just the two of us and a german lady. We made several things all revolving around the basic spice of garlic, shallots, chili, tumeric, lemongrass, ginger, garlic, salt and galangal. This mixture or variation of it is used in almost all the Balinese dishes.

Spices

Working away!

Fish Satay

By the end of the class we had made sambal tomato (which is kinda like salsa), Gule ayam (coconut chicken curry), tempe manis (fried tempe with sweet and sour sauce), jukut nangka (pork and jackfruit soup), jukut urab (vegetable with grated coconut), tuna fish satay and black rice pudding for dessert. It was a feast!

Some of our finished dishes

 To make the day even better we went to a evening yoga class at the Yoga Barn in central Ubud. It was great to stretch our tired and sore muscles from travelling.

Yoga Barn

Bali - East Coast Tour

To get a better feel of Bali we decided to take an east coast tour from Bali Eco Tours which took us to Amed, the water palace, Candidasa beach and a local village tour.

First stop was snorkelling south of Amed at the wreck of a Japanese submarine from World War 2. The current and waves were strong so we couldn't actually reach the site of the wreck but we got to see many tropical fish and coral near just off the shore.

Snorkeling Site in Amed

 The second stop was at the water palace that a Sultan built for his concubine. The fountains, pools and structures were damage in a volcano eruption but everything was rebuilt and the palace was turned in a restaurant and hotel. All of the pools are fed by a local spring but the spring is isolated in a temple not open to the public.

Water palace

 Third stop was a beach in the Candidasa province. It was one of the nicest beach I have ever been too and the waves were great to swim in.  There is no local accommodation so everyone has to find their own transportation and not much has been developed besides a few seafood resturants. We stopped here for lunch, sampling grilled mahi-mahi and prawns and decided to stay a bit longer for a swim.

Candidasa Beach

 Almost everywhere we went we saw roosters caged for cock fighting. We were told that it is part of a temple ceremony where alcohol, gambling and cock flighting are done to please the evil spirits.  I am not 100 percent how much of that is true as people really just seem to enjoy the sport.

Roosters for Cock fighting

 We happened to have our tour on the celebration of "no moon" allowing us to to witness some preparations including pig roasting and the women dressing up and bringing the food and offerings to the temple. We learned that every community or village in Bali always has three temples, one for Brahma, the creator, one for Shiva, the destroyer, and one for Vishnu the protector. Each temple is used for different Hindu ceremonies.

Women bringing offering to the temple