We started our journey early at about 8.30am to catch the Barong and Kris dance at CV. Catur Eka Budhi, Jalan Waribang, Kesiman, Denpasar. I think it's quite an interesting play and if you asked me should you watch this or the Kecak Dance, I think the Barong dance is a better choice due to its variety compared to the Kecak. Price : IDR 50 000 per person.
The Rangda
The show ended with warriors piercing themselves with the Kris (Malay sword)
The Barong - there are similarities between the Barong and the Lion DanceSilver Workshop
Bali is famous for its silver craft. We took the opportunity to visit one of the silver workshop on our way to Ubud.
Wood Carving Workshop
Its amazing that the carvers were able to carve out their masterpiece without any drafting. All the blueprints were already in their minds. Fantastic!
Kintamani Volcano & Batur Lake
We had our buffet lunch at a restaurant facing the majestic panorama of Mount Batur Volcano and the crater lake.
Sumptuous buffet lunch
Bali Coffee Plantation
We were told by Putu that the owner of this coffee plantation is one of the richest man in Bali. No entrance fee was collected for us to visit the plantation and tourists were treated with different types of coffee (original, ginseng, lemon grass, ginger etc.) free of charge.
The famous product of this plantation was the Luwak Coffee. Luwak was an animal called Asian Palm Civet. Luwak use their keen sense of smell to select the very best ripe coffee beans. A Luwak will visit a plantation and eat only a fraction of the available beans, leaving any that are inferior or not quite ready on the tree. This means that the beans are individually selected by an animal that is specially adapted for this purpose and is far superior to humans at doing this.
Also, as the beans pass through the digestive tract of the Luwak, the acids in the stomach of the Luwak permeate the bean and leach out some of the proteins in the bean responsible for its bitterness resulting in a sweeter coffee bean. Price of the coffee - a small box for USD 50.
The Luwak
Fresh Luwak droppings
Dried Luwak droppings
Experiencing coffee frying
Ubud Palace
We crossed path with a parade of worshippers during our way out from the Ubud Palace
Ubud Market
The Ubud Market is just opposite the Ubud Palace. We spent almost two hours doing our round of shopping around and found that not enough. We came back on the next day to continue our hunt for souvenirs :)
Dinner at Bebek Bengil
The Bebek Bengil or Dirty Duck was highly recommended by many tourists and we decided to give it a try. The restaurant was strategically situated by the roadside with another side of it facing the paddy field so you got to enjoy your dinner amidst the green surroundings before the sun set. ST ordered the Bebek Bengil and I ordered the BBQ Pork Ribs. Like other restaurants, the serving is real big! The food was good and what makes them great was actually the sauce!
Where we stayed - Nick's Hidden Cottages
We were really tired after the dinner - well we woke up real early today! The place we were supposed to stay (Nick's Pension which we booked through AsiaRooms) was full when we reached there and was sent to Nick's Hidden Cottages. The owner of the hotel actually owns three hotels - Nick's Homestay (back packers lodge), Nick's Pension and Nick's Hidden Cottages.
We were a bit dissapointed when we were first sent to Nick's Hidden Cottages. The night has set in and the surrounding was dark. The hotel seemed deserted and we need to trailed a long road before reaching the hotel.
However, our perception changed 180 degree in the morning. The photos below tell all...
Our room for the first night
We were upgraded to a suite for the second night
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