Up early as the check out time for this place is the ungodly hour of 10am. What is that about? On the Moto and off to the elephant temple. It's supposed to be just 10mins from Ubud, though of course there are absolutely no signs anywhere. We stumble across it largely by accident but get in and get the bike parked. We walk past the selection of tat stalls, even had some woman tell me that I needed a sarong to enter the temple, now, this is true, but I know that you get a free one when you enter so why would I be paying for one? I'm sure she makes plenty of sales like this to the unsuspecting tourist. We get down to the temple, though I am not sure why it is called the elephant temple as there are no elephants to be seen, in the flesh or otherwise. There is a pond outside the entrance to the temple, down some steps, it has stone statues pouring water in to the bottom and there are some rather large fish in the bottom, but the water level is so low that the fish is swimming on its side. Very strange. It takes about 15mins before I get the opportunity to take a photo of the entrance to the cave, with so many people coming and going and then posing for photos, then standing in front of my reviewing them. Some people. Inside the cave was completely forgettable, just a small cave with an old weathered rock with some cloth at the ends.
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After the marvel that was the elephant temple we just walk around to see it there is anything else here that we could see. We follow a path down to a small waterfall, and the setting is great, within the forest, so peaceful. I decide to stop and take a photo, unfortunately there is some woman in front of me who had the same idea. She is singing away to herself as she is trying to frame the perfect shot on her compact. 10 people pass me on the stairs while I wait patiently behind this woman, who just happens to be standing in the perfect location for the shot. I am truly amazed to watch just what she is doing, zooming in and out, flicking from portrait to landscape. flicking through all her settings, but not taking a photo. A true professional trying to get it right first time! She is humming away to herself while she is bumbling around with her camera, this only results in making my slightly more agitated with how long it is taking her. Then just when she has everything the way that she wants, she goes to take the photo and.................. turns the camera off! My god! I feel like kicking her down the stairs. Once powered on she takes the shot and moves on. I already have my settings dialled in to my camera, due to the time I have been waiting and so 'snap' off I go. We head sown to the waterfall and follow an eccentric local many round the back of the waterfall part of a temple that had collapsed. He then was looking for money for this, unlucky! We walk on round the path and see a sign scribbled on a tree signifying a jungle temple and so we decide to go that was and see what we can find. It is super humid here in the jungle and I have my sweat on, big time! After plodding through the undergrowth we meet a man who tells us that the temple is just ahead and then asks us to make a small donation. We do, very small. The guide then tells us that there are 3 ways out, the high road, this one and one down by the river. Sounds good, so off we go. 30mins later, after following the river path, it just ends. No way to continue. The thought of having to go back is not exciting me, this coupled with the fact that we didn't even see any jungle temple and I am feeling very satisfied! We walk past the guy and I don't even speak to him or ask him about the temple or his lies, we just head back to the Moto. Then back to Ubud for some lunch and to plan the next move.
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There had been many suggestions tabled as to what to do this afternoon, but with the sun being at full strength today we are both feeling pretty tired. Another good lunch for me, and a substandard one for Miao, Ha ha ha. We decide to head up to Talagalawala for a market. It's not called that but that is how I remember it. We head out this straight road lined with shops looking for this market, then I see a police check point up ahead. I have heard that they are fairly corrupt here in Bali, and as I don't have an international drivers license, I am potential money man. I have cleverly hidden most of my money, only leaving a small amount in my wallet, just enough, I hope, to get away with any bribe I might have to give. We head up to the check point and the police man pulls over the 3 bikes in front of me, I pull over too and he just motions for me to head on. Phew!! What an escape. I truly am a lucky man. Shortly after the police check point there are a bunch of Motos pulled over on the other side of the road, with everyone not wearing a helmet. Ha, they don't want to pass and get the fine. Such a different mentality to back at home. We head out this road for about 5km and not a sign of a market anywhere. We head back through the checkpoint driving slowly down the street with the shops while Miao takes a look. She decides to get something back in Kuta and so we head back.
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The road is super busy on the way back and by the time we get to the hotel I am burnt to a crisp. When we head out for dinner we first have to try and find some aftersun because Miao is concerned about becoming tanned. Then we head to a little place that Miao has read about. Cheap price and good food, sounds perfect. Indeed the food was good, but the service was terrible, they really didn't care about us at all, and took so long to bring anything that we asked for, they couldn't even muster a smile. Regardless we have a good time and some beers before heading back to the hotel.