After a final breakfast at the Safari Park (no lions as they don't get brought into that area until 8am) we were picked up bright and early by the Bali Budaya (Eco Tours) guys to head to Kintamani (for our 2nd breakfast of the day). We were riding with friends from WA (a family of 6), so met up with them enroute, our luggage was stored at the Budaya office for the day, and the 11 of us then pooled into one van for the ride.
This was my 3rd time doing the bike ride, 1st was just hubby and I, 2nd was with my 2 girlfriends last year for our 40th so really looking forward to experiencing it with the kids. The first time we booked with Wayan's Bike Baik tour, based on recommendations from BTF and as they stated it was a purely local company, with all profits staying in Bali. I was later informed that's not the case, Wayan learnt the business working for Budaya tours, then set up with Canadian backers to create Bike Baik. So for my 2nd trip I went with Budaya and was really impressed, particularly in terms of their care and safety with kids, so they were an easy choice for this trip. Darma was our guide again, and he is so wonderful, a delight to talk to and great with the kids.
Kintamani breakfast was the usual, got my first few view of Kintamani not shrouded in cloud, so that was novel. We enjoyed the coffee plantation, especially the luwak coffee and it's delightful creation process, and then it was on to the bikes. Huge selection to choose from, my 12 yo is a yellow freak, so she was thrilled to have a yellow bike in her size, 8yo daughter got a pink one complete with basket and the rest of us were all happy with any seat with good padding (actually, I'd also bought one of those slip on gel padded seats from home as I thought I'd appreciate the extra!)
Then we were off, I'd only gone about 2 minutes before I was thinking this was the best fun ever, and I was right to remember it so fondly. You really see a different side of Bali and have time to absorb all the smells, smiles and scenery without being removed from it as you are in a car. The kids did so well, our 8yo ended up telling me to hurry (but I liked to hang at the back, actually managed to perfect the art of riding one handed and getting a few shots on the move). Stopping at the local school was a highlight, for our kids and the school kids I think (lots of photos). Also stopped at a family compound, saw their bamboo mat weaving. Had a poignant moment when watching the weaving. Darma explained the 14yo girl who was weaving has now left school as she can contribute more by weaving mats each day. She can weave 3 square metres a day, and they get 25,000rph/square metre. Pretty sobering thought, to realise that's now her life......I looked across at our just turned 14yo and could see he was processing the differences in opportunity.
Finished with lunch, magnificent feast as usual and then it was off to Sanur for 2 nights at Bloody Ron's establishment, the charming Sanur Beach Villas. Very relaxing time, lots of walking, eating, catching up with friends for dinner, we really used this as our chill out time so not a lot to report.
Final JBR to come, our sponsor child visit and final few days in Kuta