WHAT WE DID TODAY:
This is our second day here in Bali after arriving at noon yesterday. We have had the absolute best time here. As you saw, yesterday afternoon we visited with Putu and his family. Today, we did not go on our ship's planned tour but hired Putu to give us a personal all day tour. Since leaving Regent 3 years ago he has started his little tour business. He only advertises on social media and by word of mouth from satisfied customers. He told us his fee for an all day tour was $50. I gave him $100.
If I can ever get the 143 photos uploaded that I took on today's tour, I will put link on blog. The captions will kind of tell the story. As we drove north from the port we got a view in the distance of their active volcano, Agung. It killed over 200 people when it erupted in 1963. Our first stop was to visit a "Sacred Monkey Forest". Monkey because the beautiful forest was full on monkeys and sacred because there was a temple in it. The monkeys were so funny. You could buy little bananas and the monkeys would jump up on you and eat them. Sometimes they would get on people's heads and in women's hair. We did not do this. Putu told Rebecca to hide her necklace or they would take it. He told me to put camera strap around my neck or they would grab it. Great fun watching them.
Then we drove out in country side to see a beautiful terraced rice field. The rice was on the side of a big hill. We stopped there at a restaurant that had great view of it. We spent most of the morning and early afternoon just driving. Oh, yes, we stopped at a local market. Not the "touristy" markets that the normal tours go to but a true market that just locals use. Smelly, dirty, but nice people there. We tasted Jack fruit that was very good and sweet. So I bought a small bag of it and will let the people at our dinner table try it tonight. We also bought what they use as a plate. It was hand made and cost me a $1 or $2. We also told Putu that we needed to stop at a pharmacy. We went to a very nice one. Rebecca got some Nasonex nose spray. It costs $125 in US and was $30 here. We also got some antibiotics. A Z-pack was $15 and another antibiotic we got was $4. Total bill was 1,300,000 in their money. Yes, 1 million three hundred thousand. That was $100 in dollars. I exchanged 50 US dollars in the cruise terminal and got 655,000 back in Bali money.
Last stop was a silver factory. We got a short demonstration of how they make the silver to be used in making jewelry then we into their showroom. LOTS of jewelry made mostly of silver but some gold also. Rebecca bought a pair of silver earrings. First price was $92 US. Putu knew the owner so I was able to get price down to $50. We saw another couple from the ship in there also.
Putu also wanted to take us to a batik factory but we told him we were ready to hit the ship again. I wanted to get a head start on uploading photos. We said our good-byes when he dropped us off at 2:30 pm. Well, I did not beat rush as internet is soooo slow. In an hour and 10 minutes I have only gotten 16 of my 143 photos uploaded. Holy crap!!
PLAN FOR TONIGHT:
We have invited Cristina, one of the Reception people, to join us for dinner tonight. Brad, Carla Sue, and Susanne will also join us. I requested Chef Michael prepare miso sea bass for us. Had to request it couple days ago as it has to marinate for at least 48 hours.
The Aussie singer, Karen Beckett, is performing her second show tonight after dinner. I did not like her first show as the ship's sound man ruined her sound. May give it another try.
We will be sailing at 5:00 pm and will have two sea says before our next port which is Singapore. I am going to have to put today's photos on tomorrow. Internet is just too slow today.
This is our second day here in Bali after arriving at noon yesterday. We have had the absolute best time here. As you saw, yesterday afternoon we visited with Putu and his family. Today, we did not go on our ship's planned tour but hired Putu to give us a personal all day tour. Since leaving Regent 3 years ago he has started his little tour business. He only advertises on social media and by word of mouth from satisfied customers. He told us his fee for an all day tour was $50. I gave him $100.
If I can ever get the 143 photos uploaded that I took on today's tour, I will put link on blog. The captions will kind of tell the story. As we drove north from the port we got a view in the distance of their active volcano, Agung. It killed over 200 people when it erupted in 1963. Our first stop was to visit a "Sacred Monkey Forest". Monkey because the beautiful forest was full on monkeys and sacred because there was a temple in it. The monkeys were so funny. You could buy little bananas and the monkeys would jump up on you and eat them. Sometimes they would get on people's heads and in women's hair. We did not do this. Putu told Rebecca to hide her necklace or they would take it. He told me to put camera strap around my neck or they would grab it. Great fun watching them.
Then we drove out in country side to see a beautiful terraced rice field. The rice was on the side of a big hill. We stopped there at a restaurant that had great view of it. We spent most of the morning and early afternoon just driving. Oh, yes, we stopped at a local market. Not the "touristy" markets that the normal tours go to but a true market that just locals use. Smelly, dirty, but nice people there. We tasted Jack fruit that was very good and sweet. So I bought a small bag of it and will let the people at our dinner table try it tonight. We also bought what they use as a plate. It was hand made and cost me a $1 or $2. We also told Putu that we needed to stop at a pharmacy. We went to a very nice one. Rebecca got some Nasonex nose spray. It costs $125 in US and was $30 here. We also got some antibiotics. A Z-pack was $15 and another antibiotic we got was $4. Total bill was 1,300,000 in their money. Yes, 1 million three hundred thousand. That was $100 in dollars. I exchanged 50 US dollars in the cruise terminal and got 655,000 back in Bali money.
Last stop was a silver factory. We got a short demonstration of how they make the silver to be used in making jewelry then we into their showroom. LOTS of jewelry made mostly of silver but some gold also. Rebecca bought a pair of silver earrings. First price was $92 US. Putu knew the owner so I was able to get price down to $50. We saw another couple from the ship in there also.
Putu also wanted to take us to a batik factory but we told him we were ready to hit the ship again. I wanted to get a head start on uploading photos. We said our good-byes when he dropped us off at 2:30 pm. Well, I did not beat rush as internet is soooo slow. In an hour and 10 minutes I have only gotten 16 of my 143 photos uploaded. Holy crap!!
PLAN FOR TONIGHT:
We have invited Cristina, one of the Reception people, to join us for dinner tonight. Brad, Carla Sue, and Susanne will also join us. I requested Chef Michael prepare miso sea bass for us. Had to request it couple days ago as it has to marinate for at least 48 hours.
The Aussie singer, Karen Beckett, is performing her second show tonight after dinner. I did not like her first show as the ship's sound man ruined her sound. May give it another try.
We will be sailing at 5:00 pm and will have two sea says before our next port which is Singapore. I am going to have to put today's photos on tomorrow. Internet is just too slow today.
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