Bali Rendervous

Its seem my travel to Bali has not been updated. Sorry about that folks.

Bali land of paradise have so much to offer. As I told you earlier, I chartered a van to bring me around as I prefer to explore Bali at my own leisure. Here are the places that we visited.

Our itinery for the first day were as follows:

We were picked up by Mr Suweca at our hotel in Kuta at 10 am. Our first stop is at a Batik Shop cum Factory. Here we learned how batik is produced with handwritten or block imprinted. Then, we proceed to silverware making. Seriously its for the commercial side that they are promoting not exactly for the arts of making batik or on the minting of silverware. We decide to skip the wood carving item as we are more excited to visit Kintamani.

We proceeded to Kintamani with a stop over at Bali House. Here Mr Suweca explained on the fundamentals of the positioning of a Bali House. At the main gate, there is a board inscripted with the number of people who stayed in the house. The layout of the rooms in the house compound is very unique. A kitchen is separated from all the bedrooms. In the centre of the compound, there is an open bedroom which comprised on a double bed and a curtain surrounding the bed. This normally will be reserved for the elderly (parents or parents inlaw) of the head of the house. Unmarried children are supposed to sleep with their parents until they reach the age of puberty. Balinese are very staunch Hindu. Every household will have a mini temple in their home ground. When we were here, we got the privileged to learn on the Balinese culture based on their calendar. Its very lengthy to explain it here, so if you ever visit Bali, try to ask the local to explain about their calendar. It very interesting how they see the calendar for birth, marriage, special occasion and so forth.

Our next stop is the Kintamani area. From here, we can see beautiful scenery of Bali. We had our lunch at the Halal restaurant there. Amid those illegal hawkers who were touting us to buys the goods that they peddled, otherwise this place is awesome for the view and the cool breeze. From where we sat in the restaurant, we can see Mount Batur and Lake Batur. The scenery is so beautiful. I just cant upload the photo here in this blog cause I think there is some problem with blogger. Couldnt see that upload image icon...:(.

After battling the touting hawkers to get a good spot for the scenic photo, we rushed back to our van to avoid the hawkers from touting us further. Ah! this is what I dont like about Indonesia. Anyway, just be careful when you are approach by them. One thing to remember, Never ever look at the item nor ask for the price if you are not interested at all. Once you open your mouth to ask or take a good look at the goods that they are offering, they will keep touting you until you suffocate. If you really want to get the goods that they are peddling, bargain as much as 70%. If you cant get at that price, leave them. See if they are willing to let the goods change hand at that price. You will be surprised!

Next we stop at the herbs and coffee plantation. Its is not big actually, but it is worth visiting. You can see all those herbs tree. Cocoa and local indonesia fruit tree are also planted here. Bali coffee which is famous is being serve here together with the local cocoa. There is a demo on how coffee being roasted the traditional way. A small shop selling coffee, cocoa and some spices can be found if you want to get that for souvenirs. Honestly, I find that their cocoa taste better than the coffee. So we decided to purchase 2 packet of cocoa to bring back to Singapore.

Our last stop for the day is visting Sukawati Market famous for their souvenirs. Time is quite limited there and we had no time to really explore the shops. But we manage to grab a few bags and tshirt for souvenirs. Anyway, no regrets though cause most of the shops are practically selling the same items.

Before heading back to our hotels, we requested that Mr Suweca drop us at Jimbaran for the sunset dinner. But we were late and missed the sunset. Anyway, we enjoyed the seafood and the atmosphere dinning at Jimbaran. We were then sent by the guy from the restaurant to our hotel after that heafty dinner.

On our 3rd day in Bali, we decided to explore the nearby area on our own. After breakfast, we walked to Kuta Beach which is only 10 mins from our hotel. But we didnt reached Kuta beach in 10 mins cause on the way there are shops selling DVD's at a very reasonable price. We stop at a few shop but decided not to get anything cause we do not want to burden our hand while strolling Kuta beach. It was at about 10 am, Kuta beach was already crowded with Bule (Indonesian slang for Whiteman) Wah! Its too crowded until you really got no nice spot to sit and enjoy the sound of the waves of Kuta. We strolled until our feet sore and decided to return to the hotel for a dip in the pool.

We had a short nap after swimming and then return to Jimbaran for the sunset dinning again. This time round we did see the sunset but its for a glimpse. Ah ha, I didnt realised that the sun set to fast and never wait for anyone. Serve us right for taking a nap after that lapping in the pool.

I had to stop now and will continue on the next posting. Got to run some errands ...laterz.

Bali Indonesia - Introduction

We had just came back from Bali last two weeks. Bali, Indonesia is known as a paradise Island of Asia. We spent 5 days 4 night here.

We departed from Singapore Changi Airport direct to Denpasar Ngurah Rai Airport by Garuda Airlines. Beside Garuda Indonesia, Singapore Airlines do have direct daily flight to Denpasar, Bali. Lion Air, a budget airline operated by Indonesia company recently operated a daily flight from Singapore to Denpasar too.

Due to the peak period in Indonesia, as July was a school holiday there, plus its Summer holiday for the Europe and America sector, the flight was heavily booked. Hotels, resort and private villa in Bali especially Kuta, Nusa Dua and Seminyak Area were heavily booked eventough there are surcharges imposed. We were lucky to get the accomodation of our choice even we had to pay a minimal surchage of US$10 per nite. The room was booked way end April. The surchage for the accomodation surcharge was increased to US$25 when I last checked online before departing. My advice for those who intend to go to Bali, try avoiding July and August as the surcharge for accomodation can downturn your budget by US$25 to US$50 per nite. If really you can't avoid that period, do make your booking for accomodation earlier to avoid the heavily increased hotels surcharges.

At Denpasar Airport - For Asian, who do not require visa on arrival, please proceed to your extreme right for immigration clearance. The Ngurah Rai airport have many counters. This are separated into two - for those who need VISA on Arrival, then please join the queue that stated so. We had no idea that the counter we queued to get our passport checked was the queue for VISA on Arrival until after about 30 mins when it come to our turn. We were told to go to the extreme right counters for those who do not need visa. If you are from Asia, you do not require any visa on Arrival. The visa on arrival cost US$10 which permits you to be in Indonesia for 7 days.

While queing up for your passport clearance, you can see there are pamphlets being lay out on racks. If it is your first time there and you have no idea of what to do or overloaded with information that you get from surfing the internet, then grab some of the pamphlets. These pamphlets contain tour information, map of bali, spa services and some dining joints. With it, you can then plan for your outing or do comparison for tours or spa. If you would like to do you own DIY tours, do charter a four wheel and a driver. If you like you could drive yourself. The brochure that I picked up mentioned that the rental of car is apprx US$35. But if you are not patient enough, then I suggest that you engage a driver. Why? Cause Bali road can be very congested at certain time of the day. Only the local will be familiar with the road and they jolly well know what time to avoid which road. Plus, its not that expensive to engage their service. We did too cause we really want to enjoy the tranquality of Bali and absord the greenary and serenity of the surrounding, not busy looking at maps and getting ourselves lost.

If you need a good thrustworthty driver who give good service, contact this guy that drove me around Bali for my stayed there.

Mr Wayan Suweca - +620818564399

I can assured you that Mr Suweca will provide you a best memorable bali tour. By the way, if you do ever want to engage his service, do tell him, that I recommended you. Its not that I get any commission out of it, No I did not. But as I said earlier, we were very happy and pleased with his service and would very much like others to experience his good service. He charged apprx RP400 000 - RP450 000 for a 10 hours service. Oh ya, he is a Licensed Korean Speaking guide in Bali. Beside bahasa Indonesia, he do speak good English too. So no need to worry for being conned by those street muggers who offer you good and cheap price. Remember, no good deal is to cheap. Be wary, if its too cheap, than its too good to be true.

Ok, thats all for the introduction on Bali. Our tour will begin in the next posting.

Day 2 and 3 of Southern Thailand Tour

This posting relates on our visit to Songkla and again at Hatyai before we headed to our next destination, kuala Selangor.

We thought of spending the second day to explore Hatyai but then we decided to go to Songkla for a day trip. We chartered a tuk tuk for 1100 baht for the whole day inclusive of petrol and driver. So our own driver can relax and enjoy.

The tuk tuk driver, Haji Sulaiman, a Thai muslim first brought us to a Hill where we can see Songkla fishing village from the top of the hill (sorry forgot what the name). We paid 100 bath to go to the top of the hill via a slant lift (like those at Penang Hill). There is a buddist stupa on top of the hill. Its a marvelous view from up there. We spent about 30 mins and went down. From there we headed to Songkla beach. Its a public holiday in Songkla that day, so we saw a lot of family picnic at the beach. Most of them are Muslim cause the women can be seen adorn with their tudung and the men with their kopiah. (a headgears wear by women and the latter men).

At the beach, there are two prominent monument. One is a mermaid and another is a cat, dog and mice. There is a legend incripted near the animals monument. As for the mermaid, no specific story was posted near the it. Songkla is known to have good seafood. At this beach, we had our lunch. These were what we ate.

And there was kerabu mangga that I forgot to take. Beside we ordered 4 coconut, 3 coke and 2 big bottle of mineral water. All this for 7 people eating. Guess what! it's only cost us S$100.00. Haji Sulaiman must have enjoyed so much. He had 3 plate serving of rice. The food was very palatable. Our niece was so happy to eat osyter. We actually ordered only 2 piece of the oyster for her thinking it will be very expensive. To our surprise, it only cost 35Baht per oyster.

We headed to Hatyai after that. There was a road block on the way back to Hatyai. We thought that something had happened, rioting or what, but actually, its the KING. All motorised vehichle were asked to stop and diverted to side road. Engine should be off too. No passenger can be inside the vehicle. So we had to stand in the sun, while waiting for the King to pass by. It takes about 1 hours 20 mins just to wait for the King and his entourage passed that road. We we realived to be let off and proceed with our journey. After about 1 hour just before reaching Hatyai, again we we stopped by the traffic police and was asked to divert our tuk tuk to the inner side road. Alas! the King passed by again to go to the airport. Since we are in the country, we have to respect their culture. We notice that when the Kings entourage car passed by, all Thais look down or bow their head low. How respectful they are; infact the cars passed so fast that I dont think anyone in the entourage would notice if they do not bow nor low down. Anyway, there were a lot of policemen around. And that speak for the doing of the Thais.

Once we reached Hatyai, we headed to the market to shop, shop and shop. Tshirt, blouses, jeans, sportware dan dried goods like anchovies and shrimp were very cheap compare to back home. The weather was extremely hot. We bought what we think we want to buy and headed back to the hotel. Since it still early for dinner and we were still full, we decided to go for a swim. The novetel hotel swimming pool is at the roof top. We swam for about 45 mins followed by sauna. Wah! felt so good and now we felt hungry again. Aiyah, what to do when you are on holiday. Eat, Shop, Sleep, Eat, Shop Sleep.

Since it is still quite early for dinner, we gerls went for reflexology. Its was good. Later our brother joined us too. Then we roamed around the night market again, but just to look see look see. Then we had dinner again at Hamid's. After dinner, there were some pushcart just arrived. Oh! then we saw the yu char kueh stall that our nephew told us to try. Since we we quite full we only order one plate of the yu char kueh. Thai people have sweet tooth. They eat the yu char kueh with kaya. We ordered teh tarik to go with it. Our brothers ordered lengchee kang. Semangat, padahal dah kenyang.

This char kueh was so delicious that we finished them in no time. We ordered a second serving and laughed hard at ourselves for being such a glutton. Too full, and everyone was feeling sleepy head now. But we still walk around to make sure that the food we ate digest properly. We enjoyed hatyai so much, the food, the cheap swensen icecream and the shopping. We decided to extend our stayed at hatyai cause our nieces and their father complained that they had not shop enough. Wah! where got thai baht anymore left about 300 only for me. Aiyoh, dielah. Then Noy decided to withdraw some money so we manage to breathe shopping again.

Our third day in Hatyai was spent with late breakfast, no lunch and shop shop shop again. We went for massage again. Had dinner at the same place too. Packed some of our things and put in the car bonnet so it wont be so embarrasing during the check out next morning. Just 3 days in Southern Thailand, our bonnet already fulled. This does not include our luggage bag and some items that were still inside the hotel room. When we checkout out, our car was fully occupied. The rear sit was filled up by the things we shopped too. We really had a great time. There is no problem existing from Southern Thailand. We then headed for Kuala Selangor to homestay at someone Cow Farm.