Bali: Even Better the Second Time Around

Where do I start?

1. Dinner at Jimberan Bay, sitting on the beach, devouring the most delicious seafood meal, and watching the sun go down over the ocean.

2. Delightful evenings dining at the Rumours, Mykonos, The Corner Bar, and other restaurants.

3. A visit to Lembogen Island, where we snorkelled over the reefs, visited Coconuts Beach Resort for a swim in their pool, hired a scooter and toured the island, and had a great boat ride back.

4. A visit to take in the scenery and the culture at Uluwatu and Tanoh Lot Temples.

5. Visiting two monkey forests, one at Ubud and the other near Tanoh Lot Temple, and feeding the monkeys and the visiting the temples on their grounds.

6. Visiting "Dreamlands," a surfer’s and sun-bather’s paradise - hire a sun bed and umbrella, go surfing, or both.

7. Shopping on the colourful local streets in Legian and Kuta and staging bidding wars with the store owners.

Quick Tips:

It's a shopper’s paradise along the streets of Legian and Kuta—don't forget to barter. Some of the shops have set prices, but all shops will give discounts. Early in the morning or closing time are the best times to shop and get the best prices.

If bartering, ask the store owner their best price and offer a third of that price to start. The owner will suggest another, better price, then you up your last offer, etc. until you meet at approximately half the owner’s starting price.

Set in your mind the maximum price you would be willing to pay. Once you reach that value, the owner will still try to haggle, so say, "That's my best," and turn to walk out. If the owner chases you and says okay, then you've won. If the owner doesn't, then they have offered their lowest price and you will have to pay the extra if you wish to purchase the item.

If the shop has fixed prices, ask the store owner for their best price. Most offer a 10% to 20% discount, and you may even get more off. THIS INCLUDES THE KIOSK TOUR BOOKERS/OPERATORS.

Best Way To Get Around:

To get around Bali, for day or half-day trips/tours, hire a bemo (minivan and driver) for the day. You will find them stationed outside almost every hotel/resort, and if not, you just have to walk along the road.

Don't forget to barter with the driver for the best price before proceeding on your venture. For a full day, for six of us, we paid 200,000 rupah (A) total for a full day’s outing. The final negotiated price will depend on where you want to go and the distance travelled.

If you are planning to go to Jimberan Bay for dinner at one of the restaurants, just ask if they have transport pickup. Most will provide a free customer pickup service to and from your hotel.

For short trips, say, from Legian to Kuta, take a blue cab, but make sure the meter is switched on if you're not sure how much to pay. The alternative is to barter with the driver for a better price.

Looking for somewhere quiet, relaxing, and friendly? You've found it. Located across from Legian Beach, the Puri Raja is the place for you. The staff always has a ready smile and greeting for you.

The Puri Raja is great for all--from the singles and couples to the families with young or older children.

The rooms are relatively basic, clean, and tidy, with a bed (two for twin rooms), bar fridge, TV, balcony, and bathroom.

The restaurant provides an assortment of food--from Indonesian to Western--with continental and American breakfasts, fruit platters, steaks, etc. Something for everyone.

On Wednesday nights, the hotel holds a BBQ for their quests, priced at 59,000 rupel each (approx. AU$6 each). The food provided on these nights is the traditional BBQ food, sate sticks, salads, veggies, and desserts. On these nights, the hotel provides entertainment in the form of a singer called Eddie (very good), and you can grab the mic and sing along too.

There are two pools, one near the main reception and the other near the restaurant. The one near the restaurant has a children's depth swimming area and also has the swim up pool bar--great to rest your weary body after a day of shopping.

The Puri Raja also has on-site massage people, and for 55,000 rupah (approx. AU$5.50), you can have a 1-hour massage.

You can also receive a poolside manicure, pedicure, or both, or have your hair braided or put in hair extensions. A manicure and pedicure costs 45,000 rupah (approx. AU$5).

If you wish to arrange to get married in Bali, the Puri Raja has a very nice stage area that they will decorate for you for the occasion and will make it as special for you as possible.

Into bread, pastries, cheesecakes and/or cakes and want something really tasty to eat you can’t go past –

"Breadtalk"

Located at the front of the Discovery Shopping Mall you’ll smell the bakery/shop before you see it. Upon reaching the shop you’ll be greeted by shelves of delicious looking pastries, cakes, cheesecakes, pizza breads and bread rolls of all types and flavours from Chocolate Gateau’s to baked cheesecakes, cheese topped bread sticks to fruit and custard tarts etc. Yum, Yummm.

Everything you buy is all nicely packaged for easy carrying – there is no seating in the shop but plenty of steps and public seating outside – not that you will get far down the road before the smell tempts you and the tasty treats are devoured.

Outside the shop, at the top of the stairs of the Mall, you can stand outside the shop and watch, through the full height wall to wall windows, the bakers making the items.

Indication of Prices:

Pizza Bread – 11,000 Rapah (A$1.50)

Euro Cheesecake – 5,500 Rapah (A$0.75)

+ 10% services tax

Located in busy, bustling, well lit, JI. Laksmana, in Seminyak the Rumours Restaurant is well worth the visit for all the people who love a good night out with friends/companions and superb food to go with it.

To reach the restaurant, if you’re outside Seminyak, just get into the first blue taxi that happens along and ask to be delivered to the Rumours Restaurant, Seminyak. Don’t forget to tell the driver to put the meter on. The trip should cost approximately 90,000 Rapah (A$10) from Legian – with four in a taxi, it’s not bad.

Some of the taxi drivers are really entertaining - on this night ours played loud reggae music while we sang along - he was laughing his head off.

The dress code is tidy-casual, and the atmosphere is very vibrant, young, and ‘with it’.

The restaurant doesn't look super flash but the atmosphere is friendly and vibrant - never dull. We enjoyed chatting to the tables next to us, the noisy chatter coming from tables further away and getting to know the waitress's and waiters serving us.

The meals are of a decent regular size, and the food is so nice, it seems to just melt in your mouth. Combine that with a couple of Bintangs (beers) and lemon squashes, and the night was a smash hit.

They prepare and serve a mixture of traditional and Western food with lamb, beef, chicken, and other options for dishes and a choice of sides – veggies, salads, etc.

Recommended Meals:

For lovers of lamb – You can’t go past the lamb shank or the lamb chops.

For lovers of desserts – The banana/chocolate cakes or the cheesecake all tasted divine.

Indication of prices:

The lamb shanks – 49,000 Rapah (A$7.50)

The lamb chops – 42,000 Rapah (A$7.00)

All desserts – 16,000 Rapah (A$2)

Bintang – 8,000 Rapah (A$1.20)

Lemon Squash – 10,000 Rapah (A$1.30). + 10% services tax.

The SEA SIDE located on the water front on JI. Pantai Arjuna 14, Double Six, at Legian is a beautiful setting to sit down and enjoy a very nice meal. It’s also a nice location to hold a small wedding reception, as our friends’ did.

They have a decent sized, raised, lounge area where you can sit and sip a few well earned cocktails while you wait to be seated at you table.

The dress code is tidy casual and the atmosphere is pleasant and subdued, great for the romantics amongst us.

The meals are of a regular size--nothing too large, except if you ask for extra, like a 500g tenderloin steak. The food is superbly cooked, tastes fantastic, and is presented nicely.

They prepare and serve a mixture of traditional, European and western food with lamb, beef, chicken, and seafood options for dishes and a choice of sides – veggies, salads, etc.

Recommended Meals: -

For lovers of calamari – Try the calamari fritto, which is to-die-for.

For lovers of steaks – The 500g tenderloin was something to behold and is only for the brave-hearted–-smaller-sized steaks are available.

For lovers of salads – The Greek salad wasn’t to be laughed at.

Indication of prices: -

The 500g tenderloin steak – 160,000 Rapah (A$18)

The Calamari Fritto – 30,000 Rapah (A$5)

The Greek Salad– 29,000 Rapah (A$5)

+ 10% services tax.

Located in busy, bustling, well-lit Jalan Laksmana in Seminyak, the Mykonos restaurant is the only place to go for the people who love dine out and savour the taste of the best in Greek food.

To reach the restaurant, if you’re outside Seminyak, just get into the first blue taxi that happens along and ask to be delivered to the Mykonos restaurant, Seminyak. It’s just down the road from the Rumours restaurant. Don’t forget to tell the driver to put the meter on. Trip should cost approximately 90,000 Rapah (A$10) from Legian – with four in a taxi, it’s not bad.

The dress code is tidy casual and the atmosphere is very vibrant, young, and with it.

The meals are of a decent regular size and the food is absolutely yummy. You’ll leave the restaurant with the best sensation of the delicious flavours still on your taste buds and determined to return again to repeat the experience. The staff is friendly and polite, as with all the restaurants.

They prepare and serve a wide assortment of traditional Greek dishes and also some western food.

Recommended Meals:

For lovers of octopus – You can’t go past the baby octopus.

For lovers of Greek salads – The salad served here was better than some I’ve had in Greece.

Indication of prices:

Unfortunately, I have lost the invoice from this evening, but I remember commenting that the meal only cost us about A$25 to $30 for the two of us to dine out, including services and tax, which is cheap.

To come here for a meal was a pleasurable experience the first time around, but the second time, wow. With the delicious seafood, the spectacle of the sun setting on the horizon, and being serenaded by a band of local musicians, what’s not to enjoy.

Jimbaran Bay has several restaurants. The best way to find the ideal one to dine at is to stroll along the front of the restaurants at a time just before sunset and see which restaurant has the most people occupying it. This is a good indication that the food here is good, although those more cautious will select a restaurant not so populated.

If you are recommended a place to dine at, contact the restaurant the day before and see if they have free transport to and from the hotel – most do.

The dress code and the atmosphere are casual, sitting around talking prior to sunset, and it becomes much more romantic and awe-inspiring at sunset onwards.

At these places you get to select your own meal from an array of different fish, squid, octopus, crabs, squid, lobster, and the likes. All the seafood is absolutely fresh, caught that day by the local fishermen and absolutely yummy. All meals are served with rice, veggies, and a variety of spicy sauces and dips.

The night we were there, it was one of the girl’s birthdays, so the staff prepared a cake for her and we all sang happy birthday as they placed it in front of her. Not long after that, a band of local musicians came along and serenaded her and also did a couple of other requests from the rest of us. The band then continued around the rest of the tables – in return for a song, they ask for a tip – all six of us gave them 10,000 Rapah. Recommended Meals:

For lovers of Seafood – You can’t do better than anything that is served here.

Don’t forget to sample the sauces/dips first, as some are very hot.

Indication of prices:

I, once again, do not have the invoice from this evening’s meal, but I remember someone commenting that the meal had only cost about A$20 to $25 for a couple to dine out, including service and tax – for a seafood meal, that’s so cheap.

The price will differ depending on what seafood you eat and the weight of the different dishes – all the seafood is priced at its cost per kilo.

Located just of the street JI. Padma Utara 4, Legian Kaja, Kuta, this small corner bar/restaurant was a great find for a casual, walk-in, cheap, non-expensive lunchtime treat.

The place is obviously popular with a number of tourists, judging from the number of photos adorning the building’s bamboo structure. There is no full-height walls, just low ones with large openings to allow you to people-watch and amuse yourself.

The dress code is casual and the atmosphere is very laid-back and casual – walk in off the street and pull up a seat. You may even get hassled by sellers of CDs and the likes, all adding to the experience.

The meals are of a regular size and taste great. Mix that with a Bintang beer or two and you have the best lunch.

They prepare and serve mainly traditional Indonesian food, but also have a variety of Western dishes available.

Other contact details:

Mobile – 081 647 23204

Email – baliwalter10@hotmail.com

Recommended Meals:

The Nasi Goren is good.

The jaffles, or toasted sandwiches, are good, and you can get them in a variety of flavours.

The seafood cocktail isn’t bad either.

Indication of prices:

The Seafood Cocktail – 25,000 Rapah (A$3.50)

The Jaffles – about 24,000 Rapah (A$3.50)

Small Bintang – 9,000 Rapah (A$1.20).

Located just of the street JI. Padma Utara, Legian Kaja, Kuta, this small corner bar/restaurant was yet another great find for a cheap, non-expensive treat, and hey, it was within walking/stumbling distance from the Puri Raja, where we were staying.

The place is very popular with a large number of tourists, and you do have to be there early for a seat, as seating is very limited. The restaurant has no external walls just a roof, a low bar, and the kitchen tucked away out the back through a door, so there is ample opportunity to people-watch and amuse yourself.

The dress code is casual and the atmosphere is laid-back. There is no dressing up required here – shorts and T-shirts will do.

The meals are of a regular size and taste great. Mix that with another Bintang beer or two and you have the best casual meal experience.

They prepare and serve mainly traditional Indonesian food, but also have a variety of Western dishes available.

Recommended Meals:

The Nasi Goren is very good.

The steak with mushroom sauce was also a favourite.

The pawn crispe was the best I tasted during the entire time.

Indication of prices:

Unfortunately, I have lost the invoices from the meals we had at this restaurant, but I remember it being one the cheapest restaurants we’d been to on our stay.

Burhan, our Bemo driver, picked us up from our hotel at 9.00am for our ½ day trip to Tanah Lot Temple with a stop off at Canggu on the way back. After negotiating the traffic for approximately ¼ hour we came to the outskirts of the Kuta and started heading towards Tanah Lot.

A small distance out from Kuta Burhan asked if we had visited Kedaton Monkey Forest. After seeing us shake our heads he asked if we would like to go. Kedaton Monkey Forest, here we come.

Before arriving our driver informed us that we would have to pay an entrance fee (3,300 Rupah), and a guide would meet us to show us around the forest, introduce us to the monkeys and show us the large bats (flying foxes). He added that the guide, at the end of the tour, would escort us to their shop and we could either purchase something or give them a tip – as was the custom at this Forest.

As Burhan had said, we paid our entrance fee and as soon as we had stepped through the main entrance a guide was there, at our side, to show us around. Our guide was a lovely young lady with a small child and her shop was one of many small shops that lined the front precinit of the forest area.

We were given a packet of food to feed the monkeys. A word of warning – don’t have anything dangling of you belt, bag strap, glasses or anything that small hands can grab and take of with - the monkeys will try and take them from you. The monkeys were very friendly, especially if you had food or something that interested them.

After feeding the monkeys our guide then lead us around the outside temple – we weren’t allowed inside but could peer over the wall and through gates to get a glimpse of the enclosures/shrines inside – to an area where there was a large tree full for bats (flying foxes).

After viewing the tree we continued on the path, around the temple, back to the shops. Our guide then showed us her shop where we, after some hard bartering, ended up purchasing a number of items we liked.

After all piling back into the bemo, we continued on our way to Tanah Lot.

In order to reach Tanah Lot, Burhan, our driver, continued driving towards the coast for approximately a half-hour from Kedaton Monkey Forest through small villages and a rural countryside full of rice paddies, water buffalo, and Balinese farmers.

Tanah Lot during the day is nowhere as hectic as it is at dusk, as Tanah Lot is one of the best places in Bali from which to view the sunset at its best; with the temple in the foreground, it makes for great photos. Hence, after paying the entrance fee to enter the area and see the temple (3,000 Rupah per person), finding a car park was easy.

Burhan then directed us through the markets to the site of the Tanah Lot Temple. The old temple is beautifully located on a large rocky outcrop on the shore line. At high tide it cannot be reached. At low tide it is reachable, but not for the tourists, as only worshipers can enter. The exception is at certain times when ceremonies are held and it is open to visitors.

A new temple area has been built on the main land since I was last at Tanah Lot 9 years ago, and this is where the Balinese people who wish to worship at the temple sit and wait until the tide turns and they can gain access. Many interesting opportunities here for those who enjoy people-watching.

While we were there, Burhan took us for a short 5- to 10-minute walk along the coast line, past the new temple area, to another small temple/shrine area located on a small point that overlooks Tanah Lot and another neighbouring small temple/shrine. Burhan commented that there are several of these sites dotted, high on the cliff top, along the coastline. It certainly is a very beautiful part of the island.

After taking in the magnificent scenery, we took our time negotiating the markets stalls on the way back to the bemo. Because this is a popular tourist destination, the prices are a bit higher than on the streets of Kuta or Legian.

Once we were back in the bemo, we traveled for approximately 20- to 25-minutes back down the coast until we got to a coastal town called Canggu, great for surfing, but not on this day. The weather had turned more than a little overcast and the wind had come up and was causing havoc with the waves. There wasn’t even any beach to sit on. The surfboard never made it out of the van. Oh dear! Too bad! I am informed that the area can be very nice on a good day.

Back into the van, some with a slight look of sadness on their face, not that he hadn’t surfed every day and sometimes twice a day, back to the hotel we went, where the pool looked very inviting.

We visited a tour kiosk, any kiosk will do, and negotiated a cruise on the Island Explorer Cruises boats – which included the slow boat trip to the island, all water activities, a delicious lunch, a visit to Coconuts Beach Resort to swim in the pool and a trip on the fast jet boat back jumping the swells. All for the sum of 650,000 Rupah (A$90) each for the day.

On the Island Explorer Cruises you have the option of three boats and the choice is yours which boat you want to go over to the Island on and then back to Bali on – depending on available seating - the choice is:

The slow boat – can take a large number of passengers and, because of it’s slow pace, allows the boat crew to troll for fish. You also have the advantage of asking the crew questions – this trip is not good for those who get sea sick.

The medium speed boat – takes a smaller number of passengers than the slow boat but is faster.

The fast jet boat – only takes 20 passengers – wow what a buzz – skimming across the top of the water, leaping over the top of the swells and falling of the top of crests with stomach rising speed. Excellent – no chance to get seasick here.

We went over to the island on the slow boat and went back to Bali on the fast jet boat.

The trip to Lembongan included transport to and from your hotel to Benoa Port. After boarding the boat we had a leisurely cruise whilst relaxing and watching Bali turning hazy in the distance. Upon arriving at Lembongen Island the boat moored just of the shore and the staff busily started preparing lunch – BBQ fish and sausages, salad, bread, fruit and the like – all very delicious.

From the boat you can do the following activities, which are included in the price:

- Snorkel around the reef in the beautiful clear water – snorkeling equipment is available.

- Board a glass-bottom boat to view the reef from a different vantage point.

- Board a small boat to go over to the Island and visit Coconuts Beach Resort for a swim in the pool, a massage and just relax.

On shore you can hire a scooter, US$6/hour, and do a tour of the Island – the scooter owner provides a map. This will take you an hour or longer depending on time. On the tour you will go through a number of small, interesting villages, see spectacular scenery, witness friendly children come out and wave and you can stop and watch the Islanders harvesting seaweed, which is the main occupation on the Island. The back roads resemble goat tracks so the speed of travel is reliant on conditions.

Diving is also available, but at an additional cost.

All and all, it was a great day, and I would highly recommend to anyone.

Nusa Dua, on the eastern side of the southern peninsular, is the place where you can:

 

- hire jet skis and glass bottom boats

 

- enjoy a banana float and other inflatable water rides

 

- parasailing

 

- swim and relax on the beach

 

- fly a kite

 

- participate in many other activities

 

We decided to hire a glass-bottomed boat for a trip to Turtle Island for 110,000 (A$15) The boat transported us from Nusa Dua beach, around the Benoa headland, and to Turtle Island, which is situated in Benoa Harbour.

 

Located on Turtle Island are two small animal petting zoos where you can get to see and touch some of the native and not-so-native animals.

 

The zoo we went to - the one with a bamboo turtle enclosure that juts out into the water and a small café at the waters edge - had the following animals in:

 

- turtles

 

- a snake

 

- a toucan

 

- a monitor lizard

 

- a large bat (flying fox)

 

- a monkey

 

- and a crane.

 

We got to touch, hold, and pet all the animals with assistance from one of the animal keepers. The keeper also gave a running commentary about all the animals and where they came from as we went around.

 

We got to:

 

- hold turtles of varying sizes and ages

 

- had a toucan perch one our arm

 

- met a small monkey

 

- tried to lift a sizable monitor lizard

 

- held onto a flying fox

 

- had a snake draped around our neck

 

- watched an otter jump around his pen playfully.

 

On the way back to Nusa Dua, we had a look over the reef but couldn’t see much due to rough waters. This would be a better activity to do on a day that is not windy to avoid feeling seasick.

 

The zoo trip took us almost 2 hours with the boat trip.

 

At the beach we watched the people flying the many different kites and decided to buy a couple of brightly coloured kites shaped like sailing ships for 25,000 each (A$3).

 

 

Uluwatu Temple, on the western side of the southern peninsular, is well worth the trip for the scenery alone.<P>

 

 

After paying an entry fee of 3,500 each (A$0.50), you can enter the temple and stroll around the complexes vast stretch of walls, situated high on a cliff top, watching the ocean waves roll in on the beach below and/or browse around, taking your time and viewing the stone statues of the Hindu Gods, the shrines adorned with offerings and the structures that the temple complex houses.<p>

 

 

A lot of the temple areas are not accessible unless, of course, you are Hindu.<p>

 

 

Another enjoyable part of visiting the temple is getting up close and personal with the monkeys that call Uluwatu home. Don’t forget to bring some tasty treats for the monkeys or purchase some of the food packets available there, (1,000/packet), as part of the entertainment is feeding them. Be prepared for the monkeys to climb up and sit on your shoulders or even your head – if you sit still enough.<p>

 

 

Don’t forget to remove any glasses (prescription or sunnies), jewelry, or other items – the monkeys will disappear with them as quick as a flash. We watched a monkey disappear up a tree with a visitor’s spectacles – they eventually got them back, a bit dent and damaged, after a brief chase and using food as a lure.<p>

 

 

If it gets too hot, just outside to gates there are a number of stores where you can purchase drinks and food. There are also public toilets that you can use for a small fee.<p>

 

 

Sait Bay (Dreamlands to the surfers) – situated just north of Uluwatu.<P>

 

 

With sun beds and umbrellas on white sand, ocean waves rolling in, cafes and small hotels built on the cliff face, sunbathers, Balinese offering massages and sarongs, and fishing boats anchored of shore, this is more than just a beach – it’s a postcard tropical dream come to life.<p>

 

 

To reach the beach from the car park, you have to walk down some steps cut into the cliff face (the cliff is only a small one, so it is not too bad to negotiate). On the way down you will get a glimpse of some of the amazing scenery, a great photo opportunity.<p>

 

 

Once on the beach you can either:<p>

 

- hire a sun bed and umbrella – like we did (four sun beds and an umbrella cost us 150,000, A$20)<p>

 

- walk along the beach and find a spot away from the crowd<p>

 

- or just jump in the water – if you’re hot, that’s what you’ll opt for.<p>

 

 

The people who hire out the sun beds will take orders and go to the cafes for drinks and food for you - for a tip, of course - just ask.<p>

 

 

Surfers don’t forget your surfboards – this area has some of the best surf in Bali.

 

On the way to Ubud and Mount Batur, Central Bali, we passed the village of Mas, where a large Hindu funeral ceremony was taking place – several families had loved ones they wished to send off in the traditional manner.

Usually, what happens when a family member dies is the body is buried in a grave temporarily until the family has saved up enough money to provide a suitable traditional burial for them. The bodies are then removed from the temporary grave and taken to the cremation site, where they are placed on tall, traditional, ornately decorated structures and then cremated. It could be one cremation or several. The people and family who attended the ceremony were all beautifully attired in their traditional dress.

Tourists can stop and watch these ceremonies if they wish, it is supposed to be a quite interesting and cultural experience – unfortunately we didn’t have time – we had other places to go and things to do. Our bemo driver informed us that a small donation for watching/participating is asked for in return.

On the way to Ubud we also passed numerous fields and hills covered with rice paddies or terraces that seemed to be laid out in exquisite patterns – like a patchwork quilt.

We asked Burhan, our driver, to stop at a location where we could take photos of the rice terraces. He stopped the bemo, along with numerous other bemos, at a small village on the road between Mas to Ubud. Obviously this was the best known location to stop, judging from the number of other tourists and vehicles in the area.

The idea here is to get out of the bemo, taxi, whatever, cross the road and descend a set of stairs down to a viewing platform. There are several to pick from. Meanwhile you have to try your best to avoid contact with the merchandise the local people are trying to sell – they have a policy – if you touch you buy and if you are interested in looking you pay a small fee to do so.

There are some spectacular views of the rice terraces to be taken in from these vantage points. We took in the views and, in the process, all the photos we wanted and then it was back to the bemo to proceed on our way to Ubud and Mount Batur.

Ubud, about &frac34; hour drive north of Denpasar (without stops), was to be the first stop but, unfortunately, there was a political event happening there and all the main areas of the village were closed of to traffic and visitors at the time we arrived. Burhan drove around in circles for about &frac12; hour trying all the different roads entering the centre of Ubud but to no avail. Then he suggested that we proceed to Kintamani for lunch and to take in the scenery of Mount Batur.

 

Winding our way through the lush green countryside of Central Bali, Butar/Kintamani is approximately 1&frac14; hours' drive north of Ubud (2 hours from Denpasar) and sometimes a slower drive if you get stuck behind an old truck.

The roads leading to Kintamani are dotted with a multitude of fresh produce stalls, near Pujung and Peludu, offering an assortment of locally grown produce. From bananas and oranges to tomatoes. The produce on all the stalls was beautifully arranged in buckets so that they resemble a patchwork of vibrant colour. We stopped the bemo and bartered for some of the delicious morsels.

There also are many small villages near Tegallalang, just outside Ubud, along the length of the road and seem to merge to form one larger village. Situated in this area are a wide array of shops and stalls selling a variety of items such as:

- wood carvings,

- stone carvings,

- beautifully crafted furniture,

- textiles and fabrics, and

- artworks.

I would have loved to have stopped and done a spot of shopping – maybe next time.

Butar/Kintamani are perfect places to view Mount Batur and Lake Batur, as they have the advantage of being situated at a elevation on a par with the mountain but at a higher elevation than the lake below, giving the viewer a beautiful, full panoramic view of the surrounding countryside. Great for photos.

There are numerous restaurants situated along the hillside, overlooking this magnificent scenery, all fully glass fronted so as not to distract from the view. Most, if not all, the restaurants offer buffet style dining – all you can eat for approximately 100,000 Rupah (A$13) each. The buffets offer you a selection of traditional Balinese foods and western foods. From nasi goren, prawn crispe and rice to bacon, sausages and eggs, etc. Desserts (fruit, jelly and cakes) and beverages (some juices, coffee and tea) are also available. Anything ordered that is not on the buffet is charged as an extra.

We made sure we sampled everything on the buffets. We were bursting by the time we left. Burhan, our driver, also had a plate piled with food - yum, yum.

There are also arranged tours that people can venture on to this area of the island. These are available at the many tourist kiosks dotted around the main centres and include but are not limited to:

- Early morning hikes up Mount Butar to reach the summit in time to catch the sunrise.

- Day hikes through the area.

- Four wheel drive treks.

- Whitewater rafting.

We were happy just taking the scenery in from a distance and would recommend it to anyone.

After devouring a feast fit for a king and enjoying the beautiful countryside we all, reluctantly, climbed back into the bemo, with Burhan, to wind our merry way back down the slopes to Ubud for a second attempt at getting to the art markets and monkey forest.

By the time we made it back to Ubud from Kintamani, it was possible to gain entry to the centre of the village and to the monkey forest.

First stop was an art market located in Ubud, which had a large shed that provided a fabric workshop where Balinese people worked dyeing cloth and making batik fabrics. You could stop and watch the people work and admire/purchase the final product.

You could also browse around other sheds that housed the following items:

- Original paintings – we bought a small, 5x8, traditional-style watercolour for 100,000 Rupah (A$13).

- Handmade wood carvings of people, animals, etc., done in the traditional Balinese style.

- Stone carvings depicting Buddha, animals, people, etc.

- Handmade quilts and sarongs.

Then, after a short journey through the streets of Ubud, we reached the Monkey Forest – Mandala Wisata Wanara Wana – located in Padang Tegal, where we paid 10,000 Rupah (A$1.50) each to enter the forest grounds.

In the shaded grounds, there are many walking tracks you can venture on. Some take you past grave sites, carvings, and statues, while others take you to and past temples, also with carvings and statues.

The forest houses the following temples:

- The Pura Dalem Agung Temple – located in the main forest. It is the main temple for the village. We paid a small fee and fitted with a green sarong and entered into the temple complex to wander around taking in the amazing craftsmanship used in the construction the buildings, statues, wood carving, and décor painting.

- The Holy Bathing Temple – located next to the steam. This temple contains the Three Mandala Concept – The Utama Mandala is the area of the gods, The Madia Mandala for the disciples contains the holy pool, and The Nista Mandala is the birthing place for mankind.

- The Puri Prajapati is the funeral/cremation temple.

Everywhere you turn, there are monkeys. There seemed to be a large number of baby monkeys. The babies didn’t venture too close, kept out of harm's way by their mums, but the older ones did, especially if you had something they wanted, like food.

Caution – don’t take items with you that can be taken by the monkeys.

Unfortunately, by the time we exited the forest, it was 5pm and it was time for Burhan get home to his family. But what a great day tracing through the countryside, visiting Kintamani, Mount Batur, and Ubud.

Suggestion – if you have the time, stay in one of the many resorts/hotels in Ubud and take your time to see and do the following:

- Stroll casually around Ubud browsing in the shops and art markets, visiting the temples and monkey forest.

- Visit Kintamani and Mount Butar.

- Enjoy the countryside and the gentle rural hustle and bustle of the villages.

This will eliminate trying to fit everything into one long day trip and would be much more relaxing.

It’s 9am, and the six of us have piled into two taxis, heading to the Waterbom Park located on JI Kartika Plaza, Tuban, across the road from the Discovery Shopping Mall.

Waterbom Park is an entertainment park full with water slides, water rides, swimming areas, cabanas, bars, cafes, and shopping kiosks. Something for everyone. You pay one price (95,000 Rupah each for us, because we had discounts through our travel agency), and you can spend the entire day there going on as many rides/slides as you like.

If you wish to hire a shaded cabana for the day, it will cost you extra; there are a number to choose from–some smaller than others–so it's probably a good idea if you have kids in tow. Unfortunately, I can’t provide the cost, as I didn’t pay for the one we hired, but I’m sure it wasn’t much. The cabanas have padded cushions where you can lie about, relaxing and watching the activities going on around you. There are also plenty of deck chairs scattered around the park for people to use.

The water slides and rides vary from a slow-speed river ride, where you sit in an inflatable tube and drift around the park at your own leisure, to faster, steeper slides, where you plunge down a variety of different slides, through half or fully enclosed tubes, around bends, down steep inclines, etc., ending up in the river/pools below.

My personal favorite was the River Ride, which connected with the river below, where you went at a fast speed down the slide on an inflatable tube, either by yourself or with a friend, and then could continue at a slower pace around the river. The slide has a fully enclosed section that has an unexpected steep drop in the middle of it – all for added fun.

There is a good area for the kids, with different small water slides, waterfalls, water games, and other activities relating to water, and there were plenty of kids running around with happy smiles on the faces.

The main pool area is near the main entry to the park. There is a large pool with a water polo net in one area, a bar in another, and plenty of room for swimming. There is seating provided around the edges of the pool and the bar. The bar provides a large assortment of drinks, from alcoholic to sodas, and not far from the pool are the café and restaurant areas. We ordered pizzas, which were delivered to us, and we ate them while we were sitting in the pool enjoying a light refreshment. Who could wish for anything better?

Suggestion – Secure yourself a deckchair as soon as you get into the park by placing a towel, book or item of clothing on it – they get taken quickly.

All and all, it was a great day, and anyone single or with kids would enjoy it.

Here are the contact details of a Bemo van and driver we highly recommend:

Name - Burhan

Stand By - Bemo Corner, JL.Pantai Kuta, Kuta, Bali.

Mobile - 081 3387 26891.

Burhan and his Bemo are very reasonably priced, he speaks very good English, is friendly, has a great sense of humour, chats openly and knows all the best spots and locations.

My partner Dale travelled in the front passenger seat next to Burhan most of the time and got on famously with him, playing jokes on him, videoing him and having a great time.

He is not like other drivers, who have certain places/shops where they get commission, and alter your days plans in order to ensure they get this commission.

He can guide you to cheap shopping, recommended leather tailors and tailors and gold and silver smiths.

He will help/assist you with your bartering in the shops and will even assist you with getting even better value for your money by bartering for you.

He knows all the surfing spots, by the names the surfers use, the top tourist sights and the quiet, away from it all destinations.

The price Burhan will charge for the day will vary depending on the distance you will travel, the locations you wish to visit and the length of time it will take - for a whole day we (6 of us) paid between 200,000 and 250,000 Rupah (A$30) total + bought Burhan lunch.

Entrance fees, public toilet fees, food and bribes for traffic officers were not included in this price.

If you're looking for a good leather product makers and tailor, I would recommend the following:

Shop Name - Puma Exclusive Leather and Tailor

Assistant's Name - Jacky

Address - JI. Kuta Theater No.11, Kuta, Bali

Phone - (0361) 766990, 728216

Mobile - 081 747 27583

Email - jackyleather@yahoo.com

I had a leather jacket made for me while I was there - 940,000 Rapah (A$120) - not bad for the detail that was in it. I took an old vinyl jacket that I had with me so they could use it as a pattern. It is helpful if you can do this. They do not cut it up so you can have it back after they finish.

They usually as for a small deposit once you have agreed a price and the item is ready for pick up in two days' time.

Make sure you have cash on you, as their is no eftpos facility here.

PS - Look out for the small watch shop located just up Kuta Theater. It is from this shop that the beach and street venders buy their items and you can negotiate very reasonable prices as you miss out on the middle man.

If you are interested in acquiring a nice item of jewellery or finding out how the Balinese manufacture their jewellery, or if you just like to admire some amazing items of artwork, then this is one of the places to go:

Semadi Art Gallery
Celuk - Sukawati - Gianyar - Bali
P.O. Box 3328 Denpasar
Phone - 62 (0361) 298140

This shop sells top quality silver and gold items not the 60% silver and gold or the silver and gold coated items that you can buy from most street shops in Kuta and Legian.

When you get to the shop you will notice two men sitting outside concentrating on work. Upon closer inspection you find that they are there to demonstrate how the Balinese go about manufacturing their tiny pieces for artwork from silver and gold.

Once you have observed how they manufacture the items, you can then proceed through the doors to the display room. There a display cases lining every wall all containing a multitude of tiny, and some not so tiny, masterpieces made of gold, silver or both. There are boats, animals, statues and the likes both in the traditional style and European style - all waiting to be purchases.

Central to the room is the display cases with items of jewellery. There is something here for everyone from necklaces to earrings, rings to bracelets.

All items are for sale and are clearly marked, but don't forget to barter. You should be able to barter down the marked price to approximately 1/2 the value.

My partner bought a large silver, bling bling, chain for 1,170,000 Rapah (A$120), and I bought a small 18CT gold pendant with gem stone for 600,000 Rapah (A$50). Both would be worth at least twice as much to buy over in Australia.

Don't forget to take your credit card or plenty of cash, as eftpos is not available at the shop.

 

The reason why we ventured to Bali for this holiday is because two of our friends, Sharon and Ian, were tying the knot on September 1, 2005.

The wedding was held at 3pm at the Puri Raja Hotel, where we were all staying. The couple had organised the whole event with the hotel management and an Australian representive on the days leading up to the 1st - the bouquets, the wedding party attire, and all the associated necessary requirments that go with a wedding ceremony.

The bride arranged for herself and the girls from the wedding party to have a beauty morning at a beauty spa located in Kuta - just up the road from the Bounty Hotel - sorry, can't remember the name.

For 200,000 Rupah (A$26), we got a full-body massage, a face scrub/treatment, and I got my nails painted. Not bad, and boy, did we feel relaxed.

Unfortunately, we went a little bit overtime, and the bride got a bit frantic that we wouldn't make it back in time to get prepared, which didn't improve when the taxi got stuck in traffic. In a panic, she leapt from the car and said she'd run back, while we thought we'd give her some space and stay put. Needless to say, the taxi delivered us to the hotel with plenty of time to spare.

We ironed our outfits - with an iron the hotel lent us - and were ready with time to spare. The guys were to wear 3/4-length white pants and a blue Hawaiian-style shirt, and the girls were to wear pink and white sarongs and white tops - a bit cheesy, but not my wedding. With that accomplished, the girls retired to one of the rooms for a wine while the guys went for a quick beer in another.

At 3:15pm, the guys and the minister were waiting on stage for the bride and us girls to sashay down the walkway and assume our appropriate positions on the stage. It was good to notice that some of the people we'd met at the hotel had gathered to watch the ceremony, and they were also handy for taking the videos/photos.

The stage was immaculately decorated with traditional Balinese umbrellas, flags, two beautifully carved wooden seats, and frangipani flowers - the bride had asked for the ceremony to be as traditional as possible.

The wedding proceeded without mishap, and 15 minutes later, the newly married couple were kissing, the champagne bottles were decorked, and the post-wedding photos were being taken.

Then it was a mad dash to the beach to get some photos on the beach with the sun setting behind us, before it actually disappeared - what a beautiful backdrop. We noticed that there were three other bridal couples/parties who were doing the same thing at different locations along the same stretch of sand - popular place to come.

Meanwhile, our stomachs were screaming for food, as we hadn't eaten since breakfast that morning. Luckily, the cocktails and reception were held at Seaside - just a 5-minute walk up the road from the Puri Raja.

While we waited to be seated for dinner, the newlyweds shouted us all four cocktails - they went down well on a empty stomach. They then paid for our dinners - I had a Greek salad and baby octopus, and Dale had a 500-gram steak - everyone agreed that it was a delightful feast and vowed to return at a later date in our holiday.

The day finally finished at approximately 11pm, with everyone retiring to their rooms to get ready for a busy next day.

We saw so many wonderful things while we were in Bali. Needless to say, we took a huge number of photos.

Here are just a few more of the many shots we took that I thought you might like to see.

Surf and Beach Wear

For affordable but good-quality (material and workmanship) surf and beach wear, try the following shop:

Off Shore Surf Shop

Jl.Pura Bagus Taruna

Legian Kaja, Bali

We bought a number of men's singlets and T-shirts from this joint--2 singlets and 1 T-shirt for 245,000 Rapah ($35 AUD).

There is also ladies' and childrens' clothing available.

There is always a bargain bin located at the front of the shop, near the door, which is always worth checking out.

CDs and DVDs

For cheap CDs and DVDs of all the latest music and movies, try the following shop: -

Sakura DVD

Jl Diponegoro Komp

Diponegoro Megan A8-A10

Denpasar

Telephone - 0361-264709

When we went there, you could purchase 10 CDs for 100,000 Rapah ($15 AUD) and 15 DVDs for 150,000 Rapah ($21 AUD).

Pottery and Craft Items

If you're into pottery and other decorative handmade items, then the following shop is well worth a visit if you want something a little different, top-quality, and uniquely Balinese to take home:

Craft Centre Otha

Ji. Legian Kaja 451,

Legian - Kuta - Bali

Telephone - 62-361-756091

Fax - 65-361-756091

Email - otha_levina@usa.net

We had the absolute joy of purchasing a beautifully crafted pottery figurine of a mermaid for 1,500,000 Rapah ($150 AUD).

While this does not seem like a cheap price, we fell in love with the item, and it is a one-off item; although they might try to copy the same item again, the copy will never be the same as it was handmade. The figurine is approximately 30cm high by 30cm wide by 30cm deep.

Silver Jewery

If you love silver jewery then this following shop has some lovely pieces to offer: -

CV. Silver Boat

Retail and wholesale

Jl. Legian Kaja 450

Legian - Kuta - Bali

Tel/Fax - 62-361-753706

Email - cv_silverboat@yahoo.com

I purchased 2 items from this shop - a small silver braclet for my niece for 100,000 Rapah ($15 AUD) and a silver and mother-of-pearl ring for myself for 145,000 Rapah ($20 AUD).

These are just some of the wonderful shops you can venture into on a days shopping spree. We had a ball walking along the streets, visiting a variety of different shops and stalls, haggling with the owners or shop assistants.

Don't forget to ask in the shops if the prices are fixed. If their prices are don't be too discouraged as this does not mean that they are not open to offering a good discount. All shops in Bali have a 'best price' for all their items - this is a price which is usually 3% - 20% (each shop is different) lower than that of marked price. Sometimes they may even go a bit lower than their 'best price'.

Oh, don't forget to wear good walking shoes that won't give you blisters.