We rose at 05:15 and went to the beach in Lovina to hire a dukung. An expensive IDR 200,000 later and we were on our way to search for dolphins by 06:00. Unfortunately, for the 2 hours 30 minutes we were on the Bali sea we didn't sight a single dolphin. We did, however, see a flying fish and saw the sun rise over Bali. The continuous rattling of the engine balancing on the side of the boat gave me a headache and it also got quite hot sitting in the dukung in direct morning sunlight.
After a shower and breakfast we climbed back into the motor and left Lovina. Our first stop today was a beautiful viewpoint over a lake and the valley beneath us. Further up the road we stopped by the side of the road and stepped out of the car to be greeted by native grey monkeys. Naturally, despite being wild, they were expecting food from us and those that weren't rummaging through rubbish bins, nor defleaing their young, were sitting patiently beside the car, looking at us in anticipation. They looked wonderful. As I approached them and lowered myself to their level I composed my photograph to then find that my batteries didn't have enough charge to take the picture, and with that the monkey moved away. As I searched my bags for my spare batteries two monkeys sat side by side, barely touching each other, perfectly still and with expectant looks on their faces. Their expressions were brilliant and begged to be photographed. My camera chose the wrong time to refuse to take pictures! Unfortunately, looking for my batteries took 10 minutes and many of the monkeys had chosen to leave, much to my annoyance. Eventually I found them in my backpack and quickly moved into position to reel off a roll of film. It was a wonderful moment.
Then we visited another temple situated besides one of the three lakes and had the opportunity to touch or manhandle the large python in the grounds. It was pretty big. We stroked the snake who was undernourished, without exercise, confined to a small space and without fangs. There were other large birds, a mongoose and bats being kept there too. We were excluded from the temple but from what we could see it was in far better condition than Pura Kehen.
A brief stop at a hotel and restaurant complex overlooking some rice paddy fields preceeded a tiresome journey south via Denpasar to Sanur, during which we found the ability to doze. As we drove through Denpasar we passed by the foreign embassies and consulates. We stay in Swastika Bungalows in Sanur for two nights prior to our departure from Bali.
The afternoon was spent in and by the swimming pool at the bungalows where I chose to read my book while Ian mucked about in the pool and befriended a Dutch couple, Oscar and Anna, who have been travelling for four months. When I decided to no longer be unsociable we all chatted together about our experiences then decided to go to dinner together. We had a meal in Sanur whereby all of us ordered the same meal, Nasi Goreng Special accompanied by Bintang beer. We then spent the next 4 hours discussing South America, our experiences, photography, our careers and what we might do when we have to return to our home countries, which is far sooner than any of us would like.
Copyright 2003 Helen Fuller. All rights reserved.