SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL

It was another hot Bali day as we set forth with Wakaland Cruise to explore the large regency of Tabanan and experience the real Bali.

The land cruiser with windows down provided a modicum of breeze as it rattled along the road to pick up another couple that would journey with me.

We headed out of Denpasar and the car shook, rattled and rolled along the sometimes paved and unpaved roads.

Our first stop, a quarry where rock is cut by hand from the riverbed. A local woman 65 years old, working this terrain for 20 years, warmly greeted us. We were told she carried rock weighing at least 6 kg on her head from the riverbed to the top of the road. Though this feat doesn’t sound like much, one had to see the jungle and the riverbed, situated in a ravine, to comprehend this remarkable feat. On her head, a cloth rolled tightly, to balance the rock as she made her way up the slopes of the riverbed to climb up steep moss covered stone steps, then a brief stop at a river level where women were washing clothes.  Once there, she now only had to make her way up a steep inclined road before she could deposit her rock on the roadside. This she did back and forth all day.

Heading inland and off road we came to a small village where we were taken to meet the family of one of the villagers. His wife was busy making offerings; his mother showed us how to make a sweet dessert of rice flour and water and we were served this with freshly grated coconut and thick runny sugar. Before leaving we had a walk through the rice fields to view the different types of rice crops, red, black and white rice then meet up with the cars a distance away.

 Next stop, Jatiluwih the UNESCO protected rice fields, the largest in Bali and how spectacular they are. Though many tourists were visiting they were in small groups and therefore one did not feel as if all were vying for the same view. One could walk down the slopes, look at the women drying the husks and stand in awe of this beautiful sight.

Ready for lunch, we were driven into the jungle to the Bamboo Forest Restaurant owned by the Waka Group and not open to the public. A short walk and we were greeted by the sounds of gamelan resounding with purity from the depths of the valley floor. The restaurant itself juts out from the hillside and is made, as its name says, of bamboo. A special place, it was here that we met up with the other WakeLandCruising travellers. Seated at a table we were offered drinks then a smorgasbord of food from corn soup to black rice pudding and everything in between, ranging from salads to traditional Indonesian fare. For those with a big appetite, what a treat!

Our last stop was the famous Pura Batukaru, a major directional temple in Bali that is located on the slopes of Mount Batukaru. The temple originally built during the 11^th century is the first stop one must take before climbing Mount Batukaru. A pilgrimage is undertaken once a year by those of the Hindu faith from this spot.

The end of the day came with a drive back to our residences that took approximately an hour and a half as we sat half awake, half sleeping and our poor driver/guide finally had a chance to relax after the extensive range of questions thrown at him all day. Well spoken, charming and knowledgeable, he made our day what it was, and we were all very grateful for learning more about the culture of the island of Bali.

A provider on the Bali Tourist Card www.balitouristcard.com this trip is truly special.  You get to see and experience a part of Bali that is behind the scenes and mostly tucked away from the view of tourists. Costing only 117 USD per person it is highly recommended.

THE CREEP

The machine wakes me up invading my space and I roll over to look at the time. My alarm hasn’t even gone off yet and I wonder what in blazes is making that chainsaw like noise that seems to be getting closer to where I live.

I pull back the curtains and it’s pouring with rain then I sniff the acrid smell that burns your throat and seems to engulf your lungs making you go into a coughing fit. I reach for my mask beside my bedside, it’s too late to make a dash to my car and leave the area.

The white smoke creeps stealthily under the door, through the cracks, into each pore of the building. This toxic fog pervades everything and coats it in a layer of greyish white.

Every couple of months “fogging” is undertaken in Bali and it amazes me that the locals who do the spraying often don’t even wear masks. Some hotels and residences do “fogging” more often, aiming to reduce the outbreak of dengue and kill the mosquito lava.

I was recently at a hotel checking out the rooms for a friends event and all of a sudden without any warning, the place was “fogged”. Confused people came out of rooms wondering if the place was on fire.  Having experienced “fogging” previously I rushed to get away, but alas again too late. The garage where my car was parked was well enclosed with only one opening for air to circulate, so the fog was thick down there and not likely to disappear in a hurry. Staff, with no regard to health or even realizing the toxic effects of this pesticide, walked down to the garage and drove the car up to the street level so we could make our getaway.

I personally don’t know whether fogging makes the situation better but I often feel I see more mosquitos after fogging than before. Could that be my imagination and my annoyance at this practice?

Dengue and Chikungunya are viruses transmitted by mosquitos in Bali and many other countries around the world. There is no known antidote but the juice of the leaves of the young papaya plant, though bitter, are known to help.

Have you encountered any either of these two viruses? Tell us about your experience.

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