Bali and Komodo Island

10/5

I leave Ohio on 10/16 and arrive in Bali on 10/18 for my first trip with Discover Corps that begins on the 19th.  Hoping to post during the trip!

 

 10/18

This trip involves 3 flights.  First direct to LA where I had a very long layover so left the aiport and had dinner with my cousin, Louise.  Not a good picture but she knows me well taking me to Blue Dog Beer Tavern where there were pictures of dogs everywhere!  

I am now at the airport in Taipei, Taiwan waiting for my flight to Bali.  First time flying Eva Air and it was very good.  Wonderful flight attendants.  Good food.  The airport in Taipei has lots of insteresting areas.

Flying into Taipei

About two more hours before boarding my Eva flight to Bali.  I came a day early and I'm glad I did.  I think I'm going to catch up on sleep.

Still the 18th here.  First more cool areas in the airport and the one at my gate, D7.

Then I saw my plane!!!  Inside was nice too.  The flight attendants cute Hello Kitty aprons and my slippers.

Arriving in Bali and in the airport.  Then sights on the 1 1/2 drive to my hotel.

Hotel Swarga Suites Bali Berawa.  Welcome drink.  Beautiful room. My first Discover Corp trip and so far the driver pick up and hotel are fabulous.

  

10/19

I was up way too early, but heard and saw some birds in the quiet of morning.

Beautiful flowers

After breakfast I took a walk along the beach. It was 8 am and in front of the hotel was a great place for locals to come with young children. The ocean formed more of a river where the kids could play in the water.  In the ocean the waves were high and broke to make an undertow.  

Surfers were out and lots of dogs.  Most seemed to be with people.

The sand is dark and the waves were big.

Back by the hotel I found a bird and a view!

Then I slept the entire afternoon and in a little bit I will meet my guide and group for dinner.

It was a lovely dinner on the patio at the hotel.  One of the women canceled so there 4  Rick and Lisa from Toronto, Kara from Corpus Christi and our guide Yogi.  He said there are fireworks nightly.

10/20

I was up too early again.  The sunrise was a little to much behind the buildings.  Boats out early.  More beautiful flowers and the hotel breakfast buffet.

We then began our drive to the family home of Wayan.  Our driver Komang.

  

  

There are 16 people living here.  The youngest is 12 and the oldest is 78.  Wayan has a sister, but in Bali when someone marries the woman moves to the mans family so his sister lives about an hour away.  His wife is about 3 hours from her family. Offerings are made is various places.

There are five main buildings.  We met in the living room.

The temple and the kitchen.

This building is used for making offerings and also were the dead are laid out.  Another temple and sleep area.

  

They make offerings 3 times a day.  To God, Human and Nature.  We made our offering with a basket we made from coconut leaves.  Put 3 leaves representing fire, water and air.  Then flowers - white to the right representing purity, yellow to the left for prosperity, red on the bottom for creation, blueish to the top for peace.  Green is in the middle with a round coin.  Incense is added.

 

We then were adorned with saris before going to temple.

We had to approach one at a time.  Put down our offering and wash our hands.  When we went inside his father blessed us with water three times.  Then put water in our hand three times and we had to wash our face each time.

  

Then we sat on mats and there were chants and prayers for God, human, nature.  The final thing was the elder tied a Tridatu bracelet on.  Red for the creator, white for the destroyer and black for the preserver for the Hindu trinity. It's a reminder to walk through life with balance, humility and respect for the unseen.

  

After we were invited to a Balinese lunch.  It was delicious and a beautiful presentation.  The cat wanted nothing to do with me.

  

  

Soup with tofu, corn and other spices and vegetables.  There was chicken a few ways, rice, potato, tofu, etc...

We then took a short walk on the property.  Rice fields and where the flowers are grown, along with vegetables and fruit trees.  The monkey is chained because he came onto the property.  They then call the health department that comes out and vaccinates the monkey for rabies.  After a few days it can be released.  

 

It was a wonderful day.  The family did not speak English but everything was understood with smiles.  Some of the family with us and Yogi.

Tonight we went to The Lawn Beach Club for dinner.  Quite a contrast to our day today.  Very modern and loud.  We caught the tail end of the sunset.

10/21

We left Canggu this morning and headed to Ubud.  ( We were at the red dot and we are now at the blue dot) Our first stop was ARMA museum and resort.  Today was Kara's birthday.  The grounds are beautiful and we found out later when we also ended our day here that the grounds are huge!

We went through the art museum to start.

  

Then Kara took a Balinese dance class and the rest of us did wood carving.  I will say I expected to be doing it at a table.  It was tough on the floor.  I chose a flower because of all the flowers they use in the offerings here.  The roosters and chickens are kept in these cages and when the local birds come around they go crazy. 

We stopped at a place where local artists sell their carvings.  I only have a picture of the cat!

We went to lunch nearby and there were lots of birds.  Javan Munia, Java Pond-Heron,  Red Junglefowl, Egret, Sandpiper

We continued to Gunung Kawi Temple, popularly known as The Valley of The Balinese Kings, is an 11th-century temple and funerary complex in Tampaksiring,  It comprises 10 rock-cut candi (shrines) that are carved into some 7-metre-high (23 ft) sheltered niches of the sheer cliff face. These funeral monuments are thought to be dedicated to King Anak Wungsu of the Udayana dynasty and his favourite queens. On the east side there are five temples that are dedicated, according to one theory, to King Udayana, his queen Mahendradatta, and their sons Airlangga, Anak Wungsu, and Marakata. The temples on the west side are dedicated, according to the same theory, to the king's minor queens or concubines.  It was storming and there were 285 stairs to go down and come back up (thank you Rick for counting them on the way back up)  Yogi said they estimate it is from 880 AD.

Bali traffic.  BAD.  This is a photo of a traffice light.  There are very few.  No stop signs.  Scooters going every which way.  Thank goodness for our wonderful driver.

Our new hotel is a little sanctuary behind the hustle and bustle of Ubud.  Komaneka at Rasa Sayang.We were told to keep the patio doors locked because the monkeys that may visit know how to open them!

  

We went back to AMAR for a cultural performance and for dinner.

  

10/22

I’m missing a few things today. The Bergawan Foundation that helps the endangered Bali Starling and other things like rice to help the community. Missing Ubud Palace and the Art Market. Because…I believe I have Bali Belly. I started diarrhea at 2 am, vomiting at 5. I am not getting an IV and tests run to make sure no parasite. I have been so careful using bottled water to brush my teeth. I had the same dinner as everyone else last night. I did have a noodle dish at lunch. So here I am. This kind worker walked me over. Me, the doctor and the nurse. It’s 11:30 am and I walk back over at 6 to see if I need antibiotic. I think I have to get one more bag of fluids. I have to be better for tomorrow’s activity. The one I’ve been looking forward to the most. And I think I heard one monkey this morning, but didn’t see any. 

My blood test and stool sample show bacteria so I am on Cipro.  Hoping to feel better tomorrow.

10/23

Yogi said yesterday the IV is magic and it was.  Our day started at noon today with lunch and I just had some soup.  When I saw the Ubud Monkey Forest on the Amazing Race I knew it was somewhere I wanted to visit.  It did not disappoint!  First a few monkey videos!

It is a place of prayer as well as a monkey sanctuary.  

Then we drove to Bali Rural Commune for a cooking class in the middle of rice fields.  It is a community that was struggling and they came together to make an experience to make more money. It was amazing!

On the way back the traffic was really bad.

10/24

Getting ready to head out for the day and then to a new area.  First on the way to breakfast the young woman was making the offerings.  Then a walk back to a home laundry where I dropped off some items yesterday.  The sweetest little boy with the big smile.

Another glorious day in Bali.  Today we walked The Campuhan Ridge.

  

We arrived at a spa and restaurant where we were treated to a Balinese massage and lunch.

On the way to our hotel we stopped at a batik center.

Our hotel for the next 3 nights.  The Maya Sanur Resort and Spa.  Always a welcome drink. A beautiful room and view.

  

The pool areas and then along the beach walk.

I liked the braids!  The view from the top of the hotel.

10/25

What a beautiful Bali morning.  

Lots of traffic at 6 am on the boardwalk.  People out doing morning activities.

I loved seeing healthy dogs, certainly pets.  Love the matching shoes on the Pomeranian and owner. 

Breakfast views

After going on an actual highway our first stop today was the ROLE Foundation.  (River, Ocean, Lake and Environment)  They are a tiny little NGO with small staff, small funding and big goals.  We went through various stations.  Some are ones used in training young people how to make the environment better. Like the first one was how to dye things using natural things like bark.  We got to make a tie dye piece of fabric.

The next station is where they collect soap from area hotels after guests only use a tiny bit.  They clean it and make new soap to give to orphanges and places that need it.

Next we made paper.  They use a blender to blend water and recycled paper.  They use it to wrap the soap and for note cards.

We talked about garbage, landfills and how hard it is to control.

We had a brief talk on saving coral.  Tomorrow we do more.

Then we saw the Kele-Kele bee. A tiny little bee.  It doesn't sting, but still hurts.  The honey is a combination of sour and sweet, more sour.  

They also house a girls organization called Bali WISE.  It empowers very poor young women from all over Indonesia to educate and train them for the hospitality industry.  We spoke with some of the girls and they were as excited to learn about us as we were to learn about them.

We continued to another temple, Uluwato.  More monkeys, but Yogi said these are aggresive and had us leave things in the van.  He was our photographer.  Also, endangered deer in a fenced area and a rare white monkey, also caged.

  

We stayed at Uluwatu for the Kecak dance.  There were thousands of people in attendance and Yogi said it's like that every night, two shows a night.  The chanting was incredible.  The fire part was insane.  The monkey was quite cheeky.  Got Rick up on stage.

Rick, Lisa and I went to an Italian restaurant for dinner.  I just had soup and gelato!  Rick is half Italian and they both said the restaurant is very Italian.

10/26

Today we drove about 2 hours to Ocean Gardener, an organization trying to save the coral.  But, first we had a beachside seafood lunch.

Anastatia gave a talk on coral before we got into the water where they planted the coral.  The steps in were so very slippery.  

   

Yogi said this is an AC repairman.  This is a statue of the show we saw last night.  (because of the sun, not a good picture.  

Tonight we had our last dinner together. Kara leaves tomorrow and Rick, Lisa and I are flying to Flores for Komodo Island the next day. On our walk on the spa day, I stopped to price a painting and did not get it. Tonight Yogi presented us all with a painting. We picked rolled up canvases blindly and this one I picked is almost exactly like the one I was looking at. He’s been a wonderful guide.  If anyone needs a guide in Bali, I have his information. 

10/27

Today Lisa, Rick and I headed to Flores.  We are now at the blue dot and tomorrow take a boat to Komodo and a couple of other islands.

We are staying at the Sudamala Resort.  Another beautiful hotel.  This one in a very quiet area.

10/28

Yesterday we started the day with Mimosas for Lisa's birthday. A pre dinner drink with local liquor - sopi.  Our waitress in traditional dress.  Rick and Lisa.  

Today we took a speed boat to Komodo Island to start.  Our guide, driver and helper.  

The entrance and map with our park ranger.

We were lucky to see 4 Komodo Dragons right away.

We hiked around for a bit.  Komodo tail track, Komodo poop, wild boar, deer.

  

More Dragons.

We made a stop at Pink Beach.  Pink from the red coral.

We went to Manta Point to snorkle and saw one Manta for a second so we moved on to Mawan dive site and we saw about 10!  Baby to huge!  Sadly my phone was failing so didn't get great videos.  I just enjoyed the rays playing and the yellow and blue fish.  

We had lunch at a beach near Mawan.  Gorgeous and small Black-tipped Reef Sharks.

10/29

A lovely sunset last night.  Today we fly back to Bali and then start back to the States late afternoon tomorrow.  Indonesia is comprised of 17,000 to 18,000 islands.  We went to 3, well 4 if you count the beach where we had lunch.  The landscapes are diverse. Dry to lush.  The people have been very welcoming.  I am happy that I already have another trip with Discover Corps planned next year.  

10/30

The Anja Jimbaran hotel is not quite as nice as the others, but close to a beach.

One last walk on a beach before the long way back starting this afternoon.  The same statue I saw from the plane when I first landed.  Now I know it is the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue.  It is inspired by the Hinduism story of Garuda's search for amrita, the elixer of life.  A mama dog was very playful.