Indonesia Last stop in Java: the ferry crossing to Bali Bali, Java, Travel to Indonesia 0 (0)To end this long and magnificent day from Kawah Ijen, we “only” have to go back down, put in quotation marks, because it is not an easy task. The road is a real forest path, full of holes everywhere or even not tarmacked at all, not very wide. In fact, the same as the day before to go up, but worse… It will take us a good 2 hours to reach the ferry dock which is only about twenty kilometers from Kawah Ijen (as the crow flies at least)! Summary hide The road to the ferry and a breakdown… Goodbye Java, hello Bali! The contrast between Java and Bali The road to the ferry and a breakdown…This really bumpy route will almost give me a headache, but the adventure side will make me appreciate this "exercise". The poor 4x4 will even end up heating up badly and will force us to stop for a moment once at the bottom. A breakdown which at the time left us doubtful as to whether we would be able to leave again...The driver kept his cool, and so did we… At least the shaking had stopped and there was only a moderate distance left before reaching the ferry dock. Before leaving us with the driver, we had asked to stop to withdraw some cash, just in case we could take the bus or taxi once in Bali and give a well-deserved tip.At first it's okay (even if it's quite narrow and not one-way...)The vegetation is lush. In the middle of nowhere…The driver called his superior to find out what to do, we weren't sure we could leave because the gearbox had apparently been damaged. Goodbye Java, hello Bali!The process for buying tickets was quite simple and good timing, we didn't have to wait too long before boarding. The quay seems quite modern and the ferry, quite imposing, is reassuring in its condition.Here comes the sea again. With the clouds we can't even see where we came from.The remains of an ancient volcano (unless it's still one in fact...but that's not where we come from, that's all I can say)Still on the ferry, we approach the coast.The next second he was laughing less...Between two waters.On the Bali side the sky is more welcoming.The contrast between Java and BaliIf Indonesia is a Muslim country, Bali has managed to keep its own culture, namely that the Hindu religion dominates (with a touch of Buddhism sometimes), with their specificities that make Bali so different that you would think you were in another country. From the first steps and kilometers on the island the obvious difference will be felt.In addition to this different culture (including the Gamelan dances and the music that accompanies it), Bali is also famous for its magnificent rice terraces, its sandy beaches with varied colors and in particular its world-renowned surf spots, in short it promises to be interesting in every way.We see the change straight away.How to welcome new arrivals?Very religious, the Balinese go to the temple every day, make offerings every day, each house has a kind of spirit house like in Thailand. Every day you will come across Balinese in traditional dress, events related to religion. Of a population of about 3 million people, they represent only 1,5% of the total population of Indonesia but 89% of the population on Bali (the rest being mainly Muslim and a Christian minority).And our first minutes did not even escape this observation, we were greeted by a procession passing next to the port where we disembarked.On the other hand, once there, we will have the bad surprise, being used to the “good” organization in Thailand, because here nothing, no taxi, bus nothing, nobody… So we go straight towards the road hoping to find a station, something. The cops at the corner of the port ask us where we are going and even offer to take us! Obviously for a fee but it seemed too expensive to us, 300.000 Rp to go to Lovina, in the north of Bali, where we thought we were going at first.For those who are interested, the price is actually fair, other people on motorbikes will ask us and offer us the same price (after negotiation) Did you like the article? Vote on the article Note globale 0 / 5. Number of votes: 0 No votes yet. Be the first to rate this article! Did you like the article? Follow me on social media Île Transport Volcano 0 0 Roman 29/03/2012
