Date                Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2015

We took a great two day car tour around Bali, staying away in Ubud for our first night off the boat since leaving New Zealand - scary stuff.  The trip was most excellently laid on by Zia, 081 747 67639, who is based in Lovina Beach and can organise all sorts of transport.  Zia drove us and as well as being a thoroughly good guy was an excellent and attentive guide.  A series of photographs will give the general idea.

Unlike most of Indonesia where the Muslim culture predominates, Bali is predominantly Hindu as evidenced by the numerous temples in every town and village and the individual family temples alongside every house.

The first temple of the day outside Singaraja and one of the oldest on Bali dating from the 1600’s

To get to the top of this temple required climbing 350 steps which resulted in stiff calves the following day

These ladies, laden with a display of fruit were two of many returning from a ceremony at their village temple

Lunch time view over one of the volcanoes of central Bali

These “organic” coffee beans have been passed through the digestive tracts of a wild Civets and gathered from under the coffee bushes.  The Luwak coffee is expensive and highly prized.

Sampling various coffees at the eco plantation

The Ubud Inn hotel set around a lovely garden provided a tranquil night away

The evening performance of Balinese dancing telling Hindu folk story was a great experience and included a very impressive fire dance

Sarongs, thoughtfully provided by Zia, were the order of the day for temple visits

This temple, Goa Gajah , carved out of the rock is a regular feature on the tourist trail

Wood carving is a major industry on Bali with a large worldwide export trade.  We came away with an interesting carving of a spirit as a memento

The temple of Taman Ayun is surrounded by canals and parkland

All tourists to Bali visit the island temple of Tana Lot, seen here at low water

We saved the rice terraces for our return across the island.  They are a spectacular piece of agricultural engineering and all tended by hand.

Ploughing the rice terraces in the traditional way

We returned after dark, hot and happy.  Abdul provided a boat back to Caduceus, as we had left the dinghy on the davits.  He had also boat sat in our absence.  Great service all round from charming people.