Off the beaten track in Bali

Nothing blogworthy to write about today (thanks Nickxandar for teaching me this new term) so I'm putting up some really old pics from one of our holidays in 2005 where we spent a whole week in Bali and Lombok.

Icy cold, crystal clear fresh water from the mountains in East Bali

Instead of doing the regular touristy thing and staying at the more well known areas in Bali, we stayed in Candi Dasa which is a small town on the southeastern coast of Bali, about 2 hours drive from Kuta.

At our hotel

At a cafe in Candi Dasa

Staying there gave us easier access to these lesser known attractions in the eastern part of Bali. Having thoroughly researched the places we wanted to visit from the internet and guide book, we didn't need to take up the expensive tourist packages while we were there. Instead we saved a lot by booking the hotel driver to drive us around all day.

Goa Lawah or Bat Cave where thousands of bats can be seen hanging from the walls of this cave. This temple is a very important site for Balinese Hindus where people from all around the island congregate during religious festivals.

Besakih, Bali's largest and most sacred temple is located at the foot of Mount Agung, the Balinese's revered mountain.

The best views can be seen when you climb up to the highest temple of this huge temple complex.

We happened to be there during the full moon, which is the best time to be in Bali if you wish to observe some of their religious rituals which take place at these temples on days of the full moon.

Tirtagangga is an ancient water palace & garden featuring intricately carved fountains spewing fresh, icy water from the mountains.

Nearby Taman Sari

This is one of the palaces in Bali which is actually still in use by the royal family and off limits to visitors. Our hotel driver managed to persuade the guardian to let us in for a peek since the owners weren't at home.

You won't get to see scenes like these in Malaysia

The following picture is taken of one of the homes at a living cultural village we were at where each home sells handmade local handicrafts, souvenirs and food items. Most of the homes there were quite dilapidated and run down, except for this one here.

The neighbour told us that the owner worked in Malaysia for 3 years and then returned to Bali and did up his home with the income he earned.

Desa Adat Tenganan is the home of the Bali Aga, Bali's original or indigenous race

Ikat weaving

Barong dance

At the beach right in front of our hotel in Candi Dasa

The following two photos also taken on the same beach, happen to be my personal favourites from this trip. Just scroll down further to find out why.

These pics I took won the weekly prize in the NST. Too bad they didn't make it to the finals though.

During this same trip, we took the 3 hour ferry across the Lombok Straits to spend a few days in Lombok. Pics from our visit to Gili Trawangan island in Lombok can be viewed by clicking here. I'll put up the rest of the Lombok trip pictures over the weekend.

All pics here taken with my first digital camera - a 2 megapixel Panasonic Lumix