The post now appears in full, perhaps someone could tell me where the potential spam is, Elephant Temple is the subject.

John

yeoeleven wrote:

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Your message has been flagged as potential spam and needs to be approved by an administrator before it will appear on the forum.

 

If I see that message again I may stop posting on this forum

 

John

 

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 Don't stop posting here John - love to see your pics and read your adventures - pm Cindy - she will get it sorted surely

Just read your blog John, sorry I forgot to mention the lousy exchange rate at Perth Airport, same coming home, although you did mention you had to get some exchanged to pay something or other at Bali airport.

I notice the coconut is green, when they are green they have a clear fluid in them tinged with flecks of coconut, they are not fermented, just a very tangy type taste, but still nice.  Also the coconut flesh is soft and easy to scoop out to eat rather than old ones which have hardened into copra. 

Green is better as the older coconuts (brownish or dry husk) may have been picked up off the ground and can be infested with hook worm.

Regards the rain, it is the Monsoon Season in Bali, but usually even though you get wet when the rain stops your clothes dry out on your body very quickly.

 http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g294226-s208/Bali:Indonesia:Weather.And.When.To.Go.html 

Here is someones blog who says they enjoy going up in the Monsoon Season, I find it too humid for my liking, would rather go in the dry.

http://balineseindonesia.blogspot.com.au/2009/08/10-reason-to-travel-to-bali-durings-its.html 

Hope you are enjoying your time there,

Vic 

You've done it again John....

Wonderful photos and travelogue!!

Thanks for continuing to share.

Thanks Vic, the fruit that I bought is broken in half and consumed from the inside so no water touches it but will be careful as you suggest.

I can't believe why someone would put a sign on their rice field NOT FOR SALE are all the rest for sale? Thought you may like to see how petrol is sold in Bali, note the funnels on the top shelf and the decidedly underage assistant.

Happywanderer wrote:

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You certainly are having a great time, I am so jealous.

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 Me too John.   Enjoy it while you can.

Cheers,

Sheba.

Been wanting to get to Padang Bai on the east coast and today I made it there so I set about looking for the beautiful Biastugal Beach with its white unspoilt sand. It is far from commercialised with a difficult uneven path to climb and then descend to get to the beach but even there were locals with product to sell and a beach shack selling food and drink.
The water was beautiful to swim in but there was a fierce rip and no lifesavers on hand if you got into difficulties, the only folk there unless you count the natives were back packers of several nationalities. I wanted fish with chips and Balinese side serves and ordered them from the shack
The photos show the shack and the way the fish was cooked naturally there out in the open.

John

Yes Vic I try to keep fit and the place I was swimming was the hot springs and without planning found myself missing my bathers but that didn't stop me.

Will post pics later here of the more interesting sights when I get back to Ubud, the bus awaits.

John

Lovena on the North East of Bali

Monday morning and I had made arrangements with a local scooter rider/guide to collect me at 9am, I had breakfast at Perama and because the wifi had not been connected I told them that I would return to Ubud tomorrow but wouldnt stay there another night.
Off I went with Bob on his scooter and had one of my best days on Bali, we went to a monument Tugu well worth seeing and then to some spectacular  waterfalls Sambangan

then back to Lovena to set me up with accommodation for the night. He recommended Dream1000 right on the beach but not in Lovena about 6kms further back. Luxury that I havent had for some time with wifi, air conditioner, ceiling fans and a pool together with all the expected advantages coming with my own rooms.
Once that was sorted out we went off again this time in the other direction, first stop this magnificent temple Wihara followed by the hot springs Air panas.

Enjoy the photos,

John

Decided to have a day trip to Sanur and try out the beach there, wow what a difference, there is a pier out from the road where the shuttle bus depot is and to the left are black sand beaches with no incentive to swim but to the right are white sandy beaches with huge hotels built along the beach. The way they are located it seems that the beach frontage of the hotel is considered to be theirs for their guests with similar coloured beach towels adorning the beach.
Went for a swim in front of one of the hotels and the water was great, no surf but if you were keen and a good swimmer there were surf breaks about 200 mtrs out.

John

Yes Vic I was not near at the time, but interestingly the two links that you emailed to me were unable to be opened here in Bali, so there is censorship here, I have heard of it before but never experienced it.

I had decided to do something different and once again took the shuttle bus to Sanur before setting off across the Badung Straight to Lembongan.
Sanur to Nusa Lembongan via fast boat was an experience, from the photo of the boat you can see where it is anchored and it wasnt moved around for easy passenger access we all had to either climb over the rocks or take the sea route with the waves trying to steal our sandals then clamber in via the stern. I was the only foreigner and not a place for long trousers not that I was wearing them.

Had lunch at a seafront restaurant with an amazing view, the picture shows the view and the darkening sky as the rain set in. Rain and more rain the ceremony went off as planned and everybody including me got soaked, one of the resort employees set me up with a sari a neccessity for attending the ceremony. Am hoping that the weather changes for a proposed island tour tomorrow, wont be staying here until 4pm in the rain. There is plenty to do if you want to snorkel, surf or dive but I lack the enthusiasm for that, my last surfing was in the 60s with a long board cant see me handling the current small lightweight boards of today.

Morning has broken as Cat Stevens wrote about and with it a continuation of the rain, I have checked out of the resort and am typing in the lobby listening to the rain with about half an hour before the next fast boat back to Sanur. I have been concerned that with the bad weather there may have been a cancellation of fast boat services but so far so good. Most things in my life so far I have been able to make happen with a strong positive outlook, here I am in Bali having a break from travelling round Australia in the campervan is a good example of positive thought, but it couldnt fix my trip round Lembongan. The next picture of the world famous Mushroom Beach a mecca for surfers world wide and the next Tamarind Beach.

John