unterwaygs

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Tag 82 - fairytale-like

Weşandin: 27.07.2019

21.07.19

Using the information we collected yesterday about a rafting trip, today we booked the tour at our hotel (just under 40€ for 2 people, including shuttle and buffet). After that, we rented a scooter from the hotel (it's the most convenient option) and set off to visit some of the famous waterfalls in the region. First, we visited Kanto Lampo Waterfall. After a beautiful drive through small villages and rice fields, we arrived at a large parking lot that even offered lockers and toilets - how nice. We walked/climbed down to the river and paid a donation of 0.66€ per person along the way. Unfortunately, it was very crowded, making it almost impossible to take good photos of the entire waterfall. Hoping that the crowd would diminish soon, we walked upstream and enjoyed the tranquility.

We return to the 'entry point,' where there are also changing rooms, and unfortunately, we realize that there hasn't been much change in the number of people. Jonna decides to get ready for swimming anyway, and we take some photos. While I wait at the top and fiddle with my camera, a local resident approaches me and advises me to go back to the river and take a narrow path on the other side of the 'gorge'. From there, we can admire the waterfall from the other side and take corresponding photos. We follow his advice and soon find ourselves standing on a small ledge with the best view of the cascades - and completely alone; thank you, unknown local!

The only thing that makes the stay there exciting are the countless ants that don't allow you to stay in one place for more than five seconds. We cross back to the other side of the river and get a coconut for refreshment.

We have seen and photographed everything possible and now head back to our scooter - the next waterfall is Goa Rang Reng!

Once again, the journey to the waterfall is worth it, even though it only takes 15 minutes. Same procedure - park the scooter, pay the donation, and hike along a small path that leads through the jungle to the waterfall. Goa Rang Reng is different but equally beautiful. The water is fed from a large natural tunnel and then flows relatively flat into a small valley. We share this place with only two or three other tourists.

We sit on one of the many large boulders for a while and enjoy the view. The path here has split into two more paths at one point, which we naturally cannot leave unexplored. So we go back and take the first narrow path, only to find that it is completely undeveloped and, presumably, only used by very few locals to quickly get from the nearby village to the waterfall. You can't shake the feeling that you will come across a snake at any second or have picked up dozens of ticks.

So we have no choice but to go back the same way and try path number 3. This one seems more promising - at least you can already see that you will be led to a monastery right next to the river. We reach a ford where two locals with a handful of tourists are just getting out of the river back onto the path. Apparently, some kind of tour through the riverbed is offered here. The local guide introduces himself immediately and asks us if we would like to join. A sign next to the entry point says that the guides are not allowed to ask tourists for money here. In case they do, you can photograph the gentlemen and show the photo at the 'ticket office' - sounds promising. Regardless, the young man is super nice and very unobtrusive - so we agree. We leave our backpack behind and only take the camera; Jonna is armed with a stick because the hike through the very rocky river is anything but easy - a 'foot massage,' as the local guide calls it. It takes about ten minutes until we leave the river and the guide takes off his shirt - it seems to be getting a little deeper here. Jonna is still wearing her swimming clothes, and I have to spontaneously convert my underwear into swim shorts. 'Hold the camera above your head, the water will reach your chest soon,' we deduce from his gestures and start walking. What awaits us there quickly becomes an absolute highlight of our journey.

After this very memorable experience, we head back and, since we have some time left, plan to visit the famous Tegalalang Rice Terrace. This time the journey takes a bit longer, but we manage to arrive at the attraction just before sunset. From the first second, you can understand why this place has become a tourist hotspot - the view is spectacular.

After an hour, we have walked the path through the terraces and hop back on the scooter. BY THE WAY: This was one of the very, very, very rare moments when we were actually a little cold. The ride back on the scooter was only bearable with thick sweaters.

To give this eventful day a worthy conclusion, we go to a vegetarian all-you-can-eat buffet for dinner (3€ per person). Although the food is absolutely amazing, we are unfortunately the only ones in the restaurant. The service is exceptionally friendly, and the ambiance is also nice. There is bean soup, fried tofu, fried tempeh, pickled eggplant, red rice, curry, corn chips, peanut sauce, and more. Plus free water, and for dessert, plantain in cane sugar with coconut.