nature
tours & travel, wildlife tours, adventure travel and general
travel to Australia, Southeast Asia, South America and Alaska
BALI
& KOMODO
DRAGONS
IN PARADISE
January
15 to 28, 2009
led
by Judy Brzoska
Day 1–
Thursday, January 15: Home City/In Flight
here are several air options for your flight to Bali. The shortest
flight is on China Airlines departing SFO at 12.15am on Jan 16,
with a flight time of 22 hours including a connection of 2.5 hours
in Taipei for an arrival into Bali at 2.25pm. There is a similar
flight departing LAX at 11.10pm on the 15th. For those with this
option, China Airlines is part of the American Express Platinum
Card 2 for 1 program, meaning that a business class ticket is very
affordable for this itinerary.There are also suitable flights on
Korean from Chicago, and also from JFK. However, if possible it's
wiser in January to avoid these latter airports, given the weather
they experience. We will arrange your flight according to the most
suitable for you, and depending on your preferences. (*M)
Day 2 - Friday, January
16: In Fight
Today is spent in flight, or missed due to the Dateline, depending
on your flight.
Day
3 - Saturday, January 17: Bali
Arrive in Bali this afternoon, and after passing through customs
and immigration you are met and transferred to Puri Santrian Hotel,
Sanur Beach. The hotel is right on the beach, and there are many
small shops nearby, some with older fabrics, sarongs new and antique
crafts, and even carvings from West Papua. This evening enjoy a
welcome dinner with traditional Balinese food. Wildlife lovers should
take a walk around the corridor and stairwell near the rooms, as
small House and large Tokay Geckoes can often be seen foraging for
insects on the walls. Expect also to see weaver birds, sunbirds
and bulbuls around the hotel.
(*B,*L,D)
Day
4– Sunday, January 18: Sanur/Jimbaran area
Today we explore southern Bali. Those interested can begin with
an early start to visit a few close-by birding areas
with our specialist birding guide, Sumadi. After we return to our
hotel for a late breakfast, we then continue to experience this
gentle and beautiful island. Bali is a sensory overload, famous
for its culture, crafts and intricately carved temples, and our
first full day in Bali will highlight these. The Denpasar Central
Market will allow us to share normal Balinese life, while enabling
us to 
buy
sarongs, cloth, temple items and similar goods at normal, not tourist,
prices. Many of the items at the market are not seen at the normal
tourist shops. At the royal city of Mengwi we visit Pura Taman Ayun,
when of Bali’s best know temples. This evening we visit Ulu
Watu, perched on top of a cliff, as the sun sets, then enjoy a seafood
dinner on the beach.
(B,L,D)
Day 5 - Monday, January
19: Denpasar / Labuan Bajo
After breakfast this morning we transfer back to the airport for
our 10am flight to Labuan Bajo on the island of Fl
ores,
arriving at 11
.30pm.
As we leave Bali we fly over Lombok, with the often steaming volcano
Mt Rinjani. The next island is Sumbawa, and
if it is clear the volcano Tambora can be seen in the central north
of the island; when it erupted in 1815 it was responsible for the
“year without summer” due to its ash blocking the sun
across Europe and North America. This event led to the worst famine
recorded in the northern hemisphere. On arrival at Labaun Bajo we
transfer to the jetty and our boat, then set sail for Komodo Island.
Depending on the tides we may stop at on of the many beaches in
the area for swimming and snorkeling. We overnight at Komodo, near
Loh Liang, in preparation for our dragon search tomorrow. (B,L,D)
Day 6 – Tuesday, January
20: Komodo / Rinca
W
e
make an early start this morning to take advantage of the cooler
morning air when the dragons tend to be more lethargic. We walk
to inland through sparse forest and island scrub, looking for lurking
komodos – ora i
n
Indonesian - and other wildlife, including cockatoos, friarbirds
and other species more representative of Australia. This reminds
us that we flew from Bali to Lombok we crossed the Wallace Line,
the demarcation separating the faunas of Asia and Australia. We
may also see Timor cattle, water buffalo and long-tailed macaques.
After about 2km we arrive at Bangungguling, where a wter drip provides
incentive for dragons, birds and other wildlife to congregate. In
the past dragons were fed goats here, but this practice ceased years
ago. However, the long-lived lizards still visit, and a viewing
area, complete with fence and shade, makes relaxed observation and
photography easier. We return to Loh Liang, and visit the small
shop where souvenirs on of our visit can be purchased. Returning
to our boat we sail to Pantai Merah - Pink Beach – for snorkeling
and swimming; there is excellent coral with attendant tropical fish
immediately off the beach. We then continue to Crocodile Bay, Rinca
Island, where we overnight. In the evening dragons may be seen foraging
on the beach, and long-tailed macaques may be seen accounting for
their alternative name of crab-eating macaque as they too forage
for a late snack. This evening the loud “tok-ay” call
of the appropriately named ten-inch long Tokay gecko can often be
heard. (B,L,D)
Day 7 – Wednesday, January 21: Rinca / Labuan Bajo
Another early start to explore Rinca. The first part of the track
takes us through mangroves and other denser vegetation, and is a
good place to see monkeys and birds, as well as dragons, which tend
to be a little wilder here than some of the more habituated ones
on Komodo. There is no “destination: for this morning’s
walk, but a walk to the top of the hill gives excellent views of
the islands of Komodo National Park, and the turquoise waters surrounding
them. After our walk we continue to explore the area while heading
back to Labuan Bajo for the night, where we overnight at a small
ecolodge on the outskirts of Labuan Bajo.
(B,L,D)
Day 8 – Thursday, January 22: Labuan Bajo / Denpasar
/ Pemuteran
This morning we take a river cruise to look for birds and other
wildlife, then transfer to airport for our noon flight back to Bali,
arriving at 1.30pm. We are met once again by our Bali guides and
head to the north coast, and the village of Pemuteran. With its
broad swathe of beach and quieter lifestyle, Pemuteran presents
a different picture to the busy life of southern Bali, and the dry
remote islands of Komodo.
(B,*L)
Day 9 – Friday, January 23: Pemuteran
Some optional early morning birding in nearby mangrove and forest
is available, followed by a drive into adjacent Bali Barat National
Park to visit the breeding and release sites for the critically
endangered Bali Starling. The rest of the day is free to relax and
enjoy this beautiful area at your own pace. There is n Island, one
of Bali’s best. For those inclined toexcellent snorkeling
offshore, and divers can be taken to several dive sites, including
near Menjanga less active pursuits Balinese massages and spa treatment
are also available. Your guide will be able to advise of and assist
with any activities. Sunset is best enjoyed on the beach, watching
the fishing boat lights flicker on as the evening darkens.
(B)
Day
10 – Saturday, January 24: Pemuteran / Ubud
Late this morning we depart our beachside hotel and head south towards
Ubud, in Bali’s uplands.Along the way we stop at Alas Kedaton
to see the flying foxes, and Bedugul, where the Bali Botanical Gardens
are located. This is an excellent birding site, as well as a highly
regarded gardens. Nearby at Candi Kuning a fruit, flower and spice
market presents sights and smells not seen back home. Here also
is Lake Bratan, formed in the inactive caldera of Gunung Catur,
and the temple of Ulun Danu in its waters. We continue on to Taman
Ayun, the Royal Palace temple and gardens. Our Bali-style hotel
for the next two nights is in Ubud, with views across a river valley
in one direction and surround be rice paddies elsewhere. (B,L,D)
Day 11 – Sunday, January 25: Ubud
Today is largely free to explore Ubud, the cultural capital of Bali.
Ubud is famous for its arts and crafts, and the continuous activities
of its temple. Although not open to the public, it is very common
to see processions of colorfully clad women bearing carefully created
baskets of fruit and flowers walking to the temple, to make the
daily offerings. The intricately carved entrance gate, in typical
Balinese split-gate design, allows glimpses into this cultural world.
You can also take a walk in Monkey Jungle, where macaques
live around the
temple; this one, older and not as oprnate as the main temple, can
be entered. Late this afternoon we’ll visit Goa Gajah, a cave
temple dedicated to Ganesha, the Hindu e
lephant-headed
god and son of Shiva consort Parvati. We’ll also stop to watch
herons of several species return to their rookery in the village
of Petulu. Tonight is a special treat; a private performance of
the stunning and fiery Kecak Dance, performed for us in a nearby
temple. This is a story from the Ramayana, where a battle if fought
between the monkey god Hanuman and a prince who has taken Rama's
wife. This spectacular event includes about 100 chanting men, plus
the main performers in a very active and exciting performance. (B,L)
Day 12 – Monday,
January 26: Ubud
The majority of Balinese are Hindu, and Bali remains final repository
of the great Hindu culture of Java, remaining there only in the
small ruined temples dotted the island about and the great temple
complex Prambanam near Yogyakarta. While ultimately derived from
India, the arts and religion as practiced in Bali are noticeably
different as they are a continuation of the distinct Javan Hinduism,
brought to Bali when the remnants of the Majapahit court escaped
from Java after the fall of that empire to Muslim invaders. Although
even with short time here so far this influence on daily life and
architecture will have been inescapable, today’s touring will
expose us to this culture and its history in an indelible way. We
first travel east through villages and terraced rice paddies to
Klungkung, and its 17th Century Kerta Gosa (Hall of Justice). This
ornate free-standing building is famous for its painted ceiling.
Near the coast Goa Lawah is a cave temple, one of the important
directional temples that protect Bali, in this case from the Southeast.
Inside the cave, in addition to the temple decorations, are hundreds
of bats (lawah). At the village of Tenganan we’ll see a demonstration
of double ikat weaving; the geringsing cloth produced here is especially
fine and thought by locals to have magical powers. Lunch will be
enjoyed along the way as we head north to Gunung Agung, Bali’s
holiest mountain (and an active but quiescent volcano which last
erupted in 1963). Nestled on the slopes of Agung is the temple complex
at Besakih, home of the Gods and the site of Bali’s holiest
temple, the mother temple towards which all other temples, including
home shrines, face. There are 22 separate temples in the Besakih
complex. We return to Ubud this evening, still amazed by the rich
and vibrant culture of this small island. As these temples (and
all the temples visited) are sacred places we need to dress respectfully;
a sarong is recommended to cover legs, a shirt or blouse reaching
to the neck should be worn (a typical shirt of t-shirt is fine,
but no tank tops or low cut shirts), and arms to the elbows mustn’t
be exposed. A special sash can be hired outside the temple as they
are required for entry, but buying one is recommended as we’ll
be using it often and they make a good souvenir. Tonight is our
last night on Bali, and we enjoy a farewell dinner with our friends,
both American and Balinese. (B,L,D)
Day 13 – Monday, January
27: Ubud / Denpasar / San Francisco / In Flight
This morning is free to relax, repack, pick up any last minute items,
or arrange transport home of larger purchases. We transfer back
to the airport for our 2.25pm flight home, arriving in San Francisco
(or alternative city) a little after 6pm this same day. Finally
we depart for home cities about 11pm, or alternatively stay overnight
near the airport and fly home tomorrow morning.
(B,*D,*M,*B)
Day 14 -Wednesday, January
28: In Flight / Home City.
Depending on home cities and flights, arrive home during the morning
today.
(B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner;
M: Meal; * in flight meal)
Bali
& Komodo 14-day all-inclusive tour led by Judy Brzoska
(who we thank for the excellent komodo dragon, macaques, hotel &
gamelan, lotus temple, barong dancer and possibly some other photos)
and local English-speaking guides. Includes international air, internal
air, all (4-4.5*) accommodation, private cabins on board the 6 cabin
Pinisi boat in Komodo National Park, all transfers, guiding, entries,
26 meals. Does not include airline taxes, personal costs, visas,
items of a personal nature, alcoholic or carbonated drinks, bottled
water or tips to guides.
From Los Angeles/San Francisco/Chicago: $4500*
From New York: $4700*
Single Supplement: $1350
Maximum 11 Guests
*subject to current air costs which cannot be
not guaranteed until ticketed.
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