Thursday, July 24, 2008

Bali trip Part II

Marvellous! Kintamani - in the centre of Bali. It is the highlight of the trip. The scenic view of a fresh mountain air and the active Batur volcano.

Have a coffee break. I still prefer Malaysia coffee than Bali coffee in term of the delicious aroma from the cooked coffee. Guess what is the cinnamon for? It is used for stirring the drink and the spoon is to hold lump sugar. :P

Let me stop by Pura Tirta Empul for a bath. This temple is one of the six most important temples in Bali. The name 'Tirta Empul' signifies a crystal clear stream which is used as the holy water for various religious ceremony. The water believed to be the source of life and prosperity. Inside the inner sanctum, there are a number of bathing pools for the Hindus.


The exquisite twin shrines and split gate, very common in most temples or places in Bali.

A huge open air complex in the courtyard where you could take a seat and do nothing.

The beautiful rice terrace unfolding from the foot of mountain until the coastal side.

Alas Kedaton, a famous monkey forest in Bali located in Tabanan Regency, west part of Bali . It is about 1 hour drives from Denpasar town and it is situated in the middle of rice field. This forest is dwelt by the group of monkeys, bats and other wild animals.
The monkeys in Alas Kedaton are very tame and free gallivanting in the temple yard, playing around and scrambling of food.

The colony of bats can be seen on the day and they usually hang on the top of trees. Most of the bats here own the big wing and mostly eat any kind fruit.

Bali eye

Nusa Dua vs Kuta Beach
I decided to get around Bali with a motorcycle for the last day in Bali.
First stop, Nusa Dua. It is an elite resort area with international five star hotels and resorts existing on the coastal side in south part of Bali.

Nusa Dua Entrance Monument


Nusa Dua is designed to make guests feel comfortable in every way possible. As well as fantastic resort facilities, every effort has been made to eliminate factors that may hinder a guest's enjoyment. All main access routes to the Nusa Dua complex have a ‘gate’, which staffed by security staff, stopping vehicles to check on people coming and going. As a private complex, locals are not allowed to sell trinkets, set up a handicrafts store on the side walk or drag a bakso cart around. This area is more quiet than Kuta beach.

Well, a lot of squirrels which live happily here. They are so relax and do not afraid of people.

Oh yeah, a low cost and open air massage.




The gate to water blow.

Special menu for lunch Hot plate suckling pig + 3 satay with rice and soup costs me Rp. 30,000.

How can I forgot the Balinese massage and spa.


Stop by Kuta beach in the evening - Kuta is the most famous tourist places in Bali. The spectacular of white sandy beach, surfing paradise, several hotels from luxury to budget hotels are available, hilarious nightlife, plenty of restaurants with international cuisine, bars, pub, Water Boom Park and shopping center. This is the ideal place to mingle with locals as well as visitors abroad.

What are they eating? Bakso. A delightful meatball and noodle soup, served up fresh for Rp 5,000 only.
Hair styling.

Despite of countless Hindu temples in Bali, I can still see Chinese temple and church.

End my day with a sumptuous western dinner.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Bali trip Part I

Kuta Beach club - A three star hotel conveniently located in the centre of Kuta and just few minutes from Kuta beach and Kuta Art market. It looks small from outside but it was extended like a maze when I walked further. I guess this is due to hardly any high-rise building in Bali. So, instead of focus on the height, they will go for width.

The deluxe room which I really doubted. Anyway, July and August are the peak season in Bali, rooms are fully booked. Manage to get a place to sleep is considered lucky, I can't complaint too much. The front door seem like design for the little person. :P

The little garden outside my room.

One of the finest shopping mall (Discovery shopping mall) you can find in Kuta. A good place to shop for a wide variety of local and International goods. Very impressive.










Some of the Bali wine. Wine are cheap here as tax is not as high as Malaysia.









The local titbit that made of the skin of chicken feet. Dare to try?



Begin with the Barong and Kris dance performance in the morning - the Traditional yet well known dance in Bali. It is also another story telling dance, narrating the fight between good and evil. This dance is the classic example of Balinese way of acting out mythology, resulting in myth and history being blended into one reality. I'm not going to elaborate the story here as I can't even understand as a spectator.


Not victory but 2,000 Rupiah. A man selling newspaper along the roadside. Balinese are quite hardworking and friendly. They are holding the strong social life that are still be defended up to now and become the fortress from unfavorable external influence pressure.

Petrol are sold in bottle costs 6,500 rupiah, more expensive compare to the petrol sold in petrol station. I can't comment on the puriness of the petrol. People here are happily using it. I guess the lack of petrol station might be one of the reason.


Visit batik centre on day 2. The painting method that they are using are wax-resist or “negative” painting method. The cloth is first coated with hot wax, then melted, leaving the waxed part uncolored. Repeated waxings and dyeings creates a cloth with beautiful patterns and designs. Not much different compare to Malaysia.

Sunset dinner at Jimbaran beach - This white beach is so tranquil and just the right place for relaxing while waiting for the sunset. This is my most memorably meal in Jimbaran, a small coastal town 30 minutes south of Kuta. At close to 140K Rupiah (RM50) per head, my dinner at Jimbaran was easily the most expensive throughout my entire Bali trip. Anyway, it was worth every cent of it because there is nothing like savouring the freshest catch from the ocean, dining underneath the stars on candle lit tables set up by the shop, hair swept by the sea breeze, toes digging into the sand, listening to the crashing of waves, chit-chatting with friends while enjoying the vocals from the group of roving musicians serenading you with a love songs. It was incredibly romantic.

Oop, I miss the photo after I have finished the food as the grill seafood was too tempting. :P

Tanah Lot, a northwest coast of the island. A picturesque Balinese Hindu Temple on the rock and the seawater encircles it when the sea water is tide. There are several points to see this temple with all amazing view. At this temple, I can find other Hindu temples like Batu Bolong that make it a holy place in Bali.

Most of the Balinese are Hindu. Canang, is their daily offering which never been missed. The religious activity ritual by Hinduism in Bali is very different from Malaysia. Besides, they eat beef however Hindu here don't.

Typical construction you can see in Bali. The door is divided into half.

Jati Luwih, a breathtaking views of rice field. Balinese is well known as agrarian which connected with farming.

Bedugul tour in day 3 - Bedugul is the name of place located in mountain area encircled by the cold temperature and natural environment with beautiful panorama of Beratan Lake. The Ulun Danu temple was build on beautiful lake Beratan.

A traditional market in Bali that presenting unique local community activities by serving the variety of agricultural product like fresh vegetables, fruit, corn, peanut, union, tomato etc. This place is something like the Cameron Highland in Malaysia and is a famous tourist destination.

A fruit that called Markisah (passion fruit), taste sour and juicy. I like it very much. I think we can find it in Malaysia traditional market too.

To be continued...