Pura Pucak Mangu on Mt. Catur

"What's the plan for next weekend?" That was a question from a friend after we did Mt. Lesung for the first time a week ago. So during the weekdays I searched for any possibility, and one of the mountain which is still in the same area seems to be good. Plus I found a nice blog about 10 Highest Peaks in Bali.

Mt. Batur 1717m, Bali

It is probably the most famous and common mountain(volcano) to climb in Bali. The reason is it is not a hard trek, quite short and low altitude, has amazing view, and many tourist package for that. I don't want to say how many times I have been there, because I might go again in the next weekend :) Many of my friends said that we have to pay and they will force us to use a guide as it is dangerous, they will follow you, bla..bla..bla.. But it never happen to me even when I bring foreigner friends. If you want to know the start point, write me an email to winaajah@gmail.com or contact my phone number +6285737159359. Sorry I can't share directly here because I don't want the association to start checking that way. Let's keep it free!

The first time I went there was 6th October 2013, with my roommate, Callista. It was 9pm when I suddenly had an idea to climb Batur, and I asked her where is the start point. She was worried, so she offered to accompany me. We started at 12am from Jimbaran, where we lived together at that time. I don't really remember what time did we start to hike and what time did we arrived on the top, but it was quite early.

Munduk Waterfalls

Munduk is name of a village, which is famous enough but still quiet. Surrounding by clove trees, looks like golden valley. There are some hotels and restaurants here, so don’t need to worry if you come late from Denpasar or Singaraja. There are some waterfalls in this area, I visited three of them. The first one if you come from Gitgit or Bedugul, a nice waterfall with coffee plantation and café. There will be asign in right side, "Cascade Munduk Waterfall", with small parking area n very small shop. I didn't pay any entrance ticket, but the woman in that shop said, if foreigner need to pay. From parking area need to walk down about 500 meters, pass a house and café. If you drink something in that café, you can see the view of waterfall.

Cascade Munduk Waterfall

Actually from that waterfall you can walk down to another waterfall, there will be a junction of footstep path. If turn left will go to the famous waterfall in this area. If turn right will go to another waterfall. Also can go there from Munduk village, and need to pay 5000 IDR for ticket. I met some foreigners with local guide from hotel, looks like a day trekking to some waterfalls. Also a couple of foreigner brought a map of waterfalls in this area. Maybe if you stay in some hotel in this area, you can ask about that map and the direction.

Gitgit Waterfalls

Gitgit is name of village in the south of Singaraja, which has some waterfalls and fresh air. From Denpasar you can go to Singaraja direction, after Bedugul, only 30 minutes up and down. There are few waterfalls I've been, the first one from Denpasar direction is Campuhan or twin gitgit waterfalls. Need to pay for parking and 1$ for entrance ticket. If some local offering to be a guide, don't use it, they will give you crazy price. Anyway the path is only one, so you don't need guide for sure. From parking area need to walking down, and there will be a bridge in the middle of two waterfalls. Better if you choose the left side first, walk beside the river and this is it! Twin falls with big pool. And also there is a root to swing like a Tarzan, nice to try :)

Gitgit Twin Waterfall

Mt. Abang 2151m

Mt. Abang is not as famous as Mt. Batur or Mt. Agung, but it's located between them. As it is not a volcano, so the trek is in the forest. The start point is located in -8.369231, 115.503197. To get there we need to drive to Kintamani first, about 1 hour in the north of Ubud. I started at 5 am from Ubud, with a friend of mine, an Estonian girl. We stopped at Kintamani to see the sunrise view.

There is the mountain we are going to

Mt. Agung 3142m via Pura Pasar Agung (2-3 May 2015)

Mt. Agung is the highest volcano in Bali. I've been there once with 3 friends of mine, via Kubu, the rare route people take. Here is the full story of that moment. Anyway, after more than two years, I wanted to try again. This time from Pura (Temple) Pasar Agung which located at 2010 meters above the sea level. I have 3 friends coming with me, none of them have been to this volcano before.

We started from Ubud and Sanur at noon, it was a raining day, and have been raining for like a week. We met in Klungkung and go through Sedimen, and then make a stop for early dinner, just before the road going up to the start point. We had some conversation after meal, as only one of them is my real friend, and the others we met from Couchsurfing. And then we continue driving to the temple. One of the motorbike wasn't strong enough, as the road is quite steep. The good thing is the weather getting better, we could see the volcano.

Myanmar in 26 days (January-February 2015)

Myanmar (Burma) wasn't in my top visit list country. But I got the opportunity to be off from work for a month and I had 2 friends come to Myanmar in the same time. Pagodas, Old Bagan and Inle Lake are the most famous tourist interest, yes we visited, and we also went to some location that might inspire you to visit. For the visa, you can register online, easy and fast. Print your visa and bring when enter the country by airplane.

Sunset in Bagan

Fisherman in Inle Lake