LOVINA TRIP

It was truly an un-planned trip.
I was not prepared to go, but my love one having problem with his left foot (swollen) and can not drive. So I have to take his duty to drive my in law to attend a wedding party in Singaraja.

Singaraja was previously the capital of Bali before it is moved to Denpasar.
It is located on the north part of Bali about 80 kms from Denpasar, having a warm and humid climate.

The wedding party was held about 18.00, but we left Denpasar early morning as my in law wanted to attend the marriage rite at the church. We dropped them at the bride's home and we headed to Lovina, a tourism area in Singaraja.

We spend our time at Bali Taman Resort & Spa.
The hotel is very well maintained, yet clean and tidy.













Since it was too hot to swim when we arrived at the hotel, we decided to have a drink at the restaurant. The restaurant is empty as it was already around 11.00 in the afternoon.
Breakfast already past while lunch was bit too early. I ordered a cup of Balinese coffee, my love one had a glass of ice lemon tea and a plate of fried banana for both of us.

The fried banana was served with palm sugar syrup.
The batter was crunchy but unfortunately, the banana was not riped enough.












I recommended this hotel, I would stay there again one day. The staff is friendly, and also honest! My in law left her precious necklace in the bathroom, but it kept save by the staff.
When she realized she did not have it and rang me to go back to the hotel, I found it kept at the safety deposit box at the front desk. Thank you so much!

It is also easy for you to go for snorkeling or if you want to take a dolphin tour in the early morning. The journey start right on the beach in front of the hotel!

SWEET ORANGES

I was re-arranging my e-photo album, when I found this picture.
Taken 2003. The fruit is from the orange tree at our land located in Kintamani.
It is not a serious managed orange plantation, we have it as it is already there.

It is quiet weird........, when first visiting the place after my love one bought it, it was just the harvest time. We tasted the orange from all trees at the first layer terrace. We just left un-eaten the orange which is not taste sweet :-(. Feel sorry right now, it is not good isn't it. What a waste!

Right now, we just collected all fruits. The one that are taken from the tree which marked not sweet, collected separately, and it goes to a blender ------> output : ORANGE JUICE!
The sweet one, we ate it directly, put the left over in the refrigerator. If there are too many left over, it went out to our friends house.

Actually the harvest time itself is really enjoyable. Taking the fruit one by one, smell its freshness while the mountain breeze softly caress our skin. Exchanging jokes, sometimes throwing small undeveloped orange each other.

I'am happy.














This is the view from my land at Kintamani.
Actually I and my love one want to sell it, we want to move to the north part of Bali.
It is not big, only 2.300 m2, but the view is 'undisturbed'.
Nobody can build something in front of the land, as it is located on the slop.
If you are interested please contact me by post a comment.

DESA DUSUN - a Must to Try

Many times we went out for eating not because of the food but because of the place it self.
Few weeks ago we found a nice place in the middle of the city. Located on a river bank - Ayung River, the place offered a romantic Javanese touch.

Entering the place we will pass a mini library, I have never checked what kind of books are in their collection, as I usually bring my own. Next to the library there is a collection of artworks, many items displayed there that I do like too. The place called DESA DUSUN, if you are passing the Gatot Subroto Road in Denpasar, the place is on the east part of Gatot Subroto, not far from the elite housing called TERAS AYUNG.

DESA DUSUN is the place where we like not because of the food. The food is good, but what I mean, you still can get the food at the same quality in other places or even a better quality, but you won't get the same atmosphere in other place like there.

Two days ago we went there for a dinner. During night time, they enlight many torches along the pathway, giving a different feeling and touch to the place. They are using a combination of brown textile and batik as the table cloth. Cuteleries are placed in an ata box. Ata is a kind of wild root which is woven becoming various designs from place mat to hand bags.

My love ones preferred to order Chicken Mushroom Steak and Beef in Black Bean Sauce and a portion of Asinan Desa Dusun for myself.

We never miss to order Fried Banana as the dessert. Their fried banana uniquely served with a combination of sugar and cinnamon. They are using Pisang Raja not Pisang Kepok the usual banana for fried banana. The sweetness of Pisang Raja gave a nice combination with the batter.

Last but not least, please consider to have separated sugar or syrup if you order sweet drinks. It tends to be too sweet. I have a sweet tooth but I always taste their beverages are too sweet.

MY BUDDHA STATUE

What do you think of that statue?
I like it very much. After thinking '1000' times................, I decided to buy.
And I never feel boring seeing it. I put it on a temporary desk.
Actually it should be placed in my room, but it still being renovated.

It is not a real antique, but somehow........ the first time saw that statue, I have already fallen in love. It just looked perfect! The proportion, the broken arm and legs.

If you want to buy that kind of statue just drive along Sayan Village, near the Four Season Resort you will find several art shops, take a look! I am sure you will find something that you really like.

LAKE TAMBLINGAN

We know there are 3 lakes actually located in the North part of Bali. The famous Lake Beratan where the most photographed temple 'Pura Ulun Danu' is located; then Lake Buyan (the biggest of the 3 lakes) and the last is called Lake Tamblingan. The last lake........ we have never explored before.

That Sunday we decided to go to see Lake Tamblingan closely which is not as popular as the other two lakes, but we thought it must be something interesting that we can find there.

As usual on the way up, we stopped at our favorite little bakery, visiting Pak Ketut and had some croissants. It was a luck! We got a fresh baked meat pie. We watched Pak Ketut's talented hands forming the pie. Yummy..........!



























To go to Lake Tamblingan, you just drive climbing up the hill following the road headed to Singaraja. After the Monkeys place, be prepared to turn left. There is a sharp left turning before the fruits kiosk where people usually stop and buy fruits. There you can also feed the monkeys.

After turning left just follow the road, signs that showing direction to Lake Tamblingan are very easily to find. Driving slowly! As you will be amazed by the view started after five minutes driving along the road.

Below is the picture of Lake Buyan. Actually the two lakes Tamblingan and Buyan are located side by side with a hill as a boundary.












We parked our car at an empty land in front of a no more operating restaurant. We took a walk down following a small village gang. The air was really fresh. On the side villager planting vegetables, fruits and flowers.

The panoramic view of mountain series in its glorious blue color was really stunning! Creating an image that we stand over clouds, but truly we did (see my picture below)! My love one told me, he ever passed the place very early morning, when the sun started rising.

"The combination of blue, orange and white that day performing an incredible natural painting just can not be explained, " he continued his story.













We continued our trip heading further north. At the last intersection, take the left turning, the road became more narrow, a typical village asphalt road, with many holes here and there. Not too long driving, the road started sloping down. You could see Lake Tamblingan on your left side.












Park your car at the parking lot in front of the conservation forest. Take a walk following a clean path crossing a very well kept forest. The pathway will take you to the Lake. The mountain breeze................., the smell of freshness after a shower of the rain.................., gave a very pleasant feeling for us. It was still raining a little bit....., but we just did not care!












If you like fishing, do fishing there! Don't expect to catch big fish, there is no big fish, just catch the happy feeling being in a wonderful place. There are 2 houses of the villagers with a small shop in front of each house selling simple snacks and drinks. Best is taking your own meal, do a barbecue or whatever to feed your hungry stomach which easily happened in a cool weather.












We spent our time until the sun went down. Driving back home we still got a beautiful view. Unfortunately........, the sky was not really clear. I can imagine how beautiful it will be if the sky is clear.