After Komodo, we moved on to Lombok arriving just in time for the welcome and dinner- a just lovely experience. The welcome and dinner were held in the grounds of the Medana Bay marina and these are well maintained and clean – even green grass which was such a change from the dry hills we had been seeing. The dinner had been prepared by the local women. Each household prepared their special dishes for four people. The dishes were arranged around a big mound of rice on a large tray carried by the cook in a parade. We were then invited to eat picnic style with each of the cooks. They were so welcoming and having four people per cook made it seem very personal, and as we were sitting with them, there was plenty of opportunity to interact.

href=”https://paseafique.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/p1070514.jpg”> the dinner parade[/caption]

There was a bull race being held in a nearby village on one of the days we were at Lovina so a bunch of us walked to the village and watched the races- more like trots really. What a spectacle that was! The bulls are paired up and put together in harnesses with lots of fancy decoration on them. A sort of platform was attached to the back on which the “jockey” stood. Each race was only short – the length of a football pitch and the winner determined in a series of knockout races.

We also took the opportunity to do a one day tour organised for us by the rally. An early start with fresh fruit breakfast on the beach and then we all scrambled into the waiting cars. First stop was a chocolate plantation and “museum”. The museum was actually a display about the growing and processing of chocolate which we found very interesting. This left us craving for chocolate which the plantation unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) did not sell. Next stop was the only Buddhist temple on Bali- very beautiful and peaceful. Amazing how your surroundings can immediately give you a sense of calmness.

Then on to the piece de resistance for the day- lunch at a farmers “house” which turned out to be a whole compound really up in the hills behind Lovina Beach. We were welcomed there like we were family and it was an extremely genuine welcome. We were treated to four girls performing a traditional welcome dance accompanied by an orchestra playing traditional instruments. Lunch was suckling pig which had been roasting on the spit for some hours, yummy succulent chicken, and various salads. This was followed by more entertainment- some very funny mime by guys dressed up and wearing different masks, and more music. All of this was almost finished when the heavens opened and the rain poured down. The family were very happy as it was early rain for the season and they had been waiting for it. They said we had brought them luck. It was then time for a fond farewell and the return trip back to the anchorage, with a stop for a dip in a hot spring on the way.

We could have easily spent more time in Bali. Everyone says it, but it is true that the Balinese are beautiful people. Bali also seems to have much less rubbish in the streets and on the beaches, and the whole atmosphere is just great.