A Green(ish) holiday in Bali

I admit it. I am mad on organic and veg. food love gardens, especially when they grow food and think of where my next meal is coming from ALL the time.

Especially when I am on holidays and someone cooks exotic food for me!

 So it was that Bali lured us into its spell. We woke to watch the sunrise and the fishermen returning from a night at sea in Bondalem at the Shangri-La yoga resort. (No I am not really into yoga but LOVED the daily massages).

Visited local markets at 6am… and ran my fingers through buckets of slippery, amazingly muscley rice paddy eels but was not tempted to buy any to take home to eat with a green curry and rice…Yes, they felt good. I’d recommend a bucket of eels for gentle hand massage any time.

 Hiking up Mt Batur, the  still steaming volcano at 3am to see the sunset was a highlight. That’s it in the background the day before…What a steep climb that was!

NOT being tempted to taste Luwak coffee, the most expensive animal poo in the world, in the form of coffee beans…

But enjoying learning about drying and using spices like these tumeric and cloves at the side of the road in the cooler centre of the island. 

Couldn’t wait to cycle down that volcano and get stuck into the local food in all the little village warungs (cafes). The Sari Organic was a favourite , involving  a 2km walk through the rice paddies near Ubud, as was Bali Buddha.

Just loved the private villas with courtyards and walled gardens.  Visited the gardens including his private home, of the Aussie  landscape architect Made Wijaya. What a treat! Over 40 courtyards in his own home/office compound and very clever landscape elements included.

And thoroughly enjoyed the cooking school at Warung Enak in Ubud. Damien and I were the only tow with the chef Nyomen, enjoying our very special private tuition. She went hunting edible weeds in the fields and roadside for me to identify.

I learnt how big my Panama Berry tree is going to get. It may take over the whole house block…and learnt how to make all sorts of plates, cups and bowls to serve food in rather than dirtying plates or using paper stuff.

And of course, we patronised the local dance and music troupe, visited temples and saw more tropical gardens than you can poke a rake at.

A perfect break!