travels in bali: 3 may to 8 may, 2001

day one (3 may), singapore-jakarta-denpasar-kuta

Highlight of the day: Shopping at Kuta Square :)

 

Had to take via Jakarta route since direct flight to Denpasar was fully booked, due to Vesak Day weekend. Momentarily harrassed by people trying to show us how to get around in Jakarta airport, but managed to flee. Furiously read up on Bali during 2 hour stopover (reduced by 1 hour due to SIN-JKT flight delay). Finally to Denpasar after lunch, and took a taxi to Kuta Square. First glimpse of Kuta Beach while walking around looking for accomodation. Finally found this bungalow thing next to Mcs for USD15 per night. I'm amazed there's Mcs, coz was reading Thomas Cook (which we later discovered to our dismay was dated 1996), and they said 'Don't expect to find pizzas, or any of your familiar European foods in Bali'. That said, there's also surf shops everywhere: Quiksilver, Billlabong, Mambo. Oso booked a dive trip to Nusa Penida for the next day. Dinner at Mcs, since have to fully utilize discovery.

day two (4 may), kuta/nusa penida

Highlight of the day: Surfing at Kuta Beach; Diving at Nusa Penida

 

Dive shop people picked us up at ungodly hour of 8am, and off to dive shop in Sanur to get our equipment. I was very unfortunately assigned a pink wetsuit, and pink fins! A lethal colour combination. I was later informed by the other divers that they had absolutely no problems spotting me underwater. Pink wetsuit oso had hole in very convenient spot, ensured no unwanted water retention. We went to Lembongan to pick up Mr. Francois, before heading to Nusa Penida. We took one of those 'insect looking' boats, and the only way to enter the water with our dive gear was to do a backroll.

 

Once in the water, I was immediately surprised by the size of the fishes, they were HUGE! It was a drift dive and the strong current took some time to get used to. I had some problems equalizing, and had to hover at 12m for awhile, before descending to 22m. There was a warm and cold front, and when I crossed into the cold front, my vision blurred, it's like having my mask filled with water. Amazing variety of fishes, of those I can identify: Napoleon Wrasse, various giant triggerfishes, trumpetfish, unicornfish,.. I need a fish identification course for the rest. The clownfish and anemone here are huge, those I've seen in Dayang waters are like one third the size. Coral life is also more abundant, first time seeing a sponge coral. 45 mins dive, then surface for lunch on the boat.

 

Second dive for 45 minutes, depth of 15m. Marine life similar to that of first dive, once again, I need to know these fishes by name. Current was even stronger the 2nd dive, I had to hold on to coral rocks so I won't drift away so fast, and then on to my mask so that it won't get washed off by the current. Even the fishes looked like they were having a hard time getting anywhere, furiously finning yet stationary. Oso spotted this really huge fish, grey/white with dark grey spots. Looked abit like a pufferfish, then again, I cannot be sure.

 

Boat ride back was spent tanning in the sun, though the ride was uneven and we were in precarious situation of having ourselves flunged off the boat. The divemasters oso caught a couple of huge fishes on the way back. We were invited to the fish grills, but we had to decline that in favour of surfing at Kuta Beach. Back at Kuta Beach, we managed to get not just a couple of surfboards, but also a couple of surf guys, to show us how to surf. Within 30 minutes, both of us could briefly stand for awhile on the board, accomplishment of the day! SL was hit on the forehead by the board. 2nd injury to those collected from the dives, more to follow.

 

Shopped till I almost dropped, then to Lenny's seafood restaurant for dinner. Resumed shopping activity, then back to room for 10 minute nap, then dive people came to pick us up on their bikes. SL suffered 3rd injury of the trip (leg burnt by exhaust pipe). Went to Legian Beach (quieter beach further off Kuta Beach), then to Apache Reggae Bar. And, I'm not very fond of reggae music. We managed to detract the group to Paddy's (recommended by our surf dudes), and it was so much better. Tried Arak Orange, which everyone seemed to be having. Oso met interesting dubious characters. Finally back in room at 3am.

day three (5 may), kuta-ubud-kintamani

Highlight of the day: View of Gunung Batur & crater lake at Kintamani

 

Bus to Ubud at 10am, reached Ubud just in time for lunch. Thomas Cook (fact that this is the 1996 edition still unknown) boasted lush padi fields at end of Ubud (Nguy Kuning), so we set off to find lush ricefields after lunch. Weather was so hot! Plus we were walking around in our backpacks didn't help with the heat. Finally went way past Nguy Kuning, then discovered important 1996 edition fact. Shops now stood where ricefields were. Undeterred, we had avocado juice and coke, before heading back to Monkey Forest Road for our transport to Kintamani. First stop at Kintamani had a spectacular view of Gunung Batur, then off to find cheaper accomodation. Finally found this at a losmen (homestay). One thing that didn't change since 1996 Thomas Cook is that Kintamani is a scruffy little town. Dinner at losmen, then to bed for 6am Gunung Batur trek the next morning.

day four (6 may), kintamani-gunung batur-lovina

Highlight of the day: Trekking Gunung Batur and Jerry photo shoots

 

Of coz we didn't manage to get up at 5.30am in time for sunrise trek. After breakfast, we set off at 6.30am. We were consoled by the trek guide that the sunrise wasn't very clear that morning anyway. Well, doesn't hurt to not know what we've missed. Took a bemo to start of trek, then started 3 hour trek to Batur, then another 3 hour back to start of trail. Nearly died. Back at losmen at 1pm. No shower facilities, so we had to scoop water from this cement enclosure, and the water was freaking ice cold! Lunch at losmen then off to Lovina. Reached Kalibudbud (main town of Lovina) at about 4pm, found this beach front hut for USD 4. Lovina is a quiet place, just like 1996 Thomas Cook. View from our balconey was spectacular, only drawback was we were constantly harassed by people trying to peddle us stuff we dun need. The massage lady was one aggressive business woman, kept popping by to see if we wanted a massage despite 'No, thank you's at every 5 minute interval. Dinner at Hotel Kalibudbud (name of our beach front hut resort). Met East German guy Hoover who had been travelling since the Berlin Wall came down in 1996.

day five (7 may), lovina (kalibudbud)

Highlight of the day: Stumbling across not-so-lush rice fields

 

6am dolphin watch. Back at room before 8am, after breakfast. Had 30 minutes massage by aggressive business woman of a massage lady we met yesterday. At her suggestion, we decided to walk down to Kalibudbud town centre for lunch. On walk back after lunch, we missed our turn in from the main road to the beach, and ended up taking this shortcut trek through mini-forest. SL suffered 4th injury of trip here, an innocent looking twig went straight through her flip-flops and stabbed her in the foot. We were amazed. Trespassed through some vegetable fields, fruit trees, broken down huts, then finally found rice fields at end of mini-forest, with beach view beyond. Akin to The Beach where characters trekked through ricefields to cannabis fields discovery. Trekked through endless ricefields to reach black sand beach, walked down beach back to our hut. Short rest then to beach for swim. Discovered to our dismay that beach not excellent for swimming due to rocks, and oso very shallow despite us wading out a good distance. Wade back was equally excruciating. Back for dinner, and slept early, exhausted from day's unplanned treks.

day six (8 may), lovina-kuta-denpasar-jakarta-singapore

Highlight of the day: Wood-fire pizza at 21,600 Rp (=USD 2), and best avocado juice so far!

Bus to Kuta pickup at 10am with 2 English chaps who were badly sunburnt. Reached Kuta, found accomodation for SL along Legian St, then off to lunch. Discovered yummy pizza and avocado juice, excellent. Shopped around, then to Haagen Daaz (discovered during ride back through Legian St). Took 10,000 Rp van to airport, dropped at wrong terminal and ended up making a dash for plane. Uneventful ride back via Jakarta to Singapore.

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