29-30 April 2006

Day One – Camping

Arrived Saturday afternoon at Natural Hot Spring (NHS), Toya Bungkah. It was warmly welcome by NHS’s Manager. At the restaurant, they served us welcome drink and had discussion about “Songan Sunrise” for tomorrow morning.

From restaurant we can enjoy a spectacular view of NHS’s swimming pool, Lake Batur and Maunt Abang as backdrop. Actually it has two tier, view was much better from second tier.

In between swimming pool and Lake Batur’s shores, there was allocated camping ground. Our tent had set up nicely. The imported tent has sleeping and front sections. They both separated by zip. Inside sleeping section you can adjust how much air circulation you need. The mattress and pillow were very comfortable to sleep.

Enjoy swimming and soaking in the natural hot spring until dark – Locker is available to store your gear. Afterwards, join in barbecue of fresh lake fish Mujair. However, we have to go sleep earlier as tomorrow 4.30 clock start the trekking.

Day two – Trekking and Sunrise

We drove to Pura Ulun Danu early morning and took about 20 minutes from Toya Bungkah. Park the car in the front of temple and there were no body except us and was so dark everywhere. We took all gears that we put in the car.

We walked further then Dadap Putih Hill was waiting for climbing. Another twenty minutes climb took us to the top of the ridge. Make sure your torch was working otherwise the trail is so dark. The altitude was about 1300 meters.

Once we reached there, there were two Warung sold drink and food. We brought sandwiches and hot water for coffee – Meanwhile we were having breakfast then sun started glowing. Sunrise starts from 6.00 to 6.30. We were prepared to make a lot of shots. It was so beautiful when the first light of the day was streaking across the sky.

From about 1300 meters altitude, we looked over at the east side of Bali, the view was breathtaking. We could see Karangasam and Gunung Rinjani Lombok – the sea was not clear enough. On the west side was the Lake and Mount Batur and many dots of villages such as Kedisan, Buahan, Abang, Toya Bungkah and west Songan.

Bukit Sari was next place before reaching Trunyan. We walked about 2 kilometers from Dadap Putih. Gunung Agung could be seen clearly, air is so fresh, bird singing, and vegetation is so green this all bring tranquility and serene.

From here the track took you up and along the steep backbone of the mountains to Batu Madeg, a village famous for its ancient historic stone menhir. During pre Hindu, villagers believe that standing stones were sacred and worshiped as their ancestors protected them – it is closed to animism. Further on, visit ancient ruins known a Tapak Ksaki Patih Keboiwa. Climb down steep path to Trunyan, the village of the original Bali Aga people, through their gardens of cabbages, chillies, onion and tomatoes. There were various shape of stones, according to local there were shape of seat, Kukusan (rice steamer) and foot print of Keboiwa. We asked the local, they said these stone paths were there many years, the local use to go uphill and back to Trunyan Village.

Farmers

Most male farmers woke up in the morning and went collecting grass. They get used to cut the grass on the slope of steep hill. As they raised cows in uphill area, it is dangerous to live free the cows, therefore they erected shelter for cows and tied up there – They called it Mondok. After taking care the cows, they came back to the village. However we found some houses here, they live very simple. They have to have big hollow place to keep rain water during dry season they have enough water. Do not expect Television as there was no electricity.

They are on the way to Ulun Danu to sell these woods.

This man was carrying palm leave for ceremony.

Editor’s Note
See map of Batur and surroundings.

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