Bali: Bali Breeze Bike Tour

After leaving Bali Pulina we headed up to a restaurant overlooking Mount Batur Volcano and Batur Lake to have breakfast.  The view was unbelievable and really couldn't be fully captured in the photos we took.

Stopped on the side of the road to enjoy these rice terraces

We found a man working in the fields

Mount Batur and Batur Lake

Mount Batur

After we finished eating we headed back down the road a few kilometers to get on the bikes and begin our mostly downhill ride.  It wasn't long before we were in the middle of rice terraces and little villages.  The views were absolutely amazing and almost every child we saw along the way would run out and tell us "hello" or put their hand out for a high five.  I kept turning to Derek and telling him I just couldn't believe we were experiencing all these things.

The first village we passed through had quite the spider problem.  They would point to all the places where the spiders were so we could take pictures.  I don't think I could live in that village knowing all these guys are around.

So many spiders!

Temple in the village.  I loved the golden lion gates.

 Further down the road we came across several people working in the rice fields.  We set down our bikes and headed into the fields to get a closer look at what they were doing.

A lady working in a rice field alone

They were half way done harvesting this field

The fruits of their labor.  All done by hand.

Derek walking between rice fields

Across from the rice fields was a little shop where a family was doingwood carvings. 

We continued the journey until we came to this family's home just outside of a village.  We were greeted at their door by these four girls, two sets of twins.  They welcomed us into their home, let us walk around and take pictures, and served us tea and bananas.  It didn't look like this family had much but they were so gracious and warm towards us.

Such sweet children 

The temple inside their home 

A view of the home.

The patriarch playing the Jegog 

The family pig.  This was their investment.  They don't keep money in the
bank, they keep it in the animals, land, and crops.

Continuing on down the narrow roads

Short break to enjoy the view

We came across a Balinese ice cream truck.  It had music and everything.

Visiting a carving shop

The beginnings of a very intricate wood carving

We were riding along when the guide quickly stopped us to come and see a cock fight.  Cock fighting is a big part of life in Bali and they take it very seriously.  They treat the cocks to special food, massages, and exercise to get them in perfect fighting condition.  I watched for the first minute until I realized they really were going to fight to the death and one of the cocks was already bleeding.  I couldn't stand to see the cock hurting so I stepped away until the fight was over.  They did take the losing cock home to be eaten so it didn't go to waste, but I just hate that it had to die like that.

The start of the cock fight

Everyone gathered around watching the fight

We ended the ride at our guide, i Ketut's, home.  His family prepared a Balinese lunch for us while his neices, nephews, and son performed some Balinese dances for us.  The hospitality of all the people we met in Bali is greater than anywhere else we have been.  They are genuine, peaceful, humble, and gracious people and it was a pleasure to spend time with them and visit their homes.

Ketut in his beautiful home

Derek ready to eat some chicken satay

The little girls coming to do their dance.  It was a long dance and I'm
really impressed the remembered a 5 min+ routine

The boys doing their dance.

If you are every in Bali and want to see the real Balinese countryside and how the people live then I highly recommend you take one of the bike tours.  It was one of the best experiences we have ever had (minus the cock fight).