Day 14 Bali
Around 7am we tied up at the cruise terminal in Bali port Benoa. We were booked on a tour so off the ship around 9:30, got through immigration (my internet visa application having worked) and onto our tour bus.
The first thing we noticed is how low the bus roof was. I was bent double and even Jeanette bumped her head on the ceiling. It became obvious why this was the case as we saw the incredibly Heath Robinson electrical distribution system. Even this bus was barely fitting under the power lines that criss crossed the road. A normal bus would have blacked out the entire neighbourhood.
Our first stop was at the Uluwatu Temple which is claimed to date from the eleventh century. Prior to arrival our guide told us of the problem with monkeys there stealing hats, glasses and mobile phones etc. He claimed individual monkeys specialised in stealing specific items and recommended leaving hats behind, not wearing glasses if you could see without them and hanging on tight to your phone.
I was a bit sceptical and suspected this was just a case of a guide winding up the gullible tourists. Anyway we got off the bus and were joined by our protection (a fierce looking Balinese lady armed with what looked like an old extendable car antenna on a handle) and a ranger.
When we were getting ready in the morning, I had gently suggested to Jeanette that as we were visiting a temple, she shouldn’t wear the sleeveless top she had chosen. My suggestion was of course ignored and it turned out she was fine, my shorts were not and I had to wear a sarong for the visit.
Anyway we formed up in a group with the guide at the front, people who had to wear their glasses in the middle of the column, flanked by non glasses wearing people on the sides and our muscle and the ranger bringing up the rear. I felt a bit like Roman Legionary marching into the Teutoburg forest.
There were an awful lot of monkeys in the road ahead and in the trees watching our progress. Any that dared approach, our protector would yell at and wave her rod threateningly. The monkeys would stay just out of reach and bare their teeth at her.
We got to the Temple and every one went to the wall on the edge of the cliffs to admire the view. There was a sudden shriek and a lady had just had her hat whipped off her head by a monkey who had then retreated up the wall out of reach and sitting with his prize.
We saw the beautiful stone sculptures and gates of the old temple and admired the ocean views
Further along there was another cry of anguish as someone had their glasses taken. We had got around the back of the temple and were heading back to the carpark where we came upon a monkey tearing a motor scooter seat to shreds. All the outer covering had gone and he was systematically tearing the foam off leaving the metal plate beneath. Someone was going to have a very uncomfortable ride home.
There were however some cute monkeys as well
Our next stop was the National Cultural Park or, as it known the GWK Park as it contains giant bronze statues of the Hindu Gods Garuda, Wisnu and Kencana. The statue of Kencana is said to be the fourth highest statue in the world.
It is an amazing place and I felt like I had walked into an Indiana Jones movie. Huge passages and large open spaces had been dug into the limestone rock. The statues remained up on the original levels
Given my dicky knee we took an elevator up to the Wisnu statue first.
Then gingerly descended down stairs to a beautiful area called the Grotto.
Then stairs further down, we walked along till we came to Garuda’s statue.
We climbed up a considerable number of steps to reach him then back down again into the trenches and on to the big one, Kencana.
Our last stop was at a beachfront restaurant. The wind was howling in off the sea and it was a bit like dining in a wind tunnel.
The waves were crashing in from the Indian Ocean and the beach was a driftwood collectors’ paradise.
Finally we made it back to ship
Hardys’ Travels 