Two days cycling around Bali island
We left from Jimbaran at 05.30 AM, with the streets still quite, although we must be careful because the road is still dark. We pass through the villages of Kuta, Seminyak before we arrive at Tanah Lot village to be greeted by the sun rise. As we pedal towards the village of Kerambitan, past rice fields coloured gold by the morning sun, we see plenty of activity as farmers work in their fields before the heat of the day arrives.
Once in Kerambitan, we encounter local residents making, taking or selling all kinds of breakfast foods, all washed down with coffee. Following their example, we stop to enjoy breakfast, and witness the beautiful scene of farmers harvesting rice in a nearby rice field. The 38 km we have cycled so far have been made easy by the continuously changing & fascinating scenes we have witnessed along the route.
After breakfast, we hitch the bikes onto the bike rack & continue by car towards Gilimanuk, a 2 hour road trip, during which we encounter more stunning scenery with untouched beaches & huge swathes of rice fields & terraces. This whole journey passes through small, quiet villages, until we reach Gilimanuk, or more precisely the village of Cekik. At this point, we get back on the bikes to make the 80km trip to Lovina beach, cutting through the protected forest of West Bali, where we see monkeys living by the edge of a road. Fortunately for us, this part of the trip is not so sunny & throughout the ride, we are greeted by friendly locals, some waving our own Bali flag, with prayer offerings being made along the way. Having filled up with bananas and other snacks at the roadside, we then skip lunch and make the Sunari hotel by 3o’clock in the afternoon, staying & relaxing following a well earned massage.
Up at 6 the next morning, we leave for Amed, a distance of 80 km. The scenery is no less beautiful than the day before, with mountains hugging the northern Bali coast, plunging into the blue Bali sea. The scenery has changed now, with the mountain scenery & coastal rock cliffs, are all dominated by Agung mountain, the highest volcano on Bali. The good road condition allows us to reach the village of Amed in under 5 hours, finishing with a steep climb, from where we can see the beautiful scenery that surrounds the Amed with its unspoilt, clear waters, perfect for snorkeling. From here, we load the bikes in the van again, passing through Tirta Ganga Village, with more great views across the hills & the rice terraces, arriving at Perasi beach an hour later, well known for its white sand and clear blue ocean. Here, we stop for lunch & swim to refresh the body after our two-day cycling trip. After a couple of hours spent on the beach, taking in the relaxing beach atmosphere, we head back to Jimbaran in the late afternoon.
By: Jh 4 S