Capturing the Moment

 Muck Diving in Amed, Bali  We had always heard about the muck diving possibilities in Amed, Bali. For the past three trips we had traveled just north of this community to stay and dive in Tulamben, where the big shipwreck is as well as good muck diving. It would be possible to drive between the two but since we had a few extra days at the end of our Indonesia time we decided to give Amed the go-ahead and really dive into what it has to offer. Tiger Shrimp Elusive, Tiny, Tiger Shrimp  We stayed at a place just outside of town called Puri Wirata, because it had a pool and its own dive shop. We flew into Bali in the middle of rush hour but managed to do some weaving in and out driving to get through it rather quickly. It was getting dark by the time we were making our way up the coastal road. I wouldn't want to drive in Bali in the daytime, so I found myself glad that Heidi had nodded off and wasn't watching our driver continue to bob and weave even in the dar...

 For our last Bali adventure with Ed and Jamie we headed inland for a little culture, beautiful rice terraces, monkeys, good eating, and shopping in the art town of Ubud. Heidi and I had been here back in 2014 and even though it is away from the surf and dive scene we still had a great time. The massages are cheap, think $5 for an hour massage, there is a great walk set up through the many rice terraces that surround the town, and the center of town is a vibrant spot filled with art, shops, shrines, and restaurants.  The lack of rain could be seen in a lot of the dry rice fields although there were still a couple places where the fields were lush, green, and picturesque. We saw lots of ducks and skinks in the fields but no snakes like last time. By the time I morning walk was done the sun was beating down hard and hot. Heidi and I escaped it by heading to the pool while Ed and Jamie continued into the Monkey Forest where they had some very up close encounters with th...

Widia Homestay Jungut Batu panorama    Nusa Lembongan is a small island off the coast of South Bali, only 8 sq km in size. It is connected to an even smaller island of Nusa Cennigan by a rickety bridge just wide enough for one motor bike. This works out nicely here on these slow paced islands because motor bikes are the only traffic, save for a few work trucks. The water is famously clear, so snorkeling and diving are usually the order of the day. However, when the surf is up Nusa Lembongan has some famous waves from the rights of Shipwrecks and Lacerations to the left and Cennigan Point.      There are few little towns with the largest being Jungut Batu. This is where the ferry from Sanur dropped us off. Rocky Fast Boat ferries run multiple trips daily and jet across the Badung Strait in about half an hour. The Hindu culture of Bali continues on Lembongan. There seems to be shrines and temples around every corner. Even then entryway to people...

Giant Mantis Shrimp Orangutan Crab  Even though I am partial to nudibranchs as my go-to favorite tiny marine creature to look for in Bali, the crustaceans are not that far behind. They also come in a wild variety of colors and patterns with wild adaptations that allow them to survive on the rich reefs of Indo. From the incredible fast mantis shrimp to the sea star eating blue harlequin shrimp, to the little boxer crab that carries anemones in its claws like tiny pom poms, these animals are a macro photographers delight. Boxer Crab Boxer Crab Harlequin Shrimp Harlequin Shrimp eating a sea star Best Camouflaged Crab Ever Purple Squat Lobster