Bali - Day Three :: Part 1

While planning our trip to Bali, a friend recommended a bike trip that she thought was amazing. And indeed it was. This really was the best day we had in Bali. We started that morning rather early. The tour company picked us up at our hotel at 7am and we drove about an hour and an half before arriving at our first stop. We had the most amazing breakfast overlooking the smoldering volcano, Mount Batur and the crater lake. This was the most stunning view we had seen in Bali. The boys were so eager to get on the mountain bikes that they ate their breakfast at record speed.

After breakfast, we again boarded the van and headed to a lush plantation full of crops like coffee, vanilla, cocoa, cloves, and fruits and vegetables. In the above photo of Evan we were able to taste cocoa straight from the tree. We were also able to roast and grind the coffee beans.

Before leaving the plantation we were given several types of coffee to try. Along with hot cocoa, lemongrass and ginseng tea. In the bottom left photo of Evan is an assortment of condiments on table. Nestled against the salt and pepper for your enjoyment was some tobacco and rolling papers! A first time I have seen this in a restaurant! Finally we were ready to board our bikes and start our tour through the heartland of Bali.

We traveled gently down the moutain, through village roads and were able to experience typical Balinese life. Our first stop was a visit to an actual Balinese home. The Balinese people share their compound with several other family members. It is tradition that any male children live in the family compound for life. That way there is always someone to take care of the aging parents. These people live so simply. In a way, I am envious. They are not reliant on electricity, fashion or material possession. They live peacefully with what they have and seem to be full of joy. One of the things I noticed about Bali was the way they use the land and what is available around them. You don't see empty styrofoam take away containers. Instead things are transported in beautiful woven baskets. The primary religion in Bali is Hinduism. In each family compound is a temple. 80% of the family's income is set aside into beautifying the temple. As you can imagine there are thousands of temples and it brings such beauty to the landscape.