Indonesia: Artini 2 Cottages; Ubud; Bali

Aug1

Our home away from home in Ubud, in Bali, was at the “Artini 2 Cottages” resort. It was a delightful place to spend the last couple of days of my Asian adventure before I headed for home after a month of fascinating exploring.

Artini 2 Cottages was our home in Ubud. Each bungalow had a terrace and sitting area. There was a wonderful outdoor pool that was just the right temperature. It served an a la carte breakfast but no other meals. I noticed that the ‘Group breakfast’ people didn’t have as many options as the ‘full paying guests’ were offered. Nonetheless, it was more than adequate and it gave us an excuse to try something different in restaurants in the town.

These carved figures guarded the entrance to the resort.

Our room was large and airy. It had a fan and an air-conditioner, but that was extra! My sharing a room mate, Brian, and I managed quite well with just the fan.

This was the view from our balcony. The rice paddies were in great condition.

Long bamboo poles supported flags of various colours, presumably to act as Asian scarecrows. I think the birds would have been used to the flags by the time these rice plants produced their grain heads!

Looking sideways from our balcony, the pool was a great temptation after a day walking the town in the steamy, tropical conditions.

The view down onto the courtyard from our room.

Our resort faced this street. It was usually full of people, cars and motor bikes.

An obvious sign.

How true of many of the current generation!!!!

Anybody for a lampshade?

This mural decorated one restaurant we visited. As there were the same number of monkeys as people in our group, it was hard not to match up images with group members!

Fried chicken, rice and a salad made even better with a Bintang. What a way to finish the day.

Next day… a walk around the area…

Many residences had quite magnificent entrance gates.

Alleyways were always full of interest, what lay at their end?

Another grand entrance.

An entrance to a temple, a place to leave offerings to the gods.

A Buddha with lei of marigolds and offering receptacles.

A wander around Ubud inevitably brings one into an art and crafts precinct. Ubud is known as a great place to find all kinds of crafts on sale from the mundane to expensive silver jewellery. In between are paintings, carvings, traditional clothing and all those things that look good in situ but you wonder whatever possessed you to buy them when you get home! Perhaps, to make matters worse, many items don’t have price tags, so bargaining is a must.

Umbrellas are up for sun protection and to protect against the threatening afternoon showers.

Tables and trestles crammed with merchandise.

Pot-grown Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia wulfenii) adorn this section of footpath.

Everybody is finished with the pool for the day, not a ripple left.

Time for bed. More anon.

David

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Indonesia: Pura Taman Ayun Temple; Bali

Jul29

Our next stop for a couple of nights was to be Ubud. On the way, we stopped at Pura Taman Ayan Temple in the village of Mengwi which is about 17km northwest of Denpasar. This temple complex was built around 1634 by the then ruler of the Mengwi Kingdom, Tjokerda Sakti Blambangan. It was significantly restored in 1937.

As well as some wonderful traditional architecture, we were to find expansive garden landscapes that included lotus and fish ponds… plenty of photograph opportunities.

A small covered pavilion near the entrance.

A guardian, suitably decorated, at one of the temple entrances.

One of the decorative ponds that surround the temples.

The locals leave daily offerings at strategic places dotted around the complex.

Various traditional building styles are seen within the complex. The terracotta coloured bricks contrast well with the grey stone carvings.

Detail of a demon guarding the corner of a building.

The public are not permitted to enter this sacred area. However, a high vantage point overlooks the complex giving a good idea of its extent.

Another demon god, this time “protecting” a shop selling tourist trinkets.

Another gate and ornate bridge over a surrounding canal.

Towering tiers of thatched temple shrines make up most of the profile of Taman Ayun. This area was closed to the public but there were good views from outside the walls.

This shiny mahogany-coloured beetle was attempting to get a little closer but…

…there were steps and walls impeding its progress.

Another view down the central axis of the complex.

Yet another view…

…and another.

Detail of the intricate stone carving…

…and some more newly restored carving.

Another guardian. Interesting but the symbolism of the detailed carving is lost me!

The gardens are not only protected by traditional guardian stone sculptures… I think you’ll agree that the spiny stems of this palm in the gardens are not very welcoming.

The garden surrounding the whole complex were very well maintained. This clump of tall bamboo still retained the sheaths that protected the new emerging shoots.

A bright yellow Heliconia stood out against its green leaves.

Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata), is a tropical tree that originates in the Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines. The green flowers slowly mature to a deep yellow with a red throat.

Cananga odorata is valued for the essential oil that is extracted from its flowers to be used in perfumes and in aromatherapy. This oil is credited with relieving high blood pressure, easing skin problems and is also considered to be an aphrodisiac. It’s often blended with other floral, fruit and wood scents to produce perfumes such as Chanel No. 5.

Here, in Indonesia, the flowers are traditionally spread on the bed of a newlywed couple. In the Philippines, its flowers are strung into necklaces worn by women. These strings of flowers are also used to adorn religious images.

The plant produces clusters of black fruit which are an important food item for birds, thus serving as an effective seed disperser.

This temple complex had proved to be an interesting visit on our way to our destination for the night at a resort in Ubud, Bali. More of that anon.

David

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Indonesia: Margo Utomo Agro Resort (b); Kalibaru

Jul25

After breakfast, we went back out into the Margo Utomo Agro Resort’s garden with our guide. We found several more interesting tropical flowers, fruits and spices… and a rather special animal.

Hanging from a tree was a local bat.

It was not particularly worried by my presence. Perhaps it was licking its lips in happy anticipation of some nectar from the nearby New Guinea Creeper.

The New Guinea Creeper, (Mucuna novo-guineensis), has brilliant pendent bunches of pea flowers. They hang in the shade created by the plant’s own leaves.

Like other legumes, the plant produces it’s seed in pods. They are generally bat-pollinated and produce seeds that float. The seeds can therefore be spread in streams and by the sea.

New Guinea Creeper has been brought into cultivation, although, at temperatures below about 10 °C ,they must be grown indoors. They’re grown as ornamental plants and, locally, for food. Interest exists in developing Mucuna species as a sustainable, edible green manure crop, dug in after the fruit is harvested.

An unknown fruit with an attendant ant.

Ripe, and not so ripe, coffee berries.

These wonderful flowers, belong to Theobroma cacao, the cacao tree also called the cocoa tree. It’s native to the tropical regions of Central and South America. The flowers are borne directly on the larger stems of the plant. They develop into…

…these wonderful fruits which, on processing, turn into CHOCOLATE!

A white turkey wandered around the surrounds of the old home… he “owned” the place.

Cattleya orchid, just growing in the garden. I can’t get them to flower like this even with all the molly-coddling under the sun!

At a tropical fruit tasting session, we tasted Star Fruit, Longan, Rambutan…

… Mangosteen , Custard Apple and Dragon Fruit.

This is the interior of a red-fleshed Dragon Fruit.

A Custard Apple being cut open.

A Custard Apple growing on a tree.

One of the more unusual sights in the garden… Civet cat scats.

The Most Expensive Coffee in the World, Civet coffee (Kopi Luwak), is produced from coffee beans that have been eaten by the Civet Cat or Palm Civet. In Indonesia these animals are called luwaks, hence Kopi Luwak.

Civet cats roam the ground beneath coffee trees and eat only the ripest of coffee beans. During the digestion process the red pulp surrounding the coffee bean (seed) is digested during a unique fermentation process. This gives the coffee its special flavour. About 24 hours after the beans have been eaten they are passed by the animal and left on the plantation floor. Farmers collect the faeces each morning.

The faeces are washed, dried, cleaned of any remaining pulp and finally roasted. Kopi Luwak is brewed in the normal way but it is recommended that it be drunk without sugar or milk as these additives tend to mask the unique flavour of the product.

So… anyone for Civet scat coffee? On cup of Civet Coffee costs between $35 and $100… compared the usual $4.00 to $4.50… a bit of a difference in both taste and price!

Also in the resort area, we went to a rubber factory. Our guide shows us raw rubber.

The amorphous mass is rolled a number of times to create sheets of rubber.

The still white sheets are washed before being cured in a smoke house… and that turns the rubber a very dark brown colour.

Later in the afternoon we sailed across to the island of Bali. More anon.

David

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Indonesia: Seloliman Nature Reserve; East Java

Jul15

After breakfast at Minggu, we left our cabins to begin a two and a half hour walk around the Nature Reserve guided by the head guy. I was more than happy to have extra time in this delightful area, time to photograph more of the plants. As I don’t live in the tropics, many of the plants and their flowers were new to me… all rather exotic. Any help with the identity of those marked as ‘unknown’ is welcome?

A sleepy volcano created a wonderful backdrop to the resort.

Some of the plants were quite common in the gardens that we visited, like this one, the Peacock Flower, (Caesalpinia pulcherrima)… here in close up, a single flower.

Also in close up, in all its crinkly beauty, is the previously seen Crepe or Malay Ginger (Costus speciosus) with its ballerina like tutu petals.

This dragonfly was flirting around a small ornamental pond. Thankfully, it settled long enough for this photo. What a beauty it is!

Perhaps, the dragonfly wanted to take a longer look at this waterlily, as did I.

Bleeding Heart (Clerodendrum thomsoniae) comes from Central Western Africa but is grown in many parts of the tropics.

Droplets of water clinging to a waxy leaf.

Unknown. Just one of the many that I hadn’t seen before.

A well camouflaged caterpillar eating its way through the leaves of its food plant. It was close to 10 cm. (4 ins.) in length.

An unknown member of the ginger family.

A whorl of spiralled leaves.

More raindrops on a waxy leaf.

This leaf has delightful symmetry and texture. However, some chewing insect decided to upset the balance.

A large, female spider sits on her silky web while her diminutive suitors look over her larder. They, no doubt, had other things on their mind, but we know what happens then!

Unknown… but superb don’t you think?.

Another unknown but delightful flower.

The deeply fringed petals of this (Hibiscus schizopetalus) lead to its name. The species name translates to “cut petals”. It originates in tropical eastern Africa.

The trellis supports a vine producing very large passion fruit.

Unknown to me… but it must have a common name referring to a leopard!

And yet another plant unknown to me.

A St Joseph’s spider showing its knobbly yellow ‘knees’.

I don’t think this spider bites but it looks as though it would at the first opportunity.

At the conclusion of the tour around the grounds of the resort, we crossed a road and headed off along some paddy bunds to a nearby village… but more of that anon.

David

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Thailand: Walk Near Morning Mist Resort

May2

After our wander in the garden that surrounded Morning Mist Resort, Brian and I decided to go out into the nearby area for a bit of a look see.

Out on the road we crossed a small stream. I’m sure it turns into a raging torrent during the monsoon season. Now it was just a string of placid pools.

Bougainvilleas were at their flamboyant best outside a local restaurant.

…a paler pink one. Bougainvilleas come in so many different colours. Originally they come from South America – from Brazil west to Peru and south to southern Argentina. The colourful parts of the flower are NOT petals but coloured bracts. The actual flowers are surrounded by the bracts and are usually white. The sap can cause serious skin rashes.

The plant is named after the French Naval admiral and explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville who circumnavigated the earth in the late 1700’s. A botanist, Philibert Commerçon, who travelled with de Bougainville was the first person to describe the plant but was not necessarily the first European to see the plant. The story goes that Commerçon’s lover accompanied him on the voyage but, as women were not allowed on board ship, she disguised herself as a man in order to make the journey. This would make her the first woman to have circumnavigated the globe!

The Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) is native to Madagascar. It is thought that it was introduced into the Middle East in ancient times. The common name alludes to the fact that it is suspected of having been the plant that was used to create Christ’s crown of thorns.

A close-up of a Euphorbia milii flower. As with the Bougainvillea above, the colourful parts of the flower are NOT petals, but bracts. The flowers are actually the minute structures at the centre of the surrounding bracts.

A colour variant of the Crown of Thorns.

Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is a native of Japan, Korea, southern China and Vietnam. A valuable perfume oil can be extracted from the very fragrant flowers. This is used in high end perfumery. Heavily diluted it is much used in Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai incenses.

unknown fruits.

an open pod of an unknown fruit.

Water Fern or Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta) is a native of south-eastern Brazil. It is a free-floating fern that has the ability to multiply very rapidly. It smothers and chokes slow moving bodies of water such as lakes and the like. Although grown as an ornamental plant it often escapes and becomes an environmental weed. It has been declared a noxious weed in many places.

unknown, but quite attractive, water weed.

A red Hibiscus.

A palm oil (Elaeis sp.) plantation.

Hanging Lobster Claw (Heliconia rostrata).

This Pink Banana (Musa velutina) produces fruit that can be eaten but each of these bananas contains hard seeds.

Thunbergia grandiflora and a large pollinating bee with luminous wings!

A fan palm.

After this short exploration in the area, we wandered back to the resort for a meal and to get ready for a night walk in the National Park. More of that anon.

David

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Thailand: Morning Mist Resort

Apr29

Our accommodation at the ‘Morning Mist Resort’ was at the edge of the Khao Sok National Park.

We were to stay in small cabins that are scattered around the complex. As I dropped my bag in the room, Number 13, I noticed that there was no AC but there was a fan and mosquito nets were dangling above the beds. Perhaps I could have a good night’s sleep!

I opted to do nothing in the afternoon except explore and enjoy the flowers in the natural tropical gardens that surround the resort. How often, when travelling, do we drop our bags at the place where we’re to stay and not explore its surroundings? We just go off to explore somewhere else. Seems a waste to me.

The main entrance to the Morning Mist Resort, rather rustic, very tropical.

Red Passion-flower (Passiflora coccinea). This plant is a native of the Amazon Basin but is widely grown in tropical regions. The fruit is orange or yellow and good eating.

Butterfly bush (Turnera diffusa)

This Thunbergia grandiflora has many common names such as Blue Skyflower, Bengal Trumpet and Clockvine. It is native to China, India, Nepal, Indochina and Burma. Broken pieces of plant float down watercourses and establish easily. The large flowers are followed by pods which eject seeds several metres on ripening. It is a declared noxious weed in Queensland. By the same token it has been given an Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society (UK). A climbing plant, it can reach 20m in height.

The shrub Vinca (Kopsia fruticosa) occurs in India and on the Malay Peninsula. It has important traditional medicinal properties and is used in treating sores and syphilis.

Ixora sp. come from Africa and Asia.

Costus babatus is a plant closely related to the gingers and heliconias.

The Blue Butterrfly Pea (Clitoria ternatea) is a widely grown annual vine. It originally comes from Tropical Africa and South America.

Hanging Lobster-claw (Heliconia rostrata).

An especially long inflorescence on a Hanging Lobster-claw plant (Heliconia rostrata).

There are over a 1,000 species of Anthurium from tropical America. Many more 1,000’s of cultivars have been bred from the original species.

A white-flowered member of the potato family (Solanum sp.).

There are approximately 40 species of water-lily (Nymphaea) widely spread throughout temperate and tropical regions of the world.

Sometimes called Spider Lily (Hymenocallis littoralis), this plant is very salt tolerant.

After this delightful, if hot, wander in the gardens, Brian and I went for a walk down the local road to see what we could find. More of that anon.

David

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China: Yunnan: #8 The Zhu Garden and Mansion, Jianshui (Part d)

Jan20

After enjoying the courtyards and rooms of the residence, it was time to explore the garden.

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Another ‘moon gate’ on the way to the open garden.

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An overall view of part of the garden

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The paths were constantly being cleaned.

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A wonderful old fig tree (Ficus sp.) in the outside garden

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Criss-cross pattern formed by the roots of a large fig tree.

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An interesting piece of dark rock with fine white intrusions used as paving.

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A dandelion that escaped the gardener’s weeding tool!

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Bird of Paradise flower (Strelitzia reginae)

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Bamboo.

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Young girls in the costume of one of the ethnic groups of Yunnan.

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Chrysanthemums

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And yet more Chrysanthemums

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The lily pond is the main feature of the large garden.

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A water lily bud about to open

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These water lilies were at their best

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Total perfection!

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A sun baking tortoise gave me the eye.

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Water plants reflected perfectly in the still water

Papyrus grew strongly in the shallow water at the edge of the pond.

Detail of papyrus

An outdoor setting… it didn’t look too comfortable but piles of fun!

This was much better… a pavilion from which to sit and survey the peaceful scene.

David

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David

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China: Yunnan: #2 Yunnan University and Green Lake

Jan6

After lunch, we wandered off into the grounds of Yunnan University. Pleasant surroundings and very pleasant walking under a threatening sky, temperature in mid-20’s, humidity high. Located at an altitude of 1892m (6207 ft.) and just north of the Tropic of Cancer, Kunming is often referred to as the Eternal Spring City due mainly to its weather. I’ll let my photos tell the story!

Yunnan University logo

We wandered down a beautiful avenue of Ginkgo trees.

A Faculty building – note the row of Zamia palms.

A bell tower – note sick, leafless trees in front of the tower.

The sick trees were being ‘treated’ by digging a hole, filling it with water and sprinkling a pink powder on the surface. What that was, I don’t know.

This sick plane tree was hooked up to a drip!

Colonial corridor in ‘The House of Huize’, built in 1923.

Another old building – now a restaurant.

Near the university is Green Lake which is surrounded by an attractive park. An ornate fence surrounds the lake.

A sign explained: “The Park was a beautiful bay on the Dianchi Lake before the Ming Dynasty and became a tourist resort at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty. With an area of 21 ha. (52 ac.) the park is nowadays well-known for its richly ornamented traditional pavilions and palaces, blue waves and ripples, green willows, beautiful flowers, fair landscape and quiet elegance of its numerous scenes.”

A patch of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) well established in a corner of the lake.

Lotus flower… impossible to resist a photo of this beauty.

Lotus flower opening up fully. Lovely contrast between petals and seed head.

Fallen beauty

A dried lotus seed head showing seeds about to be released

Unusual purple flowers contrasting with their silver bracts.

A seed-eating finch at home amongst the water plants.

Avenue of bamboo.

Bamboo graffiti

Even the public loo (absolutely spotless) had a dado of bamboo images.

A flower unknown to me!

Walking back towards the apartment, we saw this street sweeper taking a break.

Another sleepy-head !

We passed a small street trolley selling beautiful red ‘crinkled’ capsicum…

… and orange and green ones as well.

By then it was time for a break… a stop at a favourite haunt of my hosts for a coffee and half price cake (Thursday is the day for this treat). All very pleasant, before we headed back to the apartment to sort out my washing… a much needed chore.

Kenzo cooked tea of steamed chicken and rice after which I gave myself over to diary writing on my computer. Otherwise it was the Chinese TV programmes. They were no real distraction as I couldn’t understand a thing! Bed and sleep came easily.

David

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Category Archives: Parks and Gardens

Indonesia: Artini 2 Cottages; Ubud; Bali

Indonesia: Pura Taman Ayun Temple; Bali

Indonesia: Margo Utomo Agro Resort (b); Kalibaru

Indonesia: Seloliman Nature Reserve; East Java

Thailand: Walk Near Morning Mist Resort

Thailand: Morning Mist Resort

China: Yunnan: #8 The Zhu Garden and Mansion, Jianshui (Part d)

China: Yunnan: #2 Yunnan University and Green Lake