I returned to Bali and took a short break from the diving. From my base of Permuteran up in the northwest of the island, I spent a day relaxing Bali’s Lake District, enjoying the cool air at Tamblingan Lake.
It was lovely to admire a body of water and not feel the urge to dive in. I enjoyed the feeling of the cool air and being warmed by the sun instead of hiding from its much fiercer rays when down by the sea.
We then headed to Jatiluwih to view the rice terraces. The intense green terraces were a marvel of human ingenuity and tenacity, and the coconut trees up on higher and cooler ground was a surprise to me.
I was particularly tickled by how entire herds of ducks would take over harvested fields. They were probably scavenging for the scavengers that scavenged on the spent grain and leftover sheaves.
Going closer, it seemed as if the entire field was quacking in symphony.
We stopped by at the Botanic Gardens to admire the fountains…
… and the various, sometimes rather impressive greenhouses. This one was a desert hothouse, aridly beautiful in the stark light.
And there were lily ponds galore, with the noon sun reflecting itself in the water.
Our last stop was the Gitgit waterfall, a picturesque stream of water cascading down into a shallow pool, covering everyone below in a fine mist.
Again, there was plenty of that wonderful green that made a good break from the diving.
eat. drink. cook. travel. 