Travels Round The World

The monkeys in the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali  have lost all fear of humans and most animals due to the 10,000 tourist per month.  While we were there guides instructed the visitors on the Do’s and Don’ts to safely react to the monkeys.  The forest of about 27 acres of wandering paths contains Hindu temples for bathing and creamation, as well as over 115 species of trees.

Mom and their babies are quite attached and a lot of fun to watch and photograph.

Feeding the monkeys is fun and safe if done according to the guides instructions.

Our hotel, Tegal Sari, is in the middle of rice fields.  Today we were able to get up close a personal photos of the women who do the rice harvesting the old  fashioned way.

The evening ended with dinner on tables and chairs in the sand on Jimaran Bay, which is know for the best sunsets in Bali.

Outside of Ubud is the villiage of Tengallalang which offers amazing views of rice terraces.

We stopped for lunch at another restaurant that was 4 – 5 levels below street level,

but facing another dramatic view across the valley.

The food at the Teras Padi Cafe was another example of traditional Balinese food.

Pictured below is Nasi Kuning which consists of a cone of yellow rice, small omelete, fried chicken, and shredded shrimp and coconut.

Legong Dancer in Ubud

The highlight of the evening was the Legong Dance in Pura Delem Temple in Ubud.

Each evening there are several dance companies that perform a variety of traditional Balanese Dances.

Each morning starts with men in the rice fields yelling in loud voices or banging corrugated metal to scare the birds away from the rice.  It may be old fashioned, but it is quite effective.

Sandy was able to meet the man who reproduced a festival dragon head from a picture she took while we lived in Tokyo.

There was a minor miscommunication however, Sandy wanted it to be 40 inches, he made it 40 centimeters.

She took it anyway and ordered the larger one also.

Murni’s Wartung is a great Indonesian restaurant in Ubud that is 4 – 5 fligts of stairs down from street level in a river gourge.

The tropical vegatation is 80-100m feet high and offers a spectatular view especially when lite up at night and you see the occasional Komodo dragon wandering the river bank.

The food is special as seen in the picture of the Balanese duck entree.

Trip Advisor gives the restaurant special commendation.

Hindu Temple

This is one of the Hindu Temples in Ubud, Bali.

Many more to come.

Here is the walk to breakfast in the hotel’s lush tropical grounds.

Sandy sneaks a picture though the vegetation of John at breakfast.

Getting a pedicure at the Pertenim Spa, which is Balanese for bodycare.

John had the traditional Balanese massage.

Warren and Annabelle’s Comedy Magic Show

A clerk in one of the Hyatt’s shops told us “You must go see Warren’s and Annabelle’s magic and comedy show”.

It was great advice, this was the most entertaining magic show we have attended…what a treat!

This is not big box magic, but up close, sleight of hand magic.  It happens right before yor eyes, and  even in your hands.

Not just a magic show, the magician is also a great comedian as well.  You will laugh and be truly entertained.

The highlight of the evening was a “Tour of the Stars” from the rooftop of the Hyatt Regency Maui, named by CNN Travel as the WORLD’S TOP HOTEL FOR STARGAZING!  Over 1000 years ago the Polynesians were guided to Hawaii with the help of the stars.  The Hyatt’s Director of Astronomy taught us the names and legends of the stars, planets, and constellations.  We observed them first with the naked eye, then through giant astronomy binoculars, a 11″ telescope, and finally with the Hyatt’s  14-inch reflector telescope.  Truly amazing!!!

We started our day with a 7 am yoga class at the activity center which offers dozens of classes and all the normal beach resort activities, and 25+ tours…more than enough to keep us busy.

No trip to Maui is complete without a visit to the Lahaina.  Until moving to Honolulu, Lahaina was the the former capital of the Kingdom Hawaii and was center of the global whaling industry in the 19th century.  Its picturesque Front Street was named one of the “Top Ten Greatest Streets” by the American Planning Association.  Colorful tourist shops and a factory outlet mall line the oceanside street to the world’s largest banyan tree in Counthouse Square.

This evening we walked the golf course to see the sunset from a different viewpoint.

Last night we attended DRUMS of the Pacific LU’AU, a show and luau which we first saw on our honeymoon 30 years ago.  They perform authentic songs, chants, and dances from Hawaii and Polynesian Islands.

The singing and dancing were colorful, entertaining, and well choreographed.

The luau offered an extensive buffet of traditional foods.

Earlier in the day we took a nice walk the length of Ka’anapali Beach.

The beach side concrete path that connects all the hotels and the Whaler’s Shopping Village that is about 1 1/2 miles long.

We began the day having breakfast at Swan Court which offers a breathtaking setting and view.

Famous for spectacular sunsets, Maui provides one of its best for our arrival.

It was a great way to celebrate John’s birthday and our 30th wedding anniversary by returning to where our honeymoon began.

The Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa Maui located on Kaanapali Beach will be our home for the next four days.  Its beach side courtyards consist of 40 acres of lush, tropically landscaped hills, waterfalls, pathways, swinging bridges, ponds, and pools.