Bali

Bali is a all time favourite place for many but for the first timer, some helpful information to help you to kick start your trip.

Area that you might want to stay:

1) Kuta – Very commercialize beach.  This is where Hardrock hotel is. Major shopping belt all within walking distance. Beach isn't white sandy but wave is best for surfing.  However, you will have no peace while sitting on the beach without a second of tout. 

2) Seminyak – Further up north from Kuta.  Commercialized like Kuta but slightly better. Plenty of shopping and dining and more upscale. There are quite a lot of hotel and villa in this area. I have tried Uma Sapna villa and Ize hotel.  Both recommended!

3) Ubud – Rice terrace or paddy area and on higher ground.  Famous resort like Alila resort at Ubud has the nicest view (also price) 

4) Uluwatu – Cliff view villa.  Famous hotel is Alila but ex ex ex…. 

5) Sanur – quiet beach which are not meant for surfing but this is the place where all the diving center are located.  Very shallow beach stretches 200 to 300 metres, good for cycling and watching sun rise.  Stayed at Oasis Lagoon Sanar hotel, location is good.

6) Nusa Dua – white powdery beach where most 5 stars hotel reside… now that area is developed into water sports area (Tanjong Benoa), super crowded with lots of people doing sea sports and going to turtle island..  

Places of interest: 

1) Tanah Lot – Beautiful sunset place.  Crowded but worth squeezing.  I will recommend that you go up the cafe on the hillside to enjoy the sunset.  Just pay for a drink or finger food and you can sit there without squeezing with the crowd and yet have the best sunset view.







2) Watch Kecak dance at Uluwatu temple.  The fire dance with the sun setting at the background is fantastic.  Try to sit facing the sun, the sunset effect is mesmerizing

3) Bedugul – Lake at the crater of the mountain. Slightly cooler place if you want to escape the heat.  

4) Ubud –  rice paddy terrace and giant swing.  There is a monkey mountain (go only if you are not afraid of monkey jumping onto you).  Ubud market if you want to get some craft and along the road, there are art pieces for sales too.

 

5) Nusa Penida – crystal bay is a beautiful place for snorkeling and diving.  Mortar Ray sighting for divers further down.

6) Spice garden  –   Very small place showing the different spices and kopi lewak.  Will not recommend this place.

Poor lewak being caged for the kopi

Shopping:

1) Seminyak  –  There are quite a number of local designers shop but price is on the high side.

2) Brasco –  Lots of branded at dirt cheap price… branded T shirt at around S$12, good quality but limited size and odd colour.  Authenticity is a BIG question.

3) Along the way to the airport (Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai), there are rows and rows of sports and surfing factory outlets…. Names like billabong, quicksilver, etc…

4) Kuta – original shops so price also very original, may want to hunt for discounted price items… there are many handicraft shops and even a market for you to go and jalan jalan….

5) Ubud market – Lots of handicraft, silver wears, dried goods, etc.  There are quite a numbers of shops selling handicraft along the road towards the market, just get your driver to stop if you have any preferred shop.  

Eat:

1) Bebek Bengil Crispy Duck - Ubud (Dirty duck restaurant)

Address: Padang Tegal, Jl. Hanoman, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia

2) Ayam Tulang Lunak Malioboro (Crispy chicken, fish, etc and many indonesian food)

Address: Jl. Kediri No.50 I, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia

 3) Seafood at Jimbaran (Not recommended).  Ambience setting: dining on the beach with seafood BBQ.  Overpriced and so so seafood.  

  

Recommended driver: 

Made Sukarma: +62 818354088 madesukarma@yahoo.com


*Disclaimer:  Above mentioned places are solely based on my own understanding and experience, no monetary has been taken for any of the places mentioned in this post.