Padang Bai, Bali

We also wanted to sample the Bali coast, but weren't really interested in the touristy areas near Denpasar, so we chose to spend three nights in Padang Bai on the central eastern coast.  Made drove us there to our accommodation on the water, Padang Bai Beach Resort, a favourite of divers.

We hired a driver from the resort to drive us to a nearby water palace, and to the traditional Balinese village of Tenganan where the people live much like their ancestors of yore, having little contact with the rest of the world.  The driver was not as smooth as Made, seeming to be always distracted and slowing down abruptly to avoid hitting the car in front of us... not working in concert as had been our experience with Made.  Jan rode in front with the driver and I rode in back.  At one point, I heard Jan tell the driver, 'Please don't do that!'  He was texting!  We had already retained him to drive us to the airport two days hence, but after one too many close calls, I told Jan I refused to ride with him to the airport.  She agreed, so we un-retained him!

The traditional Balinese village of Tenganan was a highlight of the trip.  The driver deposited us at the entrance to the village from where we were escorted on a walking tour through the village by one of the locals.

Our guide and his family

Their home

Their kitchen

The older daughter, curious about these strangers

A cross of cotton and silk, grown in the village

Spun and woven

To create some beautiful, intricate, cloth - We bought this one

Trying my hand at etching

Bark is soaked and pressed and dried.  Then the designs are scratched on the surface with a sharp point.  And finally, a dye and ash mixture is rubbed into the depressions.

Not my work - We bought one for a bookmark

Saying goodbye

Along the road...

And some more water palaces

Here you walk on the stones through the water, a form of meditation and connecting with the earth.

Gorgeous!

One of the ancient rulers' summer water palace... nice work if you can get it!

Children playing in the water by our hotel

And now on to New Zealand...