Continue on our Bali trip. Think Blamer side-track quite a bit with her current craze over vampires... ...
Day 5 started at the wee hours in the morning, we started our ascent on Mt Batur, the only active volcano left in Bali, without breakfast... Cold and hungry, we stick to the guide like glue. It was pitch black but the guide managed pretty well even without the aid of a torchlight. Anyway, I couldn't take many photos since it was way too dark.
We finally reached the platform for viewing the magnificent sunrise. It was still dark and even with my powerful flashlight, all we can see were the clouds.
Twilight, but no sun : ( . It was too cloudy that day for us to see the sun. Sign, we endured all the wet and cold for nothing.
As if to compensate our loss, the guide offered to bring us higher up the mountain if we dare. Usually the tour will end after the viewing of the sunrise. We gamely accepted the challenge!
And in the midst of the climb, we came across a cave. The guide told us that there's actually a make-shift shrine in the cave for ppl to come and meditate and pray.
Took some pics of the shrine, although Blamer thought it was a little eerie. By the way, it was pitch-black in the cave. If you are without your flashlight, you are a goner man. Wonder why we had the guts to go into the cave in the first place. Ha ha...
The nice guide actually knocked off a portion of the rock for Blamer as a keepsake. So that she would remember she had been inside this cave. So sweet.
Some views of the crater, as you can see, we were really among the clouds... ...
Here we began our descent. As the sky began to clear up, we decided to take more pics.
Came across this plant which our guide told us is
edelweiss which is actually the unofficial national flower of Switzerland.
This photo was supposed to show the contrast between the lake of the left and the lava field on the right. But I guess the mist sort of obscured all that.
So far I think this is the best shot of Mt Batur. So much so that we decided to take a few more...
As always, I think I am a better timer than Blamer in terms of jumping shots.
On the way down, we came across a mother hen with her chicks. SOOOO cute!
Last pic with my tour guide before we go for our lunch.
This is the restaurant which boasts of a magnificent view of the mountain.
So what do you think?
Food wise, it's buffet style, not much of a selection despite the long row of tables. Just a repeat of 5-6 dishes.
In the end, these were what we deemed edible. Wa ha ha...
Back at the studio apartments, our thoughtful host actually kept our breakfast aside for us. To my surprise, it was still warm when they served it to us. I loved the texture of the banana pancake, it was chewy and wholesome, not the normal fluffy type.
After some rest, we headed down to Kuta Square for some shopping! Can't resist the golden arc's beckoning... ...
Went into MacDonald's to check out any difference in offerings from Singapore. Noticed that they do serve rice in their restaurant, but Blamer and me were a bit to full for rice, ordered their wrap and two piece chicken instead.
Next up, the famous Kuta Beach!!! Wow wow wow!! Such vast, flat and clean beach, beat East Coast anytime!
Gorgeous sunset too. Excuse us for the groceries, haha, remember we just came from shopping at Kuta Square.
But we still managed to leave our "mark" behind!!
Dinner next at Bamboo Corner, one of the must visit places on Tripadvisor.
But I think their fare was just passable, nothing to shout about though. We had pork fried rice and chicken satay rice(forgot to take a pic of this though). Maybe a little over-rated. However, if you are just looking for something to fill the stomach at the same time go easy on your wallet, this might be the place for you.
More shopping after dinner! Finally managed to hunt down the factory outlet for Quiksilver. Bought a really cheap boardshorts at more 70% off! Yeah!
The rest of our loot!
Day 5 started at the wee hours in the morning, we started our ascent on Mt Batur, the only active volcano left in Bali, without breakfast... Cold and hungry, we stick to the guide like glue. It was pitch black but the guide managed pretty well even without the aid of a torchlight. Anyway, I couldn't take many photos since it was way too dark.
We finally reached the platform for viewing the magnificent sunrise. It was still dark and even with my powerful flashlight, all we can see were the clouds.
Twilight, but no sun : ( . It was too cloudy that day for us to see the sun. Sign, we endured all the wet and cold for nothing.
As if to compensate our loss, the guide offered to bring us higher up the mountain if we dare. Usually the tour will end after the viewing of the sunrise. We gamely accepted the challenge!
And in the midst of the climb, we came across a cave. The guide told us that there's actually a make-shift shrine in the cave for ppl to come and meditate and pray.
Took some pics of the shrine, although Blamer thought it was a little eerie. By the way, it was pitch-black in the cave. If you are without your flashlight, you are a goner man. Wonder why we had the guts to go into the cave in the first place. Ha ha...
The nice guide actually knocked off a portion of the rock for Blamer as a keepsake. So that she would remember she had been inside this cave. So sweet.
Some views of the crater, as you can see, we were really among the clouds... ...
Here we began our descent. As the sky began to clear up, we decided to take more pics.
Came across this plant which our guide told us is edelweiss which is actually the unofficial national flower of Switzerland.
This photo was supposed to show the contrast between the lake of the left and the lava field on the right. But I guess the mist sort of obscured all that.
So far I think this is the best shot of Mt Batur. So much so that we decided to take a few more...
As always, I think I am a better timer than Blamer in terms of jumping shots.
On the way down, we came across a mother hen with her chicks. SOOOO cute!
Last pic with my tour guide before we go for our lunch.
This is the restaurant which boasts of a magnificent view of the mountain.
So what do you think?
Food wise, it's buffet style, not much of a selection despite the long row of tables. Just a repeat of 5-6 dishes.
In the end, these were what we deemed edible. Wa ha ha...
Back at the studio apartments, our thoughtful host actually kept our breakfast aside for us. To my surprise, it was still warm when they served it to us. I loved the texture of the banana pancake, it was chewy and wholesome, not the normal fluffy type.
After some rest, we headed down to Kuta Square for some shopping! Can't resist the golden arc's beckoning... ...
Went into MacDonald's to check out any difference in offerings from Singapore. Noticed that they do serve rice in their restaurant, but Blamer and me were a bit to full for rice, ordered their wrap and two piece chicken instead.
Next up, the famous Kuta Beach!!! Wow wow wow!! Such vast, flat and clean beach, beat East Coast anytime!
Gorgeous sunset too. Excuse us for the groceries, haha, remember we just came from shopping at Kuta Square.
But we still managed to leave our "mark" behind!!
Dinner next at Bamboo Corner, one of the must visit places on Tripadvisor.
But I think their fare was just passable, nothing to shout about though. We had pork fried rice and chicken satay rice(forgot to take a pic of this though). Maybe a little over-rated. However, if you are just looking for something to fill the stomach at the same time go easy on your wallet, this might be the place for you.
More shopping after dinner! Finally managed to hunt down the factory outlet for Quiksilver. Bought a really cheap boardshorts at more 70% off! Yeah!
The rest of our loot!
