<\/p>\n

There is a saying: \u201cTo really see a country, leave the city.\u201d Just as Paris may not be the best representation of France, and New York City isn\u2019t a complete\u00a0portrayal\u00a0of the United States (sorry Matt), the same can be said about other parts of the world, Bali for example.<\/p>\n

There are two well-traveled versions of Bali, both of which are arguably not the “real” thing. Who doesn\u2019t enjoy sprawling out on the endless beaches the island’s known for, or exploring the markets and eateries of the densely populated triangle between Kuta Beach, the capitol city of Denpassar, and the hill town of Ubud. They are alluring areas, but many don\u2019t venture beyond them. For a real taste of the island, try ducking into one of those tourist offices in Ubud\u2019s main road and you can arrange a guided bike ride through the less-visited countryside.<\/p>\n

The NZ Herald<\/em> recently described this excursion away from the sand and crowds<\/a>. Bikes and travelers are taken by bus, uphill, stopping at a volcanic crater that dominates the landscape, then onto breakfast where they’re likely to encounter a \u201ccat fox,” the nocturnal animal that is the source of the world\u2019s most expensive coffee. In the wild, the cat fox (or luwak to be technical) selects the reddest, ripest coffee beans and eats them, discarding the beans “out the other end” where the nuggets are dried and the beans are harvested. (The coffee sells in Bali for around $700\/kg).<\/p>\n

After breakfast, travelers then hop on bicycles and zip past the tiny shops that make up Bali\u2019s smaller villages. The guide explains the importance of BBC to Bali\u2019s economy \u2014 banana, bamboo and coconut \u2014 as they roll by farming terraces carved into the hills. Fields stretch onward, with whole families working to harvest soy, rice and tapioca.<\/p>\n

Though Bali\u2019s sand and resorts lure people there from all over the world, perhaps the true Bali \u2014 the Bali far from the visitors \u2014 is what many of are seeking. The author of the NZ Herald<\/em> piece would likely agree:<\/p>\n

We drift past exquisite rice fields flanked by dark, swaying coconut palms and pass the temples which shape and anchor Balinese life. There is beauty everywhere, natural and created. This is the Bali I have been searching for — contained, quiet, peaceful.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[Go by Bike by Axoplasm\/Flickr<\/a><\/em>]
\nBy Jon Wick<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

About the Author<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jon lives in Butte, Montana, spending most of his time on skis or bikes; sometimes both. He began travel writing while teaching in Korea and is currently pursuing his Master\u2019s Degree in Technical Communication at Montana Tech. Jon has begun writing his first book, <\/em>The Story of Will, whose movie rights are still (very) available. Catch more of Jon at TheJonWickproject.wordpress.com<\/a>. (@ExpedJon<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There is a saying: \u201cTo really see a country, leave the city.\u201d Just as Paris may not be the best representation of France, and New York City isn\u2019t a complete\u00a0portrayal\u00a0of the United States (sorry Matt), the same can be said about other parts of the world, Bali for example. There are two well-traveled versions of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":11766,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2569,1,2562,2572],"tags":[1113,2312,2313,726,139,1414],"yoast_head":"\n