Puri Padi Ubud

... day we headed further north into the mountains, to Gunung Batur (Mt Batur). Gunung Batur is a volcanic mountain, with a large crater lake, and townships along the crater rim.

We first drove around the crater rim, before following a road down in the crater itself and alongside the crater lake. Most people tend to go down towards an area with hot springs, but we ended up going down a quieter, less busy area, towards Trunyan. Trunyan is a Bali Aga village ...

... However, the very accommodating owner let us try four dishes (all the dishes were already cooked and sitting under a glass counter), each of which was delicious. We asked her to make us a plate with rice and a small portion of each. We were very pleased with both the flavor and the price of the meal ($1 each). Next, our driver took us to another temple, which was fairly similar to the other except that it wasn't on a cliff and there was an interesting pool in the center where ...

Ever since Michael started taking his antibiotics to treat his typhoid, things slowly have gotten back to normal but one thing has definitely changed: our tempo. The sudden onset of typhoid made the both of us learn how to slow things down on our trip. Before we seemed to always be on the move seeing one thing after another. Now, we seem to appreciate the time we have more. As my grandma has told me for years: without health, you have nothing.

Two days after ...

... to return again sometime. I guess this should be no surprise, as so many other westerners have found the Bali experience to be irresistible too - as evidenced by the number of expats settling in for the long term. It really does have the magic combination of tropical sunshine, gracious and interesting people, abundant culture, wonderful art, breathtaking landscape and food and lodging to please the most discriminating budget and luxury traveler. Too bad we can’t trade Hawaii for Bali.

... in Australia and The States too.

We try the different coffees and teas they have on sale. To be fair no pressure or obligation to buy anything either. All very nice.

Yes we tried it. Had to pay a few bucks for it though. Tasted like coffee oddly.

To bid a fond farewell to this beautiful town we used one of the many spas available here. On arrival I was presented with a pair of hospital pants, the mesh things, and told to ...

... had because it was filled with so much ritual, heart and peace. Such an interesting contrast to how the West celebrates New Year; I like the Balinese way much better. A time for letting go and renewal--cycles again! I did an 8 day yoga retreat and teacher training module with Shiva Rea which was incredible and transformative on so many levels. Words can't express all I learned and how happy I ...

... going to be the best part of the day, visiting the Monkey Forest actually wound up to be quite scary to say the least. After a monkey attacked Jamie's bag on the way in (obviously in search of some bananas) Lauren had seen enough monkeys! We ventured through a little further, viewing little babies with their moms and literally clans of monkeys all HUNGRY! Tourists and hungry monkeys aren't the best combo as we were in and out of the monkey forest within 20 ...

... a sign that said "yale hawaii." i haven't been outside of kuta beach, the overrun tourist part of town, like waikiki on steroids. during the day as you walk the streets its guys asking "transport, transport?" or trying to sell you sunglasses, even if you've got them on, and at night its girls selling massages. tonight i walked down to the part where two ...

... pretty late and places were starting to close. Ubud's nigthlife didn't go on much past 11! In the morning, we had breakfast delivered to our room and we sat on our balcony feeling very spoilt! We decided to have a wander round and didn't manage to leave Monkey Forest Road all day! Yes, it's a very long road but the shops were just awesome. Rows upon rows of funky art galleries, jewellery and clothes shops, wicked little cafes and coffee bars - you name it - we spent ages ...

... at least brought a little sterling silver basket with flowers, and palm fronds, and incense. Even the teenaged boys carried them. There was a Gamelan orchestra playing in the inner temple, and a female Gamelan playing the outer temple walls. Everyone came in and slipped off their shoes, sat on them, and quietly prayed. A few older ladies walked through the rows of patrons, and performed individual prayers for them which ...