The road to Lovina

I must add first that the first days in Bali we were traveling with friends who only had a limited period of time on the island. During those days we wanted to get the best impression by planning as much as possible. So next day we took a long bus ride to the north. Even though our stay in Ubud was very relaxed and we even could stay here a couple of days longer. But we had a hotel in Lovina, our next destination.

I don't think Lovina is a place you necessarily must visit. It is more about the journey through mountains and authentic villages. Also couple of popular destinations lie along this route. We chose to visit the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan. At first sight it is a beautiful temple completely surrounded by a huge lake. In the background you can see the mountains, partly hidden by clouds. Ceremonies take place everywhere and the Hindu worshipers are beautifully dressed. It is an incredibly photogenic location. But. You have to be fast and creative to not snap a tourist in your shot. If they do not get in the way, they will come to you to ask if you please can make a photo of them. I get no moment of peace to enjoy the surroundings. I am rather annoyed and want to leave this place as quickly as possible. It is a pity, because it is certainly a nice place but all the atmosphere and aura has disappeared here. I do not want to know what this place look like during the high season.

Fortunately the road to Lovina was fantastic. We drove past mountains and had a great view of lakes. In one of the villages we couldn’t pass because of a ceremony. That was okay, because we loved watching this special event.

After a long trip to Lovina we relaxed at the beach with fresh fruit juices. Most people come here for dolphins. We did not like the idea of chasing after wild animals. Spontaneous encounters with animals are the most memorable, I think.

We enjoyed the tranquility of the beach, the pool and conversations and went to bed on time.

Way too early I was awakened by the shouts of the dolphin spotters. We had a good hotel, but too close to the dolphin departure point. The beach here I found unattractive. It did not look fresh and it smelled weird. That was a good thing, because otherwise I would have regret to leave this location.

After breakfast we set off towards the south, but via a different route.