Benoa, Bali, plus Sumba, Komodo

Statue at the entrance to Ulun Danu Temple

I was told that this is the actual "temple", but it looks more like an isolated monument to me.  Still, it is very scenic to behold.

The temple grounds included extensive gardens.

We spent three days at the island of Bali.  For the 2nd and 3rd days we were tied up to a pier at Benoa.  Benoa is the main tourist destination on Bali.  At Perth, Australia, I was told that Bali is only a two-hour flight away, convenient for even a weekend trip.  Workers from the Australian mines would go to Bali to drink and party.  Prices on Bali are lower than Perth, so the partiers could save money as well.

The traffic getting to Ulun Danu Temple was fierce.

At one point on our bus was held up by hundreds of Hindu worshipers headed for the local temple for a religious service. At a point ahead, all the worshipers were crossing the road unto a side path.

From there, Dawn and I went on a bus excursion to Ulun Danu Temple, likely the most scenic location on the island.  It was a Saturday, and the grounds included plenty of local visitors, but there was room for all.  The drive there was about 40 miles and took two hours.  The traffic was endless.  Again, for almost the entire distance except when passing through some rice paddies, the narrow roads were lined with shops and homes located right at the edge of the pavement. The Temple grounds are located at the edge of a lake with mountains in the background.  The elevation was about 2,000 feet, high enough that the temperature was pleasant, in the 70’s.

Very beautiful scenery.  The northern part of Bali is mountainous; the south is somewhat level.  This lake is in a valley at the base of the northern mountains.

Not sure what the boats are used for, but they present a colorful scene. 

Hinduism includes worship of a mountain god and a water god….very in touch with nature.  However, Dawn and I noted that wherever there was a steep embankment at the edge of the road, not otherwise occupied, there were mounds of trash (bags, baskets, and other castoffs) which had been pitched off the edge of the road, not scenic or in harmony with nature.

Benoa harbor, as the center of foreign tourism, was full of wave runners, speed boats, waterskiing, parasailing, and party boats.

A large party boat heading out.  Does it include free drinks?  I would guess so.

Our long bus ride to Lake Bratan and Ulun Danu temple.

Our visit to Bali has been educational and has greatly changed our perception of this tropical ‘paradise’.  We have no interest in ever returning here.

From Bali, our cruise ship went to Waingapu on the Indonesian island of Sumba.  This island is further to the east and more isolated.  When we disembarked the ship for an excursion into town, we were met with a beat-up old van, ratted-out interior, missing external parts, open windows (no A/C), and very limited seating.  We rode that van into town.... and stayed in our seats all the way back to our ship.  The town was so depressing, crude shops, no well-maintained buildings, that there was nothing 'interesting' for us to look at; just hot and dusty.  We had seen enough poverty already.

Fishing boat on the lookout for prey at the edge of a large coral reef.

Note the tall single mast on both boats; probably not CG approved.

Near to our ship was a very large coral reef complex. It was low tide, and the reef was almost exposed.  About a hundred people were out wading on the reef looking for sea creatures that they could pluck out and take home for dinner.  A few boats were cruising at the edge of the reef with spotters atop a mast, apparently also looking for marine prey.

The following day, our cruise ship, Insignia, was at Komodo Island, the home of the famous Komodo Dragon.  We were anchored out; the island is part of a national park and purposely kept isolated.  The only way to get shore was to sign up for a short and expensive boat ride to shore and a walk to hopefully come across some dragons. We elected to stay aboard.  Komodo Island is also known as an excellent snorkeling/scuba location, but our ship had no provision for such activities.

Komodo Island, very little sign of development except for the offshore boats bringing tourists.

Dawn and I were not eager to walk the rugged landscape of Komodo Island and meet a Dragon at ground level.  Fellow passengers who did go on the excursion didn't have much to report except, "Yes, we saw one."