Bali, a retreat for the inner soul - Part 2

The 3 resident black ducks of Danu Bratan.

That morning I was greeted by the cheerful quacks of the 3 resident black ducks of Danu Bratan after I returned from the neighbourhood mosque for my morning prayers. The lake itself was pretty much uncontaminated, as several species of wild birds may be spotted here, much to any birdwatcher's delight.

Locals leaving for Pura Ulun Danu Bratan after offering prayers by the lake.

The celebration of Hari Nyepi only a few days away had resulted in the whole island being enlivened with back-to-back religious ceremonies and people putting finishing touches to their ogoh-ogoh (large puppets representing demons paraded on the eve of Nyepi). I was even lucky enough to witness a Balinese ritual while having my breakfast by the lake :) Worshippers in their best clothes gathered at the water's edge to offer prayers and afterwards they followed a band of traditional musicians to the nearby temple, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan.

Watching a Balinese ritual while having breakfast by the lake - priceless. For everything else, there's Mastercard ;)

After breakfast, Wayan and his brother agreed to take me to Kebun Raya Eka Karya (Botanical Gardens) at Candikuning in Bedugul (entrance fee IDR 7000, car parking IDR 6000). I spent 2 hours brisk walking among the tall trees and looking at some gorgeous orchids, cacti and whatnot - it sure felt like a cardio workout.

The Lady's Slipper - the kind your feet wouldn't fit into.

Perched on higher grounds, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the whole of Danu Bratan from the Botanical Gardens. There is also a guesthouse in situ aimed mainly at scientists who would come to study the plants and trees, aptly named Guesthouse Etnobotani. I did not book a room there since it is located quite far uphill from the main entrance but if you have your own vehicle, it's all good.

The location of Guesthouse Etnobotani may be quite a hassle if you don't have your own means of transport.

On my way to my next accomodation near Ubud, the taxi driver suggested that I drop by at Tegal Sari Bali Coffee & Spices in Tabanan to sample some local coffee including the infamous luwak coffee (a.k.a. the most expensive coffee in the world) made from the sweetest coffee beans selected, eaten and excreted by civet cats. It tasted so good, I had to buy a jar of luwak coffee for souvenir!