Cycling In Bali!

After a fantastic first day in Bali we were super excited about today’s itinerary. Cycling down a Volcano, who wouldn’t be!

Our day started early as we had arranged to meet our guide on shore at 08:00. So after a hearty breakfast in the Lido restaurant, we jumped aboard a tender for a 20-minute journey to shore. The tender service was quick and efficient which is exactly what you want, especially if like us you have booked a tour privately.

(On board tender boat)(Beno Port)

It was quite a drive to Kintamani, about 2.5 hrs in total. So it was nice to be welcomed with our second breakfast of the morning Coffee and Banana pancakes!

So with plenty of energy, we set off and Wow, what a ride! The views we stunning as passed small villages, Hindu Temples and rice fields. This is definitely a must for anyone who’s looking to explore rural Bali. We rode 27 kilometers in 2.5 hours but it’s mostly downhill so you don’t have to be super fit.  However, it started to rain heavily near the end of our journey so we ended up covered in mud, cycling through Balinese traffic in the rain which was both terrifying and exhilarating at the same. I loved it but probably not everybody’s cup of tea! 

Back at base we dried off and enjoyed a warm lunch before being asked by the restaurant staff to take part in a Freeing of the Birds Ceremony for good health. My friend and I were dubious at first as they approached us with live birds in paper bags! Especially Kate who’s vegetarian but we decided as we were actually releasing the birds it had to be a good thing.

(Remember to bring spare clothes!)(Freeing the Birds)

On our way back to port we treated ourselves to a well-deserved massage. We had considered having one on board the ship but we thought $185 was a bit expensive. Instead, we paid approx $20 each so worth the wait.

For our final day in Bali our guide suggested the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud and I’m so glad he did. Both a Hindu Temple built in 1350 and nature reserve protecting monkeys you can literally feel how special this place is as soon as you arrive. We’d heard horror stories onboard the ship of monkeys being vicious and stealing people’s jewelry at other temples but these monkeys are well looked after and were tame and friendly so a great place for families to enjoy. 

It’s like walking Jurassic park as you explore the Forest and as you will see with my video you have to be careful as these cheeky monkeys can jump out from nowhere!!

From the stunning scenery to the welcoming locals, my time in Bali was truly unforgettable and has left me with a thirst to come back and explore more of what Indonesia has to offer. Next time I’d like to visit the Komodo Islands, It always been my dream to come face to face with a real life Komodo Dragon!!