Rob woke up this morning much improved so we set out a little after 8.00am for one of our favourite walks, along one of the East ridges of the Campuhan River, among some of the most picturesque, terraced rice paddies surrounding the village of Ubud.Very few tourists were about this early but Monkey Forest Road was abuzz with children arriving for school and getting ready for Friday sports day. These children attend the little school opposite the sports field and were exercising a great deal of co-operation as they hopped into their school transport truck!
Turning left at the Lotus Gardens on the Main Road of Ubud we were quickly into the farm land adjacent to the river. These women were delivering rocks and granite to a building site that will be another hotel/villa "with rice paddy views" by our next visit.
Lush greens, the sound of water rushing through the irrigation channels beside the narrow walking/motor scooter track and the constant soundtrack of chooks and roosters crowing, farmers (men, women, old, young) working in the paddies, tending their lots as though they were gardens, weeding and trimming so everything is neat and beautiful.
The track is full of interest: beautiful views, lots happening, farmers, villagers, animals, traditional Balinese artists working in lean to bamboo "studios", little warungs serving (real) coconut juice drinks and snacks, a couple of family compounds offering homestay accommodation.
Back in the village we reward our exertion with a cold drink stop at the Lotus Gardens Cafe. Whenever I go there I try to imagine how it must have looked when Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall were married there in the beautiful gardens back in the 80s(?).
We weren't ready for lunch until quite late so we decided to combine lunch and dinner today at our favourite Indus Restaurant overlooking the Western facing ravine of the Campuhan River, directly opposite the rice paddy covered ridge where we'd been walking this morning.
The staff looked a little tired after a busy lunch sitting but we were not disappointed with the food that was served us. We started with Balinese tapas (spring rolls, tempe, corn fritters and chicken satay) served with sambals.
Rob is looking delighted with his Balinese paella and I loved my spicy fish steamed in banana leaf.
for dessert I could not resist the famous Indus black rice pudding and coconut icecream, while Rob chose his favourite Brownie "block", with Bali Kope of course.
If any of you are wondering why we are eating out so much at such fine dining establishments I need to tell you that this 3 course meal at the Indus, with fruit juices and coffee cost us just under $50.00 (for the two of us, including tips).
Lush greens, the sound of water rushing through the irrigation channels beside the narrow walking/motor scooter track and the constant soundtrack of chooks and roosters crowing, farmers (men, women, old, young) working in the paddies, tending their lots as though they were gardens, weeding and trimming so everything is neat and beautiful.
The track is full of interest: beautiful views, lots happening, farmers, villagers, animals, traditional Balinese artists working in lean to bamboo "studios", little warungs serving (real) coconut juice drinks and snacks, a couple of family compounds offering homestay accommodation.
Back in the village we reward our exertion with a cold drink stop at the Lotus Gardens Cafe. Whenever I go there I try to imagine how it must have looked when Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall were married there in the beautiful gardens back in the 80s(?).
We weren't ready for lunch until quite late so we decided to combine lunch and dinner today at our favourite Indus Restaurant overlooking the Western facing ravine of the Campuhan River, directly opposite the rice paddy covered ridge where we'd been walking this morning.
The staff looked a little tired after a busy lunch sitting but we were not disappointed with the food that was served us. We started with Balinese tapas (spring rolls, tempe, corn fritters and chicken satay) served with sambals.
Rob is looking delighted with his Balinese paella and I loved my spicy fish steamed in banana leaf.
for dessert I could not resist the famous Indus black rice pudding and coconut icecream, while Rob chose his favourite Brownie "block", with Bali Kope of course.
If any of you are wondering why we are eating out so much at such fine dining establishments I need to tell you that this 3 course meal at the Indus, with fruit juices and coffee cost us just under $50.00 (for the two of us, including tips).We are enjoying a quiet evening on our villa's balcony, hugely enjoying the display of all the kites flying, the nightly duck round up and watching dusk settle on the rice paddies and village around us as we drink our Bintangs.
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