Downhill Kintamani Cycling: True Balinese experience!

After having a fresh start at the Agro Farms, we continued our exciting trip packed with highlights, education, exercise and fun. Never had I imagined experiencing the magic spirit of Bali´s back site country by riding on a bicycle.

Road to Ubud from Kintamani Volcano is one of favorite Bali cycling adventures. Our guide, Pak Wayan took us to starting point where all of the bikes are parked. We were helped by his assistants to choose bike that fit us. I chose few since the paddle, sit and height was not comfort enough. Bear in mind, the trip will take around 2 hour’s ride which was equal to 25 kilometers or 10 miles.

Fully serviced mountain bikes were given like mineral water, safety helmets, and pick-up truck that brought few bikes in case one of ours had some problems en-route. The car assisted us all the way till ending point.

My notes, wear your most comfy sport shoes, hat or cap is recommended unless you think that your sunscreen is enough. And gloves as you need strong hands for controlling your bike. Though the road mainly downhill, they have hard surface and might rocky as well as wind up. It’s been a while that haven’t been able to ride on a bike again. Honestly my knees were shaking as I saw downhill road on my face. I managed to take a breath for the fresh air and pray to give me some power. I’d think of riding a rollercoaster. Indeed they are not comparable but thinking the up and down made me quite thrill for to start paddling my bike.

As the bike start moving on the rocky road, we pass small typical Balinese villages.  Having watched the daily life of villagers and country people put me some thoughts. They live a simple life. As simple as they think it’s enough to feed their family and happily live day after day. It wasn’t a touristic route.  Wind through local villages inaccessible by car. Kintamani mountain cycling offers a biker to the depth nature of Balinese natural environment along the downhill of Batur and Kitamani area. The orientation is on the nature and socio-adventure.

It’s rather enjoyable as we able to stop anywhere. Take some unique pictures while riding a bike downhill.  The kids who returning back home after schools and walk along the way are so specials. They greet us and wave by saying, ‘helloooo….how are you…? The tiny road is so clean that the locals sundried the harvested rice on both side of the road. Picturing the locals living in harmony and how their house has temples compounds.  Up and down over the tropical green forest, I saw various farming system, offering activities for Balinese, narrow path village to follow along rare-used roads and tracks.

Again we saw many children wave us to say welcome and hello. This made the road very enjoyable trip to rode.  Looking around the beautiful landscapes of Batur Mountain and find the process of cultivating or harvesting the rice around the field. The locals were harvesting their rice fields. We even invited to experience how to cut the paddy. Not an easy thing to do!! They cut the paddy and split the seeds by hands! All day long! What a work to enjoy tasty rice!

Sweat and exhausted. It was nearly half of the trip and we had quite some rest stops when passing over the villages. My face felt burnt with the heat. But then being able to see clear water on the river and blue sky are worthy. Still my knees were shaking. Two hours later we arrived on the ending point after crossing over a large river and another downhill road. Drinking water in bottle and Cold face towel were the best. Guide assistances were ready to pass the towel. As the fresh wind up the day, I realized how nice to have a simple life of a Balinese!