Bali

DAY 1

Arrived 2 hours later than scheduled thanks to the flight delay. Headed straight to Jimbaran for a seafood dinner which was splendid. The table was laid out on the soft sand overlooking the sea, the breeze was cool, the stars were twinkling in the clear sky and best of all the portions were generous! We arrived starving and left barely able to move, hunger and thirst satiated. Would have been better if we didn't miss the sunset at dinner as planned though. Air Asia owes me a sunset dinner!

DAY 2

Woke up bright and early after a good night's rest in Legian. The day started off with the locals' performance of the Barong Dance.



Next on the list was the semi-active volcanoes and tallest peak in Bali in Kintamani. On the way, there were numerous home industries specialising in silver, art and wood carving. Damn sien wan unless you appreciate stuff like this. After looking at unrefined overpriced silver jewellery, I was already soaked in sweat and was just waiting to hide in the car. Suddenly after 15 minutes in the car, we were forced to make a visit to an art hut (gallery).Quickly made a courtesy round and jumped back in the car. Lucky our guide didn't stop at some wood carving place but a resting place which housed a moderate-sized souvenir shop instead. We spent ages there maximising the air con and playing with knick knacks til the driver had to usher us to move on ;)

As we gradually rumbled higher up the hill, the surrounding became cooler to the point that the sun rays stopped bothering me. We happily settled into our seats on the verandah, savouring every minute of the buffet lunch, teasing our palates with food whilst our eyes were feasted with the gorgeous view of the volcanoes, mountains and lake as our ears were soothed by the hauntingly melodious restaurant music better known as the "music of the Gods" by the locals.

The first encounter with the local entrepreneurs occurred straight after lunch. As we were staggering out of the restaurant, a group of kids crowded around me trying to sell their homemade wares. Although I'm aware of the abundance of these street hawkers, I'd never imagined them to be so young. And despite me applying some of the tried and tested strategies like not making eye contact, being firm, and climbing straight into the car seat, there was no way I could slam the door in the face of a persistent young boy whose arm was flailing vigorously with his right hand gripped tightly around his wares, thrusted into the car at my direction whilst repeatedly pleading me. He can be no older than 9 yet there he was- working! And I, like many others (I'm sure) foolishly parted with my rupiahs only to be bombarded by an older lady offering 2 sets of the same item for the same x price. Ahhh bloody hell, I forgot to bargain, kena con by a 9 year old!!!! In order to be able to close the door, I relented and finally managed to leave after spending 2x rupiahs for 3 sets of the same item. And the boy was sure happy judging by the width of his grin =.='

At least the descend towards Goa Gajah was relatively fast. Maybe because I was kept occupied with my new possessions throughout the journey hehe...



The shopping area in Goa Gajah has the best price in Bali! Now that I'm back in KL, I regret not buying more from the stalls there. Like everywhere in Bali, bargaining is expected but they'll easily and quickly reduce the price to a reasonable offer. It may be because it was a weekday or that they sense my kiam siapness, but whatever it is the stuff were cheap! One of the vendors quoted half the price for all 3 sets of the item that I bought earlier on from the kid.

Kintamani: 2x rupiahs + bargaining= 3 items.
Goa Gajah: x rupiahs= 3 sets of items in Goa Gajah + less hassle!!!

Here I am blaming and cursing my kiam siapness for being suspicious of some of the prices of goods there. I can only see the red slippers offered at 10 000 rupiah (RM 3.30!!!) and the 30 000 rupiah sun dress but not feel them now. Because I didn't have to bargain and I saw similar goods in almost every stall there, I assumed I could get them cheaper elsewhere and walked away.

And when we got back to Kuta, the town centre, only did I realise the significance of tourists being cash cows. Everything was ridiculously quoted at sky high figures, and even if I did try to bargain, there was no way I could get it down to the price of that in Goa Gajah! Should have been less greedy and kiam and just bought whatever that I wanted when they were reasonably priced- actually super cheap. I want to go back to Goa Gajah!!! I've learnt my lesson :(

DAY 3

Woken up from my dream of shopping without having to pay by room services ;) Time to rise and shine my way to the islands weee...
9 am and it was already scorching hot. Yet I loved how the water was cool when I waded through, and I loved how the breeze felt against my face when our glass bottom boat sped up and I loved how both the sky and the sea were a clear blue but are of different shades.
Morning fishies!!! Plain bread for your breakfast k? Don't think you'd like it toasted with butter or jam. The nasi goreng I had this morning might clog up your fins, but if you want I can tapau for you on the next visit ;)

Morning baby penyus!!!

Morning veteran penyus!!!

Spot the cash cows being herded to Deluang Sari to visit the penyus, bats, snakes, eagles, birds, and fighting cocks.

It's damn early to wake up on non-working days. It's damn hot for such early hours in the morning. But I loved it ;) Sun makes me grumpy but sand and water makes me happy ;)

Leaving on a high note, we proceeded to Taman Ayun, one of the millions of temples in Bali. Seriously, they've got more than a million temples as each family has their own and they have approximately 3 million inhabitants.


Taman Ayun's a really pretty place with a river flowing through its well- kept grounds. Great site for a leisurely stroll. If only it's cooler...

Yearning for a break for our sweat glands, the ascend to Bedugul where we had buffet lunch by the 2nd largest lake in Bali was relieving.



It was then time to visit my lovelies in the Monkey Forest :) We didn't even have to travel far to see the first kingdom. A group of them happily greeted our arrival. And then from a dilapidated caged hut, out came a middle age lady with a basket filled with pisang emas. We paid 10 000 rupiahs for half of the contents. Since we've just had our meal, it'd be rather pitiful to have our hungry friends staring at our bloated bellies.

It didn't take long for us to realise that the fat fellow was the boss as he grabbed each banana handed out. Even when we threw the bananas at the scrawny young ones, they did not dare touch them until the king has had his fill and only then do they munch on the remnants. Sakit hati man see the greedy fellow eat all whilst the rest had to pick on his leftovers. Felt like giving him a fake banana instead. I wonder how he'll react hehe...

Thankfully some of the younger ones have a contant food supply. At least they still have a chance to grow up to be as cute despite not being as chubby as the big boss.

The next stop was another money-making opportunity for the locals who produce tea and coffee. Located in a forest and complete with tasting opportunities, it was a rather good concept. But again, the price of the produce had been marked up, as expected.

An hour and a half away is Tanah Lot whereby low tides are awaited so that people can safely wade their way to the Beji Holy Spring to be blessed by the priests. Water from the spring can also be obtained on request.





The scenery was awesome and standing in the middle of the sea with land on either side was exhilarating. The feeling befitted the next round of shopping near the springs which boasted a much longer stretch with more variety of products which according to our guide offers one of the lowest prices in Bali depending on one's bargaining prowess. I still find Goa Gajah better :(

Dinner was Indonesian in Jali-Jali back in Kuta's duty free shopping centre instead of the pre-planned Chinese. Normal only, even 'normal-ler' than Natrabu's Minang food the previous night. Have yet to figure out why the original itenarary was changed since the guide said that the meal we had was good Indonesian food. How to grumble like that? Have to say nice la despite complaing about our 3rd kangkung dish in 3 days and what the original meal would have been in Golden Palace throughout the meal...A bit paiseh to say otherwise lah hehe...

DAY 4

Had a quick stroll at the beach in Kuta before checking out. Then it was straight to Uluwatu Temple which was on the cliff overlooking the sea where the waves were temptingly huge and only professional surfers were allowed into the water.

We were pre-warned about the cheekiness of the monkeys here whereby they have a fetish for spectacles and sunglasses and once in their possession, visitors can only trade them back in return for peanuts or bananas. As this mohawk poser followed me along the way, I had to hold on to mine tightly and even had to remove it at some stretches when his group of friends were nearby.
I thought of the little stalker and the chubby big boss on my way to the airport. I wondered what would happen to my domesticated monkey if I had brought him along to visit his brethren...