We arrived when the sun was about to set. Thick fog and cloudy sky practically canceled the sunset attraction. Which, is one of the main unique selling point of the lodging we rented for the day. The dusk breaks and the temperature goes down. It was freezing and dark.

The road that leads to our lodging was not…particularly brake-friendly and well-lit. We had not dinner yet. We decided to have a dinner at the lodging. We thought it was a bit price-y until the plates came. It was well worth the money. The portions were huge!

Night came. The insects chirp and buzz. I think I heard a monkey’s shriek. The scalding hot tea we made just turned lukewarm in less than 3 minutes. The hills and valleys were quiet. We closed the night early. It was just too cold to do anything…savory.

Morning came, we initially thought that we could go to nearby waterfall. Alas, the sky didn’t thought so. It was a gray morning, not a lot of the typical blue. It was freezing still. We chose to go to the Bali Botanic Garden (Kebun Raya Bali) next. But before then, we stocked up on snacks and filled up our belly with lunch from Rumah Makan Taliwang Rinjani. ‘Twas, delicious and filling!

We bought a local ticket for two for IDR51.000. Right after we passed through the gate, the downpour came. We were stuck. The rain only lasted for minutes though. Then we walked around the garden!

Literally. We walked around from one end to the other. It was miles, I think my knee was about to give up. We visited a few spots. We saw a lot of families and gatherings. The scenery was truly fascinating. Unfortunately, some spots are a bit…littered. Nevertheless, it was surprisingly good walk and venues.

One of them was the prickly garden, full of cacti. It was…interesting. Definitely thorny. It was one of the most unique sites I have ever visited. Instagram-able, I think the kids said. Each cactus also has a QR code containing the information about the plant. Educational!

We continued to walk around the garden that slowly turns into a forest. The views are amazing. The air was incredibly crisp. It feels like I was breathing in pure oxygen. We saw a monkey, and pure serenity, only abruptly interrupted by creaking bamboos and tall trees. The sore feet we got after that, worth it!

The day was getting dark and we just arrived at the gate of the garden. Like all things, the vacation was coming to an end. We went back home with a longing of a colder and calmer place than our home.