Friday, June 14, 2013

Bali; Nusa Dua - a honeymoon trip with wife

Hey, and there I go again... this time round will be a rejuvenating 'Zen' trip to the southern part of Bali name Nusa Dua. A place popular for its cultural events, spas, watersport like surfing and some vibrant nightlifes.

This isn't a cheap budget trip as their airfare and hotel adds up to approximately $900/- and a total expenses of $500/-; definitely this a total price for 2.

My wife and I didn't specifically planned any itinerary or activities but rather we follow our hearts and just plan anything impromptu according to what we felt for. Arriving at Bali International Airport in Denspasar (Ngurai Rgai Airport), the whole place looks kinda messy with tourist flooding in and out moving around; proceeded to the custom counters but they weren't even open. Whilst waiting, we stumbled upon a few brochures introducing common places of interest and the packages available and we took them to decide on what we shall go for later.

Our Villa

Living Room

Restroom

Balcony (useless)

As there is only 1 taxi company in Bali (as claimed by the hotel staff), named Blue Taksi Group and so the pricing is kinda fixed by them. I will say that there is plentiful of travelling in 'Taksi' and they weren't cheap!!!

Got a taxi ticket at the airport and requested to go to our villa in Nusa Dua Boutique, Spa and Retreat Hotel; and it cost us about 150,000 rph ($20sgd). It is indeed expensive, and that is also the price that the hotel quoted me when I request a pick up from them via email (which I did not replied to). The driver were rather lost and did not really knows the way to our villa, having to stop a couple of times asking for directions. He couldn't really speak english well and finally I was left to no choice but to communicate with him in Bahasa Malaysia, which is kinda close to their Bahasa Indonesia, finally discussing and found the way to our hotel! I told my wife that my Malay language is private limited, hahaha and she was shock; suddenly don't know who her husband is. Lolz (priceless).

The villa is beautiful, grand, quiet surroundings and great hospitality, but it is really secluded and out in the wild, no where... After Check in, I gave those tour agencies a call, trying to arrange day trip for the following day, but I was actually referred by the tour agencies to the hotel and the hotel staff came up to me suggesting their agendas, different pricing to us.!! At this point, I'm quite frustrated and felt cornered that I have to sign with them or I will be stranded. Sadly, there is no town, cities, eateries or any sign of tour agency in the proximity of 10 km at least. Again, I struggled through my limited edition words of Malay to discuss and decide on the day activities, and having whatever he has to offer; i declined later.

We had room service bites and had a walk around the hotel vicinity, goodness - it looks empty and quiet with probably less then 10 rooms occupied I guess. So I was somehow left with isn't much choice but to approach the front desk for recommendations to any nice places for dinner, and I was offered to go to the beach for dinner, with chauffeur bringing me there, waited for me till late and fetch me back; well it cost us a total of 100,000 rph ($13sgd) and I'm fine with that.


Our Hotel vicinity

Surprisingly, The place is nice, quiet dining on the beach and it wasn't really that crowded. I have to admit that we do have a good time, enjoying our dinner savouring the BBQ Seafood that they have to offer. The place is name Dewata Seafood Restaurant situated at Jimbaran Bay. Total price is about 645,000 rph ($86sgd); ordering a 700gm BBQ Snapper, 2 Crabs, 3 large bottles of Bintang Beer and KangKong. Relatively expensive; well given the scenery and the service that this particular restaurant gives and the tasty food, Deal.

Foto during dinner

Sumptuous dinner

Rise and Shine! We woke up at 6am the following morning to do something that both of us has never did before, that is to go for morning dawn run together to the beach name Pandawa Beach (Secret Beach) like its name has mentioned, the route is about 2 km down slope winding and turning which eventually exits to the vastness of the beach and full view of Indian Ocean!!(first time in my life I've seen ocean!) We felt good! stretching and trying out yoga stunts on the secluded beach where there is probably less than 10 people around. Sitting on rocks, cooling our mind and 'Zen-ing'; also taking pictures, before heading back to hotel (2 km uphill run) for our breakfast. Linglingz run till wanna die, due to the steep gradients but still laughing, don't know what's so funny about that either.
Stretch and Breathe..!!

GPS Ready.!!!

Setting off...

The Entrance to the Secret Beach

FREEDOM..!!!

The Indian Ocean Beach Trail

Meditation...Calmness

Peace of Mind

Run free..!!!

Taking the free shuttle bus that the hotel offer, we went to Bali collections, where they have a few restaurants, Spas and shops. Expecting the place to be expensive as that is DEFINITELY a tourist place, we were surprise that the massage packages are reasonable and the food are relatively cheap. It cost us about $45sgd for a 1.5hrs full body oil massage and 30mins of sea-salt full body scrub. Lunch was delicious and it didn't cost much as well.

Back to the hotel around 4pm (same time as Singapore), we took a shower and set off to Kuta - a place said to be 'popular' in Bali that almost every single human that went to Bali will visit; we are part of those human species. it cost us 150,000rph for a 1 way trip there and 150,000rph back to the hotel. Kuta has lotsa nightlife, with clubs and pubs blasting their musics, women dancing on podiums and restaurant opening till late.A fully commercialised place with malls, fast food outlets and traffics moving ups and down and even horsecart travelling around town are available.
Restaurant with Acoustics Guitarist

Nom Nom Nom

We did not end our night late as we are kinda tired from the full day activities and does not really want to indulge in the loud musics and crowd of the night; we headed back to hotel to rest.

3rd day, also our last day in Bali, Linglingz did not want to join me for morning run this time round, still having phobia from the 2km uphill run she had the day before, I went out at 630am on my own. Explored a few places, and went off track to certain terrains that we did not go to the day before and also pounce onto the secluded and 'deserted' beach beside.! Amazing..!!! 3-4 metres high waves crashing on the long natural coastline 200m away from me, I sat, close my eyes for a 10mins meditation sit. Snapping some photos and playing with some pebbles, I headed back.
I will never forget this beautiful entrance to the beach...

Submerged

The route that I took was gone.!!! It was covered over by the incoming tide, stunt and shock of what other alternative routes that I can take with getting my shoes wet, I look around; there isn't any other routes, is either I climbed the cliffs which are few storey high or bash into the forest to cut across back to the beach I came from. I waddled through, the tide did came in fast, it was about waist deep at certain parts and my only worries are my handphone that is on my armband. I swear, without my handphone, I will definitely plunge in for a swim; since I'm wet and the water is crystal clear..!! (At waist deep, I can still see the wordings on my shoes.)

The Zen in Me

Waddled about 30metres back to the coast I came from, I started running, this is real trail running.!! I continue my 2km uphill run back to my hotel; blessings from the technology and engineering design of my New Balance running attire and Salomon S Lab Sense Ultra trail shoes, I'm relatively dry just after 10mins of running (AMAZING..!!). Reaching back to hotel, I dismounted my phone for charging and plunged straight into the private pool as I have to clear my equipments of seawater... Fantabulously Awesome feeling..!!!

Kuta Beach

Checking out, we went back to Kuta for lunch and walk around and finally having the last 2 mugs of beer before heading to Airport to return to Singapore....
Kuta Beach

The Last Chillax

For more photos; https://www.facebook.com/Devilish.Reborn/media_set?set=a.10151401458951770.1073741831.634286769&type=3