Alas Harum Agro Tourism: An Adventurous Outing
During my trip to Bali, I explored Alas Harum, one of Lunga Tegallalang’s well-known agrotourism projects. The Alas Harum is a stagnant show of multifarious Indonesian adventures, surrounded by splendid natural views, located 25 minutes from Ubud. I spent several minutes in the parking lot when I arrived, where there is Indonesia’s largest Luwak statue. I was almost having trouble fitting the entire cast into a single frame then I decided to photograph whatever I could and proceed to the actual entrance.
It was a long, slanted flight of stairs that led down. As I descended the stairwell, a layered valley began to appear. This place is engulfed with so many fantastic adventures and photographic opportunities. Swings, Nests, and zip lines abound, making this an ideal playground for adults. My tour began with an introduction to the Luwak coffee-making process. When I arrived at the location, a few caged Luwaks were sleeping. Suta, my local guide, informed me that these Luwaks are fed coffee cherries in addition to a well-balanced diet of other nutritious fruits.
As the Luwak poops each day, one of the staff members collects the faeces and separates the beans. After that, the coffee beans are cleaned, ground, roasted and processed before being ground into coffee powder. You can also order a cup of Luwak coffee from their on-site cafe. Apart from Luwak Coffee, Alas Harum offers a wide range of other delectable coffees. While it is free to visit Alas Harum, every activity you engage in here has a price tag.
Each day, as the Luwak poops, one of the staff members gets the excrement and separates the beans. The coffee beans are then cleaned, grounded, roasted, and processed, before turning it into the coffee powder. They also have an in-house cafe where you can order a cup of Luwak coffee. Apart from Luwak Coffee, Alas Harum also lets you sample a variety of other delicious coffee(s). While visiting Alas Harum is free, every activity you take up here comes with a price.
I couldn’t help but sway on the Giant Jungle Swing after sampling coffee. This massive swing overlooked a dense conclave of layered rice paddies and coconut trees. Two Balinese men harnessed me, helped me sit on the swing, and then they just push. By the third time they pushed the swing, I was hundreds of metres from the ground, screaming with adrenaline joy. Two people can swing together at best. For the most part, I found myself admiring the multi-levelled rice fields from a balcony on stilts while sipping gourmet coffee.
At other times, I was observing tourists engaging in fun activities. Some were taking photos on the private terrace, while others were walking the glass floor, on the dancing bridge, or sitting inside the bird’s nest and posing with Pekak Brayut and the large gorilla face. The Alas Harum provides an unusual way of engaging with breathtaking scenery. The staff was pleasant and accommodating. I had a good time and bought some Luwak Coffee.
