Bali 1/2 day trip with Bob the best driver in Bali

So Bob is an entrepreneur.  He is a smart guy taking advantage of the tourist market - but in a good way.  He wants to promote the local economy of the small guy.  So our tour today was to places that most tourists never see.  He does take you to the most /biggest  things in the north part of the island as well as things that promote the local economy.  Our first stop was at the largest Hindu/Buddhist temple in Bali.  While we were there there was a cremation ceremony taking place go to my husbands blog to see a video of that.  It wasn't until later that Bob realized that that was the kind of thing we wanted to see.  He is trying to arrange for us to go to a local ceremony that happens on Wednesday.  He is trying to get us Balinese clothing so we will fit in - we will see if it plays off.  Pictures of the temple below:

After that Bob wanted to show us a coffee plantation. What he showed us was a very local business which he seems to have some stake in.  The coffee process is much different than what we have in the US.  The coffee beans are ground into a fine powder.  And that is what is put into your cup and mixed with a large teaspoon of sugar.

The bamboo plant next to the coffee tree is a ladder.  If you look closely you can see the short stakes out to the side that they use as steps.

Above coffee beans - lower picture - bananas.

All of the above pictures were taken at the coffee processing plant.  The weather was OK at first.  We stopped in the Coffee plant  fields first.  Then went to the processing area.  The owners wife brought out coffee and snacks for us.  It was pissing rain - so when she and her daughter arrived it was in a downpour - and they were on a motor scooter.  They did pull out an umbrella from one of the sheds later.
Our next stop was at a traditional home in a local village.  The owner was not there.  He actually lives in the town below.  But tourists can rent this home to stay in.  The outhouse has a shower and real
western toilet in it.  Not sure that is traditional!

Next we went throughout a small traditional village.  The people there are not used to tourists.  But as in all of Asia they knew the two finger symbol and loved to have their pictures taken.  Kids especially, wanted their pictures taken - I'm not sure why - as there was no way I could give them a picture of themselves  I did show some a picture on the camera monitor.

We passed another rice field.  The bamboo scare crows were intriguing.  And we caught a women out in a field - she laughed and smiled.

Bali - Villa Oscar

My husband posted about the trip to Bali and the ride to the Villa.  I was surprizingly clam during the drive.  I must have had a lot of confidance in Bob.  I was just so happy that we didn't have to nogatiate all the roads to find the villa.  I had glimpses of temples and lots of roadside busineses and homes along the way.  Our car had heavily tinted windows - so as it got dark you couldn't see anything.  That meant looking out of the front window from the back seat.  And as it got darker - lots of headlights.  I don't think a lot of drivers dimmed their headlights!  This is another experience like the villa in Italy - It is hard to drive or walk anywhere from here.  We are in the mountains - with only a single lane road for two way traffic around us.  To walk anywhere requires that you walk on that road.  A lot of the time there is no way to get off the road if a car comes at you.  Most of the traffic is by motor scooter.  You hear them going up and down the mountain roads all day.

We are lucky that our villa has fantastic views.  We have an infinity pool over looking the ocean afar.  There are several comfortable seating places.  There is a table with benches on the bottom level that is not very comfortable - as it is high and the table is a piece of uneven wood.  Which is wonderful to look at - not so comfortable to sit at.  Upstairs their is a table and chairs under a roof that is very comfortable.  So we eat all our meals there.  We choose Villa Oscar because of the level of service here. They will cook for you, do your laundry, clean everyday, take care of the pool.  We are not used to this.  People come and go constantly.  People expect your door to be open and just walk in.  Besides the two women who clean and cook there are a couple of garden/pool guys.  The owner lives in a smaller villa just below us.  She has just walked in a couple of times.  Micheal has had a lingering ashma/cold symptoms and a doctor came out to the house around 6pm today.  He brought his two sons.  He tried to just walk in- but Mike had locked the door because it was raining and the wind kept blowing the door open.  Yes - you read that right - doctors make house calls.  Not only that but he called in the prescription - and the pharmacy delivered about an hour later!  And this is on a Saturday!

We have been lazying around the pool and the sitting area near the kitchen for two days.  The end of March meant much accounting - so I got that done.  And obviousely I have finally finaished with Taiwan pictures.  Tomorrow our driver Bob has suggested a many hour tour for us - we leave at 10am.  That should be fun.  We are hoping that it will not rain.  The past two days it has rained every afternoon for several hours.  I experienced a wonderful shower in my outside shower - outside it is pouring - in my semi walled in shower I have wonderful warm water, but still hear the sound of the rain - blissful!  Ok - enough words - here are some pictures:

Now some of the Villa Oscar

And more views:

And of course we are doing launddry here.  Acutally the staff did the washing, but they keep putting the stuff outside to dry - and it keeps raining - so still not dry.  We will keep it inside tomorrow - staff day off.  It is almost dry.  It does keep raining every afternoon.  So here are some photos I took to try to capture the raindrops in the pool.

A last Glimpse of Taipei

After our Heulain trip we spent just a short amount of time in Taipei before heading off to our next country.  Here are some last glimpses of the country we really enjoyed.

On our last walk through the city streets around the train station we happened upon this street that sprouted much whimsical art.

And just before we arrived back at our hotel we passed this protest.  We asked the people at the hotel what the protest was about and as near as we could figure out - as they seemed embarrased to try to explain it to us, was that it had something to do with police and their pensions from the government..

Good by Taiwan - Hello Bali!