Mondfische Bali Nusa Penida am 3.Juni 2008


Die Bucht, die Crystal Bay genannt wird, ist schön. Der Strand, zu dem wir rüberschwimmen können, wenn wir zwei Tauchgänge machen, ist von feinstem Sand. Am Eingang der Bucht, vom Meer her gesehen, stehen kantige Felsen, zwischen denen, wenn hohe Wellen sind, Wasser gischtig hervorschießt.
Die Fahrt hinüber nach Nusa Penida, der kleinen balinesischen Insel, an dessen Südseit Crystal Bay liegt, ist ruhig. Wellen können den Weg zu einem spannenden Erlebnis werden lassen, bei dem man sich manchmal festhalten muss.
Wir starten kurz nach acht und sind um neun im Wasser – eine kleine Gruppe mit Kirman, dem erfahrenen Divemaster, einem Vater mit seinem Sohn und einem bärtigen Burschen, von dem ich, außer, dass er ein guter Taucher ist, nicht viel weiß.
Kirman kennt die Mondfische. Ich bin einmal ohne ihn losgezogen und hab sie verpasst. Wie ich mich geärgert habe!
Es ist der 3.Juni, 2008. Die offizielle Mondfischzeit beginnt im Juli. Aber es gibt auch Taucher, die sagen, dass die Mondfische das ganze Jahr in der Nähe sind. Sie sollen, wenn das Wasser im Oberflächenbereich warm ist, also über 25 Grad, tief stehen. Gut, die Mondfischzeit ist die Zeit, in der die Tiere auch in Tiefen zu finden sind, in die man als Freizeittaucher gefahrlos kommen kann.

Am Anfang des Tauchgangs: Eine Seeschlange. Ich mag die eleganten, friedlichen Kerlchen.
Wir folgen dem Abhang, der die Felsen, am Eingang der Bucht, nach unten fortsetzt. Dort sieht man sie häufig im August und September. Wir tauchen in Richtung Kanal (Selat Toyapakeh), die tiefe, strömungsreiche Wasserstraße, die Nusa Penida von Nusa Ceningan trennt.
Plötzlich gibt Kirman ein Zeichen. Ich schwimme langsam, fast behutsam auf den Kerl zu. Dann an ihm vorbei. Die Videokamera läuft. Ich muss aufpassen, dass ihn meine Blasen nicht stören.
Ein zweiter, etwas darunter. Meine Maske beschlägt andauernd. Ausgerechnet jetzt. (Selber schuld: Ich hab die Zahnpasta vergessen.) Ich hole eine kleine Kompaktkamera aus der Tauchweste und fotografiere. Dann schalte ich die Videokamera wieder ein und filme und fotografiere gleichzeitig. Im Hintergrund, schräg über mir, die anderen Taucher, die nicht so tief wollen. Ich bin jetzt auf 45 Metern.
Ich blicke auf meinen Tauchcomputer, der mich mahnt, umzukehren.
Auf dem Rückweg zum Boot, bin ich über den anderen Tauchern, die nun näher zu einem weiteren Mondfisch sind. Der Bärtige macht ein Foto.
Kurz bevor wir in fünf Metern Tiefe den Sicherheitsstopp machen, schaue ich unter einen Korallenblock, unter dem ich vor ein paar Monaten einen Wobbegong – Hai gesehen habe. Nein, er ist nicht da.
In fünf Metern Tiefe drücke ich Kirman die Hand. Danke, toll, wie du die wieder gefunden hast.
Bei Interesse auch www.divingbalivideo.com

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Tulamben Bali auf der Suche nach den Mondfischen – erster und zweiter Mai 2008

Nachdem Atsuko von den Mondfischen erzählt hatte, die ihr unerwartet in Tulamben begegnet waren, „musste“ ich nach Tulamben zum Tauchen fahren. Ich fuhr allein los, mit dem Motorrad. Das war etwas Neues. Ich kenne die Tauchkollegen in Tulamben und das Leihen von Flaschen ist dort kein Problem für mich. Das Verstauen der Tauchausrüstung auf dem Motorrad war gar nicht so schwierig. Dazu kamen dann noch die Videokamera und das Unterwassergehäuse, Lampen und eine kleine Kompaktkamera in einem entsprechenden Gehäuse.
Die Kurven durch die Landschaft Balis sind wunderbar anregend. Die Fahrfreude wird nur durch dichten Verkehr getrübt, der durch schwarze Dieselwolken ausblasende Lastwagen, zur Geduldsprobe werden kann.
Als ich in Tulamben ankam, hat mich einer der Taucher beim Puri Mada, einer Bungalowanlage mit Restaurant, freundlich begrüßt.
Wie, mit dem Motorrad?
Ja, warum nicht? Das ist doch mal was anderes.
Eine halbe Stunde später war ich im Wasser. Wracktauchen an der Liberty in Tulamben, dem berühmtesten Wrack Indonesiens, wie ich glaube.
Nein, ich glaube nicht, dass ich jetzt auf Mondfische treffen werde. Die erhoffe ich mir am nächsten Morgen.
Der Tauchgang ist schön. Die Makrelen ziehen glotzäugig ihre Kreise. Die Sandaale dümpeln in der leichten Strömung. Süßlippen schauen wie immer beleidigt und drehen sich vorsichtig weg, um auf Nummer sicher zu gehen. Ein Zacki schwebt, seiner Würde bewusst, ins Innere des Wracks. Das Loch ist zu klein, um ihm nachzukommen.
Ich suche ein Weichkorallengitter nach Zwergseepferdchen ab und finde keines.
Etliche Reinigungkrabben hüpfen gleich neben der Weichkoralle auf und ab. Vielleicht halten sie mich für einen Kunden, dem sie die Zähne putzen wollen. Ich bin nicht in der Laune, das auszuprobieren, den Atemregler aus dem Mund zu nehmen und die kleinen, fleißigen Gesellen einzuladen, in meinen Rachen zu schwimmen. Außerdem machen mir solche Spielereien mehr Spaß, wenn sie jemand fotografiert.

Tulamben Nachttauchen. Die Farben sind intensiver als tagsüber. Ich liebe die gelben Korallenbüschel, die im Kegel der Taschenlampe leuchten wie kleine Sonnen.
Torpedoförmige Quallen zischen durch die Gegend wie die Gegenspieler von Raumschiff Enterprise. Das Wasser erinnert nachts sehr an die schwarzen Galaxien des Universums. Korallengebüsch, oder was immer das sein mag, bewegt sich Beute suchend über den Untergrund. Die stecknadelkopfgroßen Augen von kleinen Krabben leuchten und verleiten mich zu Fotos.

Ein großer Papageienfisch irrt orientierungslos durch das versunkene Schiff. Das Licht meiner Lampen bringt ihn aus der Fassung. Ein Pufferfisch rudert rundbäuchig vor einer roten Weichkoralle. Ich fotografiere einen dünnbeinigen kleinen Krebs, der sich an dürren Zweigen einer Koralle zu tarnen versucht.
Als ich nachschaue, wie viel Luft ich noch in der Pulle habe, sehe ich einen Federstern am Druckmesser hängen. Ich löse ihn ab und er krault vielbeinig durch die schwarze Unterwasserwelt.

Der nächste Morgen ist wunderschön. Die Sonnenaufgänge in Tulamben sind etwas Besonderes. Fischerboote am Horizont. Winzige Wellen lecken an den schwarzen Steinen, über die ich ins Wasser gehe.
Werden die Mondfische da sein?
Es ist schön, am Morgen zu tauchen. Die großen Papageienfische schweben in Gruppen spitzschnablig durchs Wasser. Die Makrelen sind wieder da. Mit ihnen wird das Wasser lebendig. Manchmal kreist ein Räuber, ein Angehöriger einer riesigen Makrelenart, um den Schwarm. Aber diesmal sehe ich ihn nicht.
Ich fotografiere spitzmündige Seehasen. Dann suche ich wieder die Weichkoralle nach den Zwergseepferdchen ab und finde wieder keines.

Den zweiten Tauchgang beginne ich kurz nach neun Uhr. Die Wahrscheinlichkeit, jetzt noch Mondfische zu sehen, erscheint mir gering. Aber vielleicht stecken die Kerle im Tiefen, denke ich und beschließe, dort nachzusehen.
Jenseits der vierzig Meter Marke finde ich eine orange Oberflächenmarkierung, die wohl jemand verloren hat. Der Schnurrest sieht aus, als wäre er gerissen. Ich rolle die Wurst zusammen und stecke sie in die Tauchweste.
Der Tauchgang ist wegen der Tiefe relativ kurz. Ich mache einen ausgiebigen Sicherheitsstopp. Die Sonne scheint. Es ist angenehm, mich richtig aufzuwärmen.

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Atsuko was diving the liberty wreck in Tulamben - Monday, April 28. 2008. And there was a very rare experience for Tulamben. Two sunfish (mola mola) floated leasurely in 26 meters. The divers came really close to the strange creatures who deeply immersed in the cleaning process which took place. There are a lot of bannerfish in Tulamben and angelfish and they are both doing cleaning work on sunfish.
Atsuko was mesmerized.
O.k. the bumphead parrotfish were roaming around the wreck of the liberty. A lot of them. They are impressive guys, the biggest parrotfish one can encounter. But compared to the sunfish they wee just little, just normal guys one meets a lot when diving Tulamben. The sunfish were the beautiful exception.

For Japanese mambo lovers

www.blueparadise-in.com

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The other we did a night dive in padangbai. It was a very beautiful night dive. Cleaner shrimps where around - a bit confused because of the diving lamp. We are using a new lamp which doesn´t need a lot of batteries but is very powerful. It is also good as a light for underwater photography.

I am really looking forward to the sunfish who will be around soon. For me mola mola are the most fascinating creatures in Bali waters. Diving with these gently giants is a real treat.

If you like to have a look: I uploaded a short video on my flickr account:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9038210@N07/

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O.K. the title of this message is India. But I am not going to write too long about my trip to that country. I just want everybody knows that I was in India a bit longer than a month. There are a lot of photos on my flickr account (michaelhaas75atyahoo.de).
It was a very interesting time. I became a yoga teacher. I have been practicing yoga for years and now I have a license to teach it.
Yoga can be an interesting tool in teaching divers to stay calm under water. Breathing techniques can be helpful. And I am ready to tell diving students about about yogic breathing if they like to know.
Anyway, I am back in Bali. It´s the rainy season. The sunfish are deep these days. They love the cold water.
Hoping everybody is fine

Safe and happy diving and a HAPPY NEW YEAR

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Michael arrived in Germany, yesterday (October 22, 2007). Even being his home country, Germany is not his every day environment anymore and he has to get used to her again.
Asia and Europe. East and West. Bali and Germany. Contrasts inspire thoughts and angles in photography and video.
Life is a journey and successful documentation is something we have to be happy about.
I will upload some of my photos on flickr.

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Koro our little dog whom we found 4 months ago after he had a crash with a car or motorbike got killed last Friday, September 28, at about 4 a.m.
Koro got poisoned. We love the little guy, even if he is in another world now.
He made us very happy, he was playful and very smart. After his (car) accident he used only three legs. He was friendly to all humans and maybe his trust was what finally helped the killer to be successful. Because Koro had to eat the poison - some kind of cyanide - which somebody offered him.
The murder happened in Sanur, Bali.
We won´t forget little fellow.

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We were diving in Nusa Penidas Cristal Bay, September 26, 2007. We hoped to see sunfish and we did. It is the highlight of Diving Nusa Penida. Photos were taken, video was recorded. Divers sat smiling on the boat. Finally they had seen a sunfish.
Am 26. September war ich in Nusa Penidas Cristal Bay tauchen. Wir hatten auf Mondfische gehofft und tatsächlich haben wir zwei gesehen. Es war ein tolles Erlebnis.

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It was good diving today - September 22, 2007 - in Padangbai, Bali.
A lot of reef fish. Good visibility. Anemones floating in the surge. Moorish Idol.
And on the surface a school of dolphins send us their friendly hello.

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Diving in Sanur today, September 21, 2007. The sharks were almost invisible. It looked a bit like sharks in the mist because of the plankton reducing the visibility.
Lionfish were hovering close to the rocks. Scorpionfish. The atmosphere is great in Sanur. It is shallow diving and the sharks are around. But sometimes - they are difficult to see.

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We did two beautiful dives today, September 20 2007.
The Jacks were in the shallow circling their magic circles.
A big grouper looked suspicious. Some blue spotted stingrays hovered along the black sand. The garden eels watched out for the divers and retreated in their holes.
A good day of diving. And we will be back, soon.

Wir hatten zwei schöne Tauchgänge. Die Makrelen zogen ihre magischen Kreise. Ein Zacki sah uns argwöhnisch an und verschwand. Ein paar Blaupunkt Rochen pflügten durch den schwarzen Sand.
Die Gartenaale verschwanden, als sie die Taucher sahen, in ihren Löchern. Wir werden bald zurück sein.

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Diving is very good in August and September. Michael saw Sunfish, Wobbegong Sharks and even a Whaleshark! The water is a bit colder. The visibility can be extraordinary. Ideal conditions for Video and Photo.

Das Tauchen ist in den Monaten August und September sehr gut. Michael hat Mondfisch, Wobbegong Haie und einen Walhai gesehen. Das Wasser ist kälter als sonst. Die Sichtweiten können sehr gut sein. Ideale Bedingungen für Video und Photo.

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July, 11, 2007

There were a lot of Mantas at the Cleaning Station off Nusa Penida. It was great to record video of the guys and take some photos.

PED was another dive site off Nusa.
I recorded some video of a big trigger fish.
It was a great day diving. See you in the water.

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July, 5th, 2007

The water was cold. I was ready to see Sunfish. They did not do me the favor. Even the sharks who are usually busy swimming around Mimpang rocks did not show up.

There was a strange fish I have never seen before: a kind of a flunder. I took video of the guy who had a perfect camouflage on rocky terrain.

Tepekong was quiet. A lot of sweet lips. No sharks and no sunfish. At the end of the dive the new surface marker had a hole.

I will be back soon. The sunfish are out there. It is the season!

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June, 29. 2007

The weather is pretty humid in the Lion City.

I like the multi cultural situation. People are friendly and busy. Everybody seems to be in a hurry.

I took a taxi today to Johor Bahru in Malaysia.

Photos I have taken were mostly of people in the street. You got to be quick when you take pictures like this.

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June, 28, 2007
Michael went to Singapore today. There are underwater video lamps to be fixed. And the lion city offers different views which might help to get a fresh perspective on the Balinese beauties.

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June, 24, 2007
We had a great dive with Mantas on Sunday. The location was Nusa Penidas Manta Point. It was a beautiful encounter. Some were close as two meters. I took a lot of photos and some video.

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June, 14.2007 That was great diving today. We saw a lot of white tip reef sharks. They came pretty close and swam in front of the camera. Have a look at the galery.
Mola Mola will be around, soon.

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JUNE, 11, 2007 Costa tries to cut CO2 emissions to neutral till 2050. This is good news.

Why can´t the "big Nations", the World Leaders do more in protecting the environment. The technology is there.The will is not. America spent 900 Billion Dollars in 2006 for military purposes.

What can we do to preserve the earth for future generations, for our grandchildren?

I love to take underwater photos. Will this still be worthwhile in 50 years? Scientists are predicting there won´t be any fish left to take photos of. We have to act now.

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June 9, 2007

There is a compromise made between the world leaders: They are considering the reduction of Green House Gases. It is important, I think, that the world leaders don�Lt leave the summit angrily. And it will be possible that there will be more than considerations.
Much more has to be done that our grandchildren will be able to enjoy diving.
The environmental statement of the summit was just one step. But a very IMPORTANT one. We all should try to help improve the situation of mother nature. We can do it wherever we are.

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June 7, 2007 There is an agreement on the table to reduce carbon emissions to 50% till 2050. It would be great if world the leaders kept their promise. Maybe our grandchildren will enjoy diving as much as we do. Hopefully they will.

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June 6, 2007 I am from Germany and this years location for the G 8 Summit is in Heiligendamm, Germany. The leaders of the world are discussing counter measures to climate change and others. If the water gets too warm corals are going to bleach. If we want that future generations can enjoy diving we should put pressure on politicians to take environmental conscious steps. For a great future for all living beings. Lets walk together in this direction. We dont want that our grandchildren can watch the wonders of the seas only on photos or video.

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June, 4, 2007

The dry season is coming. The weather is getting better and better. There will be a steady wind. It is great for hiking. Good trails, not slippery. Diving will be more adventurous when the Sunfish will be around. I am looking forward. See you on the mountain.

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June 1st.
It is Fullmoon. That means that the currents are going to be strong. Fish action is great and there might be difficulties to take photos of nudibranches. Video is easier. Just try to capture the action. The sunfish (Mondfisch) season is approaching. See you in the water.

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May, 30 , 2007 The waves are getting high as the cold season is approaching. On the slippery pebbles at Tulamben entries and exits become the most difficult part of the dive.
The Jacks were circling. Always a chance for a great wide angle photo against the surface.
Other highlights of the wreck were sleeping or out for a swim in the blue: The big barracuda did not care about us divers, the bumphead were not around.
Night diving is always good to take photos with extreme colors. This time the surge made it difficult. Conditions like this are easier for video.

May 31 A black frogfish allowed me to take a nice photo. A dartfish did too. The bommies in the shallows are spectacular. A shark swam by. I was too slow to take a photo. Maybe next time. The water was not cold, still 27 Celsius. See you in the water.

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May, 29, 2007

The weather is unusually cold in Germany today. There is snow on the the Feldberg in Schwarzwald. This is just days before the beginning of summer in Germany.
Here the cold season is beginning soon and with the cold water the sunfish are gathering at Balinese reefs. It will be great diving with good chances for great photos and amazing video. See you guys in the water. Take care and bring a surface marker.

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May, 25, 26

Nusa Penida is a great island above the waves and for diving. There is a turtle protection programme going on - have a look on www.kurakura.org.
The view from the higher levels of the island are breathtaking. Gunung Agung seems to be very close. And the rocks in the south are very wild and very beautiful.
The dive sites are famous with sometimes strong currents. For video and photo lovers alike it is a real treat. This time I only took photos above the waves. But I will be back for diving. See you soon.

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May, 24, 2007
Now we have the Sony Cybershot DSC-N2 available to rent for divers who dive with us. Diving and taking photos and watch the photos on the computer to understand what´s going on with underwater photography. The Cybershot can also take video. See you in the water!

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It was great diving today!
The water starts to be cold. A clear indicator that the OCEANIC SUNFISH will be around soon. The conditions were perfect for video and photo today. 3 turtles hovered in ten meters and were not shy at all. Normally there is a lot of current at Mimpang. But today it was nice and quiet. Ideal conditions if you are a photographer or a video guy.
I am looking forward to meet the sunfish. Pics about Mimpang will be on the photo gallery very soon. See you in the water!

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The waves are getting higher as the cold season is approaching.
There was a lot of plankton in the water, thus the visibility was not as good as it can be.
The jacks were circling above the wreck. It looks great and presents good photo possibilities with a diver floating by. Diver and jacks against the sky. Try it out!
The sweetlips look good in the shallows, at the highest parts of the wreck. The water was warm as it is usually in Tulamben.
For photos about the dive site: Please have a look at the photo gallery.

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Saturday, May 19, 2007

The water was cold for the first time this year. Not cold for European standards. But 23 degrees celsius is cold for Bali. The cold water indicates that more Sunfish are coming to the reefs surrounding Padangbai, Mimpang and Nusa Penida. Because this is the case, I don´t mind a little shivering in the water.

I took some photos of sharks in 15 meters. One of them cruised by just about two meters away. There was a lot of surge today. It would have been easier to shoot video.
I enjoyed todays diving. Mostly for the white sharks. But I also took some decent photos of lionfish, lizardfish, moorish idol and nudibranches. Have a look in the photo galery: Diving, Bali, Padangbai. You will find the pictures in some days.

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Menjangan is a small island in Northern Bali, close to Java. It is a dream you can reach with a short boat ride. White sand, surrounded by fringing coral reefs. On the sand deers, sometimes who are not shy at all. It is easy to take video or photo. The deers are special. They seem to be more creatures of lush green forest or grassland and not have walks on a beach of a tropical island.

The island is surrounded by coral reefs. The dives are mostly easy without strong currents or good divers who love to take photo or video.
Try to take photos of divers floating above you with a colorful soft coral in the foreground.

There are lot of batfish who love for what ever reason to swim with divers.
There are great chances of photos. If you have a look at your photos later on the screen of a computer you will realize how individual these animals are.
There are sharks lying in the sand below 35 meters. Dolphins play on the surface.

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We were in Padanbai. Diving starts with a short ride on a juckung.
Sharks were out in the blue and passed us when we were drifting with the current.
The water temperature was 28 degrees.
A beautiful mantis shrimp posed for photos. Some cuttlefish were shy and swimming away. Small guys, almost transparent.
Maybe I will bring the video next time. With the lamp and the flash coming from above the objekt the particles are almost invisible on photos and video.

See you guys beneath the surface.

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Sipadan is a divers paradise. It is a real dream destination. What Michael loved especially there were the turtles who are not shy at all. It would be possible to touch them. But it might be better not to do that.
There are reef sharks in the blue. The coral cover is good with occasional destruction because of ... ?
The drop off to hundreds of meters is amazing. Directly from the beach. Flying like a bird.

Some rainforest is on the island. It is really a dream destination.

I will be back in Sipadan some day. If dreams will be fulfilled. But from May to October I will be in Bali/Indonesia for ADVENTURES here.

Fotos and Video can reach exceptional quality.

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MARCH, 24, 2007

This year I skipped Nyepi, the Balinese New Year. I did not want to sit 24 hours at home and be silent and don´t use the lights which neighbours might find disturbing because to do that is against the Balinese tradition.
Nyepi is a the SILENT NEW YEAR. If I could choose the day when I want to stay silent I would love to do it. But, because it is forced on me, this year or End of the Year, I decided to go to Java via Gilimanuk.
I traveled to the National Park South of Banyuwangi. There a plenty of deers, all kind of birds and beautiful beaches.
Have a look at the pictures in the folder EAST JAVA.

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I am back in Bali. The end of the year was quiet and peaceful. The Christmas dinner at Massimos Italian Restaurant was incredible. He is a real real chef and a culinary artist.

Bali is magic in the rainy season, too.

The beauty of the black clouds chasing each other over the sky is breathtaking.
3 days ago I was diving in Menjanggan. The deers came around the corner. Wading along the shallow water at the beach.
It is a beautiful island.
The batfish were tame like always and the bannerfish tried to pull me with them in the abyss. Then there were the Jacks with their big eyes circling around in the shallow.

There are not many tourists right now in Bali. It's easy to get good deals for whatever you do.

My telephone number is:
081 8055 41 859

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I have been back in Phukets Thailand. It's October 21, the end of the rainy season is almost here with sunny weather for the next months. For Christmas I will be back in Bali.

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