INDONESIA - BALI - NUSA PENIDA - 23 to 26 August 2014 - 'CLOSE TO BALI 30 YEARS AGO'

INFO

Penida Gardens Hotel – 250 000R – fan okay
Motorbike - 60 000R
the gallery – nusa penida – 081999887205 or 087860330551 Namaste bungalows – jalan raya sakti crystal bay  – imam lalu – contact@namaste-bungalows.com - +62 (o)81917933418 – www.namaste-bungalows.com

MY JOURNEY

I left Legian being picked up by a shuttle bus and dropped at the Nusa Penida ticket office at Sanur. From there I walked to the beach and the boat landing area. I ate at a warung while waiting. The boat landed on the beach and there was a massive crowd boarding. They were mainly Indonesians going to a ceremony on the island.

The trip was calm and the locals going to the ceremony were very friendly and inquisitive. The boat landed at Sampalan, Nusa Penida. I got an ojek to look at the hotels. I liked the look of Penida Gardens. I settled in and organised a motorbike.

I drove along the coast towards Crystal Bay. It was an easy fun ride with little traffic but a lot of pot holes. At Crystal Bay, I put my gear into a warung and had a couple of snorkels. The water was so clear and calm and the coral and fish were plentiful. I walked around the bay over dry reefs and cliffs faces. It was awesome scenery!

That night, it was Putu’s birthday. He was the manager of the hotel. All the guests went to the party which was ½ hour drive away. There was cake and beer but no food. It started off as a food fight, then beers, then cake, then beers and then entertainment – limbo rock, guitar, singing and various games. The people were nice – Putu, the Irish couple, the Italian couple, the Basque girls and the Spanish guy, Putu’s friends and Miss Banyuwangi . The names of everyone eluded me except Marko the Italian guy.

What a great first day!

The next day, I chatted with the Italian couple and Irish couple at breakfast.

Later, I went a long ride to, over and around the mountains then down to crystal bay. The journey was so good being filled with friendly locals, deserted roads, villages, getting lost and pretty mountain and coastal scenery.

 At Crystal bay, the surf had changed from yesterday. It was wild and treacherous. The outside island in the middle of the bay had 3 metre waves rolling around either of it then crashing together in a spectacular display of water awesomeness.

I had a careful swim near shore. The waves and rips were deadly. Later, about 15 minutes after I left I was told that a Indonesian guy drowned where I was swimming by the warung lady the next day.

On the ride back I pulled into Namaste Bungalows, which wasn’t far from Crystal Bay. It had nice rooms, good food, a pool and a pretty rural location.

Further along the road, I stopped at The Gallery Coffee House, which also has good food. Over the next few days, I stopped here for a friendly chat with Mike, the owner, his daughter, who is a concept architect, her daughter and other visitors. It is a really good place to sit and enjoy life. Nice people!

The following day, I was on the bike again for a long, long ride along east coast and inland. Once again the scenery was pretty and the people friendly.

The next day, I had a snorkel at Toyapakeh in the morning. This place was really pretty with neat and clean warungs lining the white sand beach. There were many boats and a headland. This looked like a better place to stay than Sampalan. The snorkelling was okay but the stinging red jellyfish came in with the tide and I was out as fast as I could. On shore, I met five friendly ladies from Paris who were on a tour of the island. We chatted for a while in French/English.

I rode back to the hotel, paid my bill and caught an ojek it to my return boat to mainland Bali.

INDONESIA - BALI - LEGIAN - 19 to 23 August, 2014 - 'LEG-I-AN'

Info

Grand Kumala @ 420 000R

Cash rate $1 = 10 830R

My journey

I was back in Legian for the visa extension. So where is Brian? It took three days before he got his act together for the visa extension photos. On the day, we went in, got a ticket – 256 - and he told me to come back in the afternoon for the photos as my number was hours from being called…why I had to go with him to get the ticket is beyond my powers of reasoning. Anyway, he calls me a few hours later, come quickly, I have a new number – 215 - that is earlier. I get there but no Brian. The number on the screen is 214. The numbers turn over to 216 and a guy approaches me. Brian couldn’t make it so I’m here but you came too late. Ahhhhhh! I decided to stay until my number was called. An hour or so later, I was finished with the photos. So when is the visa ready? Well it must be processed a couple of days. Call me cynical, but somehow, I didn’t believe him!

I spent my time wandering around Legian, Kuta and Seminyak, eating, having a few drinks and talking.

I met a very interesting lady from Germany – Martina – who has lived in the Solomon Islands for a long time and had some good stories to tell.

I caught up with home friends Michael and  Dewi. We had a few dinners, drinks and clubbing it events. It was fun!

I been in Legian enough and was ready for somewhere new – Nusa Penida here I come.

INDONESIA - BALI - BALIAN - 13 to 19 August, 2014 - 'SURF AND SURROUNDINGS'

Info

Car Legian to Balian 350 000R

Ayu home stay aircon room -  200 000R

Motorbike 60 000R

Car Balian to Legian 450 000R

My journey

It was a smooth trip to Balian from Legian. There was lots of traffic of course but that is, par for course, on the road to Gilimanuk.

I settled into Ayu’s aircon top room – 200 000R – nice bed, hot water and a balcony with surf view.

Now, I have been to Balian many times. Each time it is a different trip depending on weather, surf, people and my mood.

This stay was full of surprises, I met very nice people, had the best motor bike rides and the surf was good.

The surf was over head height the whole stay with some quality waves on the lefts and outside rights. My toe was feeling heaps better and my surfing was improving with fitness and practise.

I met Scotty, who I ran into a number of times later. We got a long well from the start and had so much past history in common yet we had never met.

Talking to Scotty one day and another guy walks up. It was Mark, who I met in Sri Lanka in 1985. He was building a house at Balian. It was great to see him again.

I met Ann from Bordeaux; she had an interesting life having had three kids and lived in Caribbean for years.

Amazing who you meet there!

I hired a motorbike and had a number of bike rides in the afternoon when the wind turned onshore.

I motored north taking in the beaches north of Balian. It was great fun motoring along the main road then turning off onto minor roads and dirt tracks. I rode pass and along rice fields, beaches and villages. I had a few chats with some locals.

One guy had a series of strings with plastic tied to it at various intervals all around his rice field. When birds landed in his rice fields, he tugged on the string which vibrated along the length and breadth of the string in large waves scaring off would be rice eating birds. I also came across a resort on a very isolated stretch of beach. It looked nice, quiet but too lonely for me.

On another ride, I rode north to Truckstops and had a walk around the reef and beach, then up to Pura Siwi Rambut, which is past Medewi. This temple is in a very scenic coastal location with a number of temples over the complex. Pretty!

 I followed coastal road but there was not much surf potential except erratic beach breaks. At one stage, after mermaid statue, the road turned to dirt and passed rice fields when suddenly there were a series of dingy looking karaoke bars. Welcome to Negara brothel district! The main road was fun but the buses were very hazardous – move off the road or die – I chose to move.

On another ride, I went up into the mountains behind Balian. It was such a good ride. Up, up, up and a turnoff to a temple led to a view over the coast from Balian to Soka. On the way back, I took a small turn off which lead down the mountain along a dirt/concrete, road/track. There were a lot of people to talk to along the way, which were working on road maintenance or tending to their fields. It was steep and challenging!

I got a call from Brian – visa extension – to come back for visa photos. Off to Legian I go!

INDONESIA - BALI - LEGIAN - 11 to 13 August 2014 - 'THINGS TO DO'

Info

Taxi – Bali airport to legian – 150 000R extra for surfboard

Car/driver - Balian 350 000R

Grand Kumala hotel – 450 000R

My journey

Out of Java and into Bali. I had an easy flight, taxi to Legian and settled into the Grand Kumala Hotel.

Later, I walked down the beach for a few beers and ran into Kay and Neil and met a nice Dutch family.

The next day was ‘Job’ day. My friend Harry from Sumbawa had died a few weeks before in a motorbike accident.  I sent 1 500 000R to Harry’s wife. The money would help her buy a goat. He left behind four kids.

I organised my visa extension - 705 000R - with Brian through the Kumala hotel. It was to take five days. Sometimes things don’t work out the way they are planned.

I had a haircut for 100 000R and a massage for 50 000R

I collated information on getting to/from Nusa Penida  and organised transport to Balian.

Finally, towards sunset I walked down the beach for a walk/beer and ran into Neil, Kay again and Julie, Kay’s friend.

The next day, I was off to Balian and surfing and clean air.

 

THAILAND - PHUKET - PATONG - 28 July to 5 August, 2014 - 'OLD FRIENDS, LADYBOYS AND SURF'

Info

taxi  - hotel to Bali airport –100 000R

Airport departure tax Bali - 200 000R each

Phuket shuttle – return transfers - +66835504308

Ibis Phuket hotel – breakfast – 8 nights – standard room - 10 Chalermphrakiat Road, Patong - +66 2/6592888

Khai islands - half day snorkel - 1200B

Our journey

From Bali to Patong here we go!

BUT at the airport, we are told the plane is delayed and because it is delayed we need to change our flights as we can’t make the connecting flight. Our only choice was to fly Denpasar – KL – Bangkok – Phuket. Now we will arrive in Phuket around midnight instead of 5pm. So now we have to contact the shuttle bus of the flight change… not that happy so what do we get for compensation… free VIP lounge entry.  OK. Check in, etc and off to the lounge… two bottles of red wine later… maybe a delayed flight isn’t too bad after all.

Well, we nearly missed the flight leaving Bali as we were enjoying the lounge. The transits were smooth and we arrived tired at Phuket airport.

The shuttle bus was there. I had a battle with the ATM. We arrived at the Ibis Hotel in Patong, Settled in and flaked out!

The next day, we were able to see/feel the hotel. It had a large foyer with helpful staff, a pool with deck chairs. The rooms and bathroom were small but comfortable. The rooms weren’t sound proof but there was only one night when people were a little noisy. It also had a small balcony overlooking the pool.

I had an early walk along beach and streets. I had a second walk after breakfast with Jacinta along the streets and beach. We got a Thai Sim card for 50B plus 100B credit and Atm withdrawal of 20 000B.

The weather wasn’t the best but it was okay for sitting around in the shelter of the pool and having a swim.

I had contacted an old friend earlier and we had made arrangements to have dinner at their house. Peter picked us up in his car. He and his wife were living at the International School. The dinner was so good! Kaey, Peter’s wife is Thai and an excellent cook. Also at the dinner, were two other old friends, Stew and Julie and their daughter Caitlin and her boyfriend. It was such a good night! Beautiful people!

The next day, we walked, ate, shopped, massaged and swam at the beach. That night, we walked down to Banga Street – drinks, people watch, nightclub, live music. The best parts were the ladyboys, who were so dressed up in the street posing for photos and the lady boy show that was entertaining and funny. One walked right up to me with just his/her panties on and wiggled his/her massive boobs at me and huffed away.

Over the next two days, we beached and ate. I had four okay surfs on Patong Beach and my toe was fine.

The next day, I went on a snorkelling boat trip to the Khai islands for a half day snorkel 1200B. The other tourists were friendly - three Honkies, 1 Chinese/Malaysian and 1 Australian/Chinese. The Thai host lady was nice and entertaining.

1^st dive – fish, poor visibility, crowd

2^nd dive – off boat, fed food to fish

3^rd dive – crowded, poor visibility and nowhere to snorkel

On a couple of days, I hired a mountain bike and rode around Patong streets and beach. It was heaps of fun weaving along the paths and traffic.

On the second last day, Jacinta was flying back to Australia. We were going to travel together for 2 more months but she had to head back as our daughter wasn’t well. It was a sad day!


We drove out to the airport and she jumped on the plane at 9:20 pm. I returned to the hotel.

The following day, I was up early, walked and sat on the beach. I had a short massage and a short shop then I was off to the airport for my flight to Jakarta, Java, Indonesia

In reflection, Patong was fun! I enjoyed seeing my old friends, riding a bike, snorkelling, surfing, the ladyboys and of course, Jacinta’s company.


Sekarang, saya ke jawa!

INDONESIA - BALI - LEGIAN - 24 to 28 July 2014 - 'FAMILY'

Info

Grand Kumala - 650 000R – superior

Angelina Spa - Jalan Double 66

Motorbike hire from hotel - 40 000R

Bali international airport departure tax – 200 000R

Our journey

We boated and shuttled bus it from Gili Trawangan to Legian and settled back into the Grand Kumala Hotel.

I had hired a motorbike to transport Kara around .

Over the next two days, the girls had facials, massages and eyelash extensions at Angelina Spa, hung out at the hotel pool and the beach.

We dropped the girls at Bali International Airport. They flew back to Australia and Jacinta and I, returned to the hotel. Kara wasn’t doing too well. Jacinta and I discussed the situation and concluded that Jacinta would head back to Australia after Patong, Thailand and I would continue onwards and return when needed.

The girls returned to Australia safely. Jacinta and I spent the next few days around the pool, eating, walking and hanging out in the afternoon down the beach. We danced to a band called ‘top 40’ one night. It was fun!

Our time in Bali was coming to a close. We car/driver to the airport bound for Patong, Thailand. Selamat Tinggal - Indonesia and sawadee - Thailand.

INDONESIA - LOMBOK - GILI TRAWANGAN - 19 to 24 July, 2014 - 'THE GILI T'

Info

Ekajaya fast boat – 1 000 000R return with pick up/drop off.

Indigenous Bungalows –

Villa Unggul – 1 000 000R per room with breakfast

Cimodo (horse/cart) – generally 50 000 to 75 000R – not worth it.

Three island snorkel trip - 100 000R

Our journey

We left (me, my wife and two daughters) Legian at 8am bound for the fast boat for the Gili Islands at Padangbai. The shuttle bus was old and uncomfortable. On arrival at padangbai, the rear luggage door wouldn’t open. It took a lot of prying and time to get it opened.

The boat trip was calm and fast. The boat landed on the beach at Gili Trawangan. We had booked Indigenous Bungalows for our stay. There was supposed to be someone there to show us the way. It took ½ for them to turn up. We got two cimodos (horse/carts) to the hotel.

The carts were a novelty but the suspension was very poor so overall it wasn’t much fun after a few minutes bouncing around.

The hotel was located at the north of the island and inland. It was suppose to be a short walk but the road/track was 10cm deep in dust and a 20 minute walk to the nearest restaurant. The hotel was nice with big rooms but it just wasn’t suitable for this trip. One of my daughters was unwell and the walk distance to the beach/restaurants was not possible for her.

With the coming of the new day, I went looking for a new place to stay. We decided to go more upmarket and have some luxury on this family leg of the trip.

After breakfast, we moved to the new hotel, Villa Vu. It was across the road from the beach and near restaurants and other facilities. The hotel had a great pool, restaurant and its own area on the beach. The rooms were huge and very comfortable. The bathrooms were massive as well. Everyone was happy!

We spent the rest of our time in Gili Trawangan sitting, swimming and snorkelling around the pool or on the beach. The snorkelling off the beach was good but boats were a problem. That is, not getting run over by them. The swimming was best at high tide.

I had a couple of bike rides that were hard but fun. I cycled around the island and on another ride I rode to the south to watch the sunset. The riding was fun but finding a good bike was difficult. Most were poorly maintained but they were willing to adjust it to my liking.

On another day, I had a snorkelling trip around the three islands with a nice friendly, crowd of people from a variety of places around the world. The coral was good with a number of fish. The currents were strong at some locations.

While I did my cycling and snorkelling the girls baked.

Food on Gili Trawangan was usually good but this time the ‘better’ restaurants were the worse and the ‘not so good looking’ restaurants were the best. The latter was better in terms of food and service.

I wasn’t long before our time in Gili T came to an end. The journey back to Legian was eventful with rough seas, poor service and a shuttle bus that dumped everyone at bemo corner. I definitely do not recommend the Ekajaya. Overall the trip to Gili Trawangan was hot, warm and fun and most of all everyone was happy.

 

INDONESIA - BALI - PADANGBAI - 14 to 18 July 2014 - 'SNORKEL, BEACH, HIKE'

Info

Car/driver from Ubud to Padangbai

Car/driver from Padangbai to Legian – 250 000R

Kerti’s Beach Inn - jl Silayukti - 036341391 - www.kertibeach-inn.com

Our journey

We drove from Ubud to Padangbai and checked in at Kerti’s. The room was upstairs with a patio view over Padangbai harbour and beach. The room itself was small and the aircon noisy but the bed was okay and the room was clean.

Padangbai was a port town. The large interisland ferries between Bali and Lombok depart and land here about every hour. The dock area was rough and messy. The west end of Padangbai harbour was very dirty with a sewerage waterway emptying between the docks and the cliffs. Walking along the water’s edge from the docks was a rough area of rocks and reef backed by a jumbled concrete retaining wall. Next, came the pier for the boats to the Gilli Islands in Lombok. After the docks, was the white sand beach. Boats are on the beach or moored just a little offshore. The boats are mainly for tourism – diving, snorkelling and touring. Back from the beach was the main town. The east end has more expensive hotels and the centre area is the start of the main town which spreads out north and eastward up a large hill. There are number of restaurants in Padangbai.

We walked to Blue Lagoon and Bias Tugal a number of times:

We walked over the hill to Blue Lagoon. This was an okay snorkel which starts straight off the beach. The coral and fish was nice but there was a lot less than other years. Boats were anchoring closer to shore damaging the coral. A few larger dive boats had a mooring.

There were two warungs on the hill overlooking the cove, where they have deck chairs, food and snorkelling gear for hire. There isn’t much beach at high tide. Unfortunately, red stinging jellyfish, sea lice and rubbish gets blown and carried in as the tide becomes higher. Low tide seems to be the best time for snorkelling. There was a keyhole at the eastern end of the cove for water entry without damaging the coral.

The other snorkelling and swimming spot was Bias Tugal or white sand beach. It was a 20 minute walk up and down the hill on the western end of Padangbai. The beach was beautiful with some small waves at times. The snorkelling, about 10 metres out and to the right, was excellent with coral, fish and turtles. It was also a great swimming spot. Warungs line the beach providing food and shelter.

Another attraction was the temples on the hill to the east. There was a series of large, small and cliff hugging temples. We continued on pass the temples along a rough track to the point. The rocks on the point were sharp and volcanic. Continuing in the direction around the headland to Blue Lagoon there were a few small beaches and overhanging rocks which were very cave lik., This is also a good viewing spot for the temples hugging the cliffs and the view across the bay to Candidasa.

Overall, we found Padangbai relaxing, especially during the late afternoons.

INDONESIA - BALI - UBUD - 9 to 14 Juy, 2014 - 'BIKE, HIKE, MONKEY'

Info

Car/driver Balian to Ubud – 450 000R - 2 hours

Mountain bike hire – 30 000R - Made - Jalan Kajeng, Ubud

Bali Botanical Spa -

Car/driver Ubud to Padangbai  - 270 000R

Rumah Roda - Jalan Kajeng, Ubud

Our journey

We loaded the gear in the car and left Balian for Ubud. We reached there in about 2 hours.

We had booked Gusti’s Hotel in Jalan Kajeng but when we got there were no rooms. They said they had rooms at the rice field part of the hotel. I motorbiked over there but there was only one room with no aircon for a higher price than originally quoted. We drove back and I ended up finding a room at Rumah Roda, which was across the road in Jalan Kajeng from Gusti’s.

The room was on the second floor. It was a big room with fan, breakfast, pool, balcony, Wi-Fi and a partial open air bathroom.

We went for a late afternoon walk through town and saw a large temple ceremony, drank cocktails, and had dinner. Later, we had a night swim in the pool.

Ubud is spread over a large area and semi merges with other towns and villages in the area. There are rice fields, walks, markets, heaps of restaurants and shops, temples and a monkey forest. The roads are steep in parts so walking is hot in the middle of the day. Traffic can be congested and day tripping tourists abundant.

The next day, we had a rice field walk. It started at the end of Jalan Kajeng in a direction away from Ubud, climbed an embankment and then doubled back to Ubud. The rice fields were lush and vibrant green and the irrigation channels were full with fast flowing water. We stopped at a rice field restaurant towards end of the walk which had nice food, cold beer and a relaxing view.

Later, I hired a great and well maintained mountain bicycle and rode down Jalan Kajeng and followed the rice field walk, then took a series of roads that eventually lead back to Ubud. A great ride. There were tracks, steep drop offs, roads, lots of ‘hellos’, dogs and rice fields.

Later again, I had a second bike ride along Campuan Ridge and beyond. It was harder ride with portage up steep steps, dirt and concrete tracks and roads. The people were friendly and were amused by my go pro camera on my helmet. I came across a funeral which was progressing along the road then turning off into the rice fields.

We met Sam and Sacha, who were from Paris.

I walk to the monkey forest and wandered the paths and temples and sat to watch the monkeys.

Jacinta had booked a treatment at the Bali Botanical Spa. They met her at Starbucks for car pick up. She had a facial, exfoliation and flower bath – 135 000R + 190 000R = 325 000R about 2 hours

We had an afternoon walk, which turned into cocktail time and then dinner at the Black Beach Restaurant.

We met Chris and Carmen from Melbourne later, at second cocktails. We listened to a nice duet of song and guitar until the power blackout.

After an easy morning, I had another bike ride along tracks, streets, villages, ravines and bridges around Ubud. It was very hot but fun!

We lunched at the Lotus Café. It is such a pretty restaurant with huge lotus ponds and temple backdrop.

I had another late afternoon bike ride though the rice fields. It was so cool with mud, narrow tracks, portage, steep ravines, a slow massively steep  uphill grind and a fast and furious downhill ride back to Ubud.

We met a couple from US of A. Nice young folk.

In the morning, we packed and said our silent good byes to Ubud and drove to Padangbai

INDONESIA - BALI - BALIAN - 2 TO 9 JULY 2014- 'BALIAN HIGH'

Info

Car/driver Legian to Balian– Made – 350 000R – 0816570626

Gubug bungalows – 375 000R – nice air con rooms with a good view over the surf.

Our journey

We had a pleasant drive to Balian and settled into Gubug Bungalows. The room was nice and clean with a big bed, TV, air con and bathroom. Jacinta was happy! Breakfast was included. The patio had a good view over the surf.

We stayed in Balian for about a week. The weather varied from rain to clouds to sunshine. We met lots of nice people, hiked around the area, swam in the Pitaya pool and I surfed.

Balian was an oasis to us! The accommodation was good and varied and the food was good. There were a number of restaurants with some cheap and not so cheap food. The dishes ranged from Indonesian to Western. The deco of the restaurants varied from benches with plastic covered tables to hard wooden or rattan chairs with nice decorated tables. The views from some of the restaurants help make them a good social scene – Pitaya and Deki’s

There was a mixture of people from friendly locals to expats to tourists to travellers and surfers. Most people were who they were and some were who they wanted to be. Some were nice and the occasional one was an arsehole.

We met a lot of nice people, some were:

Myra from Bandung and Tony from Margaret River. Nice couple. She was very funny and he was very fit. Both of them were very earthy.

Darus, who is the manager of Pontok Pitaya and two Java girls who were his friends. He was nice and hospitable.

Viv and Didi from Tweed Heads. They had a long term one room lease in Kuta and some interesting stories to tell regarding the lease

The walks in the area were excellent:

One day, we walked to Mejan Beach, It walked via the village and down Jalan Mejan. There were some pretty rice fields and small temple along the way. The beach was long with grey sand. We backtracked part of the way and turned right after the temple. This path took us through Mina Gajah Resort and out to the headland. There were great views along the north and south of the coastline. We sat there for a while watching the ponding surf and endless lines of swell.

On another day, we walked south along the long stretch of grey beach. We crossed a few small rivers that were only ankle deep in water. After the long stretch of beach, there were a number of small headlands with beaches in-between. Occasionally, there were local people searching for food amongst the rock platforms. Eventually, we could go no further due to a long drop off the final rock platform and no safe way to climb back due to the incoming tide.

The hike into the village was easy, passing other guesthouses, restaurants, shops and local houses. The main town is centred on the main road with a large square with a number of shops and a night market in the evenings. The village housing radiated from the main oad in a number of directions down roads and gangs (small paths)

The surf was good though my recovering toe was a dominate consideration all the time. Basically, I didn’t want to hurt it again!

The waves were head height throughout the week. On my first surf, I was floundering but finished the session much happier. On some other surfs my toe wasn’t a problem and on others I bumped my toe and the pain was excoriating. I had to paddle over to the channel and wait until the pain subsided.

It was time to move on. The next destination was Ubud, Bali.

INDONESIA - BALI - KUTA AND LEGIAN - 23 JUNE TO 2 JULY 2014 - 'BUSY, BUSY, BUSY'

Info

Taxi from Bali domestic airport to Kuta - 70 000R – fixed price at taxi stand.

 

Letos Kubu 2 - Jalan Benasari, Kuta – 0361759908 or 0361767109 – 200 000R air con room.

 

Bike ride - Bintang tours – 300 000R –transport to start at Kintamani, lunch and return transport.

Grand Kumala hotel – superior – R450 000

 

New phone – Nokia - 350 000R

 

Haircut 60 000R – Lida Spa – Padma Utara – 081357539987

 

Taxi to airport using meter – 50 000R

 

Taxi from airport to Legian - 80 000R - taxi stand

 

Driver Made – Legian to Balian - 350 000R – 0816570626

 

My journey

On my way from Makassar, Sulawesi to Bali.

The flight was about an hour. I caught a taxi from the airport to my hotel in Kuta -

Letos Kubu 2. It was a big, windowless, very clean room with bathroom, big bed and aircon. No breakfast.

 

I went out for dinner and a few drinks. Not a good night, as unfortunately, I seemed to be a target for aggressive and/or stupid people.

 

The next day, I woke with a cold. Over the next few days, I was miserable with a runny nose, sore throat, etc.  I did manage to do a few beach walks, massages and caught up with my German friends from Sulawesi - Pascal and Julia.

The cold eased off so I went on a downhill cycle tour with Bintang Tours – 300 000R. It was a good ride – rice fields, threshed some rice, and visited a house and temple. I wouldn’t recommend this company as the bikes were old and needed new tires and maintenance work.

I went to dinner then a quiet drink and met some western real estate scammers and had a few drinks. Didn’t get scammed but had a lot of free drinks so it wasn’t a bad night.

The following day, I moved hotels to Legian – Grand Kumala.  I couldn’t find my phone so I bought a new phone – 350 000R

Later, I watched the sunset on Legian Beach.

 

The next day, I walked to Seminyak and stopped at a Greek restaurant for lunch.

Later, I had a haircut and had dinner with some friends at the Skygardens, Kuta. They have a 2 hour drink/meal deal for 50 000R. Good food!

 

Later still, I caught a taxi to the international airport to pick up my wife. It was so good to be with her again after a month on my own.

 

The following day, we cashed money @ 11 230R which equalled to a lot of indo cash.

We spent the day wandering around and in the afternoon we had beer on beach, then dinner and crash.

 

We drove to Denpasar to get Jacinta’s glasses fixed – Henry – Wina Optical near the Supernova – 03618570970 – www.winaoptic.co.id

 

We sat down the beach and I had a short surf. My toe was okay so we decided to go surfing at Balian tomorrow.

 

The next day, we were off to Balian.