Day 4 Driving around Bali

We were on a schedule for today. I woke at 7 and got out of bed only to have one of the beams from the four poster bed fall on my head as I did so! Slight headache for the morning, but no other consequences.

Breakfast at 8, so that we could go with Yanik on a tour in his car at 9. Our first stop was the art cooperative, where there were some lovely art works for sale. Room after room of both traditional and modern.

From here we drove to the wood carving shop. Great talk about the wood that they use and demonstrations of the traditional wood carving – by hand.

From here we drove to one of the many silver and gold places, where again they were demonstrating many of the intricate processes in silver jewellery making. The fine filigree work was outstanding. 

From here we drove through many small villages to a restaurant, passing by a funeral procession at one stage. Yanik also stopped so we could take photos of the roosters being prepared for cock fighting! (This is used as one way to raise funds for the villages.)

Throughout the day we passed through villages where the main industry was a specific craft- bone carving, furniture making, statue making, stone carving, wooden masks, creating parts for temples, art work etc. A delicious lunch for everyone. While we were eating I took photos of farmers ploughing up a field, cutting the leaves for offerings, shooing the ducks etc.

After lunch we drove to an amazing Temple, where we all had to wear sarongs. The carvings were incredible. Yannik told us about their nine gods, their different colours and other aspects of their religion. We had heard already from him about the Balinese having two calendars- ours and theirs. We especially loved the part about Karma and how it goes through three generations. The Temple had many tourists from other countries, but I’m sorry to say the Japanese were very inconsiderate of others when taking and posing for photos.

Then we drove via some rice fields to a plantation growing coffee, cocoa, and spices. Again Yannik told us so many interesting things about each plant, after which the staff took over and explained the coffee process followed by a tasting of many different teas and coffees. 

We continued on our trek to the rice terraces, passing deep ravines along very narrow roads at times there was barely enough room to pass. Then it was time to continue back to Ubud where Yannik dropped us off at Nomad’s restaurant for another wonderful meal. T

It had been a most wonderful day. Yannik was a fabulous guide and shared so much about his religion, and the Balinese way of life. So many highlights, but if I had to choose just one it would be the Temple .