Adventures in Bali: Part II

nuts and citrus fruits

We took a day tour of the East coast, driving through the mountains, and weaving between coast and inland roads. As I mentioned before, rice and peanuts are a big product of the East, but fishing is huge as well.  We continued on to a bigger market in Amlapura, where they were selling all sorts of produce, baskets, and relics. Most of the market was under cover to keep it cool. From what we purchased,  John liked the snake fruit (fruit peel looks like snake skin) in particular, which he described as tasting like apple. I think they taste more like jack fruit, but you'll have to try for yourselves one day.

Bananas and durian in the back

Taman Ujung in Karangasem is a palace that the former king of Karangasem built as a "relaxation spot" for himself and his 24 children. It is a collection of buildings and gardens, and even has its very own meditation and yoga room! The shade rule we aquired in Texas proved true here as well- it  always feels at least 10 degrees cooler in the shade! In 1979, an earthquake damaged the palace and surrounding area, and only parts have been restored.

Yoga and Meditation Room

Tamaran Ujung

Next stop was Tirta Gangga, the water palace. Coincidentally, this palace was built by the same king as above, yet the architecture is completely devoted to the gardens and pools here. The size of the coy fish in the pools was incredible They had a main entrance, then another entrance to a swimming area up above. We walked around the gardens and along the different stone paths over the water. Check out the lion statue in the picture below. It is portraying a lion costume, and the person's feet are the back leg support.

Lions

Coy pool at Tirta Gangga

The third and final installment of our Bali adventure will be up shortly. As they say in Balinese,
Suk se ma (thank you)