Munduk, Bali, IndonesiaOn our final day in Pemuteran I did a dandy little drift dive.
Drift diving is kind of like the rich man’s quest to walk in outer space, without the cumbersome gear. Letting the current do its magic, I spread my arms and legs out as far as they’d reach, turned my back on where I was going, and watched where I’d just been.
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Our next stop was back in hill country again, in the village of Munduk. Like barking dogs with megaphones, the sound of motorcycles, trucks and cars without mufflers keep you wanting to pull your hair out from dawn until well past bedtime. There was only one other couple staying at our noisy resort, a pair of Netherlanders, in their mid and late 70s. They did the same 10 - 12 kilometre hike up and down slippery foot paths to visit the three different waterfalls Elenka and I trekked to — one very awkward moss covered wet staircase, with an abyss on one side of it, was 463 steps. It took the Dutch four-and-a-half hours to complete the hike. We did it a whole hour faster. The mid and late 60 year olds can still beat the pants off the ones 10 years older than them.
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Today, while the Netherlanders are off on some other jungle-challenge, we’re in a car on our way to a place far from Munduk. We do wish them well and hope they’re able to pick up the pace just a little.
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Getting from A to B in Bali:
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There’s really just one practical way to get from one town to another in Bali. And that is by private car and driver. It costs about $50CDN or 35€ for a two hour ride. Bali is the only place in S/E Asia - to my knowledge - that doesn’t have some real form of public transit. To put this into perspective, buses in most of S/E Asia cost an average of $2CDN or 1.35€ per hour. Some may think we’re cheapskates, which we are of course, but the reason we whine goes way beyond money. Elenka and I love to travel on local buses. Buses afford you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture, and it’s a great way to escape the tourists. Women, sometimes men, will offer you food, while children stare at you with moon-like eyes. Oftentimes the boppers will go so far as to come up and touch you, to see if you’re real.
Dianne Cameron
2020-02-26
Where's the story this time .. lol? Photos are good though.
Peter
2020-02-26
Story but only 2 photos.
Heathet
2020-02-26
I like your walking backwards idea...I’ll have to go somewhere worthy of seeing where I’ve been to try it!
Cate
2020-02-26
Thanks again for the picturesque journey....great pictures Jack & Ellen!!
Peter
2020-02-27
Great photos Elenka
Stephz
2020-02-27
Taking transit and interacting with locals on the same level provides you with so many new and unique experiences.
Renate
2020-02-27
I agree, to go on local busses and trains is the best. I will never forget our night train to Bangkok. And all the other local busses, for example to the chocolate hills in the Philippines with the running music and open windows. So great.
Valerie
2020-02-27
What exactly is a drift dive ? it sounds dangerous. Great photos, as usual
Majka
2020-02-28
Amazing scenery.
Renate
2020-03-03
Enjoy your last days in this beautiful place.