Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls

Found a driver for the day via Facebook- set up a pickup time to head out to a waterfall and maybe a temple or two. Sounds like a great idea, right? 

We knew that the Tegenungan waterfall was closer to ubud than seminyak but we didn’t have enough time to get to it while in ubud. Well- the traffic trying to get us out of seminyak really made us realize that. 

We were in the car for about an hour and a half when things started to look familiar and we were back in ubud. Maybe too familiar? 

We passed the Kemenuh Butterfly Park that we went to the same day at D’Tukad. Told the driver, Kedek, that we had been there and to D’Tukad and the waterfall at D’Tukad. Silence. I looked at Ciara and said what are the chances it’s the same one. 

Turned down a different road and there were signs from Tegenungan waterfall that we hadn’t seen before. Felt more like a different place. Kedek dropped us off and we headed for the enterance. 20,000 rupiah in we walked to the first viewpoint which is just past where the market stalls are set up. 

Same. Waterfall.

We could see the swings that we took pictures on and the yellow umbrellas of D’Tukad. Welp there’s two hours in a car I’ll never get back but I guess it sounds funny writing about it now?? Do your research kids. 

After a laugh with Kedek about it all he suggested a temple to go to in Ubud- Batuan. 20,000rupiah for entry and everyone gets a sarong to wear within the temple. Kedek walked us around and told us about the different areas of the temple, what they are used for and some of the meanings behind the figures. 

From there, Kedek suggested going to see silver being made. We got to Sunsri Silver and had momentary flashbacks of the potential Gem International scam. Went in and had to fill out personal details and then were led into the ‘museum’.  One room with cabinets displaying different gems, silver, and the tools that have been used. An employee was with us throughout but mainly stayed to the back of the room and just watched us. We were brought up then to the factory. A fairly dark room with different work stations spread around and men at each creating jewelry. We were told little details about each work area and a brief process of making jewelry. And then- the pressure to buy. From the factory room we were brought through six rooms displaying jewelry to buy. Moving as quickly as we could while being polite we headed for the exit. I looked up the trip advisor reviews of the place and it looked like the jewelry making classes would’ve been a cool experience.  

We attempted to go to one more temple that was in seminyak. After the insane traffic-again- we got to the gates of the temple. And it was closed to visitors due to ceremony.

What. A. Day.