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Ruth Rosenthal | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Bali December 2019 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Bali December 2019

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We flew to Bali 3 days early and then boarded a cruise ship headed to Australia and New Zealand. At home, I researched Bali and decided I wanted to mostly see the area around Ubud. I contacted a driver who came highly recommended by several cruisers on Cruisecritic.com. His name was Dewa Gede. He can be reached by email (dgrock1140 with at sign followed by yahoo.com) or phone or WhatsApp but I'd prefer not to give the # here due to concerns about spam calls. He is on Facebook as Dewa Dg in Indonesia. He is available to take you out for a day's exploration, and perhaps even for less than a day. He lives in Ubud but is willing to travel to the port or airport or wherever you are. If you have only a day on a cruise, he is your man, although he told me that Ubud is about as far as he can safely manage in a day, as traffic in Bali can be bad.

I told him where I wanted to go, and he planned a 3 day exploration of places between the airport, cruise port, eastern beach area of Sanur, and Ubud and its culturally-rich surrounding area. I looked at a whole lot of accommodations in Sanur and Ubud and found two that sounded right for me. Both turned out to be great, although they are not the big resort-type hotels that people might prefer.

Bali really blew me away. If you go, you really need to go north. I would have gone farther if I had had the time. But with 3 days, and a cruise ship to catch, I think I saw enough to make me very happy for a lifetime. I particularly liked the Jatiluwih Rice Fields and the Sangeh Monkey Forest. For a person who loves colorful things, and new cultural experiences, you just can't beat Bali.
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LONG flights in business class on Cathay Pacific Dulles to Hong Kong; HK to Bali. Here's part of HK from plane window
LONG flights in business class on Cathay Pacific Dulles to Hong Kong; HK to Bali. Here's part of HK from plane window
Denpasar airport; nice. Take medication list, expect long wait for luggage,TONS of drivers waiting,luggage x-rayed before leave.
Denpasar airport; nice. Take medication list, expect long wait for luggage,TONS of drivers waiting,luggage x-rayed before leave.
Met driver/guide for 3 days, Dewa Gede.  He turned out to be awesome.  Hire him - SO worth it!  Contact info is above.
Met driver/guide for 3 days, Dewa Gede. He turned out to be awesome. Hire him - SO worth it! Contact info is above.
What other driver/guide would take you to his family's compound to meet his family?
What other driver/guide would take you to his family's compound to meet his family?
And let you watch/photograph his mom blessing metal objects on Tumpek Landep day?
And let you watch/photograph his mom blessing metal objects on Tumpek Landep day?
For newly married couples
For newly married couples
I would love doors like this in my home
I would love doors like this in my home
Extended families live together with private & shared areas.
Extended families live together with private & shared areas.
Dewa drove us to Sanur, where we found Santa late afternoon, Dec. 18. Hindus don't celebrate Christmas but Santa comes anyway!
Dewa drove us to Sanur, where we found Santa late afternoon, Dec. 18. Hindus don't celebrate Christmas but Santa comes anyway!
Stayed at Segara Village Hotel near beach for 1 night; very nice for our 1st night in Bali.
Stayed at Segara Village Hotel near beach for 1 night; very nice for our 1st night in Bali.
One perfect boat & 2 distant, humble, not-counted lighthouses
One perfect boat & 2 distant, humble, not-counted lighthouses
Beach, boat, lights
Beach, boat, lights
Sunrise Dec. 19
Sunrise Dec. 19
Morning on the beach
Morning on the beach
Fishing went on by boat and foot, day and night
Fishing went on by boat and foot, day and night
View south to Sindhu Beach
View south to Sindhu Beach
One fisherman with net
One fisherman with net
Cleaning the beach in the morning
Cleaning the beach in the morning
Loved these boats
Loved these boats
Such a colorful place
Such a colorful place
Had breakfast at hotel facing beach
Had breakfast at hotel facing beach
Left Segara Village, went for walk up to lighthouses. Boats left there for nearby small islands.
Left Segara Village, went for walk up to lighthouses. Boats left there for nearby small islands.
Birds of paradise are everywhere
Birds of paradise are everywhere
Passed this god with offering, maybe a cigarette, & incense
Passed this god with offering, maybe a cigarette, & incense
Llifeguard boat & others
Llifeguard boat & others
Loved the boats everywhere
Loved the boats everywhere
Alaska=faraway;men to left because women always RIGHT
Alaska=faraway;men to left because women always RIGHT
Dewa picked us up at 9 & took us to Batubulan village
Dewa picked us up at 9 & took us to Batubulan village
Attended Barong & Kris drama/dance; village gamelon began to play
Attended Barong & Kris drama/dance; village gamelon began to play
Mighty Barong emerges (mythical beast representing good)
Mighty Barong emerges (mythical beast representing good)
Barong & his friend the monkey
Barong & his friend the monkey
Women dancers - perhaps doing Legong dance?
Women dancers - perhaps doing Legong dance?
Rangda, demon queen, represents evil. Note the nails.
Rangda, demon queen, represents evil. Note the nails.
Things got a little long & complicated.  A written summary was provided but it was hard to read and take pictures at same time.
Things got a little long & complicated. A written summary was provided but it was hard to read and take pictures at same time.
Things got violent
Things got violent
Death by kris (sword)
Death by kris (sword)
After the show we visited beautiful Batuan Pura (temple). Puri is palace; pura is temple.
After the show we visited beautiful Batuan Pura (temple). Puri is palace; pura is temple.
Pura Puseh Batuan detail
Pura Puseh Batuan detail
After drama/dance, visited Pura Batubulan (Howard's picture of a beautiful painting there)
After drama/dance, visited Pura Batubulan (Howard's picture of a beautiful painting there)
Batubulan temple detail
Batubulan temple detail
Daily offerings are everywhere
Daily offerings are everywhere
Went to Tegenungan Waterfall overview.  Note swing & heart for photos. Seem to be very popular.
Went to Tegenungan Waterfall overview. Note swing & heart for photos. Seem to be very popular.
70 cents for shower; looks like price for last service was changed
70 cents for shower; looks like price for last service was changed
Had lunch at Semar Kuning in beautiful setting
Had lunch at Semar Kuning in beautiful setting
Went to Setia Darma House of Masks & Puppets
Went to Setia Darma House of Masks & Puppets
My kind of place: not on tourist circuit, but oh so awesome!
My kind of place: not on tourist circuit, but oh so awesome!
Feast for my eyes
Feast for my eyes
Dewa & Howard sat for a while so I could check out every building.
Dewa & Howard sat for a while so I could check out every building.
President meets president: Obama puppet with Setia Darma president puppet.
President meets president: Obama puppet with Setia Darma president puppet.
Puppets from around the world
Puppets from around the world
Back in the car: We passed more workers & Dewa slowed down so I could take a picture.
Back in the car: We passed more workers & Dewa slowed down so I could take a picture.
Goa Gajah outside Ubud is known as Elephant Cave
Goa Gajah outside Ubud is known as Elephant Cave
Fountains at Goa Gajah
Fountains at Goa Gajah
Ruth at Goa Gajah; photo by Dewa Dg
Ruth at Goa Gajah; photo by Dewa Dg
Goa Gajah
Goa Gajah
Note to self: Haircut, bra and SMILE would have been nice!
Note to self: Haircut, bra and SMILE would have been nice!
Slept well at Runik, but at 5 AM, was jetlagged & couldn't sleep. Walked & walked. This was on Monkey Forest Road
Slept well at Runik, but at 5 AM, was jetlagged & couldn't sleep. Walked & walked. This was on Monkey Forest Road
Split gate is typical at Balinese temples
Split gate is typical at Balinese temples
Think this frog was at the Puri Lukisan Museum in Ubud, early AM
Think this frog was at the Puri Lukisan Museum in Ubud, early AM
Look up to see hidden treasures
Look up to see hidden treasures
Stopped in village of Mas to see woodcarvers at work & to browse showroom of beautiful wood objects (photo by Howard)
Stopped in village of Mas to see woodcarvers at work & to browse showroom of beautiful wood objects (photo by Howard)
It's intricate work. Many villages near Ubud specialize in one art or another. (Photo by Howard)
It's intricate work. Many villages near Ubud specialize in one art or another. (Photo by Howard)
Heart & swing at Tegenungan; photo by Howard
Heart & swing at Tegenungan; photo by Howard
Mask at Setia Darma by Howard
Mask at Setia Darma by Howard
Room 3, Runik Ubud
Room 3, Runik Ubud
Stayed 2 nights at Runik Ubud @ $50 plus tax.  Loved the location - very convenient but back in the rice fields, so quiet
Stayed 2 nights at Runik Ubud @ $50 plus tax. Loved the location - very convenient but back in the rice fields, so quiet
Ruth's reminder to not drink tap water in Bali
Ruth's reminder to not drink tap water in Bali
Only negative about Runik was that this new construction now stands where rice fields stood before. (H's photo)
Only negative about Runik was that this new construction now stands where rice fields stood before. (H's photo)
Building hotel block by block; photo by Howard
Building hotel block by block; photo by Howard
Thatching a roof, photo by Howard
Thatching a roof, photo by Howard
What would Bali do without scooters?  (by Howard)
What would Bali do without scooters? (by Howard)
Ubud statue
Ubud statue
Part of Puri Lukisan early AM
Part of Puri Lukisan early AM
Loved my 5 AM walks around Ubud - so quiet!  In another hour or 2 this street (Raya Ubud) would be crowded with scooters & cars
Loved my 5 AM walks around Ubud - so quiet! In another hour or 2 this street (Raya Ubud) would be crowded with scooters & cars
Path from Runik to construction site. Women pushed wheelbarrows of concrete every morning down this lane.
Path from Runik to construction site. Women pushed wheelbarrows of concrete every morning down this lane.
Early AM near Runik from Sunset Lane
Early AM near Runik from Sunset Lane
Runik statue
Runik statue
Runik had only 4 rooms. Be quiet...Kadek is sleeping beneath stairs!  He was very good to us.
Runik had only 4 rooms. Be quiet...Kadek is sleeping beneath stairs! He was very good to us.
Runik view from 2nd floor. In AM Kadek made us breakfast -  banana pancake or eggs/sausage, fruit, coffee.
Runik view from 2nd floor. In AM Kadek made us breakfast - banana pancake or eggs/sausage, fruit, coffee.
Runik pool
Runik pool
Hotel or palace behind Runik, maybe Honeymoon Palace?
Hotel or palace behind Runik, maybe Honeymoon Palace?
Path to Runik along irrigation ditch
Path to Runik along irrigation ditch
There's a whole other world behind the Runik; sun coming soon
There's a whole other world behind the Runik; sun coming soon
Sun still wasn't up when I came across this temple
Sun still wasn't up when I came across this temple
It's a small temple behind the Runik
It's a small temple behind the Runik
Saw offerings on walk early AM
Saw offerings on walk early AM
By the time we left Ubud, tarp was down, progress made. Bamboo poles used for support.
By the time we left Ubud, tarp was down, progress made. Bamboo poles used for support.
Area around Runik
Area around Runik
Walked UP Sunset Lane out to main road
Walked UP Sunset Lane out to main road
Taman Ayun Royal Palace, Mengwi. Dewa suggested standing here. He knows all the good vantage points!
Taman Ayun Royal Palace, Mengwi. Dewa suggested standing here. He knows all the good vantage points!
Royal Palace
Royal Palace
Taman Ayun detail
Taman Ayun detail
So many statues, big and small, in Bali
So many statues, big and small, in Bali
Set out to visit Taman Ayun Royal Palace; stopped 1st to buy a towel (so hot/humid!).  Howard shared his towel with Dewa
Set out to visit Taman Ayun Royal Palace; stopped 1st to buy a towel (so hot/humid!). Howard shared his towel with Dewa
Taman Ayun - Royal Family's Palace
Taman Ayun - Royal Family's Palace
It's a water temple - surrounded by water!
It's a water temple - surrounded by water!
Taman Ayun
Taman Ayun
While going to Jutiluwih Rice Fields we saw cleanup after a celebration (wedding?)
While going to Jutiluwih Rice Fields we saw cleanup after a celebration (wedding?)
This was just a preview of things to come.
This was just a preview of things to come.
Right off the bat I loved the Jatiluwih Rice Fields - awesome!
Right off the bat I loved the Jatiluwih Rice Fields - awesome!
I wanted to visit Jatiluwih instead of the more accessible Tegalalang fields closer to Ubud.  Think I made the right choice.
I wanted to visit Jatiluwih instead of the more accessible Tegalalang fields closer to Ubud. Think I made the right choice.
Beautiful!
Beautiful!
Fields are planted in stages
Fields are planted in stages
Scooters belonging to workers
Scooters belonging to workers
Howard & Dewa waited while I walked the red route.
Howard & Dewa waited while I walked the red route.
We call these cattle egrets but think here they're called Java pond herons.
We call these cattle egrets but think here they're called Java pond herons.
Woman working the fields
Woman working the fields
The more I walked the more I saw
The more I walked the more I saw
Couldn't stop taking pictures
Couldn't stop taking pictures
For short time followed a worker up the path
For short time followed a worker up the path
Bali is big on places made for selfie shots
Bali is big on places made for selfie shots
Howard saw me walking part of the way & he was waiting for me at the top
Howard saw me walking part of the way & he was waiting for me at the top
Had lunch at Gong Jatiuwih - food was OK, view was awesome!
Had lunch at Gong Jatiuwih - food was OK, view was awesome!
Between Jatiluwih & next stop we saw women working & they waved to us
Between Jatiluwih & next stop we saw women working & they waved to us
Men were thrashing rice
Men were thrashing rice
Saw rice fields everywhere
Saw rice fields everywhere
Then we stopped at the wonderful Sangeh Monkey Forest, which is not the same as the one in Ubud.
Then we stopped at the wonderful Sangeh Monkey Forest, which is not the same as the one in Ubud.
Sangeh is reported to have better behaved monkeys!
Sangeh is reported to have better behaved monkeys!
They played with coconuts, jumped from the temple into a pool, and tended to their young.
They played with coconuts, jumped from the temple into a pool, and tended to their young.
Monkeys everywhere!
Monkeys everywhere!
Temple & monkey
Temple & monkey
One monkey
One monkey
Monkey with baby on back
Monkey with baby on back
Loved the babies - looked quite young!
Loved the babies - looked quite young!
Going for a ride
Going for a ride
Climbing/sitting at the temple
Climbing/sitting at the temple
One of my favorite photos
One of my favorite photos
Another favorite
Another favorite
Wanted to know how old the babies were but this isn't a zoo - nobody to ask!
Wanted to know how old the babies were but this isn't a zoo - nobody to ask!
2 parents 2 babies
2 parents 2 babies
Baby with mouth open
Baby with mouth open
Party goers, one with a prized possession (coconut)
Party goers, one with a prized possession (coconut)
Babies by Howard
Babies by Howard
Pool party by Howard.  These guys were VERY amusing!
Pool party by Howard. These guys were VERY amusing!
Howard's best monkey sleeping picture!
Howard's best monkey sleeping picture!
Burning the fields
Burning the fields
Ubud taxis don't want competition
Ubud taxis don't want competition
This was on Jl Bisma - every AM 2 women would fill their wheelbarrows & walk the path to construction site
This was on Jl Bisma - every AM 2 women would fill their wheelbarrows & walk the path to construction site
View of construction site at night, first night
View of construction site at night, first night
On the last morning I walked up Kajeng - interesting street
On the last morning I walked up Kajeng - interesting street
Did part of Juwuk Manis Walk. Passed only a few people while up there.
Did part of Juwuk Manis Walk. Passed only a few people while up there.
Worker in field - heard music coming from a nearby tent
Worker in field - heard music coming from a nearby tent
Offering in field
Offering in field
Coconuts!
Coconuts!
I was too early to buy a coconut from the Coconut Man but saw his shed
I was too early to buy a coconut from the Coconut Man but saw his shed
Scary!
Scary!
Saw ducks
Saw ducks
And more beautiful Bali sights
And more beautiful Bali sights
Shared the walk with this beauty.  Think it's a lizard.
Shared the walk with this beauty. Think it's a lizard.
Jalan Kajeng is lined with bricks like this. Of course I liked the lighthouse!
Jalan Kajeng is lined with bricks like this. Of course I liked the lighthouse!
Saraswati is a water temple in the center of Ubud next to Starbucks
Saraswati is a water temple in the center of Ubud next to Starbucks
Saraswati detail
Saraswati detail
Pura Saraswati fountain
Pura Saraswati fountain
The lilies were blooming
The lilies were blooming
So it begins - sun's coming up, scooters are out!
So it begins - sun's coming up, scooters are out!
Kids going to school.  Forgot what Dewa told us about the colored uniforms - hmm..must email him!
Kids going to school. Forgot what Dewa told us about the colored uniforms - hmm..must email him!
Bajra Sandhi monument with one gate
Bajra Sandhi monument with one gate
Way up top was wedding photography going on
Way up top was wedding photography going on
Before going to the cruise port, we stopped at McD's for a snack - with rice or fries?  40K is maybe 3 USD, photo by Howard
Before going to the cruise port, we stopped at McD's for a snack - with rice or fries? 40K is maybe 3 USD, photo by Howard
Hooray!  My first real, countable lighthouse on trip -  522nd I've seen (Benoa Harbor, taken from ship).
Hooray! My first real, countable lighthouse on trip - 522nd I've seen (Benoa Harbor, taken from ship).
At 5 PM, the ship left Benoa, Bali & sailed toward Australia.  I think I left my heart in Bali, though......
At 5 PM, the ship left Benoa, Bali & sailed toward Australia. I think I left my heart in Bali, though......
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