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After a restless nights sleep (for some!) we headed for breakfast by the sea and enjoyed croissants and banana pancakes.
We were met at reception by our guide at around 0830 and off we went on our adventures for the day.
Our first port of call was The King's floating palace and law courts.... Very ornate and beautiful surroundings. I learned about grafting having seen some of the multicoloured bushes and peter enjoyed learning about the practice of placing sarongs on certain statues to protect from evil spirits. We enjoyed the museum full of artefacts and photos relating to Balinese history.
After a short drive we visited a plantation where they grow coffee trees, spices such as cinnamon, ginger, lemongrass, ginseng and fruits such as pineapples and snakeskin fruit. We had the opportunity to try 11 types of tea and coffee and came away with three sorts to take home. I fell in love with the little Luwak, a type of mongoose who eats coffee beans and they are then extracted from the faeces, cleaned and made into coffee!!! Yum yum ;)
After this we visited the most important temple complex on the island dating back to the 9th century. We saw temples for all different clans such as soldier, teachers, farmer, royalty and priests. Our guide is of the teacher clan.
Also very beautiful and we were lucky enough to arrive at prayer time. Both Peter and I rocked a sarong!!
Lunch was a buffet in a restaurant with the most beautiful view..... I had never seen anything like it! The valleys below and the highest mountain on bali tight on front of us.... Heaven :)
A two hour trek followed through the rice fields, several typical Balinese villages and plantation woodland. We saw wild banana plants, the occasional
Red dragonfly and something I hadn't seen since the age of about 6 (in Kew gardens) the amazing sensitive grass that has fronds that close when you touch it. I never forgot that plant as a child and nearly 30 years later I have seen it in the wild....
On our journey we stopped to watch the locals harvesting rice and a local man harvesting fresh peanuts which we were allowed to try..... Very tasty :)
The final village was historic and beautiful.... As Peter said it 'was like going back in time' with c*** in individual cages with painted plumage ready for fighting (I didn't like that idea much :( :( and bison roaming the street.
After a long and wonderful day out we returned to our chalet for a swim and relax in the infinity pool overlooking the sea .... Couldn't ask for more luxury :)
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