Riding around on Kuningan in East Bali

Waking up at Mike and Priska’s place I could hear activity downstairs.

Mike told me he likes to get up around 5am and get moving. The girls were already having their ‘makan pagi’.

Mike and Priska employ a pembantu and a gardener, who are a man and wife team from Java. They started just a few days ago and don’t speak any English.

They got a message that the sister of the pembantu had sold her small house and was moving out which made her very nervous about her belongings. Mike offered to drive her to Sanur and the family was going to have a day at the beach and try out the body boards Mike had bought.

I enjoyed some coffee and toast and said goodbye to everyone. Heading in the direction of Ubud I came to a crossroads that pointed to Denpasar one way and Gianyar the other. Feeling adventurous and not quite ready for Kuta again I took the left turn to Gianyar and headed in the direction of Padangbai and Candi Dasa. Roads were less busy due to Kuningan and were decorated the whole way through with yellow and white colors representing God.

Reaching Klungkung I stopped on the main road heading through town to watch locals giving offerings at the roundabout statue. They would arrive, spend a few minutes and then leave.

Mike had told me about some of the areas he had explored and I wanted to see them for myself. Heading off the main road and heading into the hills after a while I rode up a lovely valley and stopped to talk to the locals. “Selamat hari raya Kuningan” I said, and they nodded in appreciation.

A road-side shack served me a Bali kopi and locals including kids and adults came to observe and chat. I bought 5 of the kids a Coke each. Surprisingly some of the people out here not only can’t speak any English, but also do not speak Indonesian. I told one guy I’d like to learn Balinese and he told me it would be necessary to live in the village but not to worry because it is easy.

Riding further into the hills I came to these guys who were sitting around celebrating Kuningan. Right next to them was a small bale with more local men drinking tuak the beer made from palm sap. We chatted in Bahasa and one of the older guys told me he drives and airport taxi. My taxi is Ngurah Rai taxi #486 he said. “Okay if I see you I’ll wave.” I said causing a round of laughter. They offered me a glass of tuak which I accepted. This was immediately refilled. A third was offered which I declined but their insistence made me think the symbology of ‘3′ was important to them. “Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva.” I said and before downing the last glass tipped a drop on the ground “Dewi Sri” I said, for the goddess of rice.

My riding over the next hour became much more relaxed and I enjoyed waving and saying hi to passersby and families on other motorbikes heading to ceremonies.

A sudden urge for Mexican food led me back to the highway and soon thereafter I was in TJ’s on Poppies I eating a beef tostada….delicioso sekali!

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

I have added some photos to this recent article which may be of interest.