Around the World Again

Benoa, Bali, Indonesia – February 26, 2018

Wow, did I pick the wrong tour! My tour was sponsored by my travel agency but it was basically the same as HAL’s “Historic and Scenic Bali”. It was 9 hours long and marked “strenuous”. How did I miss that???

I was one of the last people on the bus and I got the back middle seat with a couple on either side by the windows. After the first stop the man was nice enough to let me have the window seat so I could take pictures.

We drove for almost two hours to our first stop which was Tenganen, a walled mountain village where some 700 people live who are descendants of the first people on the island. Naturally after that ride all the ladies had to use the restroom. There was only one stall and it was BYOP (bring your own paper). The good news was that it was not a “squatty potty”. Since we had four buses it took forever.

We toured around the village and visited a family home as well as seeing some of the meeting places. We were supposed to learn about the “flaming cloth” which the villagers weave but if the guide mentioned it, I missed it. Most of us did not want to walk the entire length, which was built on different levels and very unlevel and it was hot and humid.

By this time it was about noon and we were all getting hungry. I (and a few others) misunderstood the guide and thought we were going to lunch next. No, we headed to Klungkung Kertagosa. The area had two major sites both of which were up steep, uneven stone steps with no railing. I walked around and took pictures instead.

Lunch was finally on the agenda (it was nearing 3 pm). We ate up in the mountains and had traditional Indonesian fare. There was a nice breeze there.

Our final stop was at Pura Kehen, a temple that had – you guessed it – more steep stairs. I sat for awhile and then decided on some retail therapy. I spent the last of my Australian dollars.

We finally returned to the ship just before 6 pm. After a cool shower I started working on my photos to discover we are right on the flight path to the airport and a busy airport it is. Planes were landing about every 5 minutes.

Met our new server, Faizal, at dinner. I had satay, fresh fruit, and a Chef’s Salad. Cyndi, Ed, and I skipped dessert to get seats for the Balinese Dance Group performance at 9:30. They decided to sit on the main floor but I stayed in the balcony. A lady sat down next to me and we started talking. She showed me a fruit she had picked up in the market today. She told me what it was called but I quickly forgot it. When she left the theater she gave it to me. The picture is below and I am sure someone out there knows what it is. It looks like a brown, extra large strawberry but it is hard. She said it tasted like a cross between a pear and an apple.

After the show I went to the Lido and got a piece of blueberry pie for dessert. Came back and stood out on my deck for awhile. The plane arrivals have not let up much even though it is after 11 pm.

We stay in Bali tomorrow but I do not have an excursion. I plan to visit the craft stalls outside the terminal, use the free wi-fi in the terminal and get some pool time in.

Bali sights…