Friday – August 28, 2015
Perched high on a cliff, the 11th century Pura Luhur Uluwatu sea temple commands a magnificent view of the Indian Ocean.
We walked on the path along the edge of the cliff to see the temple from a distance and to gaze out at the seemingly endless sea.
Jumena warned us about the “naughty” monkeys who surprise visitors and snatch their eyeglasses and hats. So we weren’t too startled when a small monkey jumped out to steal the clasp on Della’s sandal.
Later we learned about the woman who trades bananas and other treats with the monkeys in return for tourists’ possessions. The enterprising woman frequently receives tips from tourists for retrieving their expensive hats and sunglasses. She showed me her bag of ‘monkey bribes’ and gave me permission to take her photograph.
Back in Jimbaran, we had a couple of hours of last-minute shopping. Bali has become a shoppers paradise which attracts buyers and sellers from around the world with all the inescapable tourist-traps and junkie items.
Our hotel on the beach was a quiet oasis from the traffic of the main streets. Further along the beach we discovered a tiny market place complete with a beach bar, eight dollar outdoor massages, and a boat repair shop.
Our farewell dinner was held on the beach at the Cafe Melati Bali. As the sun set over the calm waters of the Indian Ocean, a warm breeze blew and we all had a great time!
Our table was set under lamps and festive decorations fitting for special guests. Jumena greeted us in the photo below:
With a full moon lighting the sky, Jumena thanked us for a very successful tour and an enjoyable two weeks:
We enjoyed grilled seafood and celebrated another birthday with a delicious chocolate cake for dessert:
A three piece band showed up and played special music for us: the Beatles, Elvis, Sinatra, Guthrie, Under the Boardwalk, etc. They were good and it was a blast! After playing for us, they moved on to another table and sang “Orchi Chernye” for a Russian couple. What fun! It was a great way to end the trip!!!
Thank you, Jumena for a wonderful adventure to the Mystical Islands of Java and Bali. I had a fabulous time experiencing Indonesia and learning about the people and culture of a country on the other side of the world!!
