Indonesia - Bali - Danau Bratan - canoe - 2009

We hired a canoe with stabilizing poles on the two sides the day before at Ashram Hotel. We picked up the boat at the front of the hotel with three paddles early in the morning. The rear paddler sits on the stern gunwales which made for easy paddling. Paddling was harder for those sitting in the canoe.

The day was sunny but cool. We paddled to Pura Ulun Danu Bratan in about 20 minutes and circled the temples which were built on small islands. The islands were encircled by lily pads. The temple is very pretty.

Next, we paddled across the lake in ½ hour to the Japanese caves. We looked at the entrances but didn’t go ashore as mooring was very difficult due to 1m stone walls and water depth of about 1m.

We paddled along the shore line passing a sunken large boat, a small dam and the Taman Reckreasi Bedugul (Water Recreation Park). The shore returned to jungle and we returned to Ashram Hotel.

The total paddle was about 1 ½ hours. The best part was the pleasure of canoeing and the silence of the water being only broken by the sound of the paddle dipping into the water.

Canoes can be hired for 30 000 for 2 hours.