Away from Kuta Beach the pace of life slowed again as the Balanise went about their dayly lives as normal, always with a smile on their face.
Leaving Kuta Beach, we headed to the Eastern port of PadangBai before travelling inland to Ubud for some Balanise culture.
Kuta Beach is home of surfing in Bali - the waves were far to big to even contemplate hiring a board though.
Kuta sunset on the busiest streach of beach we'd come across on our travels so far.
Beach front at Padangbai, a sleepy port and gate way to Lombok.
......after dodging rabid dogs who were not friendly, I ended up at this volcanic beach, south of Padangbai, imaginatively named 'Black Beach'.
....view of Padangbai on my way back from Black Beach.
Gunung Agung volcano looming behind Padangbai.
Arrival in Ubud, the most decorative town we've ever visited. Behind us is the gate to our accomadation at the Swan Inn.
Snooooooze O'clock!
At the pool shortly before the earthquake.
The Balanise in Ubud were very proud of thier gardens....
....colourful blooms everywhere.....macro heaven!
Burning of scented sticks and offerings of flowers and food....common sight in Ubud.
Calved statues greeted us around every corner.
Not the safest bridge in Bali - many of the wooden panels I trod on were very rotten - the valley floor was 50m below :-)
The Balanise also loved a good cock fight.
Long walk one morning from Ubud...... lost here among rice fields.
Locals busy tending thier crop....
.....by this time we were so lost we asked a local farmer for dirctions.
....this one ready to be harvested.
.....statues appeared in the undergrowth everywhere....
....there were more to be seen in Ubud centre.
Markets in central Ubud.
Local crafts for sale....getting artsy with the camera.
Possibly the worst tourist attraction so far...Elephant Cave, Ubud. We walked 5km in the rain to get here to find no elephants and the smallest cave ever. We did get to wear dresses though which was nice.