Lovina Beach, Bali

September 27, 2013

We just spent 5 amazing nights in Lovina Beach, Bali being tourists for once in a tourist filled town.  Our hotel was amazing!  The beaches perfect!  The scuba diving great!  And there was a TON of things to do there.  

We splurged for a few nights on an incredible beach side hotel - Cleopatra's.

The amazing swimming pool at our hotel.

Omar and I found a delicious Thai food restaurant - meals for $4.  (That's expensive for here.  Local dishes are about $2 each.)

We went out after dinner to Kantin 21 to share a mojito and listen to music.

Putu and I shopping at the local market - I took a traditional Balinese Cooking Class with Putu in his house.

I learned how to make 6 different vegan dishes, all of which use a mortar and pestle for the spices.

Top: eggplant curry, tofu in sweet soy, mi goreng (fried noodles)                                          

Bottom: fried peanuts, garlic, and shallots for toppings, spinach with garlic, gado-gado (peanut sauce over vegis)

I couldn't fit the fried tempeh in the photo . . . it was all delicious!!!  Better than restaurants.

Omar and I borrowed a scooter from our hotel every night to go into town for dinner.  And yes I sit side saddle on them.

Omar and I spent a day diving off Menjangan Island and National Marine Park now that he is a certified open water scuba diver.

The island has a huge Hindu Shrine on it that people come to worship at.  Bali seems to be either Hindu or Bhuddist.

We rented a driver for the day to see the sights around Lovina Beach  . . . here is the TriDharmas Chinese Temple.

Take that Zoolander!

Omar molesting the good luck turtles of longevity.  (He will either live forever now or be struck down for harassing the sacred turtle.)

Matt (our newest crew member from Denver) and Omar in front of Git Git Water Fall.

Standing under the falls felt like a back massage!

The twin lakes in the mountains over Lovina Beach.  (There's another lake on right side of this one!)

Matt, Omar and I drinking poop coffee!!!  I am sure you have heard of it - the world's most expensive coffee!  I can't lie - it was delicious!!!

The 3 amigos bathing in the Natural Hot Springs.

The hot springs were full of tourists and locals alike.  We spent an hour here!

The largest Buddhist Temple on Bali.

It was incredibly serene here.

When in Rome . . . our scooter taxi (or ojek) insisted on taking us both at one time on the back of his 125cc scooter.