BALI, A TROPICAL PARADISE: Guest Post by Tom Scheaffer

Bali, Indonesia

My brother Tom spent three weeks in Bali in January and has generously shared some of his photos and impressions from his trip. A short video is at the end of this post. He writes:

The hotel we are staying at, Uma Dawa, used to be a museum where an artist lived. It’s peaceful and Bali style--and feels very tropical. 

The hotel has a nice pool and there are few people. We are just a five minute walk from the main hotel so it’s very convenient. It’s quite warm here, but if you stay in the shade it’s good.

I am sitting on my front porch looking out onto the jungle view. It has rained a little bit but otherwise the weather has been good. 

The Balinese culture has a real sense of beauty, and everything they make is artistically done.

We all move to the next location in two days, and that hotel will be by the ocean.

Tom made a short video of his three weeks in Bali. Enjoy!

This is Tom’s second trip to Bali. He was there in 2017. You can read about his previous trip at these two posts: SUDAJI FALLS and ULUWATU TEMPLE.

SUDAJI FALLS, BALI, Guest Post by Tom Scheaffer

With thanks to my brother, Tom Scheaffer, who spent three weeks in Indonesia earlier this year, for his report on the idyllic community of Sudaji. 

I had an unforgettable stay in Sudaji Village in northern Bali at the Omunity Centre, an eco-friendly hotel with thatched roofed bungalows and vegetarian food.

After arriving we headed off for Sudaji Falls hiking downhill through rice paddies, then down 380 steep steps to the river. There are several waterfalls at the end of the trail and it is truly a tropical paradise.

The next day we all participated in the Peace Run, an international torch relay event to promote peace and understanding in all cultures.

The local Balinese organized ox cart races in the village center, and then we all ran through narrow streets and along rice paddies and visited local schools. 

The whole village turned out to welcome the run and we all finished back at Omunity Centre for a vegetarian feast and musical performances.

You can read another of Tom's posts about his trip to Indonesia at The Intrepid Tourist 2/27/17.

ULUWATU TEMPLE, Bali, Indonesia: Watch Out for Monkeys! Guest Post by Tom Scheaffer

Monkey with egg, Uluwatu, Indonesia

My brother, Tom Scheaffer, recently returned from a three week trip to Indonesia. Here is his report and some of his photos from his visit to a famous Hindu temple, Uluwatu (Pura Luhur), in Bali.

Uluwatu Temple, Bali, Indonesia

Recently I visited Bali, Indonesia. One of my favorite places is the Uluwatu Temple, a Hindu temple built at the edge of a 70 meter cliff projecting in the sea. The main religion is Bali is Hinduism. and there are temples throughout the island. All visitors must wear a sarong to enter the Uluwatu temple.

Temple guardian statue at Uluwatu

Uluwatu is known for the monkeys that inhabit the temple area, and also it is a famous surf spot with large waves. 

Tom, overlooking the beach below Uluwatu

As I was walking along the pathway above the ocean I warned my friend to be careful with his hat as the monkeys are notorious for snatching visitors' belongings.

Monkey at Uluwatu

At that moment I felt my prescription glasses being snatched off my face. It happened so fast I didn't even see the monkey until I saw it scamper off into the forest with my glasses! Luckily a park worker was nearby and followed the monkey and gave it an egg and it dropped the glasses. I was so relieved!

Statue within the Uluwatu complex

[Note from The Intrepid Tourist: Tom's encounter with the monkey reminds me of the children's book story of Curious George and the man with the yellow hat!]