Welcoming 2014 in Bali 在巴厘岛迎接2014

Normally i will avoid traveling at the end of December, but not for Dec 2013. We hired a driver with a car (his name is Putu from Abadi Company) for 2.5 days around the island. Total fee for this arrangement = 450k + 450k + 300k = 120 000 IDR. He can speak simple English and contactable at abadi_guide@yahoo.com. The fee includes driver + car + petrol and all parking fee. Since tipping was common in Bali, we tipped the driver and bought him lunch as well.

Day 1 (transportation and driver costs 300k IDR) - Uluwatu

My spec was grabbed by a monkey. End up i had to tip  (20k IDR) a staff for him to get my spec back. I wonder if the monkey is trained to do this trick. We missed the dance performance as the tickets were sold out (not free anymore).



Day 2 (transportation and driver costs 450k IDR) - Taman Ayun --> Lake Beratan --> Paddy field --> Tanah Lot

Taman Ayun



Lake Beratan

 Paddy field


 Tanah Lot




Day 3 (450k IDR) - Besakih --> Kintamani --> Tirtha Empul --> Elephant Cave

Besakih – we are stopped from entering the inner part of the temple. This might be the reason that not many local tourists are visiting this place. Some staffs were (some with camera) asking us to pay tips in order to accompany us into the temple, we rejected the offer. The staffs at the ticket checking point also urged us into donating money. We had a bad experience visiting this temple as we felt the people was not honest and wanted to make money from us. However, the view of the temple with Mount Agung at the background is great.


 Mount Kintamani

  Tirtha Empul
 

 Elephant Cave


Money record:
Airport taxi to Seminyak hotel - 120k per car (fixed fare for airport taxi)
Taxi from Jimbaran hotel to airport (fixed price)- 150k per car
Minimarket: cheapest is Indomarket, followed by Circle K and M Mini Market.




Mineral water 1.5liter – 3600-4000
Can Coffee – 5k
Nescafe can coffee – 10k
Instant cup noodle - 6000
Public toilet - 2k to 5k
McDonald meal (pancake breakfast set) - 26k

Entrance Fee per person
Uluwatu - 20k
Taman Ayun - 15k
Lake Beratan - 30k
Tanah Lot - 30k
Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) - 15k
Tirtha Empul - 15k
Kintamani - 15k
Besakih Sarung rental - 10k
Besakih - 15k

Food
Jimbaran seafood Lia Café – package C price increases from 350k (mid 2013) to 380K (dec 2013) + 10% tax. One of the staff was from Kelantan (Malaysia). This place has many good review for reasonable price (compared to other expensive Jimbaran seafood) and they helped us to call a taxi at the end of our meal.


 The view is the expensive part
 Bali seafood - grilled seafood is the specialty (i think it was overdone - burnt and not cooked)

Ibu Okla Babi Guling (suckling pig) 40k-50k++. Famous in Bali but i prefer Chinese version.
 
Normal Babi Guling at roadside: 35k per set, 4k for drink


 Warung Totemo (get discount voucher from POP!Hotel) - a restaurant near Kuta hotel.
 Cost 112k for 2 person.
Satay Ayam (chicken)
 Beef
 Ayam Soto
 Luwak Coffee at some plantation, 50K for a small cup. Too bad I am not a coffee drinker. 




 Warung Malang - near Kuta hotel. I like this place and i see some locals patron this place. Cost 107k for 2 person.



Hotel
Private pool villa at Bali Ayu Hotel and Villas - i like the private pool, room service, open shower room, etc. The only bad side is the location. Nothing special nearby and walking to beach is 15 min. 86 USD per night and i get the whole villa (good privacy).










 POP! Hotel. Situated near busy Kuta beach. Budget stay (41USD per night), complimentary wifi and breakfast. I like the breakfast (nasi campur, nasi kuning, nasi ...)





 Abi Bali Luxury Resort and Villa - this hotel is quite far from everything (beach, shop, mini market, food). However, it is quiet and well maintained. 120USD per night.











End