Due to the Padang's earthquake that happened a month before my actual trip, i do worry about traveling to Indonesia, especially Bali with a live volcano... and i too found out about a minor 5+ magnitude quake in Bali.Our initial plan was to cancel Bali since we got the ticket at Air Asia free seat promo. It only cost RM80/ person for return ticket. Even hotels booking i drag it to last minute.. But luckily we change our mind, because its really a place worth to go for its rich Hinduism culture, fantastic Balinese food, superb scenery and the beaches.
I did some plans earlier but most of the booking comes last minute.... Its not easy to cover Bali in a 4 days 3 nights and i did a lot of homework from reading the Bali traveling treads from Low Yat Forum. Now it has becoming my travel handbook... trust me, real time traveler experience, especially their recommendations and comment really helps... Thanks to all the travel kakis in LYN.
Day 1 (18/11/09)
Our flight to Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar , Bali departs from LCCT at 9.30am, means we gotta be at airport at 7.30, since Lek is still in Malaysia at that time, sending us to airport is never a problem... In our sleepy face, me & mum off to LCCT airport and do the usual check in, waiting for departure... I got a window seat and as usual, pre ordered my Pak Nasser's Nasi Lemak Combo.
Flight to Ngurah Rai Airport Bali took us 3 hrs. After a smooth landing, we reach to the Balinese land at 12.30... After some ding dong ding dongs... passed through custom, collect luggage and spend some time to mingle around in the duty free shop.. oooohh... they have DFS there!!!
Once we got out from the airport, my Prebooked driver was waiting for me outside...As many of the bloggers and travelers would recommend, many travel to Bali would book a driver to drive them around.. arranging tour with local agent means you're ready to be slaughter!
My driver name is call Putu, for my 3 days journey through Bali Island, we agree upon a price of IDR800,000, equivalent to RM285. Of course our transport cost would be higher as compare to a bigger group. Putu is driving a Toyota Avanza, which is pretty common in Bali... Putu is quite quiet, he did not really talk a lot to me & mum, of course did not much of explanations about places also... But he is very honest for not trying to bring us to places where he can earn more commission by sending tourist over..
Bali, as many of you've known, its very famous among the beaches, sea sports, unique Balinese Hindu culture and arts & crafts. Frankly speaking, you see more tourist than more local at anywhere...
Our first day are planned for activities at Ubud, a town located at the middle of Bali island. Ubud town has gather culture, comfort, nature and inspiration. Ubud is surrounded by most of the things that bring people to Bali -- scenic rice fields, small villages, art and craft communities, ancient temples, palaces, rivers, cheap accommodation and unique luxury hotels.
Since its at the noon hours, we requested Putu to bring us to one of the most famous eateries in Ubud, Ibu Oka's Babi Guling. Many of you may be misunderstood that Indonesian are mostly Muslim, but in Bali, the majority are Hindus, so pork menu are pretty common in Bali. It took us about 1 1/2 hours to reach to Ubud from airport, the actual mileage is not that far, but small roads takes up the traveling time.
Ibu Oka Babi Guling is one of the must try if you happen to travel to Bali.. Its so famous that they started as a warung but now they have 2 branches in Ubud town.. Putu bring us to the old Ibu Oka.
Babi guling is the Balinese version of roast pig, its marinated with various spices and roast to crisp. Its different from the Chinese version of roast pork where Babi Guling skin is very thin and roast to crisp. The Restaurant is not very spacious and very pack with tourist. Unlike typical tourist class restaurant, no one guide you for a seat, so we just walk to any empty table and seat down. After quite some time, the busy waiter at last come to our attention and place order for us. We order a Nasi with Babi Guling Special which cost us IDR 25,000 and a Teh Botol cost IDR 5000.
Warung Babi Guling Ibu Oka
Address : Jl Tegal Sari No: 2, Ubud
Tel : (0361) 976345
After the sumptuous lunch, Putu pick us from the Restaurant and send us to check in the hotel. After some surveys and recommendations, i've book Greenfield Ubud as our accommodation in Ubud. Putu wasn't familiar with the location of Greenfield and we had a tough time looking for it... My bad for not taking down the address...
The rest of the day we decided to relax and go for a Spa session and we call it off for Putu's service.
Greenfield Ubud is a family operated chalet surrounded by natures and rice fields. Green Field and its neighbor, Tegal Sari also running on similar concept where the villas are surrounded by paddy fields are very favor by any class of tourist, to avoid disappointment, you'll need to book your room few months earlier.
I do make the reservation early to secure a room, for the price you paid for, its definitely worth for the impeccable service, superb scenaries that can take up half your day to explore and taking photos, and one of the highlight is the salt water swimming pool for you to energize yourself...
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| The little fish pond just in front of our Bale Pudak Room |
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| Secret Garden |
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| Green green paddy field |
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| Since its next to Tegal Sari, We accidentally walk into its garden |
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| To the Tegal Sari Spa |
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| Lotus pond |
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| Accidentally swim at the Tegal Sari pool also |
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| This is the actual salt water pool... really nice!!!! |
I booked the Bale Pudak Room, located at the ground floor and facing the garden. The room per night only cost us IDR 200,000 which inclusive of breakfast too. Accommodation in Bali can be quite cheap compare to the Malaysian standard, for this price, i have a spacious twin room with a nice balcony in the midst of the nature.
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| My Bale Pudak Room on the ground floor |
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| Our twin room |
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| My room 106 |
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| Balcony in the Garden |
Green Field Bungalows
Address : Pengosekan St. Ubud - Bali Indonesia
Tel : +62 361 975798
website : www.greenfieldubud.com
We spend our afternoon exploring the garden, taking photos and also have a nice relaxing swim in the salt water pool. And then we prepare ourselves for our Spa treatment at Sang Spa.
Spa is one of the must do things in Bali also as its been known for its quality and a cheaper price comparing to our standard. Following suggestions from other travel mate, i choose the Spa Spa located in Ubud Town.
Sang Spa provide pick up service for their guest from any hotel in Ubud. We're pick up by them and send us to the spa. Though the exterior of Sang Spa is not too well decorated and located in the end of a small lane, but the masseur really provide high quality blissful spa treatments that make you feel heal at both mind and body.
We choose the 2 hrs and 15 mins Body Scrub & mask package which start with an hour traditional Balinese massage, following by an exfoliating rice powder scrub to knock off dead skin cells and wind down with a natural cooling yogurt mask to restore the PH. Lastly, you can pamper yourself in a super comfortable floral bath. This whole package only cost us IDR 150,000 which is equivalent to only RM55....
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| In our SPA treatment room. |
The Sang Spa
Address : Jl. Jembawan 296 Ubud Bali
Tel : (0361)8631816
Open daily 0900 - 2100
After a good spa, we indulged ourselves in one of the most famous restaurant in Ubud. The Bebek Bengil.
Bebek Bengil meaning Dirty Duck in Bahasa Indonesia. Why its name such? of course there's a story behind it. One tropical monsoon morning, when the restaurant was very close to being finished a flock of ducks from the rice field across the road ran quacking and squawking into the restaurant and across the floor and tables. They left muddy webbed footprints all over the place. They were the first guests - those dirty ducks! and thus, its name The Dirty Duck Diners.
Bebek Bengil is consider a high class dinning venue in Ubud, the interior is very well decorated with the Balinese wood carving table & chairs, spacious garden and rice field scenery, and some private verandas for group dining.
The signature dish is of course the Dirty Duck, its a smoke duck in special sauce and it requires booking 1 day before. We're more favor to the fried stuck thus we order a Bebek Bengil Crispy duck.
Its half a portion of duck marinated with herb and spice and deep fried it to crisp. The set comes with a fresh green salads and sauteed potatoes. It cost IDR 67,000 which is not cheap in the Bali dining standard.
We share this duck dish and order another fried rice with Satay for sharing.
The Indonesian satay is close t our local one, just that they do not serve with peanut spicy sauce. It cost IDR 36,000.
Our dinner comes to a total of IDR 140,000 inclusive of drinks & taxes. Of course paying for these price, we do not miss the chance to snap some nice photos from the well decorated place. But because we only come for the dine after the night fall, if we could catch the sunset here, its will even more beautiful...
Bebek Bengil - Dirty Duck Diner
Address : Hanoman Street, Padang Tegal, Ubud Bali
Tel : (62-361) 975 489
After the dinner, as Ubud town is quite dark, we do not plan to loiter around and since its a walking distance to our hotel, we just get some drinking water from the convenience store and walk back for a rest.
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