Day tour to Ubud and Tegallalang

After the relaxed past days filled with beach, pool, and strolling around Kuta, today it was once again time for a guided day tour in a small group. Although it somewhat takes away my own rhythm and the feeling of being unrestrained, I chose this option mainly because having a guide helps to reach some sightseeing spots better and allows for some explanations along the way ... 

I was picked up early, just before 8:00 AM, by Dewa, our guide for the day. The chosen small group turned out to be really small, consisting only of Linda, an American who had been on a cruise and was now extending her stay in Bali for three more days. By the end of the day, she was noticeably less enthusiastic about sightseeing, temple visits, and climbing steps, which didn’t quite align with my aforementioned rhythm ;-), but we got along quite nicely regardless. 

After picking up Linda, we drove towards Ubud. The first stop was supposed to be the Monkey Forest. However, traffic on Bali is rather tricky, not only due to some very dilapidated road surfaces but also because of constant traffic jams, so the drive of nearly 30 km took over 1.5 hours, which is quite normal. The Monkey Forest in Ubud covers about 12.5 hectares and is home to around 1600 Javanese macaques. It is not a zoo, but a sacred site with various temples, Hindu deities, and a cemetery. The monkey is a sacred animal in Hinduism, which is why the monkeys can move freely, but they are fed and are well accustomed to the many visitors, so one should securely store water bottles here ... and making eye contact should be avoided ... but everyone was very peaceful when we were there ... Alongside the various sacred sites, there was also a lovely local art exhibition on the grounds, which I explored on my own ...

Next, we headed to the Ubud Palace and the market in Ubud. The Ubud Palace was the former residence of the royal family. Only part of this sacred artistically designed site is accessible to tourists. I also strolled through the market nearby, but this very tourist-oriented market didn’t have anything special for me, so I mostly limited myself to a brief look from a distance.

After lunch, we aimed for the rice terraces of Tegallalang. The rice terraces are hand-cultivated by the Balinese on the slopes. The individual steps of the rice terraces are narrow and steep, which makes mechanical cultivation impossible. However, there is some cultivation happening within the truly beautiful area, but it seems that the tourist use is currently at the forefront. One can swing on giant swings or glide over the valley with a rope and a flying carpet, or even on a bicycle. Many influencer posing points have also been set up. Nevertheless, the impressive view is not affected by any of this.

Then it was back to the car and, in really tropical weather, to the Tirta Empul temple complex. This temple belongs to the Balinese state temples, attracting both locals and tourists. Beside the interesting architectural design, one can observe ritual washings in the various holy bathing pools, intended to ensure the victory of good over evil ... Since many obviously Western-looking people were performing washings there, in my opinion, the sacred ritual has become quite touristy (which seemed surreal), however, we later encountered some 'pilgrimage car convoys' in traditional attire with beautifully decorated vehicles heading to this washing ceremony. The rules for entering are quite strict; even men must wear a sarong (pants are not allowed, regardless of length). Currently menstruating women are prohibited from entry. I also saw strict checks regarding the dress code; however, I didn’t notice any controlling instance for the latter ... 

The last stop of our visit was the Tegenungan waterfall. Here, impressive volumes of water plunge into the lower natural pool, where many bathers gather. From the upper viewpoint, many steps lead down to the waterfall and a temple next to it. Especially on humid hot days like today, descending and particularly ascending can be quite strenuous, which is why the tour guide and Linda didn’t want to manage it anymore ... So they just had to wait for me ;-) ... I didn’t take a full bath, but I did dip my toes into the surprisingly warm water ...

Then it was back to Kuta in my hotel after a 1.5-hour drive, and from there, after freshening up, just a small evening meal with live music in the nearby Australian sports bar ...