One year in Thailand: If it's October, it must be Bali

It is so difficult to reconcile dates with seasons here. I can't believe it is late October already because it is the same weather day in and day out (very hot, overcast and rainy). I see the forecast for Pickering everyday and it was 4 degrees the other evening...24 here though. Anyway, early October marked exams and the end of first Quarter. The school closed for a few days so Emily and I planned and went to Bali for 5 days.

Bali has always been on my bucket list ever since I left Australia and I am so happy we went. Prior to leaving, we decided we wanted to 'do stuff' instead of sit around on the beach everyday. So, we found http://www.baliecocycling.com and signed up for their Eco-educational Cycling Tour and Mt. Batur sunrise Trek. TOTALLY worth the money and effort.

Roasting Robusta Beans

The selection of teas and coffees we tried

Pineapple growing!

Very old Banyan Tree

Our cycling trip was extremely educational - we learned a lot about traditional Bali; their customs, way of life and celebrations. We also visited rice fields, a coffee plantation where we saw and tasted Koi (Coffee) Luwak! We also tasted a variety of coffees and teas as well as some indigenous fruits including 'snake fruit' whose outer rind looks like snake skin. When you peel it, it is in 3 sections and looks like rather large garlic cloves. Tastes like a cross between guava and lychee. Then there is the tomato fruit which looks like a tomato but grows on a tree and tastes like a cross between an apple and pineapple (I disagree, I didn't like the taste one bit).

Have you ever met someone while on holiday who says "Oh, you're from Canada! Do you speak French? (whereupon you reply yes and they say "Bonjour")?" It's really cute that they want to show off their knowledge of another language. Well, that happened to us in the souvenir shop at the coffee plantation. Except when we told her we were Canadian but lived in Thailand, she said "KapKhun Ka" (thank you) then proceeded to tell us "That's all the Thai I know." I thought that was amazing because she assumed we are fluent!

Mt. Batur was so COOL! It is considered an active volcano (last eruption in the 1970's) and is surrounded by volcanic rock that the Balinese use in building construction. In order to witness the majesty of sunrise from the top, we began our climb at 2:00am in the DARK with nothing to illuminate the way save for handheld flashlights (one per couple). The way up was extremely rocky and steep. No handholds. And only two guides, so if you were in the middle of the group (we were), you were pretty much on your own following flashes of light up a mountainside. I was the oldest person in our group. Although I had to stop a few times to catch my breath, I was not the last one up and when I told our guide how old I am, he told me his mom is ten years younger and she couldn't do the climb! Right on.

The view was magnificent. The clouds were drifting across the mountain and we were actually above them and could see the other mountain (volcano) in the distance with the clouds bisecting it. Amazing effect. At one point, I captured the rising sun!

Can you see the black lava 'flow' top right?

I did worry about the climb down jarring my back, however we took a much easier route down and everything was ok. Considering we had gone on a 9 hour bike ride up hills the day before, I am quite proud of my old self. hehe

The last two days of our trip were spent between the pool and Sanur beach. The pool was a beautiful, quiet environment although a little bit boring.

But the beach is full of locals asking "plait your hair? want a massage? water sports?" Every time you get off the beach chair, there they are! When you go to the toilet, you are accompanied by these people encouraging you to visit their shop. I mean really! If I want to shop, I don't go to the beach. We did get a massage though. Very nice.