Bali - Mt Batur, Hot Spring, A&W and Carrefour!

Our second day started really early. Our guide, Mr. Nyoman, came to pick us up at 2am in the morning. We were scheduled to climb Mt. Batur, Kintamani to see the sunrise of Bali. Batur is one of the active volcano which is 1,717 metres (5,633 feet) and the last eruption was in year 2000. The most devastating eruption was in 1963.We can still see the volcanic rocks that created a black area in the base area where the lava flowed into. The other active volcano in Bali is Mt Agung (3,142 metres (10,308 ft)).

The drive from Seminyak to Kintamani took approximately 2 hours. Some roads were in total darkness and we had to go winding up and down a hill.

As you can see, this was the clock in the car. Other than this, everything else was pitch black. We arrived at the base of Mt. Batur at 0356 and there were groups of people already gathered there. It was way too dark to take any photos on the way up. The roads were sandy and some portions were full of rocks. I haven't been training at all for a long time and this was pretty tough especially when we were at the last stretch of conquering the peak. It was pretty steep going up the peak and the mentality was to keep going so as to see the sunrise (there was no way to go down as there were many people behind us). The trek took approximately 2 hours to reach the peak. It was freaking cold up there!

The horizon while we were waiting for the sunrise.

As it gets brighter.

Enjoying a cup of warm tea. Please note that this had to be paid for. Notice the coke next to Yong - a boy that was in his teens trekked up with us and sold us coke when we hit the peak! It was crazy - why would we drink gassy stuff after exercising? Anyway, we bought 1 bottle from him at a hefty price tag. Our guide took 1 too. Well, that's the way they work.

The sun was coming up.

Having breakfast - banana in bread and a hard boiled egg. There were dogs up in the mountain so they obviously beg for food while you eat.

Sunrise!

The peak in the far end was Lombok and the one nearer the front was Mt Abang.

We walked slightly further to see the sun rise in our face. It was just beautiful..and cold.

Behind us was a crater that was created. We could still see steam coming out at parts of the mountain and some parts were still warm which shows the volcano was very much active. The eruption was devastation to the villagers around the volcano but it also makes it really fertile for farming. People in these areas are able to grow tomatoes, cabbages, rice, oranges, watermelon etc which allows them to be self-sufficient. I've heard from Nyoman that in other regions, there are strawberries too! However, down south, as the land is what they called laced with 'white rock' or limestone - there was no vegetation there whatsoever. It's amazing how within an island - there are such drastic geology. Not only the land but even the temperature. Up on the mountains, it would be cooling even in the day but at the coastal areas it is hot, hot & hot.

Time to descend the mountain. We took the direct route down which took us about an hour and half instead of going round the mountain to look at other craters etc.

This was how steep the climb up and down was.

Reaching the base. Behind us is Mt Batur.

Leaving to go to the Hot Springs.

At the hot springs pool just 5 minutes from the base camp. The water here doesn't smell as sulphuric as what I've experienced in Taiwan with Ami. *I still miss Taiwan!!!*

After the hot springs, behind me is Lake Batur. This caldera was caused by the most terrifying eruption of Batur Mountain in 1926. People in Bali are mostly Hindus and they believe in Gods of the natural (i.e. mountain god or sea god) so in Bali, you'll see temples built around these areas. Near Lake Batur is the Holy Spring Water temple where Balinese go to cleanse their souls. We did not make the trip to the temple or the famous monkey forest around Bangli. We decided to go back to the hotel to rent a bike and visit the places around our villa instead.

As I mentioned, it was pitch black in the morning when we passed this other mountain to get to Mount Batur. On the return leg, Nyoman parked his car to the side to allow us to take in the beautiful view we missed out in the morning.

On our way back to the villa, we passed by the famous rice plantation area of Bali. This scene is seen in many postcards of Bali. The area was really huge. Nyoman mentioned that he has his own plot of land given by one of the King of Bali (they had 9 previously) to his father. He uses it to grow rice for his own consumption as well as for trade. There are 2 ways of planting rice. The one in the picture was the 'step' method and the other more commonly seen was the 'level' method. For plots that were not near mountains which provided regular flow of water all year round, they had to pay for water during dry seasons to irrigate their crops. It was really interesting for me to hear all these from Nyoman. I guess I never paid attention in school. =P

After visiting the rice fields, Nyoman wanted to go home to put down his jacket. Since it was nearby and on the way back to the villa, we agreed. He was so kind to show us his house! This was the first time, we've been into a Balinese house (duh!). We passed by many houses and I found that they really looked like a temple from the outside. Nyoman explained to us that in each house there was a temple. This area housed the ancestors and the gods. It was a symbol that all houses had in Bali. The compound also consisted of another 5 houses which represented different parts of the human body. Each house was to be built facing a certain direction and in a certain color. Also, the owner's body had to be measured so as to have the compound distances built accordingly.

Gate to the temple in Nyoman's house.

The center of the house where it can be used for sleeping or for rituals etc.

Me enjoying the hospitality of Nyoman and his wife.

The compound was really huge as it housed a backyard too! On top of the rice they planted, they had a coconut tree (amongst other trees such as pineapple), reared ducks and chickens too. Nyoman explained that these are the items regularly needed for rituals and prayers so rather than purchasing them, why not rear of grow it themselves. Totally made sense to me. On a daily basis, they pray once to twice a day. They create these little trays out of leaves and they put flowers, biscuits or rice with an incense in it. Balinese people will pray at the door steps, nearby temples, in front of their shops etc to bring the God to them. They also put these trays in their cars or use the rice to put on their foreheads to bring God along with them as they move around. They had special days for praying at the temples, cremation, getting married etc. They also have a day called the 'Quiet Day' where there will be no cars on the road, no shops open and no one talking (or to the minimum). Even guests/tourists will be advised of this day some where in March as they need to observe the silence too. So if you are planning a trip to Bali, do check out when this date is!

Back at the villa, we decided to take a dip in the pool and head out for a massage! What better way to relax after climbing a mountain.

I had to sit out as the pool was pretty cold despite the hot sun shining over our heads.

The blue sky from our villa.

We went to a home based massage place just around the bend from our villa. It was really cheap! An hour massage cost only Rp 60,000 which translates to about S$8-S$9! The masseur was really good too. It started with a warm wash of your feet and a simple technique to warm up your muscles before the massage begins. We were totally relaxed after walking out from this place! They even had a promotion - 3 body treatments will entitle you to 1 free manicure or pedicure! I had come back to this place for another massage and body scrub before we left Bali.

After the massage, it was time to rent our bike - we found this the only feasible way to get around Bali as the sun was hot and the roads were really and seriously long. On Sunset road, there was Carrefour (I remembered as we went pass the road a couple of times). So, I told Yong I had wanted to go there to get some Lulur scrub as well as tidbits. I saw A&W at the 1st floor and we had that for lunch.

A&W root beer from the tap, onion rings, fried chicken, fries and a fish burger!

Filled stomachs, we headed up to Carrefour. We had wanted to cook dinner but in the end, we couldn't find stuff to cook as we remembered there was no condiments in the villa.

I managed to get the Lulur and the Cassava chips I was looking for. We also saw that the durians were huge there! I think these were local products too. They had durian trees in the forest areas. Seriously, they were huge!

After Carrefour, we headed back to the Villa and we were pooped. We changed and we went to La Sol, a spanish restuarant near the villa for dinner. The food was ok but the place was crowded by the time we left. The crab chowder was a tad bit watery to be considered chowder for me but maybe it was their recipe.