After a “travel-only” day (no scavenges) we arrived at our hotel in Jogyakarta, Java. The Phoenix Hotel is a beautiful old colonial building. There are gracious winding marble staircases throughout, spectacular fountains, and very attendant staff available at all hours. We were treated to a late lunch by Bill and everyone had the opportunity to swap stories about their adventure so far. In the evening the group gathered again to receive our scavenge booklets and information for the following few days. This leg was going to be a bit different... and very interesting.
Bill explained that we had the hotel for 2 nights in Java. There were scavenges in and around Jogjakarta, but also throughout western Java. Bill informed us that he would be leaving us in Java and traveling on to Bali, where we were to join him. He gave us the name and address of a hotel in Ubud, Bali where we had a room booked for three nights. The challenge was to do as many scavenges as we could and then figure out how to get ourselves to this remote location in central Bali.
Points could be accumulated in a number of ways on this leg. Markets, temples, performances and food tastings were on the list as always, but also taking certain trains and climbing mountains were high value objectives as well. In a later post I will add some photos of some of the things we saw in Java. The upload is just too slow here in Bali for me to try it now.
For the journey between islands, every team took a different strategy. Some very competitve teams decided to go for the biggest points by traveling on local trains and buses and climbing a mountain to see the sunrise before continuing on by bus for another 10 hours to reach our destination. They didn’t sleep for 40 hours, but they scored big.
We took a somewhat less demanding alternative. Staying a bit longer in Jojyakarta, we accomplished most of the scavenges in that area. We then caught a 5:30 a.m. train to Solo, Java, then caught another train to Surabaya, Java. This was not the most direct route, but was worth a lot of points. Our original plan was to continue west, bypassing the mountain climb, but instead hiking a crater on the very western side of Java. Then we would catch the ferry across to Bali and continue on by bus. BUT...
The train ride was tough. We were in an un-air-conditioned car for hours. At every stop, local hawkers boarded and walked the aisles selling various food and drink. Photos to follow. It was a neat thing to do once... but that was enough. By the end of the train ride we were hot and tired, and had figured out that travel time to the crater was going to be longer than we had planned. Once we realized that climbing the crater was out, we decided to skip the long bus ride and instead caught a flight from Surabaya directly to Denpasar, Bali. Then we still had a 90 minute cab ride to our hotel in Ubud.
I’m not sure if it’s because David and I were just exhausted, or because Bali is so very beautiful, but we decided to take a break from the competition here. So now we have spent the last two days relaxing at the gorgeous Komaneka at Bisma resort in Ubud, Bali. This place is paradise! Our room looks out over a lush tropical landscape with palm trees and rice fields. There are bananas and coconuts growing right outside our door. It is the kind of place you never want to leave.
We were able to pull ourselves away long enough to visit the nearby Monkey Forest and experience an up close and personal encounter with the very “friendly” little primates. They are totally unafraid of people. To have one climb up on you is not unusual. They are sneaky little devils and will steal any food you have, as well as hats, glasses, or contents of your pockets!
Something I have always wanted to see is a traditional Balinese dance, so last night we attended a local performance. The costumes and makeup are amazingly beautiful, and the gracious movements of the dancers is hypnotic. I loved it. David even liked it!
Today is our last day in Bali. We have not been told where we’re headed next. But after a few days of R and R here, D-Mo and I are ready to jump back into competition mode!!
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