Alright, finally I wrote about this.
Me and my sister traveled to Bali again last March. Just the two of us. You know what was witty? We planned this journey just because we saw travel ads on facebook. Next thing I knew, we browsed airasia.com, and booked our flight. We left Bandung on March 21, and came back on March 24. We arrived at Ngurah Rai International Airport at 7 pm. Since we planned to travel on strictly budget, and we heard that airport taxi is expensive, we walked to the exit gate just to get a blue bird taxi. I have to tell you, the exit gate wasn’t that far, didn’t take us 5 minutes to get there, and didn’t take us more than a minute to get bluebird taxi in front of the exit gate. From airport to Kuta Beach cost only 15K IDR. We asked the taxi driver to bring us to poppies lane, as you all know, that place was flooded by cheap-yet-comfortable inn.
The taxi driver dropped us in front of benesari street (it is at poppies II). Then we walked through that street, a bit confused, and found a signpost that written “Cempaka III”. Yeay! That was the first option we made regarding where we’re gonna stay. We checked the room, it was great. Every room has a porch with two chairs and a table. The room was clean and smelled good. There are one king-size bed, wardrobe, mirror, and table. The bathroom was clean, it has a western toilet. Overall, it was way worth the price per night, which cost 120K IDR with fan. There are also room with AC and hot water, but you’ll have to pay 250K IDR for that. The owner and his employees were seriously wonderful. They served breakfast, a toast and a cup of tea. And thanks to my silliness, I forgot to take a picture of this place. But believe me, we wouldn’t bear staying in for three nights if the place weren’t nice.
The next day, we woke up early in the morning, about 7 am, we walked to the beach and took some pictures there.
Me and the tranquil Kuta Beach in the morning
I was curious about another inn, it was located in poppies I. So I asked my sister to walk through the street, on our way back to the hotel, because I knew it would lead us to poppies II as well. We’re supposed to be at the hotel at 10 am. And again, silliness was always beside me, we got lost in poppies I. The map was made it seems too easy, but it wasn’t! Thanks God people whom we asked directions to were so nice. By the time we got there, the driver from rental car service has been waiting for us (I hope he didn’t think that we’re “so Indonesian” with the “jam karet” thing, hehee).
The first destination was Joger, pabrik kata. As we got there, the shop hadn’t been opened yet. So we’re waiting in line to get into the shop. While waiting, we watched its employees doing their yell-yell. Interesting, really. They’re singing and then entering the shop with harmony, so amusing. After bought some clothes, we had our lunch at Nasi Pedes Bu Andhika. It was located near Joger. You should try it, it's yummy, spicy, low budget Indonesian food. It's also halal, FYI.
Then we went to GWK. The site is great. But visiting GWK in the middle of day was a bad idea. We missed all the traditional dances performance, and the heat was making me lightheaded. However, we found our favorite spot in that place. It's called Bale Bengong.
A view from Bale Bengong, GWK
You'll get to sit down and relax while gasping the fresh air and enjoying the beautiful view of Jimbaran Beach and Tanjung Benoa. There's a funny thing about it's rest area. It contains some food stalls, and they sell most of Bandung’s culinary. Even their employees are all Sundanese.
Oh! There's a funny story. My sister was doing her pray in the car as we’re entering the GWK’s entrance gate. The ticket officer was unbelievably confused looking at her doing. He glanced over my sister, then talked to me, then glanced over again, then gave me tickets, and glanced over my sister again. Hahaaa. Maybe it was his first time experience seeing a Moslem praying in the car complete with mukena. Then we left GWK for Dreamland. And I must tell you, apart from the beautiful large shocking wave, I dislike this beach. And I don’t like the way all the massager forcing us to get a massage.
Next destination was Uluwatu. I couldn't say much about this place. It was extraordinarily beautiful. All the mesmerizing landscapes, enjoyable ambience, or even the cute-naughty monkeys, and leave alone the Kecak Dance performed during sunset.
Finished enjoying sunset while watching Kecak Dance, we went straight to Jimbaran. Time to spoil our belly! The driver took us to Damos Restaurant. We ordered black-peppered crab, Balinese grilled squid, steamed scallops, with Balinese extra-hot-and-spicy-which-happened-not-to-be-that-hot-and-spicy “sambal matah”. And that’s a wrap. We went home with a smile on our faces, and a bloated belly ;D. Totally an exhausted yet amusing, laughable, pleasant day.
Third day, we enjoyed our morning with a toast and a cup of tea in the hotel. While waiting for the driver, we’re walking down the poppies lane through legian street. Today’s agenda were visiting Bedugul, Besakih, and Tanah Lot. On our way to Bedugul, the driver took us to a restaurant. We found out that the place was unbelievably expensive and decided not to eat there. So, we walked out that place, and found a mosque not far from it. While walking to the mosque, we found “Warung Nasi Muslim, Nurani”. Yippiew! Me and my sister ordered soto ayam and mie bakso with two glass of hot tea (it was chilly in Bedugul), for only 18K IDR. Then, we took a pray in the mosque, the view from the mosque was utterly beautiful. Too bad it was under reconstruction.
beautiful view from the top of the mosque and the mosque itself
I can easily say that Ulun Danu Bedugul has a wonderful delightful sight-seeing (best place for narcissistic persons like us)
Next, Tanah Lot! (oh, btw, we didn’t make it to Besakih) Well, it appeared that it was a lengthy journey. As we reached Tanah Lot, I was just like having a jetlag. Hahaa. There are lots of kiosks selling Balinese products, quite as same as Pasar Sukowati. Tanah Lot is indeed a remarkable site. If you like the panorama you used to see on most Balinese paintings, where there’s a temple and a sunset view behind it, you’ve got to visit this place.
The dazzling panorama of Tanah Lot
Last day, we’re having breakfast at hotel as usual. The plan’s supposed to be visiting Ubud or Kintamani. Unfortunately, the driver was kinda sick. And for safety reason, he took us to Bali Zoo, near Ubud and then to Pasar Celuk Sukowati. To be honest, I won’t recommend you to visit this place, since it’s too expensive, and the place wasn’t so big. But I was quite enjoying that place. Last time I visited a zoo, it was in 1994. And, yeah, I love animals. They’re so cute and adorable, apart from their bad smell.
Next destination was Pasar Sukowati. Thanks God there’s a mushola. We took a pray, and finally, shopping time!!! We visited Pasar Sukowati III, so there weren’t so many kiosks and not too many customers also. I guess that’s why I had lots of good offers of many things I bought.
Before went back to the airport, we wanted to taste Ayam Betutu, a special culinary from Gilimanuk, Bali. Luckily, we didn’t have to go to Gilimanuk to taste it, there’s a store near the airport. The taste was really great. Really hot and spicy.
And that’s a wrap! What a fascinating journey. Consider it was a well-planned and a successful vacation for me and my sister. There’ll be another silly vacation story, I assure you guys! ;D
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