INDONESIA - BALI AND MANADO, SULAWESI - 31 JANUARY TO 3 FEBRUARY 2019

31 January 2019

A very hot day. I was picked up by the shuttle bus at 12:20pm and soon enough I was at Sydney International Airport. I checked in, proceeded through customs and after an hour delay due to strong winds I was on my way to Bali, Indonesia.

This was to be a 5 week trip in Indonesia with most of the time spent in Morotai. Morotai is an island in the far north of Indonesia in the Maluku Island group. Sometimes trips do not go according to plan. Not that things went wrong just that they don't go to plan.

I arrived at Bali, was picked up by Nyoman (200 000R) and driven to my hotel in Legian, the Grand Kumala. It was late when I checked in so a had a quick bite to eat and went to sleep.

1 February 2019

I woke and had a long morning walk along the beach towards Kuta and back. There was a lot of plastic and other crap on the beach but on the way back there were a number of people cleaning the beach and placing the rubbish in large plastic bags. I was later to learn that the rubbish is taken to a rubbish tip in Bali and there it sits. There is recycling of some materials. Rubbish not taken to the tips is dumped illegally behind villages and in the rivers.

Back at the hotel, I had a great breakfast and set off for my beginning of trip jobs. I cashed my Australian dollars, bought a Telekomsel sim card and a small amount of data which I needed to top up in Morotai and food supplies in the Bintang Supermarket. At the market, I caught up with Kirki, who was from Sangihe. She was very surprised and happy that I visited Sangihe last year.

I had a massage but the oil was too thick. It took me three showers to get it off.

I had a tasty lunch at a Greek restaurant in Jalan Double Six.

During the course of the day, I met Katherina from Greece who was 70 years old and Richard and Tina from New York City who were now living in Miami.

I finished the day with beers on the beach and watched the sun set.

2 February 2019

I was going to have a morning shower but there was no water. There was also no internet. I let them know at reception and went for a very long beach walk and sit. When I got back an 1 1/2 hour later, I walked into a flooded bathroom with hot water gushing out the tap … I had left the tap on … Opps!

I had breakfast, sat around the pool and had a good massage at Sicilian Spa.

It was time to leave for my domestic flight to Manado.

There were no dramas. My flight stopped a short while in Makassar. At Manado, I got a taxi to the Novotel, which was close to the airport. The hotel and the room were nice. I was upgraded to a better room.

3 February 2019

I had a restless sleep and a good breakfast, then caught a taxi to the airport for my flight to Morotai.

INDONESIA, BALI, LEGIAN - TOGETHER AGAIN FOR A SHORT WHILE - 5 AUGUST 2018

4 AUGUST 2018

Gusti met us at the domestic airport and drove us to the Grand Kumala Hotel for 200 000R. The room at the Kumala was 400 000R.

We caught up with Kara and Chloe, our daughters, for lunch. It was so nice to see them and talk about our travels.

We said our goodbyes to Chloe as she was catching a flight to Australia at 3pm. Jacinta went to the airport with her while I had an amazing relaxing massage at the Silician Spa in Jalan double 6.

We went down the beach for sunset drinks and were joined firstly by Kara and a little later long time friend Wal and Desty. We chatted and had fun. We walked to the Kumala Pantai Restaurant for dinner and continued drinking and eating. Kara had an awesome seafood pizza.

5 AUGUST 2018

I woke feeling pretty ordinary. the red wine just didn't settle to well. We lazed around the hotel.

At 11:00am, Gusti arrived to drive us to Balian (400 000R). We picked up Kara at her hotel, stopped at the Bintang supermarket for supplies and I cashed some money at the bank.

INDONESIA - BALI, LEGIAN - ON THE ROAD AGAIN - 12 JULY 2018

A relatively very cold winter in Australia. We had been waiting a long time for our next overseas trip and it always seems so far away but then the next thing you know you are there.

A shuttle bus to the International airport, check in, customs, boarding, flying, Indonesian customs, baggage, a car pick up by Nyoman (200 000R) and check in into the hotel. We are here!

We stayed two nights in Legian, Bali at the Grand Kumala Hotel (375 000R).

We arrived late but in the morning, we cashed money ($1 = 10 510 R), picked up some supplies at the Bintang Supermarket and I had a haircut and a massage.

We spent the day around the pool relaxing and in the afternoon we walked to the beach for the sunset, a few beers and a caught up with long time friend Wal and Desty. A great afternoon and dinner.

The next morning, we set off for Balian. Our driver was Nyoman, who we have employed a number of times. (400 000R)

INSIGHTS

The old staff at the Grand Kumala had all quit. The receptionist wouldn't tell me why but they all quit on mass.

Indonesia uses meter readings to pay for electricity and water. In addition, they can also pay for electricity as a credit system.

BALI, LEGIAN - ON THE ROAD AGAIN - 15 JUNE 2017

13 June 2017

All our bags are packed we are ready to go,

The shuttle bus will pick us up outside our door...

Shuttle bus pick up no problems. A long queue at the Jetstar check in. Customs quick and no problems. on the plane. - two movies, snacks. Arrive at Bali. Customs quick but the baggage wait was long time in coming. Nyoman was there to pick us up, a late night meal then Grand Kumala Hotel. We had booked two rooms for 515 000R per night per room.

14 June 2017

A good sleep then i had a morning walk down to and along the beach. All was quiet along the streets and the beach was just starting to come alive. Everything was looking clean and fresh after a few days of rain and the morning light just illuminated the world.

Back to the hotel for breakfast with Jacinta and Kara. We met a nice couple, Peter and Marie from WA. Peter was well but recovering from a recent heart attack. After that, it was a rest and swim around the hotel pool.

Jacinta and I went to do our  arriving jobs - cash money at ATM,  get a local sim card for the phone, buy extra food and odds and ends at the supermarket and buy Kara and John's boat tickets to Gili Air.  The latter a good price for 500 000R (rupiah) each.

Back to the hotel to pick up Kara for lunch at a restaurant down the road.

Back again to the hotel to sit and swim around the pool. After a short time, Kara and I decided on a massage at Ayu Spa. We had an aromatherapy for 100 000R each. It was quiet and okay massage.

Back to the hotel and then it was down to the beach for the sunset, a few beers and people watching. It was very lively and the sunset was Monet like as the sun disappear behind the clouds on the horizon.

We walked over to Blue horizon for filling dinner, chatted with a Western Australian (WA) couple and headed back to the ranch for sleep.

A fun first day.

15 June 2017

Another good sleep. I stated the day with a walk along the streets to Padma then returned along the beach. another quiet and pretty morning. I stopped at the Singkenken Hotel to book a car/driver to take up to Balian on the north west coast of Bali and 12:00 @ 500 000R.

Back at the hotel, we went to breakfast at the hotel restaurant. Breakfast for all was included in the room price.

I went to get more cash from the ATM. We could do only two limited withdrawals per day and we needed enough cash for Balian (3 weeks) where the ATM was a quite a drive away.

I joined the girls at the pool for a short time before I decided on another massage. A better aromatherapy massage @100 000R.

After that it was packing time, down to the lobby and a a two hour drive to Balian.

INDONESIA - BALI - LEGIAN - 13 TO 16 OCTOBER 2015

A 2 hour ride from Balian  and we were in Legian at the Grand Kumala Hotel.

It only took a short while to register and then settle into our rooms.

I've stayed at the GK heaps. The staff were nice and helpful, the rooms were okay, the pools okay, the gardens nice, restaurant okay. I felt very comfortable there.

We followed a strict routine of eating, resting, massaging, motor biking, street walking, beach walking, pool swimming, bintang drinking and shopping.

So what are the attractions. Well, the hotel is well situated near all our needs. There is a wide choice of eating and massaging. It is a short walk to the beach.

This part of the beach is pretty lively with the promenade lined with a few relatively expensive restaurants. We spent a few afternoons on a bean bag having a beer, watching the sellers and enjoying the sunset.



A relaxing pleasant end to a great month in Bali.

INDONESIA - BALI - LEGIAN - JUNE 2015

Off to Bali today. Final preparations. AHHH!  I finished packing but was 2 kilograms overweight so had to toss out a few things.

The shuttle bus arrived at my front door at 12:50pm. No problems getting to airport.

I get to the departure lounge and Nicky and her son are there going also to Bali.

I flew to Bali 17:20 to 21:35 with 35kgs of baggage and an entertainment pack. Uneventful flight.

At Bali, I paid visa $35US, paspport stamped, filled in arrival form, was harassed by a drunk Aussie, picked up my bags, handed in customs form, xrayed bags and was in exit area.

I hailed a guy in the waiting crowd and got a van for 150 000R to Legian.

The traffic was light and I was soon settled into Swiss-Belinn hotel and tried to sleep.
 

Yo! the trip begins. I started with a morning view from the rooftop of the hotel. Such a great looking small rooftop pool, bar with a great view over Kuta towards the airport.

 

Next was a morning surf check. The surf wasn't too good but it was nice to sit on the beach and watch the beach walkers and the surf in much warmer conditions than home.

 

 

Breakfast at the Mugshot Café - coffee, orange juice and bagette with bacon and scrambled eggs. Looked good and was yum!

Walked up towards Bingtang supermarket to change money and buy pulsa (phone credit) - 300 000R.

 

The cash rate was $1 AUD @ 10220R

Back at the hotel, I rang Ayu and an booked upstairs room @ 150 00R per night including breakfast and Nyoman for 11am van pick up for Balian tomorrow @ 400 000R. Too easy... so far. :)

 

 Wandered down the street which was much more crowded now. Had a partial maassage but it was hopeless so I stopped it, paid them, got abused then continued on.  As I continued, the massage girls were desperate for work/money and so were very aggressive/annoying. The place I had a good massage from last year was gone but there was a new one a few doors up which was clean and good. I had a good Aromatherapy massage at 80 000R for 1 hour - just up from the Grand Kumala Hotel.

I had a few swims in the hotel rooftop pool and headed for the beach for a sunset beer for nice sunset, chat with beach bar worker and nails cut.

The next day, I had a morning pool swim then a surf check, a short beach walk and breakfast.

Later I had an aromatherapy massage at the hotel - 1 hour at 125 000R. It was good.

All packed and ready for Balian.

Reflection Legian

I haven't stayed at the Swiss-Belinn before. It is a nice hotel and the roof top pool/bar is great. My room was on the ground floor near the dining area so nearly every time I opened the door there was crowd of people to stare at me... not too private. the rooms were clean and modern. . There was no balcony which I missed!

Getting to the beach was via a very narrow lane (gang) which wasn't advisable to walk at night. Robberies do happen I prefer the Grand Kumala hotel though it is aging.

In the streets, all was fine but the massage girls were annoying/harassing.

It is a great spot to get settled for Indonesia - money cashed, transport, supplies, etc but it is very urban and I was happy to be moving onwards and to a more natural setting.