Up at 6:00 to pack and get ready for Pupi. She was late--I thought at first she might not come, and all kinds of thoughts were going through my head. Anyway, she was there by 7:00, paid up and we were on our way to the bus station. Booked 2 seats in the executive class, which Pupi had paid for before I could stop her.

The train was full, and our carriage had no air-conditioning, but at least there were fans placed at strategic positions along the aisle. We passed mile after mile of paddy-fields interspersed with forest, with every so often, in fact wherever there was a river or a stream, little settlements. Some quite pretty and comfortable-looking little houses. Wherever the river was more than a few metres wide there was some fishing taking place. We passed coconut trees (pohon kelapa), banana trees (pohon pisang), sugar cane (tebu).

Around 2:30 we reached the edge of Java and transferred onto a bus, which then drove onto a ferry. The crossing took about an hour. We went onto the upper deck where there was a refreshing breeze blowing across the ship. Then a four-hour drive over a winding mountain road, during which we alternatively slept and were jolted awake as the drive manouvred a tricky bend.

We passed a funeral procession, in which all the local villagers partook, accompanied with girls carrying offerings (similar to the picure on the right).

A great variety of carved figures and sculptures lined the roadway and decorated the gardens of the houses we passed. Evidence of a culture going back some time--must investigate this tomorrow.

Pupi entered into negotiations with a driver to take us to Legian beach. Another 45 minutes to the hotel, Puri Tanah Lot, which actually looks fine and includes a swimming pool. 150,000 rupiahs, if I understood Pupi correctly (she was speaking French).

We took a walk around the immediate environs of the hotel, all fairly touristy, but hey, we're tourists as well! At a "traditional Bali" restaurant had baked fish (unfortunately smothered in a thick sauce), while Pupi had nasi goreng with chicken. 40,000 rupiahs in total. That's less than US$6. We then walked in the direction of Kota beach, all the time being accosted by obscure characters asking whether we wanted hash.

The picture shows a Barong, a mythical beast that keeps away evil spirits.