Ubud and Batur volcano

On the way from the south to Ubud, we pass through a number of villages, whose inhabitants always specialize in a specific craft or art. So while in one village there are painters of paintings, in another you buy objects of sculptors, many places specialize in wood processing. There is a carving center in the village of Mas.

There are really many places to stay. We choose the Okawati hotel in the city center. On the common large terrace, it is possible to discuss travel experiences with roommates, look around the surrounding area and, if necessary, drink local Bintang beer.

It's a bit like all over Bali: heavy traffic and traffic jams are the order of the day. Motorcycles and scooters are very important for the locals in this situation. They are also run by compulsory school children. If it's legal, I don't know, but nobody probably solves it much. Ubud is no exception to these customs, so piles of scooters are rolling all over the streets. They are also bought at markets.

I like markets. The mumraj, a lot of weird people, things, food, art, tourist „kitsch“, voices, shouting and above all bargaining. This is a great ritual and the local market is no different. The art of bargaining, achieving a trade that both parties enjoy, is the real market.

A busy Jalan Monkey Forest road leads through the city center. It has a large grass field and an elementary school on the other side. We walk past her twice. For the first time, there is a break and the children are having fun outside the building. The second is the entrance to the area in front of the school building. There is a politics of uniforms everywhere in Bali.

Monkey Forest is a local point of interest. A busy street of the same name leads to it. Everything takes place according to the scenario monkeys can do everything, so you need to watch out for hats, scarves, cameras, glasses, cell phones, etc.…

Sunrise from Batur volcano is a breathtaking experience. We leave Ubud after one o'clock in the morning. Unusually empty streets allow us to get out of town quickly. We go to the western shore of Lake Danau Batur to Toya Bungkah. Here we are already waiting for an obligatory guide, with whom and together with dozens of other tourists and their guides we set out to climb the volcano Gunung Batur (1717m.nm). Night, light of humans, peak, beautiful sunrise and silhouettes of central mountains of earthquake-stricken island of Lombok.

After a beautiful natural theater, sunrise in the backdrop of volcanic peaks, we focus on the surroundings of the Batur crater. The locals are watching us curiously in anticipation of small treats. One of those nice animals jumped on my shoulders and let itself be worn, a lazy one lazy.

In the evening we will go to see the traditional Balinese monkey dance Kecak. He tells the following legend. The divine prince Rama is forced to live in exile in the forest with his wife Sita and younger brother Laksamana. The giant Rawana outlines a plan to kidnap the beautiful Sita. Its Prime Minister Marica disguises himself as a golden deer, lures Ram and Laksaman and kidnaps Situ. When Rama finds out that he has been deceived, he hurries to free Situ from the clutches of evil. Ram is helped by a large monkey army, with which he has to fight many battles before he manages to free Situation.

The performance ends with a heroic performance by one of the dancers. He digs barefoot the burning bark of coconuts. The applause of the spectators follows.