Indonesia - Bali - Candikunning - Bali Botanical Gardens and Tree Top Adventure Park - 2009

The gardens are situated near Candikunning. The turnoff is near the big banana which is in the centre of the main roundabout.

There is plenty of parking. Enrty fee is 7 000 rupiah.

The gardens are basically large areas of mowed grass very suitable for picnics. There are a number of arboretums housing certain species of plants. There are also various ponds and places to sit around the park.

The park is well used by locals on the weekend. We went on a weekday and virtually had the place to ourselves. We went again on the following day, which was a Saturday and the place was crowded with huge family groups of picnickers. It was great sitting around watching and being watched (we were the only westerners where we were sitting). People were friendly.

The big attraction is the Bali Treetop Adventure Park. This is an excellent and safe colour coordinated ropes course. The flying foxes are amazing long. The course is suitable for young children to those who want a challenge. Fee: 230 000 rupiah.

 

Best Points: treetop park, gardens, locals, relaxing atmosphere, buying picnic food at Candikunning markets (hot corn on cob, strawberries, excellent bakery downhill pass the markets)

Worse Points: make sure you bring your own food and water.

contact:www.balibotanticgarden.org
kebrunrayabali@yahoo.com

Indonesia - Bali - Danau Bratan - 2009

Candikunning is situated near Danau Bratan. It is a small town with a tourist/local market and a number of restaurants (Indonesian food is the main items on the menus). Nearer to the lake and towards Bedugul are a number of hotels.

The weather is cool with mist filling the lake in the evening and/or early morning. The local people are very friendly and helpful. In general, it is a peaceful and relaxing place that is very different to the rest of Bali. The scenery is calming.

THINGS TO DO

All these can be arranged from your hotel. Guides are needed on some treks.

Visit the beautiful Pura Ulun Danu Bratan – beautiful temple on the lake. It is worth seeing by boat as some of the temples which are part of the complex are on small islands.

Taman Reckreasi Bedugul – this has a number of water sport activities.

Bali Botanical gardens – 7 000 rupiah entry - lots of grass areas to sit. Heaps of people from all over Bali and Indonesia come here to relax, especially, on the weekend. Get a picnic lunch from Candikunning market and the bakery down the road from the market. There are a number of greenhouses in the grounds with specific types of plant species. A treetops ropes course which is divided into colour coded levels and is heaps of fun – 230 000 rupiah per person.

Hired a canoe for 30 000 rupiah per hour and canoe around Danau Bratan. Two hours is plenty. Visit the Japanese caves (Goa Jepang) and the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan.

Walk through Candikunning and the market. The people were either friendly or indifferent when we visited it. The market has also small alleys to walk through. The markets are very interesting selling fruits, vegetables, flowers and tourist items. Strawberries sell for 5 000 rupiah a large punnet or 3 punnets for 10 000 rupiah.

On the left of the road down the road from the market is an excellent bakery. The food is excellent and it has an amazing variety of European pastries.

Drive along saddle above Danau Tamblingan and Danau Buyan – amazing views

Visit Mundok and walk around the one road town. There are places to stay here as well.

Trekking at:

Start at Danau Bratan - trek 4 hours - goa jepang, gunung catur, pura puncak mangu (monkeys here)

Start at Danau Tamblingan finish at Danau Buyan

Trek to Gunung Lesong

Trek around Lake Tamblingan – start with locals canoeing you across lake canoe, walk, temples, rainforest.

Waterfall trek at Mundok