Temples, plantations, rice fields, and jungle. Central and northern Bali is covered with them. On June 18, 2016, our driver took us up the slopes of Mt. Batur, one of two volcanoes on Bali. We stopped at three temples and one plantation on the way.
Our first stop was at "Goa Gajah," the "Elephant Temple." No one knew what the temple had to do with elephants, but it dated back to the 1100s, with carved pools filled by springs, and with shrines inside caverns in the cliffs. We attracted a self-appointed guide who spoke entirely in Indonesian, punctuated by "Look at that!" Dave paid him a few rupiah, regardless.
At our next temple, Gunung Kawi, we hiked 300 steep steps down into a gorge, with rice paddies on the way, and hard-working farmers oblivious to the tourists.
There were craft shops along the way. We found carved water buffalo heads just like the one we bought at Snowbird and keep in our study. The shopkeeper offered us a special deal if we'd buy two more of them.
There were huge, carved stone temples in niches inside the rock. Below, a river ran through a gorge with hanging vines shielding our view.
Our third temple is known across Bali as "The Holy Spring." Springs fill a pool and pilgrims climb into the pool to make their offerings. On this hot, sultry day, the pilgrims were festive, much like visitors to Lagoon.
I love Balinese baskets. I bought a basket from this woman and she posed for me.
Our driver spoke so little English that it was easier to visit the plantation he took us to, than to tell him we'd seen one yesterday. Of course, every plantation, like every temple, is a bit different. We saw pineapples growing, as well as a papaya tree and beautiful tropical flowers, and a fresh star fruit held by our plantation guide.
We saw cages filled with the civet cats who help make "coffee luwak". They swallow coffee beans whole, and the beans are extracted from their "poo." The beans have a fermented taste that is highly prized.
We watched coffee beans being roasted by hand.
The plantation cafe looked out on wild jungle, framed with cultivated grasses and tropical plants. We were served a variety of herbal teas and hot chocolate (none of that "poo coffee" for us). We especially enjoyed the hibiscus and ginger teas.
We stopped for lunch at a restaurant from which we could see the summit of Mt. Batur. We ate several buffet lunches in Bali, and the menu was always the same--nasi goreng (fried rice), gado-gado (stir-fried vegetables with peanut sauce), satay (kebabs of beef or chicken), curried chicken, and fresh fruit.
On our way back to Ubud, we passed by a densely terraced rice paddy.
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