Bali Island ( 9 - 12 May 06)
Back in May 2006, we spent our honeymoon moment in Bali Island, Indonesia right after our wedding ceremony. First, I wanted to visit local island such as Tioman Island or Lang Tengah Island. Since I never take flight & holiday in foreign countries before , therefore I've selected Bali Island as our honeymoon destination. For me, Bali is not a very romantic place but worth while take this place into consideration because of its popularity.
Day 1
We departured from KLIA at noon & arrived at Bali airport in evening. Although this is my first flight but I didn't feel anything. For sure, the excitement of the flight is where you're able to appreaciate the beautiful blue sky & gorgeous scenery. Especially the sunset moment & I should thanks to my darling for give way the seat beside the windows. (She loves window view very much!)
Day 1
We departured from KLIA at noon & arrived at Bali airport in evening. Although this is my first flight but I didn't feel anything. For sure, the excitement of the flight is where you're able to appreaciate the beautiful blue sky & gorgeous scenery. Especially the sunset moment & I should thanks to my darling for give way the seat beside the windows. (She loves window view very much!)
The Bali airport is small, almost the same as Subang old airport. However, you may find all necessaries here. After checked out, our tour guide Ms. Rafidah (Fidah) is waiting us outside at the arrival station. She is a nice & friendly lady, been work as a tour guide for more than 5 years & very familiar with all the tourist attractions in Bali.
On the way to hotel, she roughly explain to us on the trip schedules & places we'll heading on for these few days. Today, She not going to take us to any place because it's night time when we reach our hotel. We stayed in Mercure Kuta hotel Bali, a hotel that's spectacular & offers a feel of paradise. The hotel is located nearby Kuta beach & facing the Kuta beach, just few walks we'll reach the beach. Nice! Beside the hotel is the famous Hard Rock Bali Hotel, 5 stars hotel with elegant outlook &luxury facilities.
On the way to hotel, she roughly explain to us on the trip schedules & places we'll heading on for these few days. Today, She not going to take us to any place because it's night time when we reach our hotel. We stayed in Mercure Kuta hotel Bali, a hotel that's spectacular & offers a feel of paradise. The hotel is located nearby Kuta beach & facing the Kuta beach, just few walks we'll reach the beach. Nice! Beside the hotel is the famous Hard Rock Bali Hotel, 5 stars hotel with elegant outlook &luxury facilities.
After we unpacked, we went straight for the bath-tub time! Then we're out to lounge to enjoy our complimentary mocktail and cake. We felt pampered as guests at the hotel. We were impressed by the service and its overall facilities.
At dinner time, we're out for food hunt. The Kuta town is big & all the streets are filled with small stores & hotels. We're lost of mind & direction on choosing the dining restaurant. Seeking dining place in this place is a problem for us since we wanted to eat Asian foods. Foods price here are more expensive than we thought. It's tourist place, what should you expect from?
Finally, we have settled down in a restaurant which is serving western foods & live band on performs. We ordered some seafoods & local cuisines. It's not our taste, but will do for your appetite. The live band is awesome & the lead singer knows many songs even Chinese song as well. :-). After the dinner, We take our times walking around the Kuta town before we back to hotel. Hope to familiar with Kuta town & do survey on the shopping spots. The whole street is filled with convenience stores as 7-11 in Malaysia. These convenience stores are opened in few steps distance, it's very convenient to find your necessaries here. However, most of the stores are closed around 10pm, then the whole street is silent in darkness, kind of spooky if walking alone. On our way back, it's hard times for us because we're lost on the way back to hotel. We've walk more than 3 hours result with tiredness body & blur mind in the dark, seeking our way back to hotel. Thanks to the help of residents here, finally we're able to find our way home. After all, what we learn from this is never walk in the dark & hangover in places where you're not familiar with.
Day 2
At dinner time, we're out for food hunt. The Kuta town is big & all the streets are filled with small stores & hotels. We're lost of mind & direction on choosing the dining restaurant. Seeking dining place in this place is a problem for us since we wanted to eat Asian foods. Foods price here are more expensive than we thought. It's tourist place, what should you expect from?
Finally, we have settled down in a restaurant which is serving western foods & live band on performs. We ordered some seafoods & local cuisines. It's not our taste, but will do for your appetite. The live band is awesome & the lead singer knows many songs even Chinese song as well. :-). After the dinner, We take our times walking around the Kuta town before we back to hotel. Hope to familiar with Kuta town & do survey on the shopping spots. The whole street is filled with convenience stores as 7-11 in Malaysia. These convenience stores are opened in few steps distance, it's very convenient to find your necessaries here. However, most of the stores are closed around 10pm, then the whole street is silent in darkness, kind of spooky if walking alone. On our way back, it's hard times for us because we're lost on the way back to hotel. We've walk more than 3 hours result with tiredness body & blur mind in the dark, seeking our way back to hotel. Thanks to the help of residents here, finally we're able to find our way home. After all, what we learn from this is never walk in the dark & hangover in places where you're not familiar with.
Day 2
Woke up around 8am & had our breakfast at the roof-top of the hotel (The foods are delicious). Then we're ready for our first day trip. First place Fidah bring us was Kintamani Lake & Volcano (Still alive). Almost 2 hours of drive, we reached the highland town. My first impression of here was once I step down from my van, I've been chased by street hawkers to buy their handicraft. Sigh! Weather here is cool & you can smell the refreshing mountain air. A crater lake is located in the middle & surrounding by other mountains. Nice view & harmonic environment there (Erase off the street hawkers).
After we took some shot from this beautiful mountain, we're having our lunch at the restaurant nearby. However, the foods is bad what I can say & many flies around. Lost appetite I'm. Then, we're down from the mountain & heading to another destination. A souvenir shop selling handicraft & Fidah told us that we can have 40% discount on all items since she knew the manager. Frankly speaking, it's not cheap. Luckily we do survey on the street stores yesterday night, or else we get con. However, we bought some souvenir which is uniquely design & can't be found in the Kuta town.
Next, we passed by a small gallery then go to Turtles Island. The turtles island is a small island where you may find turtles, other animals as well but majority are turtles.
The place is the worst place I ever visit in Bali, not worst because of its visit point but the people here. People here are all money minded, I remember a uncle help me to take our photo while we holding animals on hand. The other worker mentioned to me I need to give some tips for the uncle. It's ok for me, I give the old man RM10 as tips since my pocket no small change. You know what's the feedback from the worker? She said "So less ah? Where got enough?". OMG, RM10 as tips also less then how much you want? Also, you didn't stated clearly that you need to charge before I took the photo. We didn't stay long there & after a while then we decided back to the boat. While we're almost leaving, the kid appears & pursue us donate $ for the turtles. All you have to do is put $ in the box provided. Again, RM10 I donated but the kid shows me his unsatisfied face. Sigh!
After we took some shot from this beautiful mountain, we're having our lunch at the restaurant nearby. However, the foods is bad what I can say & many flies around. Lost appetite I'm. Then, we're down from the mountain & heading to another destination. A souvenir shop selling handicraft & Fidah told us that we can have 40% discount on all items since she knew the manager. Frankly speaking, it's not cheap. Luckily we do survey on the street stores yesterday night, or else we get con. However, we bought some souvenir which is uniquely design & can't be found in the Kuta town.
Next, we passed by a small gallery then go to Turtles Island. The turtles island is a small island where you may find turtles, other animals as well but majority are turtles.The place is the worst place I ever visit in Bali, not worst because of its visit point but the people here. People here are all money minded, I remember a uncle help me to take our photo while we holding animals on hand. The other worker mentioned to me I need to give some tips for the uncle. It's ok for me, I give the old man RM10 as tips since my pocket no small change. You know what's the feedback from the worker? She said "So less ah? Where got enough?". OMG, RM10 as tips also less then how much you want? Also, you didn't stated clearly that you need to charge before I took the photo. We didn't stay long there & after a while then we decided back to the boat. While we're almost leaving, the kid appears & pursue us donate $ for the turtles. All you have to do is put $ in the box provided. Again, RM10 I donated but the kid shows me his unsatisfied face. Sigh!
It's nearly evening, Fidah bring us to Jimbaran Beach & having our dinner in a restaurant located nearby the beach. We enjoying our delicious seafoods dinner while appreciate the beautiful sunset. A romantic moment that takes your breath away. However, romantic thing is not free & it cost me a lot especially Fidah provides us the wrong pricing for the seafood. However, it's not my concern but what I learn from my experience... Never spend on the places recommended by tour guide. First, it's not as worthwhile as you thought. Second, the tour guide takes commission from this. Environment here is fanstatic & we do have an enjoyable moments. Also, they are live band here & they're far more better than live band in the western restaurant we dined yesterday.
That's the end our first day trip, Fidah will bring us to another place tomorrow but only half day trip. After that is our free & easy time.
Day 3
First place Fidah brought us to Tanah Lot, a mountain where surrounding by sea & nice seaview there. It's a sunny day, we can't even open our eye while taking photo. Here is the place where lot of sea surfers heading to, nothing much here but there is one Tanah Lot temple whice is famous in Bali tourism. Nearby there are lof of stores selling souvenirs such as handcraft, T-Shirt & batik. Variety of souvenir choices.
Afterward, we back to Kuta town & having our first day shopping session. There are variety shops around the Kuta town. You can find any finishing goods either in the mall, street, backstreet & even houses. However, you have to be patient & survey around if you want to get the best bargain here since most of the item prices are negotiable. You may need to cut down the price by 50% less than the original price they're offer. Nevertheless, I recommended you go to the shopping center like Matahari Kuta Square to buy souvenir since the price is more cheaper & good quality compared with the outside stores.
After finished our shopping session, we're heading back to the hotel. The hotel has a swimming pool on the roof-top, where we can have the Kuta beach seaview from here while we're swimming. The pool is awesome & we like it very much. Having our sunset moment while swimming... We're in paradise! : -)
That's the end our first day trip, Fidah will bring us to another place tomorrow but only half day trip. After that is our free & easy time.
Day 3
First place Fidah brought us to Tanah Lot, a mountain where surrounding by sea & nice seaview there. It's a sunny day, we can't even open our eye while taking photo. Here is the place where lot of sea surfers heading to, nothing much here but there is one Tanah Lot temple whice is famous in Bali tourism. Nearby there are lof of stores selling souvenirs such as handcraft, T-Shirt & batik. Variety of souvenir choices.
Afterward, we back to Kuta town & having our first day shopping session. There are variety shops around the Kuta town. You can find any finishing goods either in the mall, street, backstreet & even houses. However, you have to be patient & survey around if you want to get the best bargain here since most of the item prices are negotiable. You may need to cut down the price by 50% less than the original price they're offer. Nevertheless, I recommended you go to the shopping center like Matahari Kuta Square to buy souvenir since the price is more cheaper & good quality compared with the outside stores.After finished our shopping session, we're heading back to the hotel. The hotel has a swimming pool on the roof-top, where we can have the Kuta beach seaview from here while we're swimming. The pool is awesome & we like it very much. Having our sunset moment while swimming... We're in paradise! : -)Day 4
The whole day is free & easy, we're freely walk & hunt around the Kuta town again. Walking through the Kuta beach is enjoyable, although the sea water is not as clear our island in Malaysia. Still, you can feel the sea breeze & weather here is in the right temperature. There are lot of surfers here as well even small kids, nothing much here since we just want to relax here. Sitting on the beach with the love one, enjoying the sea breeze & relaxing. What else can I ask for?
We found a restaurant which's crownded by visitors. Finally, we found a restaurant which served the best foods we have in Kuta for these few days. Also, restaurant decor is quite home style & make you feel like having lunch at home. Nothing more to complaint. Then, we go for our shopping session again. Not much we shop today since we already bought major stuffs yesterday.
The night before we left, having dinner at a western restaurant nearby our hotel. The restaurant is facing kuta beach & have a touching sunset view as well. Foods here is good as well & the place is romantic. Candle light dinner what's I can imagine, enjoying the scoop of icecream...Day 5
Our last day & we will departure around 12pm. Before we goto airport, Fidah bring us to foot massage center. This is my first time having foot massage & it's Goooood! I can feel the pain by the force of the massager's hand. It took me half an hour for the whole session. I feel totally refresh after all & for sure I'm suffer in pain while I'm walking. Haha...
Then, we reach airport an hour early. Say goodbye to Fidah & thanks for her guides on this trip. Get all departure stuffs done & sitting inside airport waiting the plane to get us home. Also, finish our left rupiah for some souvenirs again before we left.
Reached Malaysia airport at noon & that's the end of our 5D4N Bali Island honeymoon trip. Nothing much there but unforgettable moment for 2 of us.
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