Bali Jan 4, 2011
  Bali is one of the 17, 000 islands that make up Indonesia. It measures about 100 miles by 70 miles. it seems to be a bit unique from the rest on Indonesia distinguished mostly by its mainly Hindu and Buddhist religious structure rather than the predominant Islam of the rest of Indonesia. Consequently the architecture is a little different as is the attitude of its people which is laid back and zen. It is very mountainous like the rest of Indonesia with many volcanoes. Very popular with Australians who come here in droves for their vacations especially to Kuta a surfing beach on the southern coast. Everywhere you look are palms and bamboo and rice fields. Each of the Balinese houses ,which are built one next to the other ,have gardens which contain shrines. these are quite ornate and there are always fresh flowers placed as offerings. The roofs of the houses turn up on each corner to the sky. Chickens in the yards or pigs or sometimes calves. 
   We had a group of 27 and had a late start due to some miscommunication . Jeffrey did not meet us and turned us over to Fidel who said little. We travelled up towards to Kintamani , for a buffet lunch overlooking several volcanoes. After lunch we ventured back through the very narrow twisting roads to Besakih, the mother temple. This series of outdoor pagodas built many centuries ago is situated under a volcano in the cloud forest. there were many beautiful statues to the Hindu gods. Here we met Jeffrey who had been waiting for us. unfortunately there was little commentary about what we were looking at and we just spent an hour wandering up the steps through the different sections. actually this was kind of nice as I usually don,t remember the specifics of all these places. I like to just retain the feel of the place. we were required to wear sarongs , probably more a scam to get $3 more than anything else. there were also lots of young men who buzzed around demanding to guide us and just were plain pests and then rude when we declined. 
   At this point Fidel informed us there was little time left as we had a long drive to dinner. We asked to stop though at a coffee place. Here there was a herbal garden and we all got to taste Luwak coffee which is the famous coffee made from the beans which have passed thought the digestive system of a type of feline animal. I will look up the name when I get home. I had heard of this before and it was kind of cool to try it. they had one of the animals in a cage but it was resting in a hollowed out log.I got a photo but not too clear. 
    Dinner was pretty much a disaster as the guide drove us 2 hours to a restaurant on a beach in Jimbaran a tourist trap. food awful but on the plus side we did see the Monkey Dance which is performed on the full moon and a couple of Balinese dancers. so we were a bit disappointed in our day as it was long and too disorganized.These things happen though and I have learned my lesson. Not  sure if I would go back to Bali. it seems to be changing and modernizing. we did get to see much of the back country and I am grateful for this. 
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