leaving East Tennessee and after a few flights and plane changes, I arrive in Bali

Probably the best known of the many Blinese dances, the Kecak is unusual in tht it does not have a gamelan accompaniment. Instead the background is provided by a chanting 'choir' of men who provide the 'chak-a-chak-a-chak' noise. Originally, this chanting group was known as the Kecak and was part of a Sanghyang trance dance. Then, in the 1930s, the modern Kecak developed in Bona near Gianyar in East Bali, where the dance is still held regularly.
The Kecak tells a tale from the Ramayana, one of the great Hindu holy books, about Prince Rama and his Princess Sita. With Rama's brother, Laksamana, they have been exiled from the kingdom of Ayodya and are wandering in the forest. The evil Rawana, King of Lanka, lures Rama away with a golden deer (which is really Lanka's equally evil prime minister, who has magically changed himself into a deer). When Rama fails to return, Sita persuades Laksamana to search for him. When the princess is alone, Rawana pounces and carries her off to his hideaway.

Hanuman, the white monkey-god, appears before Sita and tells her that Rama is trying to rescue her. He brings her Rama's ring to show that he is indeed the prince's envoy and Sita gives him a hairpin to take back to Rama. When Rama finally arrives in Lanka he is met by the evil king's evil son, Megananda, who shoots an arrow at him, but the arrow magically turns into a snake, which ties Rama up. Fortunately, Rama is able to call upon a Garuda, a mythical creature, part-man and part-bird, for assistance and thus escapes. Finally, Sugiwa, the king of the monkeys, comes to Rama's assistance with his monkey army and, after a great battle, good wins out over bad and Rama and Sita return home.
Throughout the dance the surrounding circle of men, all bare-chested and wearing checked cloth around their waists, provide a nonstop accompaniment that rises to a crescendo as they play the monkey army and fight it out with Rawana and his cronies. The chanting is superbly synchronised; members of the 'monkey army' sway back and forth, raise their hands in unison, flutter their fingers and lean left and right, all with an errily exciting coordination.

Monday, breakfast (at Artini 2) pineapple pancakes, fruit and tea (or coffee)
all gear packed up and put in van and off on bike ride

the area offers marvellous rice-field scenery a delightful rural character and exciting view of Gungun Agung (when the clouds permit).

breakfast served to the room
banana pancakes and tea (or coffee)

GUNGUNG AGUNG, Bali's highest and most revered mountain, Gunung Agung is an imposing peak from most of south and east Bali, although it's often obscured by cloud and mist. Most books and maps give its height as 3142m, but some say it lost its top in the 1963 eruption and with subsequent erosion, and is now only 3014m. The summit is an oval crater, about 700m across, with its highest point on the western edge above Besakih.

Penelokan means 'place to look'--and you will be gobsmacked by the view across to Gunung Batur and down to the lake at the bottom of the crater.

stayed in Village of Kedisan
Hotel Segara dan Restauran
ate at hotel last night
-jaffle, cheese egg and tomato 8500
-fruit with honey 5500
-fries (cooked pototatoes) 8500
-hot lemon tea 3000


up at 3am, climbed to the volcano summit of Mt Batur for a stunning sunrise overlooking the valley's of Bali

up at 3am, took flashlight with me
climbed to the volcano summit of Mt Batur
for a stunning sunrise overlooking the valley's of Bali.

we took a sack breakfst with us
-boiled egg
-2 slices of bread
-small banana

after the mt climb, then the hot springs, then the buffet lunch

drove to Segara Bukit, Seaside Cottages in Banyupoh-North West-Bali and spent the night
sand on the beach was black lava
after arrving here, I had a swim in the pool

meal at 7pm (been up since before 3am)
tomato cucumber salad and spaghetti

up for breakfast....portage with banana and honey, toast and tea

packed up gear and off we went to Bali Barat National Park

day of snorkelling on the reef at Menjangan Island

and part of the Bali Barat National Park

Kalibukbuk-Lovina Beach-Bali-Indonesia
www.angsoka.com

meal: paypa juice, french onion soup, chicken gordon bleu 27,000Rp

Friday am, up for breakfast
dropped off my laundry, total 17,500Rp

left at 9:30am, here we walked through clove and coffee plantations to a hidden waterfall for a refreshing dip. The walk is moderately difficult (3-5 hrs)
this area offers superb views across the hill country of Bali

from a bamboo stand/ladder with a basket on their back to put the cloves, women and kids at the bottom picking up the ones that are dropped

these hot spings are beautifully landscaped with luch tropical plants.
Eight carved stone naga spew water from a natural hot pring into the first bath

which then overflows (via the mouths of five more naga), into a second, larger pool

Intrepid team met up at Bali Apik for drinks before dinner, I had a vanilla milkshake (7,500Rp)
then we walked to Ibu Wayan's house on the beach in Lovina to eat at 8pm, we each paid 40,000Rp.

banana lassie 10,500Rp
french onion soup 19,500Rp
bbq chicken 32,500
service charge 5% 3.125Rp
tax 10% 6.562Rp
total charge 72.187Rp

it was a great meal

after eating at the Dirty Duck, I went to an ATM machine (my first time in Bali)
thought I was getting out 2 million Rp to do me but it was only 200,000 and each time I use this silly card, it charges me 2US$$, so I tried it again and messed up again and only got 600,000 this time, so I thought, that will do me awhile and I will try again at a later date, when I think I will pay more attention to what I'm doing

after arriving at Artini 3, I went to Artini 2 (where I had stayed on the first night of the Intreid trip) to pick up my suitcase that I had left there for the week and they delivered it back to Artini 3 for me (free of charge)

Sunday morning at Artini 3 breakfast, green pancakes with pineapple, fruit and tea

walked to the shops and internet
stopped at Kaklang Bakery, bought Cinnamon Bun 5,500 and Croissant 4,500

at 12 noon, got a ride down to my hotel in Kuta (Inna Kuta Beach Hotel) for 35,000

after getting a ride from Ubud to Kuta (Ayaka and Kentaro came with me, because they were flying back home that night and I let them leave their gear in my room for a few hours)

emptied bags and put all things on the shelf in the closet, off to the shops for drinks and snacks for the fridge (Ayaka and Kentaro were enjoying themselves at the pool and beach)
went to the beach for a massage but "mamma #16 was not there she was at a week long creamation cermony,
helped Ayaka and Kentaro get a taxi to the airport
went to internet and it was way too slow, never got to check mail, walked back toward room and passed a DVD shop, picked out 70 DVD's, didn't have enough money, so paid 200,000 deposit and to pick up tomorrow after 12N (shop closed in the am due to Indonesian President election) all DVD's were put in those plastic sleeves (which I liked very much)

at 8:30 Sunday night, went to Hard Rock Cafe for something to eat that didn't have rice in it
California Club Sandwich 45,000
diet pepsi (they did not have diet coke) 17,000 each and I had 2 (guess I should have looked at the price before I ordered 2) with tax, service charge, shipping and handling and all the other charges (ok, just tax and service charge) total 93,418Rp

Monday morning, didn't get out of bed till almost 8am
went for a walk on the beach then back to pool for 2 hrs of early morning sun (9am is early for me)
to room for shower (getting hungry) went to exchange money for the DVD's I'm to pick up today
all things still closed due to voting (where the voter puts the tip of their little finger in ink to show they have voted to prevent them for voting 2 times), as I passed several people offering taxi rides or cheap t-shirts, I would ask if they voted and they would hold up their hand to show me their ink stained finger

went to the ATM machine to get money (did better this time, got the amount that I wanted) but have no idea of the exchange rate when I do this.
went to the internet place across the road from Melasti then to Yans Cafe right beside that for an early lunch, Vanilla Milkshake 12,000 and club sandwich with chicken bacon cheese lettuce tomato on toast with fries for 22,500, only ate half and had the other wrapped up to go.

while at Yans Cafe eating, kid selling music CD's, he looked hungry (the reason for me getting half my lunch to go), I bought 9 CD's at 10,000 each (not needing any of them) and gave him my left over lunch, I think he was more proud of the food than the sell, I watched him go and share it with someone else
back to DVD shop (they are open now) paid for my movies

went to Matahari again and bought an orange colored shirt 15,900 (I'm wearing it at the Bali Forum dinner) then to pick up tomato juice (box) 16,900 and Nivea Face Cream small containers only 7,900 each (that is cheap)
back to the room to unload my stuff and back to the pool for more SUN and read

while at the pool, Chris (that was in the Intrepid group) stopped by, we planned on meeting tonight (8:30pm) at TJ's to eat.
Chimichanga Grande, orange fanta and ice cream sundae was in the 70,000 something range total.

back to the room and I met my neighbor (on the other side of the cottage), she was from England but has lived in Perth area for the past 35 years, she was a very lovely person and we sat and talked for over an hour
then I'm off to bed (up early in the morning for the cooking class)

up at 6am, dressed and out to catch a taxi to Jayakarta Hotel to meet the Bali Forum Group at 6:45am Van ride to Ubud to the Casa Luna Cooking School (150,000Rp each), Jalan Bisma, Ubud, Bali
www.casalunabali.com

see the bowl above the cutting board, it had baby dried eels in it

mixing the spices together

ready to eat

back to Kuta (dropped off at my hotel), went to the internet place then to room, ordered room service and to bed early

up early (went to bed real early last night) for a walk on the beach

not many people out this morning

Bali Aussie Bar and Restaurant
Melasti Street No 69X Legian-Kuta_Bali
phone: (0361) 751910

after eating at Bali Aussie's, walked back toward my hotel, went to a new internet cafe called "Kangaroo Bali Internet" Jl Legian No. 200 Bali, it was really nice, only 300 per minute, all 21 inch monitors.

on the walk stopped and bought 2 scarves, 10,000Rp each.

OJ, Tea, Fried eggs x 2, Bacon, Ham, Sausage, Tomatoes, Toast x 2 with butter and jam
17,500Rp (I think the best meal value for my whole trip)

left the Bali Aussie's and walked down the street toward my hotel

I never did eat here but did want to go inside but never did

back to the room, went to the pool for a read then for a walk on the beach

kinda cloudy for the sunset
off for a walk
went to a surf shop and bought 2 billabong t-shirts and 1 scarf each shirt cost 135,000 each.
at a local shop, bought 2 LV purses to give as gifts when I got back home 40,000 each.

while out today, went to money exchange place, I only had 1 US100$$ with me, and they would not exchange it because the year was 2001 and the serial number started with "CB", they will exchange all 100$$ notes except the ones that start with "CB" (and they will not exchange any 1996 100$$ notes) so off to the ATM machine again using my prepaid travelers check on a card thingy.

up early Thur morning, to be picked up at 7:45 (van was 45 mins late)
off to pick up 5 more of the Bali Forum group
went to Kintmani for breakfast then on to where the 'Great Bike Ride' started

breakfast included
toast, bacon, eggs, furit, tea or coffee

after breakfast while we were getting in the van and passing every seller on the street, I bought 6 wooden braclets for 10,000 total

wished I could fit 2 of those in my backpack to take home

lunch was included in the bike ride price
I had a banana lassie extra which cost me 12,500Rp

back to Kuta after the bike ride, sitting on my veranda reading I fell asleep, got up and went to lay down (setting my alarm for 1 hr) I fell asleep
up showered and out to eat

went to beach and there was a cremation ceremony going on
not great pics because it was getting dark

walked to Melasti Cafe to eat
Chicken Gordon Bleu 39,500
orange fanta 6,000
plus tax and service charge 55,055

while sitting there watching the people walk by and music videos on the tv
the power went off just before I got my food
so, I ate by candle lite

power back on and sat and listened to 2 people try to sing
back to the room with most places still out of power

Friday morning, walked to Bali Aussie's for breakfast
had same as yesterday 17,500Rp

I bought a single hammock for 150,000Rp

Jl Tangkuban Perahu No. 14X
Kerobokan Bali Indonesia
www.ticketothemoon.com

outside in a pot on the walkway from ticket to the moon

walked down poppies lane 2 to drop off my laundry at Yehring laundry service (right across the road from Internet Outpost)
1 long sleeve shirt 1,200
1 skirt 1,000
3 tank tops 2,400
2 t-shirts 2,000
3 shorts 3,000
total 9,600 and the clothes smells so good when I picked them up the next day

on Poppies lane 2

back to the room and to the beach
had a massage by "martini" 40,000 for 1 hr
then Nails done, I took Cassey 5 new bottles of nail polish, she really liked the white and other bright colors nails 40,000Rp

Nancy from Atlanta and Rachel from East Tennessee meet for the first time in Bali

after walking on the beach checking out the Kuta Karnival
I went to the Istara Rama Hotel to catch up with Tamara, Vanessa and Liesbet (from Intrepid trip)
planned to meet up at 8pm at Papa's Cafe
walked down poppies 2 and bought a blue shirt at Dewi's for 25,000 and my first pair of shoes (blue flip flops or thongs with sequens on them) for 10,000Rp

on to Salon Bali for a 1 hr massage 39,000Rp

after the massage stopped at Rainbow Cafe for a banana lassie 7,000 and fruit salad 6,000

back to the room and called to confirm my flights out in the am

at 8pm went to Istara Rama Hotel and walked to Papa's Cafe to eat
I had Lasagan and garlic bread and drinks 124,000Rp

walking back to my hotel I stopped at the mini mart and had an ice cream for 4,000