Bali
Beautiful!
I needed a little time to relax and acclimatize after the flights to get here. Now all I see is beauty and adventure. Last week we had our very first surfing lesson. Wow what an amazing feeling to stand on a surf board for the first time. I totally understand all those people just coming here for the waves, sun, amazing people and good food. It was a bit surreal standing on a board looking out on a temple on the beach. Amazing!
Even more adventure was our trip to Amed this weekend. Amed lays on the North-East Coast of Bali and is famous for its great snorkeling spots. We rented a car and picked up our friends who are living in Ubud. On the way to Amed we stopped at Titra Gangga, famous for its water gardens. It feels like in the middle of nowhere, all of a sudden you go through this little port and this little water paradise is waiting for you. Beautiful ponds filled with big fish, fountains and water lilies. I can’t think of a better place to take a road trip pit stop.
In Amed we found the best place to stay: Villa Coral at Jemeluk Beach. Sleeping at just a few steps from the underwater world was a real special treat for me. I love snorkeling. And when I can just walk in and see all this beauty… Wow! Just to name a few things that I saw: Golden trumpet fish, Ribbon Sweetlips, Oriental Sweetlips fish, Butterfly Fish, Blue Sea stars and a underwater temple.
The next morning we got up early to go to the Penataran Agung Lemuyang Temple. This temple is build on the Seraya Volcano with a view on the Agung Volcano. As you can guess, that means high up the mountain. Apparently we took the wrong road because we ended on a road so steep and bad that one of us said in panic, “ enough! I will rather walk up for 7,5 km in the blazing heat then sit in the car for another second” So we stopped and turned back to the nearest little village where we saw a sing to visit 5 holy springs. We decided not to let the trip go to waste and visit those instead. A local man guided us through these amazing rice paddies that made everything worthwhile again.
After a full day of snorkeling, good food, amazing sunset with view on the Agung volcano and a good night sleep, we attempted to go to the temple again but then hopefully a better road. And again the road up was steep but better. We made it! And yes, it was totally worth it. The temple and the view both are incredible.
