HOLA!
I've kinda been on hiatus... Or actually, neglected this blog for a few months.
I had my fair share of travelling for this year but didn't quite have nice photos to update with... Considering, I was too, recuperating for awhile before I even headed to Singapore to meet up with people.
Cut the crap, let's move on to the Bali trip!
The air tickets to Bali were booked in April when there was this crazy sales going on for Jetstar. FYI, sometimes when I receive the newsletter on flights promo, I'd be camping there, trying to see which location should I aim for next.
The air tickets for return trip was only S$87 per pax. Yes, it was that cheap and guess what? ALL-IN; all the taxes and surcharges... JUST BOOK AND GO ALREADY, WHAT YA WAITING FOR?!
& So, that's how the trip was confirmed.
Anyway, our flight was on 29th Sept, Saturday at 4.05am. There was this reschedule for the flight which I had no idea if it was brought forward earlier or it was delayed but either way, our Airbnb host came to pick us up despite the super early timing.
Sunrise
(duh...)
COTTON WOOL
IN. THE. SKY.
To our surprise, Bali shares the same time zone as Singapore/KL and I thought it would be an hour slower just like Surabaya.
Anyway, we landed at around 6-7am and I was so determined to get a SIM card so I could snapchat my life in Bali every moment but... I just realized, airports in Indonesia do not really sell mobile SIM card and so, we ended with data-less for the trip unless there was any free WiFi available.
I could still snapchat (annjayelle) but it was uploaded at a super delayed time.
After clearing the immigration, our Airbnb host, Natalie came and pick us up. She was a local, an Indonesian but was from Padang and she settled down in Bali with her Italian boyfriend.
One thing I liked about Airbnb, it feels like home; you do not really have to worry about the check-in and check-out timing and if you meet a good host, your trip would be a damn good one.
Chay, my primary school classmate.
While en-route to Natalie's Villa in the car!
(Approx. 20 mins car ride from the airport)
A random picture I took while on the way to her house.
So, we arrived at the Villa and right before the turn to her place...
She saw her dog lying motionlessly on the bend of the road, and it was dead.
(We were all speechless... & after they gave a check on the dog, she told us it was not caused by an accident and that her dog was poisoned by some asshole)
A pool, located right outside our rooms.
We didn't use it at all, where got time?!?!?!
These two glass sliding doors are the doors to our rooms.
So you know, the area of this Villa ain't big...
There's the dining table on the right, and I totally forgot to take picture of the kitchen. There's a stove, microwave, a refrigerator...
Each room is furnished with a wardrobe, cable TV, toilet (one of it completes with a bathtub), air-conditional, and a swamp of mozzies which freaked us out but it got better.
We unpacked our stuffs and got our essential beach items before heading off to Nusa Dua area for some beachy activities.
Before we go, my burden friend had to buy a pair of Havaianas and many said it's much cheaper there. The verdict? It is going to be VERY cheap if there's ongoing sales, otherwise, it's just probably a 10-15% cheaper than the price in Singapore.
HAHA AND I DIDN'T TAKE PICTURES INSIDE THE SHOP.
Then, after getting fulfilling her burden, we headed for our lunch at some famous local stall for some local delicacies aka the Ayam Betutu. We asked what does "betutu" mean but Natalie said it's just a name, no meaning to it... #okaycan.
They don't look appealing, do they?
The soup one was much better and the grilled one... Looks pathetic in the picture, and was indeed really pathetic.
FYI, we didn't sleep on Friday and headed to airport at 12mn.
I came in from Malaysia after work and meet them girls before heading to the airport.
(Chay's dad offered us the ride to the airport, saving us from the cab fare. Thank you, Uncle!)
& for every moment we got into the car, a few minutes later, we would just drifted off to lalaland, we were really FREAKING TIRED. Oh, food coma too.
En-route to the beach at Nusa Dua...
Everything in Bali is so expensive, except the food.
Address:
Jl. Pratama No. 98, Tanjung Benoa -Nusa Dua
Bali, Indonesia
Email: inyomanarna@gmail.com
We spent like freaking S$130 per pax on these few sea activities for less than 2 hours?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!!! RAGE and Natalie told us it was already cheaper than the usual price since they offered us the price for local instead of the tourists and that, we would be given a CD with the photos free. BENEFIT OF DOUBT.
We did these 4 activities:-
1) Flying Fish - 10mins
2) Donut -10mins
3) Banana Boat - 10mins
4) Sea Walking (the most expensive shit) - 30-45 mins
HI GUYS, THIS IS ME.
OMG I look like a tortoise with that neck.
HI GUYS, CHAY IS WITH ME FOR THE FLYING MOMENT.
We are about to flyyyyyyyyyy.
Flying fish lifts me up.
It flew quite high actually, and if you do not grab onto the rope tight, you'd be plunging into the sea...
Not a bad idea but of course, I didn't do that.
For the donut, it's just like the banana boat but in different form of shape.
(Did you realize, all the activities are named after something edible...)
The donut one was exciting... In a way.
For banana boat... It's a common sea activity so there's no need to explain much.
Now, here comes the Sea Walking...
OH HI, LOOK AT OUR UGLY WET SUITS
& I think it's a must wear to protect yourself from any barnacles you will encounter in the sea
Better to be safe than sorry and ugly
You are able to "dive" without having to carry the oxygen tank on your back and that your head will be dry throughout. Looks retarded but worth the try since we were already there but sighpie, the water was as algae-y as possible.
I saw a lot of the pufferfish, the nest of nemo.. and some other fishes. There was this designated "path" to walk, like a metal plank on the seabed with railing at the sides for you to hold and the astronaut look alike tank was not very clear to begin with.
Well, at least I could tell people I went for sea-walking before...
Can you spot the Nemo?
Anyway, the tank is like a magnifying glass so you thought the corals, fishes were right in front of you but it wasn't so you can see my friend in the middle was like touching air... I meant, water.
These expensive shit of activities concluded our first part of the tour for 1st day.
Next up, Natalie brought us to another beach which is meant for pro-surfers like there are often competitions being held there I guess...
When we were there, the beach was so crowded, like NO DOUBTS, FAMOUS BEACH.
Padang-Padang Beach
Yup, there was this tent selling authentic RipCurl merchandises at the entrance to the beach
This way to the beach, bitches
We had to walk down to the beach via this narrow stairway
See! All the surfers with their boards!
& a lot of beach-goers for some sunbath
You can imagine how far they have to walk and paddle out to catch the wave...
What a tiring sport.
(Which sport isn't tiring?!?!)
Hi, this is my boyfriend
His name is Anonymous #1
& we were just chilling and sunbathing by the beach...
Checking out on sexy angmohs
We spent a couple of hours there and left at 5pm, many other tourists were leaving too because... It was pretty far to get from one place to another town for food.
Natalie then brought us to some seafood place right by the beach, I've no idea where was that place because, I concussed as soon as I was seated in the car. REALLY VERY EXHAUSTED, we were practically awake for more than 24 hours with a couple of rest in the plane.
Fresh crabs and clams in the tank...
Cart along the beach selling grilled corns!
Shini bought one to try, I'd still prefer the one we had in Surabaya after our trek.
Natalie brought us here so we could enjoy the sunset while having our dinner
Quite a thoughtful host...
Candlelight dinner for 3
We had snapper, 2 sets of king prawns (omg I had so much of that because Shini is a fussy eater), some grilled squids on the stick and calamari for appetizer.
The seafood was good, they were pretty fresh and juicy but not really sure if this dinner was considered cheap since... I could eat a lot with a RM100 for seafood in Malaysia HAHAHA
Objective of this blur picture?
This picture is taken not to note down the dining place but it is because of the round moon that night.
Quite a sumptuous dinner I felt... and then, we headed back to our Airbnb place in Seminyak.
Natalie dropped us at some touristy souvenirs outlet to get singlets and after which, we walked to Indomarket to get some snacks (so addictive... We did that a lot of times in Surabaya trek) and damn, the magnum ice cream...
I've never eaten Magnum Ice cream in my entire 24 years of living.
The Magnum Gold in Singapore, I heard the price is around S$4.50/pcs? Guess what, it was only S$1.30 in Indonesia HAHAHA screw being fat, I had this before we hailed a cab back to our villa.
S$1.30 of oozing goodness in my mouth.
Life's good in Bali.
Hmm, day 1 ended just like this and we got back to bathe and concuss almost instantly for an early day 2 packed with awesome activities!
Maybe, just maybe...
I will update on Day 2 in a couple of days if I am not feeling lazy.
Ciao, have a great Sunday!
Xx
Oh hello, there!
