Beautiful Bali

March 2, 2013 Bali Indonesia

welcome band

Today we were in Bali.  What a beautiful and lush island.  It is one of over 10,000 islands that make up the country of Indonesia.  We had arranged a tour through the brother of one of the crew members.  It was a very reasonable private tour for the four of us for all day.

our welcome dancers

Once we got out of the port area it was a series of small villages surrounded by lush vegetation.  Each area of the island specializes in its products.  We visited the areas that make batik, wood carving, stone carving, Balinese art and the areas that grow much of the produce.  All along the road are different stores that sell all kinds of products.  Let me tell you I know where Frontgate gets its wicker and teak from.  I have never seen so many stone carvings and not just Buddha- there were bears, eagles, you name it.

traditional batik work

The shop where they demonstrated the batik was very interesting.  They showed how they use the wax to draw patterns and use resist techniques to add color.  There were also several weaving stations that were making beautiful woven cloths.  “C” purchased a batik panel of a temple and a palm tree to display at home. 

At the wood carving shop they explained the products are priced based upon who made them- Master, teacher and student.  There are lots of woods used including ebony and teak.  The most interesting was the crocodile wood which as its name implies has big nubs on the bark that they use in the carving.  I purchased a Balinese Buddha head made from solid Ebony.  “C” learned how to play a local drum/xylophone type instrument.  He also received 2 chess pieces as a gift with my purchase. 

The silver store had lots of beautiful jewelry.  They seemed to have a lot of filigree style which were unique.  I was able to pick up a Pandora like charm that has the Balinese symbol on it.  This will go with some others I have picked up along the way, including the one from New Zealand.

Our last craft store we went to was a Balinese painting. They showed us the traditional techniques and they also explained the student now produce more modern type works.  I was tempted to buy a piece where they did the sketching then added the black ink and then the color but decided I really don’t have enough room to hang the art at home. 

mom and baby monkey

After making the rounds in the different stores we headed out into the countryside.  Our first stop was in Ubud at the monkey forest.  The monkeys just run around trying to get people to feed them.  We saw some mothers with very young monkeys.  I even watched one that looked just like a mother with a toddler.  The baby monkey picked up a pebble and tried to put it in its mouth, the mother took it away, next it tried to pick up a bead and it was taken away.  Finally it just started searching for something else.  It was very interesting to see their behaviors.



local lady carrying baskets

After this stop we drove through the resort area and saw what could have been streets just like resorts in Hawaii and Florida: Croc stores, Starbucks you name it.  As we headed b ack out into the countryside we began seeing all kinds of fruit stands and fruit trees.  We saw bananas, guavas, coconut, papaya and many local fruit growing and for sale.  We also saw the terraced rice fields.  They were amazing to see.  We didn’t see any water buffalo working the fields but we did see some on a truck eating and in a pen at the side of the paddies. 

terraced rice paddies

 

view from lunch of volcano and lake

 

We drove up into the mountains and had lunch at a Balinese buffet.  The view was spectacular from here, it was of the volcano and a big lake.  The weather was almost cool up there, a welcome respite from the heat and humidity in the port area. 

fruit at roadside market

Our final stop was a Hindu temple.  On our search for another temple we found ourselves on a back road that was washed out.  It took 2 tries to get up the hill, I thought we were all going to have to climb out of the van for it to make it up the hill.  All part of the adventure!  Just when I thought we were totally lost,  we popped out into a small town. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The temple was very interesting.  We had to make sure our shoulders and knees were covered and had to put on a sash.  “C” and Dad had to borrow a sarong to where as they had shorts on.  Inside the temple there are altars for each of the gods.  Ganesh is one of the main gods and as such had a large temple. 

ganesh at temple

an altar for one of the deities

They have water gardens that the Hindu (and tourists) can submerge themselves in to cleanse their spirits.  They go their frequently.  Our guide, Noman, explained to us that there are festivals in the Hindu religion about every 2-3 weeks.  There are also several large ones during the year, including one where they observe a day of silence and they ask tourists to please remain in their hotels and observe the tradition as well.  Bali is mainly a Hindu island while many others are Muslim. 

On our way back to the port we stopped at another temple where they were performing prayers and providing offerings.

 

locals carrying offerings to temple



front of temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We headed back to the ship after this as there was a big party thrown by the CEO that evening.  He had been aboard for a few days, as he is during each world voyage.  This year’s party was an Indonesian marketplace.  They had becheks to ride around in for a donation to a medical fund for the poor in Indonesia (Rainbow Foundation).  It sounds similar to a St. Jude’s in the US.  They also had Indonesian food and entertainment.  It was quite a feast and included open bar, which believe me was taken advantage of by many a passenger. 

playing balinese bells

bechak ride around deck

local puppeteers

c and new friends

 

 

 

 

The other highlight that day was for many of the crew to have visitors aboard.  Most of the dining staff is from Indonesia and many family and friends come aboard to visit and see the ship.  It is a good and bad thing for the crew as it is wonderful to see them but then they leave again.  Many other crew members will see family in the Philippines- the bar staff is from there.  Unfortunately, Bali & Manila both mean several of our favorite crew members are leaving the ship. 

local family on scooter