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. 

Ubud - Attack of the Monkeys

After a morning in Sanur we decided to make our way to Ubud where we planned to stay the next 4 or 5 days. It was easy enough to get there and settle into the hotel so we went to check out the monkey forest. 

Warning these pictures of monkeys are going to make them seem cute and harmless but they are actually kind of bullies who will attack if then sense food or weakness. 

Reclining Monkey

Licking the wet moss

So right after I took this picture this monkey decided that he wanted to see what I had in my purse. He swiftly hopped onto my leg crawled up my hip and opened the zipper at the top. My passport and memory cards (the only thing I have of value) were in a plastic bag so of course he grabs it and when I try to move he bears his fangs. Luckily he didn't think that it was very interesting a dropped in on the pavement a few minutes later. The guides told me I should have some bananas so that I can trade him back from my passport. Somehow carrying around bananas so I can trade a monkey for my valuables seems like a messed up idea.

About 15 minutes later I swear the same monkey came up to an America women and opened her backpack and took out her bug spray and dismantled it with his teeth and hands.  He kept spraying himself in the mouth and making a funny face but he still wanted in the bottle. I think the moral of the story is even if they say you bag is safe done bring one, even if you don't have food because bug spray and passports are still interesting.

Like mother like daughter

Okay this one is really cute