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Bali Reviews

Bali, a truly amazing holiday destination.
Sep 30, 2018 11:30 PM 9898 Views (via Android App)

Me and my wife chose Bali as our honeymoon destination and it didn't disappoint us at all. We went there in Jan 2018 and stayed for 6 nights and 7 days at Park Regis Kuta. Its about 40mins away from the airport. Bali was hot like Mumbai but not as humid so it was comfortable to travel during the day. Most of the places are extremely clean with no litter on the roads. 4 wheelers observe traffic rules very seriously but few scooter riders are rough like in India. The Balinese people are very polite and friendly. We never felt unsafe at any moment. Shopping is cheap too and street food is amazing. Would recommend this place for everyone even for a family.


Deoli,Tonk India
Nature starts here
Jun 30, 2018 04:19 PM 9680 Views (via Android App)

Bali one of the best natural places in the world , I cant explain bali in a word.Bali is such a great place to visit and a must place to visit before die, you will see the real nature here, it is located in Indonesia, And the 5 star hotels makes it more wonderful .


Bali is covered with most amazing trees and and the travellers all over the world have the very first option is bali to visit


Bali give us the great feeling of closing to the nature .Bali have the most amazing lakes , river which make it must visit place


Mumbai India
Bali L Hotels review
May 31, 2018 12:59 PM 10298 Views

My wife & I stayed at L Hotel for a night for our Honeymoon trip to Bali. We stayed in their top end Luxe Suite.


L Hotels is located in Seminyak which is a very popular and busy tourist place in Bali. The Hotel had sent us a chauffeur to pick us up from the airport. The thing that stood out was the L Hotel sign at the airport which was different from all of the other signboards. Small things like this really created the whole experience for us. The chauffeur was friendly and the car they sent was spacious and clean. It was a 20-25 mins drive to L Hotels from the airport.


On the outside, we found it was a very standard looking hotel but looks are deceptive as it is a luxury hotel and you can understand why from inside the rooms. L is part of a group of 500 hotels that are categorized as Small Luxury Hotels. We had a fairly quick checkin and then we were escorted to our room.


We were blown away by the Luxe Suite. We had seen pictures of the room but the real deal was way better. They had also arranged a Balinese styled honeymoon setup for us which included a couple of model swans on the bed that was adorned with flower petals and a yummy chocolate pastry. The room had a king size bed with very comfortable cushions.


The main thing about the room was the bathtub beside the bed and the actual thing did not disappoint. There were quite a few other features for the room which included a pillow menu which was pretty extensive. The bathroom was super cute and everything was very detailed and well-done. Toiletries were from Penhaligon which was impressive!


A couple of other features really stood out about their attention to detail. One was the wood carved silver painted ceiling that made the room come alive and an apple on a stand reminding each guest to keep the doctor away. Personal touches but goes a long way to distinguish a hotel room from others. We had also heard about them giving a goldfish in a bowl to single travelers that we had to see. On pleading with them, they did bring Putu the fish as an exception for us.


With the bathtub, we already had many pictures but being there was completely a different feeling. It was very spacious and the main highlight of the room. We got a Butler service on demand as part of the Luxe room and we also received a blast from the past phone to reach out to the butler from anywhere in Bali.


The personal butler was important especially when you hit Bali for the first time. It is totally different language and culture. Having a professional friend to guide you on the basics is something that makes a lot of sense. We kept asking our butler pretty silly questions and she helped us with a lot of information about Bali, their culture, how people are named, what to eat and where to go and a lot of details we would have missed out on. While answering our questions, she made a bubble bath for us which was perfect after our long flight to Bali from Mumbai.


The service at L was a real standout and we understand why they are part of the exclusive Small Luxury Hotels group. We had dinner inside L hotel at its in-house restaurant called GROW that night and we took the tasting menu. The tasting menu is a 6-course meal handmade by the chef. It was beyond extraordinary and fine dining at its best. The brocolli spaghettoni, pork belly and the roast mango really stood out.


The next day we took a massage for two at L hotels, again it was a very personal and warm experience which set our Bali trip exactly in the direction we wanted to take it.


A couple of cons is that the L Hotels is in a very city based area of Bali which means, the view from the windows are street views and there is no in-house pool even though the pool is a short distance away which you can reach by walking or a L Hotel free pickup and drop.


But overall, if you are looking to kickstart your Bali trip, I recommend L Hotel as the perfect place to start with. They ease you into Bali and their service and hospitality is personal, warm and very professional. If you are looking for a botique luxury hotel, L is the way to go.


YOUR RATING ON

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Muhammadabad Gohna Mau India
Bali So beautiful.
May 13, 2018 10:16 AM 5241 Views (via Android App)

Bali is a most beautiful place in the world.this place is awesome. This culture is so nice. Bali is a part of Indonesia. Indonesia is a good country for travel. Mony Indian travel Indonesia every year.perfect time for visits from October to January.Bali knows beaches. Bali.'s beaches need and clean. And so beautiful.


pradeepkh29MouthShut Verified Member
Mumbai India
Bali best honeymoon paradise..i loved it
May 11, 2018 06:49 PM 14372 Views (via Android App)

We visited bali in March 2018 for honeymoon.We stayed there for 8 nights. It was a self arranged tour. There are lots of lots of amazing things to speak regarding Bali, it has the most beautiful beaches, affordable villas, holly temples and friendly kind people, serene nusa penida island.


Accessibility for Bali Indonesia from India regular flights from all metro cities will reach in 8 to 10 hours journey via Malaysia.


Local sightseeing is plenty of things Tanah lot and Uluwhatu temple, beaches like Kuta beach, pandawa beach, ubud rice terraces, nusa penida island much more. Online packages are available or you can book through your hotel but that will be costly or you can book in bali itself where little tourist guide shops are there every where.


Hotels are very cheap. You will get 4 star and 5 star properties in range of 2k to 5k per night and private pool villas will cost from 6k to 10k. Kuta, ubud, Seminyak area is mostly preferred by all tourist.


Safety is no issue in bali, because mostly people follow Hindu religion and believe in nirvana. They will help you , guide you , friendly kind polite.


So my advice is to visit bali it's a unforgettable experience. And do visit Nusa penida island its heaven on earth. I am planning to visit again with my family next year.


Mumbai India
Bali NY2018.. dont recommend packages
Jan 05, 2018 04:40 PM 11449 Views

Bali Trip NY2018.


Overall trip was too pricey as per local rates(85-90k in INR would have been spent for 2(without package) as compared to 1.5 lac spent in package)(MMT)(Yatra was 1.6 lac)


tour guide didn't know a word in English so lot of curiosity went unanswered(took 7GB sim for one month validity with instant activation and no hassle.that helped a lot)


lot of times driver was rude along with guide


overall pathetic experience


best is to rent a bike 300-500 INR per day and u r the boss.(well the locals will keep telling you for 900 - 1100 per day)(helmet is mandatory.but I managed without it)


taxi goes without without metre and ask for unrealistic prices(500 INR for 2 km / 1000 for 3-4 km)


flight was the worst(Air Malindo) same food rice and same taste of chicken in all meals they provide.irrespective whether its breakfast lunch or dinner. air-hostess was doing a favour in flying us(shit attitude)


Places covered -


Barong dance


Coffee tour and Lunch


Kintamani Volcano sightseeing . well from too far(The hotel in which we had lunch)


Tanah lot temple


water sports - 3 sports covered only


cruise dinner


Spa session 1 hr


Waterfall(self funded)


Uluwatu temple(self funded)


UBUD Monkey forest(Self funded)


Goa and Bali are almost same in look and surroundings


bali beaches are good for surfing


Goa doesn't have tourist through out well bali has


bikes rent couple of hundred more, not much difference


food in bali is expensive(being an Indian. hunt for Indian restaurant is must) local food is intolerable


clothes are expensive(1500 INR for an average lunch or dinner)


beer too expensive - -150 INR approx for a Bintang Can


hope this helps.


thanks


saranyadrm1MouthShut Verified Member
Madurai India
Bali: A trip to the heart of Indonesia
Nov 15, 2017 03:18 PM 7101 Views

Last year we visited Bali island for the holiday trip. Bali is an amazing place to visit. It was the perfect destination for the honeymoon trip. The holiday was very nice and the accommodation is excellent. The hotel we visited is Kuta Central Park. The atmosphere and climate is superb. The hotel service is great. Various cuisines were available and was so cheap. There are many places to visit in Bali. Weather was very chill and people were friendly.


We went to the north of Bali for trying scuba dive and visited the island called Nusa Penida. Maya Ubud admired a lot. Everything was inexpensive. Had a great time over there.


Overall it was a very interesting place to visit. Friends please do visit this place atleast once in your life time. Bali is worth for money.


The Last Paradise
Jun 09, 2017 11:04 PM 20778 Views (via Mobile)

Bali is an awesome place especially for younger generation. You can do while lot of adventure sports at a very cheap price. For instance if you wish to do scuba diving and parasailing and you are in a group of say 4, then you can bargain up to around 130 dollars for the whole group! Now if that doesn't sound cheap, then I don't know what would. Moreover you can also get hotels at a very reasonable price like for example Hotel Sayang Maha Martha, its one of the cheapest hotel in Bali, and you can just easily afford it. People are very friendly and you can bargain to a very low price if you wish to buy something from street shops. You will find mini Mart's in every nook and corner of the streets in Bali. Mini Mart is a chain of departmental store that is open 24 hours a day. The places to visit in Bali are Kutah beach, then Nusa dua for adventure sports, Turtle island where you can see 100 year old turtles, iguanas, bats, and Python's. The adventure sports you can do are scuba diving, parasailing, jet ski, banana ride, etc. Adventure sports activities are performed from 9 in the morning and closed down by 4 pm, so you need to keep that in mind. Traffic in Bali is neither too high nor too low. You might get stuck for few minutes but not for too long. If you want to do shopping, the road side street shops are the best, you can get unique bali t-shirts and shorts at a reasonable price, moreover you can get momentos like key rings, and other hand made items for your friends, which are very uniquely encraft. Most of the tourists in Bali are Australians. You can find many shops owned by Australian. Language is not a problem in Bali, almost everybody speaks English. Sea foods are quite popular in Bali . You can get Tuna, shrimps, for your breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can also rent bikes to travel the city only you need is an International driving license and you can just roam about in the streets. So that's it. Enjoy! Cheers!


A New Style Benchmark in Ubud Luxury Villa Resorts
May 08, 2017 08:21 AM 16919 Views

Only four minutes' drive from central Ubud in the spiritual heart of Bali, "The Purist Villas" is a design-inspired oasis of calm, perfect for your romantic villa resort weekend away in affordable luxury. Seventeen unique Bali residences, luxury villas, and spacious suites, most with private swimming pools, are complimented by an elevated wellness center, poolside restaurant, and lounge areas. On the doorstep to Petulu bird sanctuary, and Bali's handicrafts "capital" known as Andong, the Purist villas is a perfect base to experience central Bali.


Contemporary and Indonesian architecture have been thoughtfully integrated, spaces are well furnished and immaculately styled with a large and valuable collection of fine textiles and predominantly Timorese artifacts. Owner-designers Yvonne Hulst and Alberto Cortes, together with architect Joost van Greiken have created a most spectacular Ubud villa resort, a beautiful estate in harmony with the ancient landscape of the lush valley of the Tawar river. Featuring an eclectic palette of materials, including recycled wood, lava & limestone, green river stones and artifacts from years of traveling the Indonesian archipelago. The resort features Bali's world heritage listed "subak" irrigation system meandering through its center. A choice of pools and an abundance of lounge areas to soak up the Bali sun and tropical mountain air. The Purist villas bring to Ubud not only a new benchmark of affordable luxury villa accommodation but also a refreshing new standard in high-quality style, comfort, and function.


Balisimo restaurant located poolside in the peaceful Purist environment honors the Slow Food cooking philosophy. Fresh, organic produce prepared by an internationally experienced kitchen brigade presents a collection of healthy and delicious seasonal menus. The devoted and well-trained team of dedicated Butlers are intuitive to guests needs, establishing the Purist villas fine, industry-envied reputation for superior, attentive service. As a Bali family resort or romantic Ubud escape, look to the Purist villa's website for special offers tailored to your needs.


The Purist Spa offers a range of blissful Ayurveda treatments and uses deluxe Sensatia products; Ayurveda is the ancient Indian philosophy of healing and wellbeing, focusing on re-balancing energy. The Purist's meditation and yoga therapists are finely attuned to the practice of working with energy, having mastered the art of mindful touch. The Purist Villas have brought a new benchmark of luxury boutique villa accommodation to Ubud and are a must for all Ubud travelers looking for luxury, style, quality and comfort at a reasonable price.


https://thepuristvillas.com/


Beautifull Bali
Apr 06, 2017 08:36 PM 20635 Views

Bali has everything . beach .water sport . night life. volcano . rain forest etc etc. The only problem from India is the flight fare. Otherwise Bali is a better destination then Bangkok in my opinion. Last month I traveled with Bali A Kolkata based travel company - Denzong Leisure Private Limited - arranged every thing. We found the land cost is even lower then Bangkok Pattaya(traveled in april 2016 with Moonlight Travel Agency) over all cost increases with flight fare.


Bali, Jogjakarta Wounderful destinations,
Mar 03, 2017 04:09 PM 16556 Views

We have been travelling to Bali for Free Mediation program me and side seeing, It is wonderful place so much lovely nature. Woow. I cant say in words everyone must enjoy the Bali Trip.


Ulawatu Temple, Lake temple, TAnasultanh Lot, Besakih, Borabudur and PrambAnasultann best places to visit, We will get accommodation in best hotels @ reasonable price and transport for group also very cheap


If anyone would like to go Bali, Please let me know I will assist we have team over there, they will help you. thanks


+91 8148646568


tmanojkumar15@gmail.com


GOWNIWARINIKITHAMouthShut Verified Member
Hyderabad India
Bali heaven on earth.........
Mar 29, 2016 11:43 AM 16466 Views

I visited bali last month, its really a beautiful city with attraction of beaches and were you can find many number of temples.Actually it is a place of Temples you can see the beautiful architecture and views in bali.


You can see all places covered with  greenery and water sport activities are too good with low cost . We have done river safari in Bali the river is covered with mountains and greenery and the passage with river . they took us for a 2 hours of ride in river, we enjoy very well in river the ride will be mostly in winter season only, Who are going to visit Bali they have to do this ride for sure, you will see an amazing views and trilled ride.Mostly Bali is the best place for honeymoon couples and bachelors.


In my opinion every one can  visit this place you will surely enjoy the trip.


THANK YOU BALI.


kunal6689MouthShut Verified Member
Panvel India
Nothing great as compared to Goa
Mar 20, 2016 07:39 AM 27671 Views (via iOS App)

Bali is supposed to be that exotic location for honeymooners with blue sea and white sand beaches but unfortunately for me, it was not the same. I visitee bali in May 2015. The people is Bali are always trying to rip you off especially the cab drivers who never use meters.


Again, the food and the accomodation is very expensive. Coming to beaches, these are not at all favourable for swimming especially Dreamland and padong beach. Seminyak is a good area to shop but the items are same as what you get in India and those too, prices were on higher side. I would have preferred going to Goa instead than spend money travelling to Bali.


Keval_09MouthShut Verified Member
MUMBAI India
Amazing Destination for Honeymooners
Feb 25, 2016 08:57 PM 24650 Views

Bali is amazing destination where you can enjoy natures beauty to at its best. We went bali for our honeymoon in the month of February and stayed for 5 days in bali. For a day we stayed in Ayana resort which was beautiful and simply amazing. The rock bar cafe at Ayana resort is simply good where you can enjoy the sunset view and have your favorite juices and enjoy the beautiful time.


We had stayed in Laudera pool villa where we had our private pool and the rooms were simply amazing. We had done white water river rafting on the hills of Ayung river where you can enjoy the huge rocks and have your adventure ride. In middle of the rest of white water river rafting we had coconut water which tasted so sweet and the quantity was also good.


Bali is known for its adventure activity like underwater rides, parasaling and jet ski ride. While doing your adventure activity you can capture each and and every moment and keep it in memories. In bali there are various Indian restaurant where you can enjoy your favourite meals.


Bali is also famous for SPA where you can pamper your self and enjoy your stay.


ankita_6mbaMouthShut Verified Member
Haridwar India
Indonesia: Bali: Adventurous trip
Feb 09, 2016 04:44 PM 25572 Views

I went for here for my Honeymoon, we have selected this place because it is a blend of Hilly areas and beaches. We planned our trip for 6 days. we booked our flights and hotel through expedition.com. we planned rest of our trip by our own


We were very excited and what we experienced there was more than our expectations.


For first three days, we stayed in North Bali. Its a famous Beach area full of youth and life, night life here is awesome, this area is full of beach shacks, Sea food is Mind blowing here.


We stayed in legion, legion', We went to Kuta' from there, Sanur is also near by which is a silent beach, there you can go for relaxation and peace of Mind.


Another three days we stayed in South Bali, we stayed in Lokha Ubud, pone of a finest resort in south Goa. Resort was awesome. It was in between the hills and there was a river at the back of the Hotel, we enjoyed their food, spa and sight seeing.'


we went to see rice terrains, and beaches there were so neat n tidy.


I enjoyed having coconut water there was used to be very big, even two of us were unable to drink water from it.


But bali is a must visit, one should go in feb or march season, it is expensive around December.


Best adventure destination
Oct 31, 2012 04:30 PM 15261 Views

Come to Bali and get yourself engrossed with adventures.Bali has best of adventures like skiing,trekking and surfing.according to a survey done by Journeymart.com it is the most favoured adventure destination.it was a survey done by Journeymart.com...have a good time..cheers


A mystical destination
Nov 30, 2009 04:20 PM 20047 Views

This may sound clichéd but the Indonesian island of Bali is indeed a  mystical destination; mystical in its elements and entirety. And key to its mystique and enchantment is a factor that's obvious but often overlooked - its inhabitants!


Volumes have been written about Balinese architecture, dance, painting, music, the sun soaked beaches and the emerald waters (which I swear are not very different from popular beaches in India) but very little has been said about those who make the place the paradise it truly is. I am thus urged to pen a few words about this wondrous tribe of people, shrouded from our vision and tucked away in the easternmost corner  of the globe.


I have been fortunate enough to visit the world's top holiday spot, but ironically and even more painfully, on an official assignment. I was mostly bounded within claustrophobic conference rooms, with the swaying palms and blue waves beckoning within eyeshot, but  surrounded by a dozen morose gentlemen who were driven more by figures on the PowerPoint slide than those on the beach.


Nevertheless, I found time to venture out and explore places way beyond the popular beaches and temples. I travelled into the heartland, deep inside the countryside, to see, smell and feel the true Bali. At first sight, what struck me was the striking similarity of the place to my home state Kerala, in landscape and architecture. But the similarity ends there!


OverHyped by Europeans,Underwhelming 4 SouthAsians
Oct 26, 2009 12:08 PM 19985 Views

Its difficult to get lower prices for 5* hotels but Bali is so hyped by Western tourists that it can't really even meet expectations for Indians.


By Indian standards 5* hotels in Bali are much more like 4* hotels here.


So focus on the room rates rather than the star ratingto set your expectations.


e.g., if you are paying less than Rs. 5,000 per night [about US$100], its NOT going to be like a regular 5* that you may be used to.


Compared to Singapore or even Malaysia, we found Bali VERY tourist unfriendly!


Here are the most important things you need to know as a 1st time visitor to Bali:




  1. Visa on arrival sounds awesome for Indians until you see the massive lines at the airport immigration for DPS International.




If possible, save time on arrival by getting a tourist visa in advance and skip the VOA queues!




  1. Avoid arriving in the night since fewer immigration desks are open and it takes even longer to clear the lines of tourists most of who try for VOA.




  2. Like other 3rd world country airports [and we include India in this list], there are separate lines for each immigration counter increasing the stress for waiting tourists and encouraging more line switching.






Just as McDonalds figured it out over a decade ago, there should be a common queue so that luck does not determine how fast you move.




  1. Unlike Singapore or Malaysia, Indian Rupees are not accepted by almost 90-95% of money changers in Bali.




So you have a few options:


a) Take enough hard currency like USD/EUR/GBP etc at about 10-20 GBP [Rs. 1-2 k] equivalent per day of stay assuming you use your credit cards whenever possible.


b) Change INR to IDR at the airport itself where there is a wide variation in rates.


We were offered 140 - 160 IDR per INR so its negotiable like most other services in Bali.


Change small amounts [Rs. 500 - 1000] at a time so if you get a bad rate initially, you can use that as a base for further negotiations.


c) Use your ATM card for cash withdrawals but be prepared to pay bank fees of Rs. 110-200 + taxes depending on your bank.


However, this gives you MUCH better rates than any money changer.


After returning home we calculated it at almost IDR 190to our Rupee [18-20% better rates than the best money changer].


There was no way to know this during our stay else we would not have wasted time visiting a dozen money changers who did not accept INR in town.


On credit cards [e.g, SCB Manhattan] we got over IDR 193 [better than ATM also].


As a point of comparison the credit card & money changer rates are within 1% of each other in Singapore.




  1. Remember to set aside IDR 150 k per passenger [about Rs. 1 k each] after you check-in when departing Bali as airport charges.




They should simply add it to the ticket price like the rest of the world or remind tourists at check-in counters or be able to take credit cards.


We spent all our IDR at the ground floor and went up to the departure gates before we realised this and had to rush downstairs [only up escalators] to haggle with money changers.




  1. No group/bus tours at all - you have to haggle with private tour guides individually.




We were quoted IDR 7.5 lakhs and managed to reduce it to IDR 5 lakhs with credit card for a 10 hour [all day] tour.


Make sure your vehicle has rear AC vents - you'll need them in the day!


Paying cash allowed us to further reduce the daily rate to 4 lakhs IDR without a guide the next time.




  1. The prepaid taxi costed IDR 105 k from DPS airport [Denpasar] to Benoa [Nusa Dua].




We should have used this as a benchmark to haggle with the private cab drivers milling around but did not know any better.




  1. Most 5* hotels do NOT have AC lobbies in Bali since they have a 'resort' theme.




90-95% of 5* hotels do not have A/C in their restaurants either which came as a major shock to us since the daytime temp crossed 30 C daily.




  1. Bali is only geared to one kind of tourist:




a) Someone with 'hard' home currency


b) Those who like to sunbathe or surf and prefer hot weather


c) Those who like to stay at 'resorts' which is a euphemism for no AC in common areas - only in the rooms.


Given that almost 2/3rd of the province's economy depends on tourism, it would behoove them to cater to a wider demographic by introducing metered taxis at all 5* hotels and adding airport fees to the tickets.




  1. Some so-called 5* resorts charge 3% surcharge for credit cards that we managed to negotiate away.




All menu prices in hotels & restaurants add 21% in taxes & fees additionally.


This includes a 10% service charge so tipping is not required [11% is the local taxes].


They should have a law that any place that adds service charges can't also charge 3% for credit cards also.




  1. If you decide to visit the volcano [almost a 2 hour drive from Nusa Dua each way], avoid having the buffet at the eatery facing the mountain.




They have pathetic food and are relatively expensive IDR 80 k per person and don't take cards at all.


Remember to add the 21% in tax & tip also!


Fortunately its 1-2 C cooler than the plains at an altitude of about a mile [1.6 - 1.7 km] with light winds so you may not miss the total lack of A/C.


Their bathrooms are filthy and in the basement down narrow and slippery stairs.


Some don't have flushes like those in petrol pumps with a large bucket of water for flushing!


Western tourists seem to love the rustic/rural 'ambiance' but its just disgusting for the rest of us.




  1. Buying DVDs in Bali




a) Don't pay more than IDR 10 k [Rs. 55-65] for any movie and IDR 35 k for any PC game.


b) Only buy from shops that have a TV so you can test the quality & subtitles before buying.


c) Avoid foreign movies that require good captions since most of them have spelling & grammar errors that can get distracting.


d) Check the surface of the DVD closely for scratches since many shops don't exchange let alone refund.


e) Most DVD shops have offers like buy 10 and get 3 free so you get 13 DVD for IDR 100 k [Rs. 600 approx].


f) Avoid buying TV series since they only have 2-3 episodes per disc and cost IDR 10 k / disc.


So Desperate Housewives cost us IDR 120 k for a 24 episode season even though the disc has space for 4-5 episodes each.


We bought from a nice A/C store at the biggest supermarket in Sanur but they don't take cards.


However they agreed to exchange 'Transporter 3' since the movie would freeze up after an hour of playing despite the fact that we tested the 1st few chapters in the store also.


We had to replace the french movie Taxi 4 [spelled 'T4xi'] since it was dubbed in Russian and the captions were too fast to read so we had to pause every few seconds!


The money changer agreed to go from 140 IDR to 150 per INR also [just next to the entrance of the supermarket].


It should go without saying that if you are paying around $1 per DVD it can't be original!


Singapore Singapore
The island of Gods! Bali Day 1
Feb 09, 2009 10:41 AM 19168 Views

When she told me that vegetarian food is not available in the flight, I got a sense of what I am going to eat for next few days.


We reached Nugurah Rai airport at around 9 AM in the morning. After taking visa, we were able to come out of the airport in 20 minutes. I saw a man holding my name. He came from the hotel where I intend to tay.


I felt that I reached Kochi from the atmosphere over there. It took just 15 minutes to reach out hotel Mathahari bungalow in Kuta.


From there website, I expected a hotel away from city in a calm environment. But it was disappointing to me that the hotel was just on the busy street in Kuta. But after checked in, I saw that the hotel has got ample space behind it and has also got a nice garden and swimming pool.


We came out to do some money change and we saw plenty of money changers around there. But I have got an advice from my friend about the way they display attractive rates and then cheat us when they give money. So we found a proper money changer which my friend told to me before.


The guide was already waiting for us in hotel around an hour before the stipulated time. I have shown him the plan for each day which I made before and he agreed with it.We started our first day trip at around 11 AM and soon we came out of Kuta town.


It was much bigger that what I expected and soon we started seeing Sanur beach area. There we could see Nusa Penida ("Nusa" locally means "Island")as a whole. We decided to stop for breakfast and we were manage to find a hotel. It was "Hare Krishna" pure veg. restaurant. Nasi campur was worth eating.


My first meals in Bali was very nice. I understood, just like in Kerala, Bali people also like spicy food. After having food there, we resumed our journey. Soon we reached Goa Lawah (Bat Cave). "Goa" means "cave". This bat cave is situated on the west of Soka beach.


On the entrance, you need to pay some Rp 3000 entrance fee and you have to wear "Sarong" to enter the temple which will be provided by the temple authorities. They will help you to wear it. A lady seller selling small souvenirs, gave us a small garland made up of bamboo and watermelon seeds free of cost.


She told us that it will give good luck to us. We then walk forward to the cave and we could see a nice temple which is known as Pura Luhur Srinjong temple. There are no main Deity for temples in Bali. They believe the presence of Lord Siva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma everywhere.


They also believe to have the presence of spirits in trees, mountains etc. Balineese believe in ambivalence. i.e. They believe in the existence of both good and bad in everything. This ambivalence is symbolized by covering trees or temples by a Poleng cloth in which the chequered black and white pattern represents the balance between bad and good.


Poleng clothes are usually put in places where strong spirits are lurking, to balance their possible bad influence. The temple is open only for religious activities and you are not suppose to enter the cave. But we observed large number of bats covering the cave completely and we understood that is is not possible to enter inside the cave even if they allow us to enter.


I also saw a huge Barong mask kept on the temple. When we came out, those ladies who presented us the garland, were waiting for us to purchase something from them. Near the beach, we also saw cocks kept for "cock fighting". Later we came and spent sometime in Soka beach and left from that place.


From there, we went to Candida beach which is a calm beach on the east cost. We can see lots of sailing boats on the beach. A beautiful view of few small islands and scenic views of mountains and trees from this beach are worth mentioning here. From there, we came all the way back few kilomters and took turn to reach Klungkung.


It has Taman Gili (Island garden) which is the last remnant of the splendour of the old kingdom of Klungkung. Located in the heart of the town, it houses the splendid painted ceilings of the Kerta Gosa (Hall of Justice), the Bale Kambang (Floating pavilion) and the Semarapura Museum. The amazing paintings n the ceilings mostly depict the stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata.


The painting technique follows the unique and elaborate style of Kamasan wayang paintings. These paintings are collective effort of many people wherein a main artist does the sketch, another does the painting, and others finish the fine details.


We saw Patung Kandapat Sari statue on the main junction of Semarapura town which is regarded as the landmark of Klungkung regency. From the "Palace of justice", we can see another monument which is well-known as "Puputan", a counter-defence of The Great King of Klungkung against the Dutch soldiers.


After spending sometime in the floating pavilion, we left from there.On the way, we went up to Jambul hill where, we could see beautiful rice terraces. The scenic beauty of Nusa Penida, Lombok strait, Rice terraces etc from a single view point was amazing.


From high land, we were able to witness the beauty of the nature beneath. Soon we reached the biggest temple of Bali - Pura Besakih which is also known as the "Mother temple" situated at the foot of Mt. Agung which is the highest peak in Bali.


The sacred Mt. Agung is an active volcanic mountain which is clearly visible even from an aeroplane above clouds. For more details and details of next days visits, visit: https://weekendoutings.blogspot.com/Important facts to know about when you plan a trip to Bali:Stay: Matahari Bangalow https://mataharibungalows.com/Guide: Mr. Pineh https://pinehbalitours.com/Food: Mr Pineh can suggest many good places for food. Be prepared to eat lots of banana productsBest time to go:


Anytime except Balineese new year and December-January (crowded time)Cheap flights are available from Singapore by Lion airwaysTravel time from Singapore 2hrs 30mins (Lion aiways provides only non-vegetarian food)Change money only from authorised agents. Others will cheat you for sure.Everyone expect tip from you. So be prepared to give tips to local guides, hotel, restaurants etc.Spa and Massage: Many places in Kuta, Ubud etc.


Costs for major attractions:Most places entry fees are around Rp 3000Pura Besakih: Bargain. We got for Rp 50, 000Scuba diving: US$30Parasailing: US$10Volcanic mountain sunrise trekking: US$50.We got reduction as we booked it through Mr.Pineh


Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
The Other Side of Bali
Jun 01, 2006 05:05 AM 17799 Views

Bali is not only about beaches and sightseeing. In April 2006, The Malaysian Hindu Youth Council organised a Theerta Yatra Program to Bali. I was one of the lucky member who participated in this Yatra. Our Yatra in Bali was co-ordinated by our Balinese Hindu Brother Agus Indra Udayana. He is the chairman of the Ghandipuri Ashram in Denpasar Bali. To me this was an unforgetable journery. On the 1st day of the journey we visited the Krishna Balaram Mandir (north indian style) in Denpasar, Bali. It was evening and the scene in the mandir was that of an earth Brindavan. The devotees were singing and dancing away. No doubt the temple was still in the construction stage, the sprit of devotion was in abundance. The next day we visited, Baisakee Temple (balinese sytle). We also visited Arma Musuem of Arts, Ghandipuri Ashram (to see the Ashram way of life). Every time we visited a temple it would rain. They expplaine to us that for the Balinese when it rains, it means that god is please and is blessing us. We also visited the Balinese houseshold and mingled with them to find our more about the way of Balinese Hindu Life. Every balinese house has got their own temple in their compound. We were lucky to witness the diffrence forms of balinese dances. The balinese whom we met were all very humble and the hospitability they bestowed on us was overhelming. I feel that every hindu should go for a theerta yatra not only to India but also to Bali.


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