After cycling through a few days through Bali we were relieved to arrive at the Lovina Beach area. While quite touristy it was nice to enjoy a beachside bungalow, a wide variety of food, and few days off of our bicycles.

We spent three days in the area. The first day we went snorkeling in the sea just off the beach. It was great. It was the first time for Deb to go and there were lots of beautiful fish under the surface. Other than that we just hung out, talked and enjoyed some special desserts to celebrate Sarah's birthday.

After the three days we were ready to go again. It felt like the start of the week, since we were had had a weekend at Lovina. We were shocked to learn at the ATM though that it was already Tuesday morning and not Monday as we had thought. It is so easy to lose track of time once you get out of the work schedule. We figure we should relish it but it was quite a shock to our routined senses.

So it wasn't Monday but we were off and biked to Gilamanuk, the town whose claim to fame is the ferry that originates there and crosses over to the island of Java. On the way Sarah's bike (now nicknamed Spoiled Brat) had the chain come off three times and more seriously two flat tires. It was the first time to change the tires here without the knowledge that the local bike shop guys were just around the corner and so it was a little nervewracking. But it worked out alright and we made it there.

Biking across Bali the terrain was quite tropical with a lot of wet-rice cultivation present. The north-west corner of Bali was quite a bit different. The area is designated as a national park, but first biking through it we were wondering why. At a water stop we came across a friendly National Park guide who explained to us why the environment is special and worth protecting. Along the coast are the only mangroves in Bali, in the desert there are plant species that can't be found anywhere else, and the place is the only habitat for the endangered Bali starling. After hearing that we a little more appreciative of the dry dusty landscape that brought us to Gilamanuk.

After a not so satisfactory stay in the grotty ferry town we were glad to board the ferry bright and early and get on our way to Java.