Natural healing water from mother earth

An afternoon submersed in a natural hot water spring

Leaving Vision Villas at 10:30am, 12 of us head to the Kintamani area to explore and experience the renowned healing from the natural hot springs found on the western bank of the lake in the crater of Mount Batur.

We visit the Toya Devasya resort as our initial stop with the crew and instantly we get there we know this water is something special. This is a commercial operation so the pools they have built look very resort style however the water is definitely chemical free and mineral rich.

It's so soft on the skin and in moments your hair feels like a babies hair, your body feels like it’s at one with the water and at some stage I loose the ability to differentiate where my body ends and the water begins.

In the hot pools the water comes out of the fountains at 42deg centigrade, mmm it’s so warm and soothing. If we had shampoo I recon we’d be great models for TV ad…

Then jumping into the larger cold pool, to be honest it’s really not cold, however it’s cooler than 42 deg. Oh yes, they have a poolside bar, my favorite! A couple of “naturally brewed” or maybe not, Bintangs floating in the pool and I’m in heaven… Now completely healed ;-)

There are also options to take your healing to the next level and book in a massage, lay around the pool and order beautiful juices and essentially make what is a fabulously relaxing outing even better. Of course you can also eat at the resort, very reasonable and spend your entire day there, and I guess it's plausible to stay overnight and explore the area even more, with cycling, boating across the lake, trekking/hiking and many other tours available to you literally all day. 

We head on back and decide to pop into the locals hot springs to check it out… It looks like a good option for next time, the pools are definitely more natural and the set up is clearly more Bali local style, for our next outing I suspect. Oh yes… no pool bar, bugga.

Back to the craters edge for lunch at one of the overhanging restaurants, OMG, the view is stunning from up here. All you can eat buffet, mmm, this looks like something I can sink my teeth into, and a lot of Balinese style cooking too, this is going to be scrumptious, and guess what, it is. Not sure about the desert, maybe leave to the locals, some cut up fruit will do me and a cleansing ale and I’m done… Slap me on the butt and send me home.

I give it:

Off the richter scale: 1 (as an indication to thrill seekers)

Value for money: 10 ($40 each for the lot)

Scenery: 9  (The view from the crater rim is breathtaking and the lake is awesome)

Cultural: 3 (We did get to connect with some of the locals at their hot springs)

Family: 8 (Absolutely, especially if they like swimming)

Avoid: This area has many street merchants on foot who want to sell you everything under the sun, all you say is no and keep walking. If you have a good driver he'll protect you as much as he can from them.

Check out our facebook page to see some of the other cool adventures we are getting up to.

A tube and some deep canyons – I give you Canyon Tubing BALI

Left Vision Villas at around 9:30am, Tyler, myself and Roz for an adventure we all had very little knowledge of besides a few comments from guests saying it was real good fun.

About an hour drive, some Indonesian revision and a game of chess on the iphone and we’re there. It’s operated by the same guys who do the Quad biking so we are instantly recognized by the staff, they are full of fun and nonsense, I like it…

We’re kitted up and head to the drop off point in a 1980’s Land Rover, amazing it still goes. There are a few surprises but I’ll leave those for you to find when you do it.

Ok, 10 minutes later and we are at the canyon start, it looks amazing, we’ve dropped down deep into a gauge and we are  looking down at a sensational river deep down in the walls, it’s kinda spooky and tranquil at the same time.

Splash and we’re in, oh… it’s a little nippy, glad I brought my anti-chafe top.

Roz is off first and we’re hot on her heels. I must have a dud tube, Tyler’s seems much faster than mine, bugga!

We hit the first stop, yeah Fox Flying, this looks like a ride. We buckle up and go plummeting down the wire, wow we pick up some good pace, what a ride, let me at that again, hope the photos came out well.

Back in the tubes and we’re off for the next section, cool drop off and rapids, the guides are so well organized and are protecting us at each semi dangerous part. Our tourist friend is having problems staying in his tube over the drops, I know Roz captured that one, he’s a laugh.

That was kinda scary especially when you go backwards down the rapids and drops, enough to get the heart pumping and some adrenalin flowing, it’s a blast. Now we’re jumping into the tubes and surfing the rapids, it’s so much fun.

Down to the last stretch, and 20 minutes of just lying back in the tube and enjoying the phenomenal surrounds and picture perfect overhanging trees, 20-30 meters above us…. Stunning, relaxing and revitalizing.... You've go to do it...

Check out our facebook page to see some of the other cool adventures we are getting up to.


I give it:

Off the richter scale: 7 (as an indication to thrill seekers)
Value for money: 5 ($150 for Adults and $110 for children)
Scenery: 7
Cultural: 2 (We went through some amazing scenic places however didn't really connect with the locals other than the tour guides and supporters)
Family: 8 (Absolutely, especially if you want to get some wonderful photo's and things to tell your friends at home about your holiday)