Thursday: Lazy Lebongan Adventure

This morning was another slow start. Apparently those early mornings last week have caught up with me.

I awoke to hearing the kids from the nearby school running. This is their PE, to run the streets. The roof of the school can be seen in the background, it is very close to the hotel, providing that lovely sound of joyous playground excitement. 

From where I stood to see the kids...my cute little home in room 7!

This most beautiful cacoon hangs from my steps. I wish I could sit wand watch it hatch when the time comes.

Morning doodles under the bungalow

Headed to breaky with this view. It's SO warm!

Beautiful dove above the pool.

Offerings in front of the hotel entrance. These are pretty much bird or dog food.

Here they cover the main offerings to keep the birds out, yet they still manage to throw them over for access. 

Finally made it out for some scooter adventures! My plan was to see the island, driving all of the way around. Little did I know that would take less than an hour without stops, but stops are necessary.

Beautiful temples are everywhere, sometimes within feet of one another.

Panorama  Point with clouds blocking the top of Mt. Agung. The main road can be seen below. The charm of this island!

At the "antique store"

Old men cruise the streets on bicycles older than them.

Seaweed farmer homes on the north side of the island.

We made it to the Mangrove Forrest! 

Adventure time!

Totally safe

You can rent boats and paddle through the tangled forest.

I live for getting lost on adventures!

The roots of the mangroves.

We headed to see monkeys as I kept hearing you could see them here. I thought they were native to the forest. I was quickly saddened...

Three of them have a belt around their waist and are chained within feet of one another. This little guy is about 1 year.

I went to show him some love despite his situation and he jumped on me and instantly attempted to take my earring out with his mouth. For the record, I don't support this in any way and learned I should have stayed back so he could not even jump on me.

He's up to no good, look at that face!

He was friggin adorable! Although he had a little tude, as would I being chained up at all times. Within less than a minute after this picture he was on the ground and attacking my leg. I grew pretty scared and raised my voice a bit (unfortunately) for the guy to get him off. He was biting, although he didn't feel as though he could break the skin-but it was scary! I was so afraid of getting some monkey disease. I felt so bad that this was his life.

Quick! Back on the scooter! I wanted out of there after my heart filled with sadness.

Temple time!

None of these temples are the same two. 

Headed home from school!

Weathervane at its finest! And it totally works. Such simplicity.

There was a little Ganesh in the top center of the elaborate entrance.

Back to Ceningan for lunch! This bridge is so fun! Sounds like an old wooden roller coaster as the scooter crosses.

Mojito at the Palms, the restaurant viewable from Dafish where I had stayed previously. This place is such a hidden secret! Only 2 other people there all day! Met a darling Australian couple who were on their honeymoon and chatted health and yoga all afternoon over drinks, waves and sunshine.

Temple views from The Palms. In the distance is Dream Beach where I live. I just want to say it's across the street!

View of Secret Point and the giant crack in the cliff under the pool. Such safety standards!

Fire within

After spending nearly 5 hours poolside, a shower was needed. I began to feel a little weak in the stomach at this point, but didn't want to miss the sunset! 

Headed to the cliffs between Dream Beach and Sandy Bay for the view.

The cliffs had pool ledges that were gorgeous. And then....

This was probably my top favorite memory of the trip. I was freshly showered and en route to dinner, but left here soaked from the spray. 

No words can describe this magic!

 

 

 

Overwhelmed with gratitude once again!

We headed to dinner at Sandy Bay Club, which is right on the beach. I asked for soda water (bubbles for the tum tum) and received Schweps "air soda". 

Sandy Bay

We ventured out to find a local watering hole which proved to be impossible after stopping and 3-4 different places and asking around. This place is so sleepy! We ended up at Mola Mola at Mushroom Bay and had a bevie on lounge chairs listening to waves and watching Bali's nightly lighting show.

Returned "home" for a shower under the stars. I could get used to this!

Monday: A busy day of nothing

For not having done much today, I feel like there is so much to tell! Guess when you start your day at 6:30 you have much time to fill!

I lazed around for over 2 hours this morning slowly eating breakfast and sitting poolside in my pj's. There are only two bungalows here and the couple in the other left by 7:30. All to myself! 

The hugest breaky yet! I asked for fruit instead of toast and was given a platter of half mango, watermelon and papaya.

I needed some movement so I set out on a 3 hour walk/run/hike adventure.

There are cows tucked away everywhere! I saw maybe 3 humans for the first hour. This place is so tiny and private. Many chickens pigs and cows kept me company.

Even the snails are pretty.

A glimpse of the southwest shore and Nusa Penida. These islands are used for a lot of agriculture, so there are many little roadside crops.

For the first 20-30 minutes I had no clue where I was, until I saw this...

We had driven past this mini Ferris wheel on my scooter transport yesterday. 

Although I have no map (there really isn't much to map), I just wandered without a clue of where I was going. Saw this babe who reaffirmed my love of pigs. She (or he) snorted for attention and attempted to get closer to me. The pigs give more attention than the dogs!

I hiked a decent hill (that was the normal road) and turned to see this, the bay between Lebongan and Ceningan. Unbelievable!

The tide was low revealing the seaweed farms. This is a lucrative business for the local people who sell the crops to Japan. The seaweed is then used in several different markets, primarily beauty products and carrageenan (which I wondered about recently as an ingredient in my almond milk). 

I can't get over how gorgeous this is. Or the fact that I just walked from one end of the island to the other in under an hour!

I knew the south side was near, so I followed a little trail only to find Crystal Bay. There were about four little deserted beaches, but one lone hut on the beach to the left. What I would give to be on one of those beaches!

This lil one was dead, but so teeny and beautiful!

The butterflies fluttered all around me. 

I turned to walk back to the road from seeing Crystal Bay to hear a cow bell.

My heart is full! This pretty momma was all about my snacks! Another memory in the adventures of getting lost!

I ran down the hill, now having crossed from south to north. I completely covered the island. Roadside seaweed business at it's best. Tarps lay everywhere covered in fishy smelly seaweed out to dry. (This was how the rice was dried in Ubud area)

I went to a local warung and had a mango banana juice (smoothie), listened to some Jack Johnson (so appropriate) while the tide rose. I could hear Balinese men chanting morning prayers during my entire 3 hours covering the island, such a beautiful sound. I soaked in yet another dreamlike moment. How is this real life?!

The shrine at the warung. The birds eat the higher offerings while the dogs forage on the streetside offerings.

Seaweed farms and view of the footbridge I crossed yesterday afternoon.

I followed yet another road and ended up at dream point which happens to be  just around the bend from my hotel. 

Secret Point in the distance where I sat and watched surfers and crabs yesterday.

I came "home" cooled down in the pool after 3 hours in the very hot sun.

Tuna with mango sauce, poolside.

I ended up with another nice shade of red this afternoon, complete with outlines of bows. (And yes, I had sunscreen on!) Proceeded to drift off listening to some music in the shade of my bungalow. Rough life.

I awoke and headed to the pool to cool my feet. The other bungalow has been rented today by Sarah, a 27 year old from Switzerland traveling on her own. We ended up spending the whole evening together talking, walking and eating. She is such a sweetheart. 

From the neighboring bed and breakfast.

Enjoying the sunset from Secret Point. 

I can't explain the massive gratitude that overwhelmed me here. Setting sun, massive and beautiful waves, the sliver of a moon above set to the tone of Avicci's "wake me up"-appropriate. My heart can not swell any more or it may pop!

We walked back down the road to the Flat Hill Warung (second night for me) and enjoyed dinner while talking about our countries. I enjoyed a seafood curry with hot tea. (Grandma here!) We came back to Dafish and booked my room for the next two nights on Lebongan! I adore the experience of traveling in another country, even if it is only across the bridge! New territory to explore!

I must go to sleep now listening to the waves crashing...