Karangasem Regency

Depart around 9.00pm from our hotel in Ubud, about 1h30 to reach Besakih Temple. Hike start from 11pm, and sunrise is about 6.30am. There is along rest near the top, where they setup campfire to keep warm. After the long break, last leg of the journey starts at 5.30am to go for the peak and crater. We are lucky that there is no rain, and the wind is strong. The sea of cloud is absolutely amazing, and the clear sky, with the wonderful ridge walk towards the crater. This is one of the best view I have seen after more than a dozen hike. It takes 4 to 6 hours to go up, and the same amount of time to come down. The peak is abiut 3050 metres, and I was mildly out of breathe near the top. Coming down is really painful as well. We reach Besakih Temple around 12.30pm, and be back toUbud round 2pm.

Great view of a huge rice terrace with Mount Agong as the backdrop, but sadly the mountain is covered by thick clouds. Food is buffet (IDR 125,000), which is average.

This place is out of main Sideman village, next to a rice field. The wooden room is quite nice and big, thus comfortable. With a patio and long sleeping bench as well. A really big mosquito usually becomes active around 5.30pm to 7pm. The nearest village is 10 minutes walk, but Sideman village is 2 hours walk away.

Though the cooking takes a long time, but the food is pretty good. Always order early if you are in a hurry.

Walking around the paddy field near our hotel in Tangkup, Sidemen. Beautiful countryside scenery.

Start the hike from Natya River Sidemen, from paddy field to a river crossing via bamboo bridge. Passing through a farm, then into another river crossing without a bridge, to Bali Countryside Sidemen (a resort), passing through some canal and finally onto a main road. From here to Sidemen require 2h by foot, and we couldn't hail any Gojek and Grab. Finally a local help us to hail a passing by lorry to go to Sidemen town. The driver ask where would like to stop, and we said anywhere in town to have lunch. Then he drove us out of town, to a restaurant by the roadside which he claimed the food is good. Now we are out of the town again. An interesting journey.

Our free ride drop us at the restaurant, quite a distance from Sidemen town. This is definitely not a warung, but probably a favourite place for driver to bring there customers for lunch. You have a view of a big farm, but we can't see the mountains as it was cloudy. Food is nice, slightly expensive. Luckily we managed to hail a Gojek back to our hotel.

Soto Ayam and Nasi Goreng for dinner. The food is tasty.