An Adventure in The Brown Hill and The Green Pond

It was 5.07 AM when that message came to my smartphone. It read "are you awake?" It was from my friend.

I woke up way before that time. I had got myself ready by that time. I even had my shoes on already. This hike is going to be interesting, I thought.

My friend arrived with his motorbike few minutes later. I came up from the room of my home stay. The host has not wake up yet, but their dogs were already barking at me.

I hopped in my friend's back of the motorbike and began the ride to Beratan Hill.

When I got to the starting point of the stairs at the bottom of the hill, it was about just before 6. After parking his motor bike, my friend and I started walking up on the stairs.

We began our trekking from this spot. The sign board says "it's prohibited to catch or shoot bird."

The stairs went up and around. Along the walk, I could see the barren and dry soil with sands and rocks. The local government and people have conducted a reforestation program, growing many trees on the hill to prevent erosion. I think they have done a great job.

The stairs changed into regular path with many small trees in both of its sides. As we went up and up, there were less trees but more grass. From near the top, we looked to the east. The sun was still behind the hills.

Later my friend's uncle and his two dogs joined the hike. My friend said they often go hiking in this hill for exercise in the morning. It's usually him, his uncle, and his two dogs.

After half an hour walking and enjoying the beautiful view of the hills and sea far away, we reached the top.

We reached the top of the hill where the temple and pavilion located.

On the hill top, there was a small Balinese Hindu temple and a pavilion in front of the temple gate. We walked to the pavilion and rested there. The pavilion was a great spot to rest because the view of the ocean and little islands could be seen.

The pavilion on the top, near the temple, where we rested.

The sun was rising slowly from behind the hills in the east. It could clearly be seen from this spot.

Few minutes later, the sun appeared.

My friend pointed me a small island on the bay on the west side. I could hardly see it because it was a bit too far. The island is called Gili Putih or the white island. It is a small island where you could go on by boat from the main island, and takes about less than 5 minutes. The island is covered by white sand all over. Seems to be a beautiful place and not widely known by public.

On the west side, we could see a bay and an island far away called "Gili Putih"

After taking photos, we began to descend the hill. It was about seven o'clock when we arrived down.

Here is me and my friend, and his uncle. On my way back, the sun has gone up to the sky. My friend and his uncle There were many stones on the ground to hold the soil, trees were planted years ago for the reforestation program. It's barren but beautiful. I took this photo on the way down, I saw mist on the treess and villages.

"I want to show you something. It's the green pond." my friend said. What's the green pond? Well, why not?

I hopped on the motor bike and rode through small path. The path was bumpy and dry. Lots of sand and stone everyone. Occasionally I saw some pig sty belong to the local as we rode through the path. 5 minutes later we arrived in the "green pond".
Pigs sty I saw on my way to green pond. THe road to the green pond.

The green pond as it was called had green colored water. I wonder why? This reminded myself as I cruise on a boat in Borneo in a red river. The red color was caused by the roots of the tree growing by the side of the river. I wonder if it was the same. I wonder if the dark colored tree growing around the green pond cause the water to turn green. Or was something else?

My friend did not know either. Any of you know?

I got back to my home stay thinking what cause the water to have green color.

The black tree around the pond.
The green pond surounded by black trunk tree.
The pond was quite small, but it's been a popular site for photography, especially, pre wedding photos.

Thanks for dropping by. Until next time.