Hong Kong to Australia cruise (2015): Day 16

Bali. For years I've heard of this island and it was one of the primary reasons for picking this trip. After visiting I was not let down. I'm excited for my first cultural excursion (instead of beaches) of the trip. It's projected to be a comfortable temperature of 90 degrees and 95% humidity.

Through the boat I booked the Authentic Balinese Remains (OE03). Let me summarize the trip quickly because there's a lot of pictures below. The excursion is a full day (8:30am-5:00pm). You'll make 5 stops, 2 of them are tourist traps, 2 are gems. This is not a trip anyone should do that gets motion sickness being in a car going up and down tight, pitched roads - you'll be doing that for 5 of the 7.5 hours. That leaves, you guessed it, less than 2.5 hours to see the 5 things, one of the stops being an hour lunch.

Welcome to the port of Benoa.

This is the first of two tendering ports. Here comes our local tender now (j/k)

You can just barely make out our ship in the center of the channel opening

Local music as you leave the tender

Love the vibrant colors

Had I done some research and picked a few things I wanted to see on the island I would have skipped the ship tour and booked a local taxi outside the terminal for $100US for the day. It'd be cheaper than booking through the ship and would make better use of your time.

Right outside the terminal building, ship tour buses there on left

No haggling needed here, prices are pre-set

The taxi parking lot

Starting off, we were the first group off the ship due to the time intensive schedule. Hop on a bus and drive roughly 45 minutes to the first stop, a textile factory. We got to see how they manually make fabric instead of the automated mechanical version.

Lots of traffic and most people now ride motorcycles

Roundabouts are everywere and each center typically has some amazing art

The rice fields are everywhere

Each entrance to a house or hotel has some sort of art work / set of statues

Trash is a problem in quite a few spots

One of the family shops that makes fabrics by hand, just right there on the front patio

Example how everything is done by hand

Their family house / showroom

The fabrics were silk-like in texture

Once you've spent your money, back onto the bus. Get comfy because we've got an hour'ish drive to get to the furthest site we'll visit, a real family compound. Interesting fact, the government must approve the site for tourists to visit. After they pick a few sites they have to get permission from the local town's government for the visitors.

Butcher taking a pig to shop

A typical street going to a family compound

The family compound we were allowed to visit

The walkway between family dwelling

Each sub-family lives in a round nearby other members

Many have their own mini temples

Of course they offered to sell items

All a guy needs, sickle and razor

Cock fighting is illegal but many have roosters for sale for sacrafice

The compounds large temple

Doors only open once a year

Back onto the bus and we head down the hill a few minutes to a temple. Our timing was fortunate as a once-in-a-three-year celebration had just started the week prior. It was all the colors and decorations which are not usual which made the temple an enjoyable stop. Hint if you visit - local men from the various tribes tend to the chapel. The may offer to show you around and are looking for a dollar or two for the tour. Bring a few $1's with you, just in case.

Higher detail of the straw work necessary for all these pieces

Time for lunch. 30'ish more minutes to get to the spot. Up and down canyons. Around sharp, tight curves. Repeating over and over again until we reached our destination. Once I saw the view I remembered it from being on TV years ago. The views of the rice fields are breathtaking. To think people build the tiered walls and fields by hand, leveling them perfectly so just the ideal amount of water remains standing was mind-boggling. All-you-can-eat buffet (soda or water included; beer extra $) while you soaked in the view.

Countryside headed towards lunch

Random rice is drying along side the road

We're here for lunch

Everyone's had a nice meal so we're ready for the highlight, the courthouse. This stop is a mandatory one for anyone touring the country. Be prepared to be hounded by a few of the locals selling sarongs and other like items the entire time there. They're more aggressive than I've seen in other countries.

Sample of some of the statues in the center of the roundabouts

Another larger statue

The "courthouse" from 1700s. People sat at the table and rendered judgement

Camera batteries are drained, memory cards filled. Time to head back to the ship. A quick 1.2 hours back to the port. Once you're back in the terminal, if it's close to final tender, be prepared for a massive line. Thankfully they give you tendering tickets or it would have been a nightmare.