Rediscovering Bali's Northern sights and attractions

Yesterday started off as a second day of unseasonable rain and gloomy weather in southern Bali.

When you live in Bali you get spoiled especially during the dry scene season from March until November when it typically never rains.

Lawrence with the boys in front of our estate on a normal sunny day

Even though it was still 24° outside in the rain was warm but the low pressure was depressing.

We were not looking forward to to drive 3 to 4 hours drive to Lovina on Bali's North Shore under these conditions.


My wife Azizah, a Bali Notaris  needed to participate in  a I.N.I. Bali, 110 anniversary and I.P.P.A.T., 31st.  anniversary celebration in Lovina at the Krisna Fantastic waterpark.

About midway through the trip we stopped at beautiful lake Batur which was still a little overcast but the weather was starting to clear and we are optimistic.

We vowed to come back to spend the night there with our  boys some day to go fishing and enjoy the cool mountain air. 


One thing I've learned living many places in the world we always put off going to places while we are living there because you think that you can always go there.


My advice is to go there while you live there and enjoy. Don't let the tourists have all the fun.

 There is a beautiful mosque Lakeside making for a stunning photo

Later as we began the curvy 90° turn road which would take us over the mountain and to Lovina.

 We stopped and fed the monkeys. 

Instead of giving them bananas, which everybody gives them and they are bored with we gave them some beautiful sweetbreads, which they really enjoyed.

They were well behaved and it's obvious who was a boss, the big one in the front, who came right up to me and took the offerings gently.

A word of caution. Always be careful around monkeys. Some of them can be extremely aggressive and a few of them are taught to steal your valuables such as sunglasses, cell phones etc.

 

We arrived at the top and enjoyed the stunning view of three lakes.

 After 22 years of living here I have seen many improvements in tourist attractions. Some very entrepreneur Balinese have come up with the idea of taking these beautiful lake spots and turning them into fun shots with swings, pods and walkways.

For a mere dollar $1.50 per person they will allow you to use the swing's pods and walkways, making for some unbelievable photos.

Darius had no fear as he jumped on the swing even though there was a straight free fall below him. 

Again a word of caution. Be extremely careful. There are not the safety restraints and Govt. regulations that are normal in the West. Swing at your own risk!

 It wasn't long before Azizah took up the challenge  making for some great photos

Dad got into the fun but after decades of pushing the envelope sailing three years from Hawaii to Bali. Then sailing almost every day around Bali or to Komodo and finally losing my yacht and almost my life in a class five cyclone off of Darwin I don't  "push the envelope" too much anymore. 

My Leo  nine cats lives only has a few left!

  

 Every time I visit this area and many others in Bali I'm reminded why Bali is constantly ranked as one of the top islands the world. 

Recently, according readers of Tripadvisor, the largest online travel website,  Bali was ranked as the fourth most sought after destination in the world following Paris, London, and Rome.

We may not have the historic artifacts of those three cities but we do have scenery that will blow your mind. And weather that is attractive all year round. All at her small percentage of what you would pay for similar activities in Paris, London or Rome. 

For Asians Bali is the number one sought after destination in the world in 2018.

 When you consider that there are over seven Billion Asians within a 6 1/2 hour flight to Bali you understand why we are so popular.

 Mom and Darius could not miss out on an opportunity to get in the pod.

Nice to Darius  enjoy on something other than an iPod.

 Later we attended the Noatris  anniversary in Lovina.

Azizah sat for hours watching group after group from various  municipalities show off their talents along with her own group from Kungklung who gave a little dance.

Our son Darius enjoyed four hours of bliss at the Krisna Fantasic water boom park which only cost less than a dollar an hour. Far less than the ridiculous prices of $50 in the West for similar entertainment.


I escaped and found a brand-new Beach club called Spice right on Lovina beach which was almost empty and had first-class service with excellent food. It was a not long before I was sound asleep in the beach chair.

On our way back we took a different route over from Singaraja and stopped over at one of our favourite restaurants, the Bali Golden monkey Chinese restaurant. 

If anything  their food has improved to the point where I  commented to Azizah, "the best Wong Ton soup I've had four years


Darius seconded the motion by approving the Nasi Goreng.

This morning we woke up to the sunrise with normal seasonal sunny days of 24 to 30° temperature and I'm reminded once again why we love Bali and why I personally believe after travelling most of the world that Bali is the best place in the world to visit and to live.