There was no mistaking that last night was New Year's Eve! Montana and LuRue spent the evening going through photos (Montana's) to try to identify fish seen. With such a big ID book to leaf through, we felt fortunate to find names for about a dozen. The closer to midnight it got, the firecrackers began to sound like a shooting war outside. The last few minutes were non-stop & we could hear the unmistakable sound of fireworks. Neither of us had the urge to cross the street to watch all the seaside hotels send up their displays. We contented ourselves with the few colorful bursts we could see above the trees through our window. We learned this morning that the Balinese don't even celebrate the New Year. Their "New Year" is Silent Day which falls in March this year. This display was strictly for the tourists.
You would think that a 10:00am departure would be leisurely, but Montana and LuRue still find themselves rushing around getting ready. Not getting up until 8:30 may have something to do with it. Then there's the whole stuffing-yourself-into-a-wet-divesult process. Not like grabbing a jacket.
Ketut was waiting as usual. The destination today was Amed...a seaside resort area further up the eastern coast of Bali. Every place we go seems to take an hour or more to get there, part of the reason being the narrow, mountainous roads, barely wide enough for two cars to pass at times. As we approached one village, traffic was stopped. Ketut murmured...Oh, an accident. But it turned out to be a ceremony, probably a cremation. The Hindu temple/statue was on top of a bamboo framework & looked a little like a parade float. Next to it was a smaller structure containing the ceremonial plates of food. It was pouring buckets of rain by that time and people were huddled until shop overhangs or anywhere they could find refuge. When we asked, Ketut said that it was taking up one lane of traffic because the people didn't have room for the structures in their yards. In spite of endless congestions, people seem to have almost endless patience..."That's just the way things are."
We arrived at the beach & Ketut bargained for a parking space. We are learning that you always have to be ready to whip out a 10,000 or a 50,000 rupiah note for parking, for a lounge chair, for a beachside shower. People here have to be inventive to make a living. They certainly don't live like the tourists they serve!
Montana and LuRue saw a lot of people swimming in the lagoon, so headed down the beach to enter near the end. It rained off and on, but when you are face-down in the water, it hardly matters. The snorkeling was quite good and we saw some new fishes. We spent the next two hours exploring the edges of the rocky bluffs & calling to one another for a new find. We returned by way of the area where dozens of people were in the water, and surprise! it was actually a good place to snorkel.
We showered off at a spigot (paid for via our lounge chair rental) & headed back to the car. Ketut took the coastal route back, which was twisty S-curves all the way. Amed has built up as a resort area, so buildings are perched on the hillsides, overlooking the ocean, nestled among all the tropical jungle trees and plants. About eight times, Ketut had to drive through streams rushing down the mountain and crossing the road. There was no guard rail to stop a car from plunging over the precipice. All LuRue could think about was the warnings around Arizona about NOT crossing washes when flooded. But eventually we got back on some normal roadways.
We made it back to the hotel just before Putu was due to get off work. She and Montana quickly made plans for the next two days, our last ones in Candidasa.
What would a day be without a swim in the pool?! Soooo nice to lazily swim around, to float, to think of crazy tricks to try...especially when we hear that part of our family is buried in Fairbanks snow, with no electricity, and having to shovel the stuff!
Dinner was at La Rouge tonight, a restaurant a couple of hundred yards from our hotel. There are literally dozens of places to choose from, so we have to run by as the waiters lie in waiting if we so much as glance at the menu posted. Montana and LuRue agree that these restaurants are not typical ones...they definitely cater to Western tourists. But Montana can always find a new Balinese dish to try every time. This time it was the Mie Gorang, one of the must-try Indonesian foods. We share bites to try, but so far we haven't actually traded dinners.
All day everyone has been wishing us "Happy New Year" and the sound of fireworks is finishing out this day. Guess we're convinced 2017 is really here!
You would think that a 10:00am departure would be leisurely, but Montana and LuRue still find themselves rushing around getting ready. Not getting up until 8:30 may have something to do with it. Then there's the whole stuffing-yourself-into-a-wet-divesult process. Not like grabbing a jacket.
Ketut was waiting as usual. The destination today was Amed...a seaside resort area further up the eastern coast of Bali. Every place we go seems to take an hour or more to get there, part of the reason being the narrow, mountainous roads, barely wide enough for two cars to pass at times. As we approached one village, traffic was stopped. Ketut murmured...Oh, an accident. But it turned out to be a ceremony, probably a cremation. The Hindu temple/statue was on top of a bamboo framework & looked a little like a parade float. Next to it was a smaller structure containing the ceremonial plates of food. It was pouring buckets of rain by that time and people were huddled until shop overhangs or anywhere they could find refuge. When we asked, Ketut said that it was taking up one lane of traffic because the people didn't have room for the structures in their yards. In spite of endless congestions, people seem to have almost endless patience..."That's just the way things are."
We arrived at the beach & Ketut bargained for a parking space. We are learning that you always have to be ready to whip out a 10,000 or a 50,000 rupiah note for parking, for a lounge chair, for a beachside shower. People here have to be inventive to make a living. They certainly don't live like the tourists they serve!
Montana and LuRue saw a lot of people swimming in the lagoon, so headed down the beach to enter near the end. It rained off and on, but when you are face-down in the water, it hardly matters. The snorkeling was quite good and we saw some new fishes. We spent the next two hours exploring the edges of the rocky bluffs & calling to one another for a new find. We returned by way of the area where dozens of people were in the water, and surprise! it was actually a good place to snorkel.
We showered off at a spigot (paid for via our lounge chair rental) & headed back to the car. Ketut took the coastal route back, which was twisty S-curves all the way. Amed has built up as a resort area, so buildings are perched on the hillsides, overlooking the ocean, nestled among all the tropical jungle trees and plants. About eight times, Ketut had to drive through streams rushing down the mountain and crossing the road. There was no guard rail to stop a car from plunging over the precipice. All LuRue could think about was the warnings around Arizona about NOT crossing washes when flooded. But eventually we got back on some normal roadways.
We made it back to the hotel just before Putu was due to get off work. She and Montana quickly made plans for the next two days, our last ones in Candidasa.
What would a day be without a swim in the pool?! Soooo nice to lazily swim around, to float, to think of crazy tricks to try...especially when we hear that part of our family is buried in Fairbanks snow, with no electricity, and having to shovel the stuff!
Dinner was at La Rouge tonight, a restaurant a couple of hundred yards from our hotel. There are literally dozens of places to choose from, so we have to run by as the waiters lie in waiting if we so much as glance at the menu posted. Montana and LuRue agree that these restaurants are not typical ones...they definitely cater to Western tourists. But Montana can always find a new Balinese dish to try every time. This time it was the Mie Gorang, one of the must-try Indonesian foods. We share bites to try, but so far we haven't actually traded dinners.
All day everyone has been wishing us "Happy New Year" and the sound of fireworks is finishing out this day. Guess we're convinced 2017 is really here!
Happy New Years. Love the fish photos especially the bright blue. black and white one. Do you know what it's name is?
ReplyDeleteHey, I think I recognize one of those fish from Hawaii! Is it a tourist, too? Our New Year's celebration was really low key. I think Corrine nudged me from snoring too loudly!
ReplyDeleteOur snowstorm experience wasn't too bad. Only lost power for about 7 hours, though I did spend 10 hours behind the snowblower. But enough of that. Don't want to make you guys jealous!
Oh, your fish photos are superb--just LOVE seeing them through your cameras. Semicircle Angelfish, juvenile; Regal Angelfish; Pennant Bannerfish; Blackpatch Triggerfish--- but can't find the first photo???? Have searched and searched.
ReplyDelete