September 23,

At 0630, we were up and at ‘em. We had our Javas, with breakfast coming at 0730. We mixed it up, having one omelet and one banana pancake, but sharing half of each. So good: omelet with carrots; and the crepe pancake with the little packet of honey they provide. Anyway, we finished and were out by 0830, loading into our car.

We were off to the West Bali National Park. It is Bali’s only national park, but it is the whole North west corner of Bali. It is a 26 km drive, back toward Gilimanuk, where we had caught the ferry. We arrived around nine, but the entrance fee with a guide accepted cash only and was more cash than we had. So we went to the closest ATM – which was in Gilimanuk; got the payment money of 1.1 million IDR or $66.29, and returned back to the entry area.

Finally at 0920, we were set for a “Safari tour” with our guide, Yonto. (I don’t know if it is spelled correctly, but his pronunciation rhymed with Tonto.) He got in the other front seat and I went to the back, as we go in our vehicle. As soon as we started we rolled down the windows, thankfully there was a coolish- breeze. We came to a turnoff point and Yonto directed Jeff there, it was at a fishing pond. We all unloaded and walked a bit. There were some men fishing in the dedicated cement fishing ponds. We walked over to a canal/stream and immediately saw a Kingfisher. These birds are always a favorite of ours. Then Yonto pointed out the King Palm trees. Some were dead. Interestingly, he told us once they fruit they die, and this is at about 50 years old! We were both surprised by this fact. We loaded back up and moved down a nicely paved tiny road.

We saw many more of the Gray monkeys- they are everywhere. Yonto was telling us about them. There are only two kinds of monkeys on Bali: these Gray Monkeys and Black Monkeys. He was explaining the differences between them, when he spotted the Black Monkeys!! We stopped and watched them. The Gray Monkeys are Long-tailed Macaques and black ones are Ebony Leaf Monkeys. The black monkeys stay up in the trees, are herbivorous, and have very long tails in proportion to their body. Also Yonto said their babies are orange! Of course, I now wanted to see a baby one!! But there were not any babies that he could see in this group. We moved on.

We were driving along the beach. There so many different bird calls and occasionally we heard a wave. Yonto was doing some calls himself when he saw a Bee-eater, then we kept seeing them. He said they migrate here and thought it might be mating season with so many of them. We moved on as Yonto was telling us there are two kinds of deer in the national park. Barking Deer and Rusa Timor Deer. Then, presto, he saw a Barking Deer! It is crazy how this seems to happen!! The Barking Deer are very small and are solitary creatures. Then Yonto saw a Racket-tailed Treepie bird with a long black-iridescent tail. I looked it up-it is a member of the crow family, but prettier. We also saw more Kingfishers – so brilliant; and then a White-bellied Sea Eagle, as it majestically flew over us. There have been lots of butterflies and dragonflies fluttering & flying all about. Yonto saw and pointed out Small Minivet, Blue Tailed Bee-eaters, and a Freckle Breasted Woodpecker. Then we finally saw three Rusa Timor Deer. They are similar size to the ones we know in the US.

We got out at the northernmost point, seeing many Common Iora birds, a White Shouldered Triller, and more Small Minivets, with one being a male. He’s orange and flashy. We walked on the beach a bit here. Yonto picked up a piece of coral and showed us. It was almost a berry, burgundy color. He took some pictures of us with Java Island in the background. There was a smokey-haze in the air, unfortunately. Yonto said he’s from Java and pointed out the active versus the inactive volcanoes there. Then we loaded up and turned to go back.

But not very far driving back, Yonto directed Jeff on a turn-off into the park away from the beach. Along this road we saw more Kingfishers; a male Ruso Timor Deer, with a good sized rack of antlers; and more Black Monkeys. One of the females in this group had an orange baby! Why did God make the babies orange?? This is so outlandish!! And what’s up with orange coloring in Bali?? Anyway, driving on, we came to an area full of big land crabs. “These are not good for consumption,” Yonto said. We also saw a Green Wild Chicken some time before, but I forget when.

Now we returned to the gated entry. Yonto got out and we thanked him for our “Safari” of the West Bali National Park. We had seen much more than we thought we would have. We did not see the Bali “National” Bird – the Bali Myna, aka the Bali Starling. I wanted to see it, but it did not happen. I looked it up – there were assumed only 50 adults left in the wild in 2020!! It is critically endangered!!! It is a white, medium-sized bird with striking blue around its eyes!

We left and arrived back for lunch, going to the Ode Resto. I had a Tuna Avocado Salad with a chocolate milkshake and a Sariwangi Black tea. Jeff had large Bintang beer and Ikan Kukus, which means steamed fish. His dish came with rice, and green beans with bean sprouts mix. It came to 210,000 IDR or $12.59. We went back to our place when we finished and spent the rest of the day chilling out in our room! It was another hot one. Supper was a small bowl of leftover pasta with curry, peanuts, and crackers. What a glorious day!