Day 9 of a 10-Day Self-Guided Tour to Malaysia and Bali, July 2009
Day 9 (8-3) Today is a full-day chartered tour. The cost for the whole day charter is 400,000 Indonesian Rupiah, equivalent to 280 RMB.
First stop is Tanah Lot. It is a temple built in the sea. It has a history of several hundred years. During high tide, the temple is completely separated from the land, while during low tide, there is a path to walk across.
It is built on a large rock by the sea and is one of the most famous temples in Bali. When the tide rises, the temple is surrounded by seawater, completely isolated from the land. It is only accessible when the tide recedes. Tanah Lot was built in the 16th century and is dedicated to the sea gods. On the cliff opposite the rock, there is a small cave where several poisonous sea snakes are found, which are said to be the temple's guardians, preventing demons and other intruders. Legend has it that when the temple was completed, a huge wave suddenly came, threatening the structure. A monk untied his belt and threw it into the sea, and the belt turned into two sea snakes, stabilizing the waves. Since then, the sea snakes have become the protectors of the temple. On the opposite shore, there is a pavilion where you can enjoy the sunset view, making it a major scenic spot in Bali. In front of the temple, there are many shops selling souvenirs, and many children surround tourists selling picture postcards.
Entrance fee is 10,000 rupiah, equivalent to 7 RMB.
Located in southwestern Bali, about a 40-minute drive from Kuta.
There are many small shops opposite Tanah Lot where you can eat and rest. Many people order a drink and sit quietly to enjoy the sunset. At the exit of Tanah Lot, there is a three-generation cold drink shop with a Chinese sign. Coconuts are 6,000 rupiah each, and they give you a spoon to eat the coconut meat, which tastes like jelly, very delicious.
Second stop is Kintamani to see Mount Batur. This is also the longest drive of the day, about two hours. The driver let us use this time to sleep in the car and rest. The driver was really considerate.
When we arrived at Mount Batur, it was exactly noon. The driver recommended we eat at a buffet restaurant because of its excellent location right opposite Mount Batur. There is a terrace where you can eat, rest, and enjoy the view of the volcano and the volcanic lake.
The restaurant price is 70,000 Indonesian Rupiah per person, equivalent to 49 RMB. The environment is nice, the dishes are varied, and it feels quite worth it. However, when paying the bill, besides a 10% government tax, there is also a 10% service charge, which is double the usual 5% service charge at ordinary restaurants. But given the great and comfortable viewing conditions, it's not worth fussing about. Two friends in the group felt unwell and didn't want to eat. The driver said they could also enter the restaurant and sit with us, just not to walk around to avoid any misunderstanding when paying the bill.
The best time to see the volcano is at noon, because generally from 2 PM onwards, the clouds thicken and the view is affected. Later, around 1:30 PM, the clouds indeed increased, and it even rained for a few minutes. So we were very grateful that our driver brought us to the right place at the right time.
Mount Batur is the second highest volcano in Bali, with an altitude of around 1,000 meters. The highest volcano is Mount Agung. Since the transportation to Mount Agung is less convenient than to Mount Batur, locals usually recommend seeing Mount Batur. Our driver proudly told us that he once climbed to the crater to see it. But he didn't see anything special. Mount Batur erupted in 1917. I asked the driver if he thought it would erupt again. He said, 'Maybe sometime.' He answered very calmly. I think it's because he doesn't live nearby.
Third stop, Tegallalang Rice Terraces. Our driver knew a few Chinese words, including 'rice terraces.' At each scenic spot, he would explain in detail, but I noticed he was most excited when introducing the rice terraces. He kept asking us if we had seen them before and if we thought they were beautiful. I had to calmly reply that China is a big agricultural country, and I come from the Chinese countryside, having grown up in such terraced fields, so I am very familiar with them. If there is any difference, it is that I have never seen terraced fields combined with tropical plants before.
Fourth stop, a waterfall. This is a scenic spot recommended by the driver, located in a village. We paid about 3 RMB for the entrance fee, and when we arrived, I was stunned—how can this be considered a scenic spot? But none of us got angry because we saw it as an opportunity to rest and to joke and chat with the driver. We also sympathized with the driver, as this day he drove continuously for the longest time. We wanted him to take breaks now and then to avoid driving fatigued, which is unsafe. The driver was actually good at arranging things. While we were eating at the volcano, he went for a foot massage. So we felt quite reassured about his driving.
Fifth stop, Tirta Empul (Holy Spring Temple). Look at the photos; no extra introduction needed.
I need to introduce our driver, as I promised him: if I found him good, I would give him a good review online after returning home.
Pablo, male, 26 years old. His English is excellent, all self-taught by watching American movies every day. He has no girlfriend and likes Chinese girls. He works for himself and really loves his job as a driver and guide. He gives many good suggestions and helps arrange the itinerary reasonably. He doesn't quibble over extra time and enjoys chatting. He checks his email every other day and replies promptly.
Phone: +62 81 338 758 909
Email: dewa_suwat@hotmail.com
I recommend Pablo based on my own reputation.
For the full-day charter, we gave him a tip of 10,000 rupiah, equivalent to 7 RMB. He was quite happy. When we used his car for half a day earlier, I didn't tip but warmly invited him to have dinner with us.
(Mount Batur and the volcanic lake)
(Me and our driver/guide Pablo)
