Bali,
(Benoa),
Indonesia is most definitely not the island paradise of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific.
As beautiful as the people and the scenery are, the island pales to the beauty of Komodo and other islands of this vast archipelago. We were privy to have the luxury of a co-cruisers’ friends’ car and driver for the two days we were able to explore.
(Benoa),
Indonesia is most definitely not the island paradise of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific.
As beautiful as the people and the scenery are, the island pales to the beauty of Komodo and other islands of this vast archipelago. We were privy to have the luxury of a co-cruisers’ friends’ car and driver for the two days we were able to explore.
Our driver, Putu, extended us the honor of going to his home to visit his family and the family's private temple which had been decorated for the upcoming Hindu New Year holiday called Nyepi, a day of self-reflection in Bali where between 6 AM until 6 AM the next morning, no activity and no traffic is allowed on the roads; no fire may be lit and there is no talking or eating. Seeing his family preparing their celebratory food and decorations and having it all explained on a personal level made it that more informative.
We visited Ubud, a remarkable town in the middle of the island of Bali. For more than a century, it has been the island's preeminent centre for fine arts, dance and music. We toured an art school, viewing marvelous works and then returned to our ship for an evening. of food, wine and relaxation.
UBUD SCENES
On our second day, we drove to several temples, including one of Bali’s most recognized tourist destinations, Tanah Lot temple. Standing firmly on a rocky foundation just off the beachfront on the Tabanan coastline, and Pura Taman Ayun, a Royal Temple of the Mengwi Empire harboring amongst the temple sites resident monkeys protected in this religious site. Also on display and soaring in the sky were huge bats with wing spans of at least four feet.
Before returning to our ship, we visited the home of our gracious benefactor where we toured his villa and then had lunch at a local restaurant followed by a short guided tour and then we were delivered back to our home on the high seas.
From Bali we will be a day at sea before arriving in Semarang, our last port before Singapore.