Travel Date: 24-27 Oct 2010I thought of using such a title because one of the many criteria of beach lovers lies in the pristineness of the sand. If that was only case, then Bali will be a total failure. But Bali is more than that. The place has its certain authenticity if you would drive away from where you can find the giant waves.
Disclaimer: I still do not adore Bali like any beaches in Malaysia and Philippines. It is still as overrated as what some travel books have claimed. But here are some questions:
1. Do you love getting yourself tanned while listening to the music of the waves?
2. Do you adore colorful fish boats and surf boards like you were inside a postcard?
3. Do you want to get yourself drunk (don't miss Bintang) and still have enough cash to shop or even drink some more?
4. Do you want to witness the naked sunset by the beach?
5. Do you want to feel like a celebrity? (ha ha ha)
Well one Yes is enough reason for you to be there (if you don't like the sun then go away!). And here are some practical tips:
1. Take a window seat if you travel daytime to Bali. You will have the chance to bird's-eye-view the entire shore line which is most likely your destination.
2. If you arrived in Bali late at night, make sure to take the airport cab. We paid INR60k from the airport to the Sunset Hotel. It's always safe to take the BlueBird cab.
3. Bali beach in the south is divided into four areas (with Kuta being the famous)...
4. You can rent a motorbike for INR15k a day. All you need is a passport. Fuel your own motorbike though which is certainly cheap. That way you can explore other sides of Bali than being a surfing destination. Also, Bali gets terribly traffic so motorbike is a better alternative to your impatience.
5. Do not get annoyed when almost everyone in Bali asks you "where do you come from". Just humour them. It's their fascination.
6. Careful with the money changer. Do not go to those who offer much higher rate than the usual market price. They are bogus. Or, avoid those money changers that are stationed inside a shop. You know why they're hiding!
7. Never get tired to bargain! Bargain! Bargain! Bargain! Leave the shop if you must but do not ever give in to their price! In fact, the more you walk away, the more they will lower the price. And never give them a price! Let them name their price first then start with almost just 1/3 of that. You will be amazed!
8. Befriend your tour guide because the next time you visit Bali, you can directly hire them and you will half the price of the tour compared to getting them from your hotel. You can contact our tour guide,he's a cool dude:
Name: Gede Wirya
Mobile: 081 236 71015
9. Stay away from any guys discreetly selling mushrooms! Imagine a pot session but only you eat cooked mushrooms. And the effect? Much much higher than marijuana. I interviewed some locals and that is how it was described. (defensive!)
- Where To Go -
You need a day to visit the following:
Sari Amerta Batik and Weaving
Celuk Village -an entire village of jewellery shops!
Sukawati - cheap market place
Ubud - a cheap and much bigger market place
Tanah Lot - temple by the beach
Although Ubud is famous for most shoppers, I suggest that you buy what you can in Sukawati because you cam bargain there more. Prices in Ubud is very tourist-oriented.
2. Uluwatu - Dreamland Beach - Seafood place
Disclaimer: I still do not adore Bali like any beaches in Malaysia and Philippines. It is still as overrated as what some travel books have claimed. But here are some questions:
1. Do you love getting yourself tanned while listening to the music of the waves?
2. Do you adore colorful fish boats and surf boards like you were inside a postcard?
3. Do you want to get yourself drunk (don't miss Bintang) and still have enough cash to shop or even drink some more?
4. Do you want to witness the naked sunset by the beach?
5. Do you want to feel like a celebrity? (ha ha ha)
Well one Yes is enough reason for you to be there (if you don't like the sun then go away!). And here are some practical tips:
1. Take a window seat if you travel daytime to Bali. You will have the chance to bird's-eye-view the entire shore line which is most likely your destination.
2. If you arrived in Bali late at night, make sure to take the airport cab. We paid INR60k from the airport to the Sunset Hotel. It's always safe to take the BlueBird cab.
3. Bali beach in the south is divided into four areas (with Kuta being the famous)...
4. You can rent a motorbike for INR15k a day. All you need is a passport. Fuel your own motorbike though which is certainly cheap. That way you can explore other sides of Bali than being a surfing destination. Also, Bali gets terribly traffic so motorbike is a better alternative to your impatience.
5. Do not get annoyed when almost everyone in Bali asks you "where do you come from". Just humour them. It's their fascination.
6. Careful with the money changer. Do not go to those who offer much higher rate than the usual market price. They are bogus. Or, avoid those money changers that are stationed inside a shop. You know why they're hiding!
7. Never get tired to bargain! Bargain! Bargain! Bargain! Leave the shop if you must but do not ever give in to their price! In fact, the more you walk away, the more they will lower the price. And never give them a price! Let them name their price first then start with almost just 1/3 of that. You will be amazed!
8. Befriend your tour guide because the next time you visit Bali, you can directly hire them and you will half the price of the tour compared to getting them from your hotel. You can contact our tour guide,he's a cool dude:
Name: Gede Wirya
Mobile: 081 236 71015
9. Stay away from any guys discreetly selling mushrooms! Imagine a pot session but only you eat cooked mushrooms. And the effect? Much much higher than marijuana. I interviewed some locals and that is how it was described. (defensive!)
- Where To Go -
You need a day to visit the following:
Sari Amerta Batik and Weaving
Celuk Village -an entire village of jewellery shops!
Sukawati - cheap market place
Ubud - a cheap and much bigger market place
Tanah Lot - temple by the beach
Although Ubud is famous for most shoppers, I suggest that you buy what you can in Sukawati because you cam bargain there more. Prices in Ubud is very tourist-oriented.
2. Uluwatu - Dreamland Beach - Seafood place
These are just in one side of the island so spending a day here is just right. You will end your day having dinner in those seafood area (my bad I forgot what's it called :( )
- Night Life - 4/5
Go to Legian or Kuta St. You don't even have to worry if you're soaking wet from the beach when going to the bar because some bars there do not have such dress codes!
- Accommodation - 4/5
We stayed in Sunset Hotel. It's cheap and clean! Although the only drawback was that it's 10mins away from the beach so if you want quick access to the sand, then better to get accommodations near the beach. But it will never be cheap!
- Food - 4/5
There is a variety of choices in Bali. A must try is the Babi Guling in Ibu Oka Restaurant. It's a roasted suckling pig as specialty of Bali. Ibu Oka is on the way to Sukawati. Most tours would stop there for lunch.
