BALI - I HEART YOU

Last weekend was spent in Bali– and I fell in love. Told Mike we needed to buy a winter home

there, Mike pointed out that in order for that to happen I needed a job. Conversation ended there.

Bali is a Hindu islands in Indonesia, best known for its surf and culture. From Singapore it is about a 2-hour flight to Denspasar and from there the world is your oyster. When most people think Bali they think Kuta Beach – know for its great surf an as a 24/7 non stop party town. Although both Mike and I enjoy a good party we decided to go with something a little quieter and headed about 25km north of Denspasar to an area known for its culture and crafts – Ubud. Not close to any beaches (the weather wasn’t any good anyways) we still managed to find lots to do.

We arrived late Friday night and checked into our place. Right way we fell in love as we found ourselves in a quant bungalow, compete with a beautiful bathroom and an out door shower. As great as the out door shower was, one would find one self lathering up and could not help wondering what type of "animals" lived in the bushes around them……. .

After a fantastic sleep we woke up Saturday morning and had breakfast at our villa.

This was very important – for if you ever find yourself in Bali you must must have the Balinese pancakes they are ridiculously good. Basically they are like a thin crape filled with your choice of bananas or fresh pineapple and drizzled with some sort of syrup made from crack and fresh coconut – Not even joking I could have eaten 10 of them and spent the day by the pool and been happy.

After breakfast we went for a walk in the market annd town. Ubud is filled with stalls and craft stands. Everyone one has a great deal and of course wants to be your friend.

Mike's way to handle pesky vendor

Answer :

To tell the local vendors they need to talk to the boss lady………….around noon we had to leave as the locals soon learned my nick name. Mike thought it was very entertaining when we would walk through the market and hear “Hey pretty boss lady have I got a deal for you”

One word – Karma.

Leaving the market turned out not to be a bad

thing as this was about the time the tourist buses from around the island started showing up and all the “morning prices” changed to afternoon prices.

After a lunch at a fantastic little place called No-mad which filled us up with Balinese goodness we ventured into the Monkey Forest.

Mike has come up with the following theory - Monkeys and humans cannot co-exist, as they want the same things. Monkeys like human food, shiny objects and Mike. There were monkey’s everywhere and by no means were they scared of people within 5 minutes of being in the forest the horny bugger were circling Mike.

Mike (with monkey circling him) – Oh-no Risha this is not good, I don’t like this…….

Risha – It’s a monkey they are use to humans just relax

Within 30 seconds of this statement monkey is on Mike’s leg humping like there is no tomorrow. Of course just as he get’s one monkey off another starts to circle him and sure enough Mike gets “attacked” again and after a few choice works but this ends up booting the monkey (don’t worry its about the equivalent of kicking a pigeon at home).

Monkey takes off, finds other monkey

Mike = not so happy

Risha = laughing ass off.

Mike decides it time to leave and he has had enough time in monkey forest

Risha – still laughing ass off.

Of course as Mike turns to leave full downpour starts. Mike doesn’t care and makes a run for it all in all we spent about $10 to spend less then 10 minutes in monkey forest.

Evening was spent taking in a local Balinese dance show. Very cool as the music for the dancers was created by about 50 men sitting around in a circle using there voices as instruments.

Sunday started off with more crack filled pancakes followed by a walking tour of the near by rice fields. Mike and I then hired a driver and went and visited a couple of temples and a coffee plantation. Had lunch on the edge of the Batur Volcano, weather wasn’t great so we didn’t get to see it in all its glory but still very impressive.

In conclusion Bali = highly recommended.