Is this a bike trip - or what?

It's kind of weird - a bike trip with no biking.. Well hopefully this will stop by beginning of next week..
 I ended up having 3 days in Ayana and Jimbaran Resorts with pure luxury: eating, swimming, doing yoga - and feeling at little bit awkward.. Both places have nearly just couple (honeymoon) or family guests mostly from Asia.. The highlight of the day is the sunset where the Rock Bar built up at the rocks facing the ocean is a top trendy spot with live dj playing lounge music and dress code. There is a little cable car going down there - totally extravagant..

The ultimate luxury: having one's sunglasses polished by the friendly staff at  the  ocean water infinity pool overlooking the sea.

Met Nellie from the group (she has a wound on her knee that would not heal properly and took the plane to Bali together with me) one of the days to go to the famous Padang Padang surfer's beach and the Ulu Watu temple. What is particular about these places at the southernmost tip of the Bukit peninsula - and of Bali - is the STEAP rocks going down to the ENORMOUS surf.. It's beautiful and impressive - but SOO touristy! We were surrounded by hundreds of people..

The day before yesterday I went to Ubud, the old artistic center of Bali. Checked in at the TDA accommodation here, a nice countryside resort lying at the outskirts of town. 

Early morning view from my room..

Walked in there just after arriving - a 30 minutes walk through very busy streets - a shame that a beautiful place like Ubud is totally dominated by strong traffic.. Was lucky to see quite some local ladies preparing their religious offerings at a street corner. These offerings are placed everywhere all the time and built up on handmade "trays" of dried palm leaves decorated with flowers, incense, fruit, soft drinks etc.. It actually is like small pieces of art. Bali is the only Hindu dominated island of Indonesia and being here one really finds out how this religion is an important part of the locals everyday life.  

Local ladies preparing religious offerings..

Ready to carry the offerings around..

 Did the tourist route yesterday. Saw the wonderful museum of art. I really liked the art there: made by locals since the 1930's with everyday life and religious issues as main themes. There was even a little secluded place with kind of porn motives - also very beautifully made.. This IS a very beautiful island with fantastic landscapes, temples and people - the art from here can only reflect that.. 

 I also visited the royal palace where it is possible to walk around in a setting that actually reminds of several temples connected to each other. Too crowded but still nice.. 

 Late afternoon I took the stroll along the Monkey Forest Road to the place of the same name. There are lots of naughty monkeys running around in there where also quite some temples are situated. Again a beautiful place - crowded with tourists.. 

Art and reality..