I am definitely a big traveler thanks to my mum. I've been to a number of amazing places, and Bali is definitely up there.
The first time I went to Bali was in 2009, and then returned in 2011. It was great, I absolutely loved it.
My first impression I can remember was "Its hot, it smells funny, where's the bug spray". But then after having a look around as soon as we got there I was able to see how great this was going to be.
Seminyak...
In Seminyak the first time round, we stayed in a friends house right near the Bintang Supermarket. We were in a great spot as we were close to absolutely everything. The shops, the beach, the restaurants. But then again in Seminyak it doesn't really matter where you are, there are always shops, restaurants, and the beach.
The second time round, we stayed in the best hotel you could ask for. 'Puri Sendana'. This hotel was not just only '$60' a night and alright. It was '$60' a night and Fab! This time I only went with mum, so we just had a Queen bed, and along with that there was plenty of room! Not that you ever wanted to stay in your room. We just wanted to lay by the pool side. The pool was great, the kiddy pool had a mini basketball ring. There were shaded tables and lounges around the pool. It wasn't huge so it wasn't busy with heaps of people flooding in. And the people that were there were interesting people. There were many different accents heard, (my favourites being the Brazillians'). I fortunately in this Hotel didn't have to come into contact with any Australian bogans, except for one semi-bogan who asked me to sit at their table with him and his mate who were having a beer. As he probably didn't know that I wasn't 25 like he looked, I was 15. There was free Wifi for the guests. There was a fabulous massage hut next to the pool where you could get a cheap, great massage and or manicure/pedicure. And the staff, service and food quality was also very good. You could literally go to Bali and stay in this Hotel and never leave and your experience would still be great.
In Seminyak there is so much your able to do. everything is walking distance, and if its too hot for you, then you can just hop in a air-conditioned cab ride anywhere for terribly cheap. The food and quality is great, and the meals are very inexpensive and amazing. Down on the beach you can sit on the bean bags and watch the sun set, as you have a pizza and a drink in your fresh manicure. You can watch the kids play soccer, people swimming, people selling kites and other things (a lot of things), and as it gets darker, the locals selling crazy lasers, and flying light spinning things. The shopping is great, the fake stuff is fun, what every you want you will probably find.
Seminak restaurant recommendations:
- Cafe Bali
- Ultimo
- La Luciola
- Ryoshi
- Panterei
- Cafe Seminyak
- Potato head
Ubud...
Both times in Ubud we stayed in the same hotel 'Ubud Bungalow'. It was a great hotel. Very quiet, lots of greenery, and fresh clean air. The pool here was very nice as well. It had a swim up bar, and a lovely Buddha fountain. The staff were lovely and very helpful. The breakfast here was great as well. They had a very nice sitting area which overlooked the plants and small stream. We were given a different breakfast each day. I remember one was egg and toast with fruit and a papaya drink. Another I remember was banana pancakes with fruit and a papaya drink. As well as others which I can't remember, but they were also very nice.
In Ubud, if you ever go there, you must go to the Ubud Monkey Forest. It is so much fun, you get to walk through a awesome green forest, with cheeky monkeys at your feet, and chasing each other around. You can buy small bananas which they can give you to feed the monkeys. We didn't, but we interacted with them other ways. Like it trying to pull my skirt down. Take my shoe off. And open my mums bag. They didn't take anything, but they definitely would of if we didn't notice them doing it. There were so many cute baby monkeys and mumma monkeys. There was a branch in one area which was over a small pool of water and the monkeys were all pushing each other off. They would run and jump into it then get out and run up and do it again. Then they would push their friends in and hang off the branch almost teasing them.
The quietness, and atmosphere in ubud is great. The food is great, and the activities are definitely great!
Ubud is definitely the place for some activities. Our fist activity was about an hour and half long bike ride all down hill from mount Batur. We saw everything, riding through the small villages where there was practically nothing but amazing farm land and crop area. The villages had small houses, and groups of school kids and small kids trudging back home. Although they didn't have much they were happy as anything high fiving us for laughs. We saw the fabulous lush rice fields and the hilly roads as we entered back down into the main area of Ubud where our group stopped for lunch. Even though my butt was very sore after, it was definitely worth doing, and something I would gladly do again.
We also went rafting in Ubud down at 'Ayung river'. Very steep climb to the bottom was ahead of us, but we made it. A lot of people were going rafting (light rafting mind you) I'm an adventurer and all for extremes. And although it wasn't extreme, it was very entertaining and fun. The view from down in the trench was incredible. It was slightly foggy, with waterfalls here and there, rocks here and there, and the odd man on the side selling some drinks. There were even some area our instructor told us it was safe to get out and swim. So we did. Some of the people on our raft got off and went for a little swim with the slow current. Then he would say 'back on raft please' and back on we went. It was a lot of fun not too rapid, and had a good meal after back up the top.
The coffee plantation in Ubud is also worth going to. As you get to see coffee in it's shell like form on the trees.
Ubud restaurant recommendations:
- Sari Organic (Amazing, must go. Ingredients grown on sight. It's pretty much in the middle of a rice field)
- Warung Enak Bali
- Kafe
- Ibu Rai (Indonesian food)
- Mozaic (Didn't go but it is suppose to be amazing, and 'VERY EXPENSIVE')
- Bali Buddah
- Jazz Cafe
Amed...
Amed is a place where you go to relax, it's quite a drive from Seminyak/Ubud. About 3 hours from Seminyak and about 2 hours from Ubud. Both times we went here we stayed at the one and only 'Blue moon villas' which was absolutely wonderful. They had two pools, both with great views. And while we were there the second time they were also building another part of the hotel just down the mountain a bit. From the edge of the pool you can see the great still ocean sitting there like a flat pancake. You see the trees, the sky, and the plants. Down the road a bit theres a path way down onto the black sand beach where there are small villa huts. You can go snorkelling down at the beach and rent to Snorkelling equipment from the hotel. Its great snorkelling, so many different colours down there. A bit of rubbish too mind you. But well worth it. Down the road either way from the hotel there's a couple other small hotels your able to see. Almost every night we played board games after dinner which the hotel had. The food at the hotel was very good as well. And the staff were nice and funny. Anything you needed they were happy to help, and they were also happy to have a laugh. I remember one staff member 'Leilu' was definitely not shy a chat, and always asked us how our day was, and what we did that day. Another memorable line from her being "if you need anything just scream out 'Leiluuuuuuuu i'm hungry'! And I will get you food". I was told also, that people come out to Amed to go about a 20 minute drive up the road and go out to sea and swim down to the sunken ship.
Amed restaurant Recomendations:
- Komang Johns (Blue Moon Villas)
- Life in Amed restaurant (also a resort)
- Apa Kabar
- Warung Enak Homestay
Trip advisor is a great website for this stuff.
On our bike ride in Ubud
View from the hotel in Amed
Another view from Blue moon Villas (Amed)
A very bad picture of a delicious (real, not packet noodle) migoreng
At 'Sari Organic'
A very dark picture of at 'Potato head' (a restaurant and bar in Seminyak)
Having fairy floss after our pizza on the beach
The cheeky little monkeys in Ubud
Rafting in Ubud at the Ayung river
A restaurant/cafe at mount Batur
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