Bali Tour Guide

This is a two nights overnight trip in Pemuteran, north west coast of Bali. I and a family from Costa Rica; Erick, Lorena, Andrea, Laura and Sergio start the trip from Nusa Dua, overnight in Pemuteran and back to Ubud. It is interesting to accompany this family that has many different interests.

First Day, Nusa Dua to Pemuteran

After their busy days attending the conference of UNCCC, I take them get away from Nusa Dua for quite beach of North Bali, Pemuterean. We depart from Nusa Dua at 9 Am heading to Museum Subak in Tabanan. Erick, the father of the family, very interested in seeing the old farming tool exhibited in the museum. The history of Subak, Bali’s sophisticated traditional irrigation institution that dated back from 1027 also amazed him.

From here we head west and make a turn to north in Antosari. The rice fields in here were just finished harvesting, not the best time for pictures. We finally stop in Belimbing for rice terraces view. We see a woman harvesting old Bali rice using most traditional way. We continue the day and make another stop at Mekori Temple. Even though, it was rain we still go as we see people preparing ceremony at this temple under many big trees. The umbrellas are placed in line along the pathway to go to the temple. So nice. We chat with the locals that we meet at the temple waiting for the rain stop. As we leaving the temple, we put donation for the temple. The temple priest bless us all with holly water for the save journey.

The road then starts windy as we crossing Sanda and Pupuan. We make several stops to capture this extensive rice field under the line of hills including stop in Kekeran view point. From this point we see from distance people working on their field, ploughing and planting. Four-meter wooden structure built in here for guest who wants to see the view from higher point. A smart idea. We buy some bananas as we start to get hungry. With a bit of d-tour we have our very late lunch in Mayong. The organic foods are very good and the view of Bestala village below is excellent as usual.

After one hour straight drive, we finally arrive in Pemuteran arounf 5.45PM, a good timing for sunset. But it was cloudy so the sky was bluish gray but still interesting.

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Second Day, Bird Watching Trek and Menjangan Snorkelling

Andrea is the only one comes for the bird trek. We start from the hotel at 6AM to Labuan Lalang to meet our local guide. We must use a local guide for this trek as it is part of the National Park. After settling the entrance to the National Forest , we start walking along the mangrove forest for about 1 and half hour. We stop now and then to observe the birds. With book of bird that we bought few days earlier and a little help from the guide, we try to identify the birds that we see. The hike continue by following the dry river after crossing the main road of Gilimanuk and Singaraja. After the river, the hike is going up hill until we reach Jayaprana Temple. Jayaprana and Layonsari is a type of Bali’s Romeo and Juliet folklore. Their spirits are prayed here by many people around Bali who wish to have lasting love.

Overall, on this hike we see doves, king fishers, many bulbul, and some other bird we cannot identify. Also see giant squirrel and monkeys. We are not that lucky to see the Bali Starling.

After getting back to the main street, I get a motorbike ride to Labuan Lalang to get my car. We decided to skip the last mangrove trek as we are in hurry to pick up the other family member to do snorkeling in Menjangan island.

We pick them up at 10AM, 30 minutes late from the time we promised. We take the boat to cross to Menjangan Island from Banyumandi. We spend about IDR570,000 for boat , local guide, park’s entrances and five pair of fins. The boat ride takes a little more then 30 minutes before we finally reach this inhabitants island. Few boats have arrived earlier then us.

They start snorkeling in the east side of the island, swimming to the south where the wall with beautiful coral located and thousand of colorful fishes swim around it. While they snorkel that is accompanied by the local guide, I took some pictures of the island shore. There is a deer approaching where we are. The deer, locally called Menjangan, is the native animal of this island. The island is named after it.

Finish snorkeling around the wall we go on with our boat to the west side of the island, passing bat cave and temple on the north side of the island. From the boat, we see some a group of pilgrims’ people having their prayers at the temple. There are about six different small temples on this tiny island. The water on the west side of the island is calmer. The boat drops them out for snorkeling in the center and pick them up again on the north. As we heading back to the main island, the rain is start pouring. The boat has roof but we get a little wet from the water that come from the side. We get back to Banyumandi around 2 PM. Have a shower and change before drive back to Pemuteran.

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Third Day, Ubud to Pemuteran via Munduk

After having their snorkeling at Pemuteran conservation reef in the morning, we then pack and ready to leave Pemuteran at 10 AM to Ubud. Our first stop is Atlas Sea Pearl just east of Pemuteran. The pearl price is higher then the one in Costarica, so they do not get any of them. The place offering tour to see pearl production process that take about 45 minutes for IDR 65,000 per person but the family decide to skip it as they can see the same thing in Costarica.

We make a right turn in Seririt and drive up passing Mayong hill side again. A longer stop we make when we see a family making penjor in the side of the road as part of wedding preparation. Penjor is decorated bamboo pole with coconut leaves, rice etc. It can symbolized dragon or rice paddies and placed in front of the gate. When we arrive they almost finish one of them. We also go inside of the family compound where the ladies making fruit and cake arrangements as part of the offering. The family temple and building are decorated with colorful textile and palm leaves. After seeing they make the penjor standing up, we say good bye and thank the family for allowing us see the wedding preparation.

Arrive in Munduk we visit the house of Mr. Dewa Dana. This environmental person who create tools to make block out of plastic rubbish. He is the man behind the building of plastic pyramid near Tamblingan. He is also the man who makes the first more sophisticated coffee roaster and grinder in this coffee village. In his house we still can see the old tool of coffee processing as well as the advance one that he create. He offers coffee roasting and grinding service to many other coffee farmers in this area. While having his own brand coffee we talk a lot about environment issue in this area. To thank him we bought some coffee and clove from his wife. He happy to meet people from Costa Rica where coffee originally from.

Before a nice walk to Munduk waterfall we make a lunch stop at Puri Lumbung. Only four of us going down to the waterfall as other two would like to have rest from walking in the car. Rain start pouring again as we pass Tamblingan Lake and Buyan. Some pictures stop anyway at Wanagiri to record this beautiful ‘twin’ lakes.

When we arrive in Candikuning, the vegetable and flower market, we split the family into two groups. Most family member stay and shop at the market while I and Andrea go to the nearby Botanical garden. The rain is getting harder once we arrive in Botanical garden. However, we manage to walk around the orchid section and medical plants collection. We drive through the flower collection, pine trees, and bamboo collection. We spend about 45 minutes at the garden and get back to the market. The other family member still shopping and continues shopping until many shops closing.

Finish with shopping we take a look the the famous lake temple of Beratan before start driving down to Ubud. The rain stop for a while.The nice color of sunset and clear view of Mount Agung in distance force us to stop for pictures on the way. We finally arrive in Ubud around 8 PM. Time to rest.

Click here to see the pictures of this day.