Mount Batur

Well wasn’t Jess in her element!

Today we booked a private tour to climb Mount Batur with a local guide. Mount Batur is an active volcano although it last erupted in 2000 so don’t worry. Mount Batur is typically climbed in time to reach the summit for sunrise however this involves a 2.00am wake up call. Whilst this is not unreasonable it would most likely mess up the afternoon and following day so instead we opted for a morning trek with pickup at 7.30am, more like it. We met our local guide and finally reached the top at 1717m above sea level. At the top you could see the high altitude lake, the old lava field, small towns and hot steam pockets lining the volcano walls. The lava field covered a big area during its eruption wiping out a local town however the town’s temple was the only surviving building and can be seen in the middle of the lava field, now called lucky temple. Standing in a natural steam pocket really was hot and local guides often cook eggs and bananas for breakfast for group tours apparently. Because the last eruption was over 20 year ago, vegetation has now grown in the crater so it didn’t look as you may expect. A really good morning with a cheery young local guide. He spoke good English but was keen to learn more so we did teach him ‘lovely jubbly’ at the end of the tour which he laughed at but very much appreciated.

Later that afternoon was spend wondering around the beautiful Ubud centre. Shops are either cafes/ restaurants or handmade craft shops. As mentioned before, the crafts here are really nice and it’s even better seeing locals make some of them. Crafts range from wood carvings to glass blowing to painting and all to a high standard! We walked into various shops and not once did we feel unwelcome as every time we were greeted with a smile, but without the pestering we’re used to. Wondering down the central market street wasn’t the same mind you as the familiar ‘I give you good price’ or ‘special discount for you’ returned. I stopped to look at some nice handmade knives. Of course with hand luggage only this was never an option so after explaining this we were amused to be told they are okay for hand luggage and that we should still buy one, haha.

Whilst walking along main streets, there are hundreds of side streets for public access, all needing to go through doorways to enter. Wanting to explore we chose a random one and had a look around. Initially we found clothes outside to dry inside a courtyard but walking a little further along we found a small coffee shop. It was not signposted and arguably difficult to find as we stumbled upon it but inside was a black fox/ cat like animal sitting on a pedestal. The animal was a luwak. Why was a luwak inside a coffee shop you ask? It’s because luwak excrement is the coffee bean. Their droppings are collected, roasted and used as coffee beans effectively. Apparently they have a richer fruitier taste but we weren’t to know.

Walking around Ubud in itself is an absolute pleasure. Brightly coloured plants and flowers and intricately detailed architecture line the central streets. Beautiful monuments and doorways are everywhere you look, down back streets, adjacent to shops, even inside shops all of which have fresh offerings inside or beside them. There is a real sense of pride here and it shows more than anywhere we’ve travelled so far. Of course a little further out and the landscape is covered with rice terraces surrounded by jungle like plants. Covered with water, the rice terraces are reflective making it sometimes look as if you’re riding on a lake.Read more