Heart of the Island
Trip Start
Jan 31, 2008
1
23
32
Trip End
May 31, 2008
Where I stayed
Ibunda Bungalows
Ubud, Indonesia
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
We were awoken at 3:15am in order to see the sunrise over Mt. Bromo. Seeing as we'd been told we weren't going to get a knock on the door until 3:30am and I am NOT a morning person, I had to curb the violent urge for homocide and remind myself that I agreed to this - paid for it, infact. I pulled my blanket over my head and muttered I needed 20 more minutes.
Granny and I huddled together, freezing beneath the not-even-close-to-enough layers of clothing we had on as well as our sarongs wrapped around us like blankets. The sunrise was slow in coming and I felt myself beginning to daydream about hot chocolate, steamy baths, jumping into a fireplace... it was hard to believe that only 24 hrs earlier we'd been sweating and sticky!
It looked cloudy and we lamented that if we didn't see the sunrise after getting up so earlier one of us would have to be thrown over the edge in sheer frustration. Luckily, once the sun decided to finish yawning and stand on its two feet, we saw that the 'clouds' were infact smoke from the two or three active volcanos we were now staring down into. What a sight! All we could do was jostle the rest of the tourists for a spot to climb up and look out, our mouths hanging open as we shivered and just said, "Wow. Wowowowowowowowowow. Ohmygod.wow." It was awe-inspiring; I have seen many beautiful things on this trip but that vision is certainly one I won't forget.
A bumpy ride in a jeep my Mom would kill to own (you would have loved them, Mom, sorry - I forgot to take a picture of it!) took us right into the crater of Mt. Bromo where we had a 2km walk and then 247 steps up to the top of the crater so that we could see right down into it. Apparently you can walk the entire mouth of it in an hour which I would have loved to do but we didn't have time for as we were catching a bus and ferry to Bali later that morning.
Though it didn't excite me when I was agreeing to it, after I had cantered my tiny Indonesian pony up the side of an active Javanese volcano, I was unable to shut up about it. It had been ages since I was last able to dig my heels into the flanks of a horse (and never one this small!) and just ride him as fast as he would go. Seeing the lava rock beneath his hooves as they pounded into the sand and the random temple at the base of the volcano and being surrounded by mountains was....I have no words for it really.
They don't cluck at their horses like we do, they hiss. I was digging my heel in and clucking like a madwoman but my horse wouldn't go. So the guy whom I'd rented the horse from handed me a small whip (not a crop, I guess they don't use those here?) and hissed at the horse. He started to trot a bit and that was far too bouncy for me so I whacked my calf with the whip (I don't like hitting horses, the sound is enough to make them move) and hissed like he did. WHOOOSHHHHH!! I nearly fell off (bigger horses are easier to hang onto I found out) and sandals there was no way I was going to be able to ride properly so I just sat back and held on. Amazing. A-m-a-z-i-n-g. For a tiny pony that thing could run. It was exhilerating. I was glad Granny was being walked (by her horse guy) so I could take the opportunity to race around on the sand for a bit.
After that experience I had a perma-grin on my face all morning. Our long bus ride dampened our spirits a bit but we're here now and Bali is, most definitely, paradise. Ubud, where we are, is the center of the island and the heart of Bali (so we've been told) where all the culture and arts take the forefront.
We have been shopping, to the Monkey Forest, to the Elephant Safari, zooting around on scooters, to see Kecak Dances, having spa days (and booking more right afterwards much to the ladies' amusement), eating too much sate ayar... the fun never ends!
On the 17th we're heading off again to Lombok for a few days then to the Gili Islands (maybe Meno?) before heading back here and parting ways - Granny back home and me onto Australia.
Hope all is well!
xox K & G
Comments
I want some
It looks like Granny is having way to much fun. I want whatever she's having. It must be awesome to ride on an elephant, walk around an active volcano and then hit the spa. You just can't do that around here, I've checked all the brochures!!!
Love BFD
xoxo
I am GREEN
so amazing!!! I LOVE the Rice Godess statue it is so beautiful and I also love Ganesh(sp?) as he is an elephant and all. Thanks for sending all the pictures they are fantastic!
xoT
awesome pics once again
Hey guys, I am still reallly jealous. The statues are amazing, I love Ganesh, I think he is my favorite.
just.. wow
I haven't commented in a while (sorry bout that), but I have been reading everything you write! All of this looks so incredible, the volcanoS(!), the monkey forest, the temples! If I had the money, I'd fly out and join you there in a second.
You sound like you're having an awesome time.