I knew about Bali when I watched the movie Eat, Pray, Love in the theatre. My first impression about Bali after the film is something very relaxing, very spiritual, the land of culture, of gods and belief. So I decided to go to Bali after my almost the last term before graduation, after all those sleepless nights with reports and exams, I just need some rest. Just like everyone else, before I decided to book for a ticket, I would probably browse around Tripadvisor and Agoda for some reviews. Well, it disappointed me so much that most of the reviews from Tripadvisor and Agoda said that Bali nowadays is very dirty and crowded, local people there will try to lie to you, that it doesn't look like how nice it was on the Eat Pray Love movie and it's totally over rated, that kind of thing. Still I believe in my instinct and decided just go for it. I booked my Tiger Mandala Airway's ticket quite early, about 2 months earlier than the travel date, so I got the good price, I guess, the total fee for a 2 ways ticket costs me 150.00 SGD. Always check the weather forecast and make sure you won't travel during raining season.
Next, of course I have to look for a hotel, unlike Phuket, hotels in Bali are quite expensive, and those cheap hotels I heard there are bed bugs, so after half day browsing, I finally found 3.5 stars Solaris Hotel, Kuta. The hotel is new, so I think it would be modern and clean, and it's just 10 mins driving from Denpasa airport. Most importantly, the price is reasonable. I booked a superior room, directly from the hotel website, I paid 195.00 USD for 4 days 3 nights stay with complimentary drinks, breakfast buffet and pick up service. That was already the discount price for early booking, as it stated there, without discount it will cost you 295.00 USD. Always check the price directly on the hotel's website first before you decided to book from Agoda, because normally the hotel won't provide you complimentary drinks or pick up service if you are not booking directly from their website. And always double check with the hotel 1 week in advance for the pick up service. If you are from some Asia countries, you won't need a Visa, if you are from US, Europe, etc you will need a Visa. So let's flight.
It's about more than 1 hour flight from Singapore to Bali. Well, it's the first time in my life I have ever been that close to the sea before landing, feel like the plane is about to land right on the sea, it's fun and a little bit scary though, as you know last time an Air Asia Plane landed on the sea and caused some people injured. You will need to fill in 2 immigration forms, 1 of them is the goods declaration. The airport was very crowded, I couldn't imagine, many Australian tourists here, I waited for at least 20 mins at the immigration point. They will ask for the personal detail form at the immigration point, so don't throw away the other form, they will ask for it later at the checking point. The hotel staff picked me up at the main gate with my name on the board, very friendly staff.
Bali's weather is very very nice, sunny but windy and cool, not hot at all like in Phuket. I'm so in love. We arrived at Solaris Hotel about 15 mins later, it located a little bit far from Kuta Beach, but I'm going to rent a bike anyway so it's not the problem. They gave me cold pineapple mix milk juice as a welcome drink and I got my room right after that, even though it was only 1pm. I had to pay all the room fee before I can get a room. The room was clean and tidy, not too big, not too small, just right, they have in-room wifi, LCD TV screen and all other basic faculties. The only thing I concerned about is that the standing bath tube got no door. They also have a swimming pool covered by glass.
Day 1: In the afternoon, I rent a motorbike, at the shop opposite my hotel, 60 rupiah per day, they didn't ask for passport or anything else. It was already about 4pm so I decided to go around the Kuta area by motorbike. The roads was clean, but small, many are one way roads and Bali local people some could not speak English, so it was quite hard to find a way. I had my dinner at Kafe Batan Waru, which had many positive reviews on tripadvisor, I ordered some famous local dishes such as beef satay, mee goreng and bebek goreng. It was quite expensive in compare to other local restaurant but yes, good foods, cozy atmosphere, not noisy and good service. I spent about 220 rupiah for 3 dishes. After that I went to Hard rock cafe, a tourist attraction place, they played nice music here, I sit for about 30 mins and didn't order any drink because no one ask me to.
Day 2: Batik Painting House, Coffee Garden, Kintamani Volcano, Monkey Forest, Ubud and Tanah Lot Temple.
I picked some tour package flyers at the airport and asked the hotel staffs to help us book one yesterday. The prices mostly are 50.00 USD/each for a private day tour with tour guide, they bring you to about 10 places in a day tour from 8am to 9pm, include lunch and dinner. But I found some places don't worth visiting so I only select those attractions above and asked the hotel staffs to get me the price of 35.00 USD/each. Always book 1 day in advance. The tour guide arrived at the hotel 30 mins earlier and wait for us at the lobby, they are local people, good english and very friendly. They introduced about everything on the way. Each attraction is quite far from each other, about 45 mins driving.
At the Batik Painting House, I had a chance to see the process of handmade fabrics with detail paintings, the souvenirs here are very cheap, according to the tour guide, the government controls the price of goods here, I bought some Batik wallets and mini clutch at only 25.00 - 50.00 rupiah.
At the Coffee Garden, there are many kind of spices and herbs trees. They also give free products testing here, I got to try 7 different kinds of coffee and tea, tasted just so so for me because in Vietnam also has very nice home grown coffee and tea. I bought a pack of coconut coffee for my grandfather, 270 rupiah, quite expensive.
I'm now arrived at Kintamani Volcano. The weather is cool like in autumn, and the view was awesome. OMG I'm so in love, though the volcano is no longer active but being that near to a semi active mountain was awesome. It was lunch time and we had Balinese lunch buffet with mountain view. So romantic. The foods were just ok, it was cold, even it was hot, you put it there in that cool weather it would turn cold anyway.
Next destination was the Monkey Forest, which was on the way to Ubud. Honestly I had to say, decided to visit the monkey forest was my mistake. There were a lot of monkeys, if you got foods or drinks, or you put your hand under your pocket, those monkeys would come and jump onto your head. My tour guide said don't look at their eyes, and careful not to mess with them as last time some tourists got bitten by monkeys and went to the hospital. I swear to god I will never ever come here again.
Finally, I'm here in Ubud, the place on Eat Pray Love movie. There was so many rice paddles, fresh air and very relax. A perfect place to clear your mind.
My last destination today was Tanah Lot Temple, this is the sunset viewpoint so you definitely must be here around 5pm to 6pm. This was the place I loved the most. Let pictures say it all, no word can describe how adorable this place is. Temple, blue ocean, wind, sunset, peace and love, for me it was a place called heaven on earth. A place that will heal your soul and your pain.
Day 3: Rock Bar at Ayana Resort & Spa
Today is my road trip. We rent a motorbike and asked the hotel staff to draw us the way to Ayana resort. They said it's hard to drive there but still, I'm so excited because people said rock bar is a must visit place before you die. It wasn't as difficult as it was shown on the map, as we met a local guy who know the way, he drew me some main points so I can recognize the way. The roads were very small, they didn't have many road signs as in Phuket, it took us about 45 mins from our hotel to the hill, yes the road to the heaven is on the hill. I got to the Ayana resort gate, the resort was really big and from the gate to the rock bar was still a long way, about 10 mins driving. I arrived at 4pm and started to queue because they didn't allow reservation. At 4.30pm, a lot of people were already there queuing. They opened at 5pm. They got kind of a sky train to drive you from the hill down to the beach. OMG it was speechless. Once again, a must visit place once in a lifetime, heaven on earth, I will let pictures say it all. Note that you will have to spend minimum 500 rupiah.
You are almost at the end of my 4 days 3 nights trip, remember to keep 150 rupiah each as you will have to pay it before you flight out of Bali. It was an amazing trip for me, nice weather, friendly people, good foods, awesome attractions, nice beaches, cheap prices, many western tourists. I would probably come back here again if I have a chance. Hope you guys will have a good trip too, and trust me you will never regret visiting Bali.
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