Bali: Making full use of the last day

Spa/Uluwatu Monkey Temple/Jimbaran Bay

04 Dec 2010

Aloha! Surprise surprise! I'm back to blogging... & hope this is not just a 3-min revival. Cross your fingers.


I realised I haven't written the last post of my Bali travalogue! And the reason why I've decided to write it now is because I've just came back from a 9-day bkk trip. I love travelling, & I love relishing those moments through pictures & writing about it. So pardon me if I forgot some nitty-gritty details cos the trip was taken last year! Continuing from this post...


So, we checked out of our villa after breakfast, left our luggage there, & took a cab to...




How can you go to Bali & leave without doing a body massage, right? Even though it's the last day of our trip,  we managed to pack it in. And I'm one perfectionist. So prior to this trip, I did a hell load of research on every place we visited/stayed in, reading forums reviews, blog reviews, scrutinize hotel photos, compare, spent lotsa time on google maps, read advice by travellers etc. So this Jari Menari was supposedly highly raved about. They even had the guts to put "Bali's best massage".


Btw this is the 2nd time we've taken a cab in the whole trip, partly cos after the 1st time at Ku de Ta, I'm kinda freaked out, & partly cos we're here to see the island so it's better to hire a driver becos one point to the other might take up to 2hr. For people who're here for water sports & would stay in an area, it should be safe to take a cab anywhere.














We all got changed & their staff walk us through this long corridor, & bring you to this beautiful jap-styled hut. Once you step in, you'll feel very at peace inside. Throughout the whole session, you'll only hear the sound of water drippling down, which makes you feel strangely relaxed.


I had the "Tibetan Singing bowl" for my parents (a 90-min massage session which at the end the masseur will hit a large metal/bronze bowl & the vibrations which resonates through your body will supposedly restores balance & harmony), & a basic 75-min one for myself & sis. Total price is about US$157.

I love how relaxed this environment makes me feel, with the zen statue over there. But if you ask me if it's worth the price, I'd say no. Yes everything is perfect, but I really don't enjoy the massage. I think for USD$160, it's too expensive (but becos Bali is so commercialised, good massages are about this range).


There's one thing. At Jari Menari, they only hire male practitioners. I know this through their website before I book, but I didn't know how uncomfortable it would make me feel... cos I hadn't had too many spa sessions & the ones I've had were with female practitioners.


Call me conservative, but this could be the reason why I couldn't relax myself thoroughly to enjoy the massage. I even wore a bikini inside as you can see... which the masseur pull off once I laid on my stomach. I thought he'd have the manners to at least inform me he was going to start. But maybe he didn't because of language barriers so it'd be unfair to judge him. They're professional enough overall.






After the massage, with oil all over my body. And why do I look so tan in this picture?!



Feeling all giddy. I'm not sure if you're supposed to wash off the oils or let it stay on your body so it will seep in... but I took a shower all the same, which I'm pretty sure is wrong.








In the shopfront, you see all sorts of things sold there. From the attire we wear, to the massage oils & shampoos. I bought a hotpink tunic & 2 scented soap bars. I don't use soap bars, but I bought it for memory purposes.








Do you think we could actually buy this statue home?








Went back to the villa to collect our luggage, & there our driver Putu is waiting for us. Our next destination is Uluwatu Monkey Temple.





There, the only modern building we've passed by on these streets



In Bali, there're different rules when you visit different temples of different religions. Mostly you're required to cover up your legs & you may or may not be asked to wear a sash. I wanna experience the culture of this country, so of cos I did!








Now you know why this is called the Monkey Temple. I'd advise you to give them a wide berth, after hearing what Putu told me. Don't wear anything striking or wear anything on your head cos you run the risk of them stealing it, & I'm sure you don't want them climbing all over you.








Climb up a long way & you arrive at a breath-taking view of the Uluwatu coastline. The villa which I'd love to stay in (but was wayyyy too expensive) is somewhere near here.














Our driver, Putu. He's really nice, the Ayung River rafting we went to was through a lobang of his. And he brought us to eat a $1.50 noodles just outside the temple which was really yummy.






Afterwards, we head back to the car & off we drive to Jimbaran Bay for seafood! And of cos, I already know before we came here that Jimbaran Bay is too overrated & overpriced. Why would we still go there? Because no matter how many forumers warned of the highly raked up price, we still hadn't been here ourselves & I want to experience how eating in Jimbaran Bay is like.

And luckily for us, Putu has a lobang for Jimbaran Bay too! We get a 10% discount off the total bill cos the owner is a friend of his or something. Yay! :)












A whole stretch of other seafood restaurants












Isn't the beach stunning? I couldn't remember if it was clean or not, but from the pictures it look passable. At least much better than our Singapore beaches.



















The evening sun is crazily hot! And irritably so. I see flies around our food & together with the sun, it pisses me off a little.



HUGE-ASS crab pincers!









This place is FULL of ang-mohs. Of cos! This place's a money winner. They're the ones providing for the bulk of the salary of people in the tourism industry. Other than us, there's only one more Chinese girl with an ang-moh bf.











I don't know how to photoshop this picture :( I don't wanna spoil the beauty of the horizon in the background so just leave it as it is




I think, this place is great for pictures (as with all beaches), food is so-so, and... those who still wanna come here to eat might want to order a beer with your all your crustaceans, because the heat will spoil your evening if you don't.


So that's it! My completed Bali trip. Oh yes, don't forget to grab some duty-free alcohol at the airport! My parents don't really drink, the Cordon Bleu is for my grandma (yes, grandma... she has tons of these), & the Baileys is because it is too fucking cheap! $27! I didn't even know it's this cheap.





So... in 4 days we've covered Goa gajah, coffee plantation, Mt batur, Spring temple, rice terrace, white water rafting, Uluwatu monkey temple, even slot in a massage & a few good dinners like in Ku de Ta & Jimbaran. No doubt all the touristy attractions, which is all what I planned (because these are one-time things, 2nd visit to Bali would be a whole different experience). The 3 things that I'd planned in our itinerary but didn't get to do is the Kecak dance, helicopter tour & another one which I forgot. Quite a feat, huh? Considering it's all self researched, arranged & planned. I'm so so proud of myself!! I would put in so much effort because these are the things I really enjoy doing. I even do it randomly in my free time. I think could be a travel planner! :)

The previous entries are all here in chronological order:

The Land of Gods

Full day tour

Ayung River Rafting

Around the Villa

Ku de Ta

p.s: I recently saw a travel agency brochure, a 3D2N bali trip in a good resort costs about $1000+ per person. Ours is for 4D3N, about the same price & we covered so much more! I'm sure our villa is already top enough. And I'm really glad we went cos I recently checked on asiarooms.com (the site I booked from).. maybe due to customer's raving reviews, the price per night for The Seiryu has increased drastically as compared to the time of our booking.

Bali: Ku De Ta

Recently I've been obsessed with skincare. So I read up & bought quite a lot of new skincare. Will share with you all if I have the time tomorrow :)


But today, I'm gonna blog about Ku De Ta! The much raved about Ku De Ta! Not the one in Marina Bay Sands though, the one in Bali. In fact, the one in MBS is being sued by the original one for using the same name.









That evening, after a heavy day of water rafting, we were all very tired. Called up the massage parlor which many people recommended, but they were fully booked till the next day. However, Mum & I still wanted to go explore, while Dad & sis opted to stay in the villa.


So we asked the receptionist how to walk to Gado-Gado, one of the restaurants featured in their website. The friendly staff then printed out a map to us, showing clearly how to walk to the beach. Simple as it was, I can't help being afraid of getting lost as we walked.









It was easy! Just a 5min walk & we're there at the Kuta beach already!












We walked the whole stretch of the beach, looking for Gado-Gado, but there was none in sight! I felt like the typical tourist holding a map asking people to show us the way!


It should be located on the beach cos the description in the website says it's right in front of the white sandy beach (not quite white huh?) In the end, some kind soul told us that it's under renovation. Arghhh! We've been walking to & fro like idiots!

Reached there just in time for the sunset :)

Despite that, there are some other cafe/bars on the beach. One in particular was packed with caucasians, with colourful sofas which looked comfortable & blasting loud music.







We were about to leave when we saw 2 cute doggies, half buried by the sand & sleeping soundly.


They were so adorable we asked the owner if we could take pictures with it.













The following shots looked like they're straight out of a health supplement or fitness equipment advertisement. With people running, playing volleyball on the beach... doesn't it look like those ang moh AIBI advertisement encouraging you to purchase a product by calling a number?













Mum wanted to settle for dinner somewhere near, but I was already enticed by the idea of eating by the beach. And I remember the famous Ku De Ta being somewhere near, so I somehow managed to convinced her to hop on a cab


(Much later after we went back to SG, I was lectured by my aunt saying this was dangerous. We should never do this, especially without my father's companion. I did it becos after researching I find bali taxis are relatively safe, but on hindsight I too realised that just 2 girls travelling in an unfamiliar country can be really dangerous. Case in Point: Taken [movie])












The inside was quiet, classy & elegant, much like fine dining in SG.


But in contrast, the outdoor (which most people visit KDT for) was booming with R&B music, bringing everybody into the atmosphere. We were told by the waiter outdoor they only serve cocktails & pizza. Pizza sounds great, & we were there for the experience. You have to call days in advance though, if you want a seat with a good view... unless you don't mind sitting on the grass

Tip: Plan your trip & book reservations prior to arrival 

What a remarkably magnificent view!



Don't be fooled by the angle of the camera, it's not like the bar before which is located on the sea level. This famous joint is perched on an elevated platform. Here, you can truly enjoy the light breeze & listen to waves caress the shore, while sipping cocktails & laughing with your friends. I'd posted a video below.



KDT is the must-go for destination for most tourists, it has established itself as having one of the best parties & nightlife on the Islands of Gods. Determined to celebrate their 10th Birthday in the grandest of styles, bringing together a stellar selection of International DJs and live bands for their world-renowned, iconic High Season parties.



I'd done a search on it before I came, & everybody seem to love this place (not the price though)! As a wise man once said, "If you haven't been to Ku De Ta, you haven't been to Bali!"







There we were... going round & round hoping we'd miraculously spot an empty sofa seat.


Indeed, we found one!



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NOT!

Mum & I were bewildered at why this seat wasn't taken. We thought we had really good luck, until we realised it's blocked by this massive stage. Say... CHEY!





But beggars can't be choosers! Those really good seats are the ones by the side facing the rolling waves. The center ones are less popular. By the way, I swipe a glance around & saw that we're one of the 2 mere Chinese groups. Them caucasians really know how to enjoy life huh?

I like this photo of me... fresh-faced, without makeup (only concealer to cover my dark eye rings, although it's still visible ), & most of all, simple :) Which is what I really am, believe it or not.

Mummy disturbing me when I'm trying to decide what to order from their extensive list of drinks. I forgot what I ordered for myself, but I ordered margarita for her & a something (lamb?) pizza. Opps, that's the consequence of blogging only 4 months after a trip, especially when you have a failing memory










The funky, contemporary decor, amazing location & views had me impressed! Too bad dad didn't tag along, I was hoping he can see this for himself. But fret not, I took a video to record down the character of this party venue so we'd never forget.















But beware! I'd been warned & I'm here to warn you.



The prices in KDT are absolutely over the top for Bali. Food & drinks are very pricey for local standards. It IS a place you go to looking for to have a special meal, but first consider the markedly price difference between it & everywhere else in Bali. Hell, even I (& other aussies) think it is expensive for SG/AUS standards.



Cocktails costs on average Rp110,000 each. I only remember paying USD 77 for the 2 cocktails & pizza we had above. That said, the food is really good! I'm speaking for the only pizza we had (HAHA!), but already it makes me feel like going back It was so good I licked off every bit of it. Well, not literally lah.



So, come here if you want to be WOW-ed. But if it upsets you to part with a lot of cash (like my dad HAHA! ), then this is not the place for you.









I'm definitely going back again! What could be better than relax with your loved ones, indulge in the fine tunes of the music, rhythmic seawaves & immerse in the party atmosphere with party people?







The drink I ordered for myself is much more tasty than the margarita I ordered for mum. So she forced me to swap with her









Their toilets has these cute figurines indicating gender. But I couldn't tell which is the males & which is the ladies!












While we're leaving, we got offered a ride at the entrance by this taxi driver with a price agreed beforehand (couldn't remember but it's very cheap). Later, my instincts took over & I recalled things I read while doing my research that says there's one 1 official taxi company is Bali. The guy who offered us drives a private car, & I pulled my mum away suggesting we'd rather walk to the main road to be safe.



Actually, the guy means no harm. Just like drivers in bali, he only wanted to earn more bucks. But I'd rather be safe than sorry, especially when cabs in bali are bloody cheap. Now I'm not being pompous, but you'll agree with me. Like... SDG $2+? It's like the starting fare in SG cabs!

Tip: Do not accept unsolicited rides, especially girls!

The ride home was much more scary. The driver seemed to drive a long long way, meandering though VERY dark & narrow streets... Inside, I am panicking at why we haven't reach, but at the same time, I have to show that it's no big deal & assure my mum we're reaching soon. What a ride!


Starting to photograph things in our living room again :)






OMG look at my taut muscles... now do you believe my track & field story already?
Long distance runner... me!






Nope I didn't fly Emirates. Nor am I a fan of Arsenal. The jersey's a Christmas present from a friend last year. Only after I received it do I know how expensive jerseys can be! Why do guys like buying them so much?? (Actually I can understand... just like how girls buy Bebe. But I stopped already after realising it's a utter waste of $$)



I flew KLM!




Tip: KLM to Bali can be cheaper than Jetstar on some days. Actually, most days.



Dad & Sis had room service in their respective villas. (By the way, Dad registered a poker face for the rest of the trip. We later realised it's due to our, i.e. Mum & I, negligence for safety.









Other than the menu, there's another folder containing information of Bali's tradition, happenings & events on the islands etc. I gave it a good read, interesting




Here's some of my buys, mostly gifts & souvenir for friends:









I bet these ceramic bowls & plates would costs at least 500% more in SG. There, we can bargain from Rp100,000 for 1, to the same price for 4! But we bought for more expensive cos we bought at the beginning of the street. & we bought from different vendors cos it's kinda unfair to buy from just 1.


If you walk off, the vendor would shout a better price after you. Some will even pull your arms & refuse to let you leave! Scary~










Rented dvds from the front desk. There's TONS to choose from... hundreds! Although it's kinda obvious they're pirated So that means not all can be viewed.

The serene view as I lay on my crisp white bedsheets.

There's only 1 last Bali post to go!


Now I'm busy researching on universities & applications. Also helping out my dad at his shop this month. Sigh... can't accept that I'm done with poly