The area around Munduk in north-central Bali, offers a smorgasbord of waterfalls and streams. All that is needed are strong knees and lungs for the hike down and back up again. East of Munduk is a little visited cafe with a backdrop akin to the Pixie Photo booth that used to move around regional shopping centres. We had been alerted to the cafe by a small article in Bali's Insight magazine (thanks Andrew).
Look out for the small roadside "waterfall cafe" sign, park up, and the "gatekeeper" will greet you with wooden walking poles to support your descent; well worth the 3000 rps entry fee. Descend through regenerated spice gardens, cacao and coffee, cross the slatted bamboo bridge and take your seat at the modest cafe.
Fresh juices, smoothies, tea and authentic dishes are on offer, including lak-lak, a delicious Balinese dessert, like a small rice dumpling, cooked on an open fire, and topped with palm sugar syrup and coconut.
If you are game, this could be the cheapest place to try authentic kopi luwak, widely reported to be the most expensive coffee in the world. Freshly shat from the intestinal tract of resident civet cats, it looks like a turd full of coffee beans, and is claimed to have smooth "intertwined" flavours with a lack of bitterness. The question begs to be asked - why gave the coffee growers the initial urge to try this "delicacy?"
Hi Sally May and Tom - I hope this gets to you before you leave.
ReplyDeleteDo you guys have any desires from the South West that we can bring with us to you in Bali? Let us know - we leave in 12 days and should have plenty of room in our bags.
I was going to ask you about the kopi luwak article but I found it so all is good.
Keep up the blogs - they're great!