Bali secrets - Bali, Indonesia
Bali, Indonesia
Where I stayed
Taman Mestari gueshouse Ubud and Flora Kuta Bali hotel
What I did
Monkey Forest Ubud
Rice Terraces of Tegalalang and Ubud
Ubud Art Market (Pasar Seni)
No other way, but to call a taxi to airport, as hotel car is booked this morning. And for good - taxi to airport cost 50 000 in comparison hotel car drop-off 95 000. In airport we definitely should find Lionair Office to order approval of delayed flight for insurance company as previous evening our hotel manager tried to reach them bus unsuccessfully (she explained that if too many calls come in contact center, they just ignore ..nice)…but as in all small airports at the entrance is first screening and if we went out, had to stand in queue again and could miss the flight..so decided to find lionair Office in Denpasar, Bali. Arrived successfully in Bali, welcomed are not we - visitors but APEC delegates J - full of advert posters . Went out of arrival terminal and again the same – no taxi stand to take reliable taxi, just "taxi,taxi,,where do You go..I can help You, fixed price, good price…". So my conclusion out of this – system that is mentioned in any forum or book exists only in international terminals (fixed price depending on destination), yes, and Yogya was the best for non-cheating visitors –at taxi kiosk show address and pay fixed sum , get boarding number, and give a taxi only voucher…perfect I would say. So agreed on 220 000 for 1.5h trip to Ubud. Learned from net that it happens, that taxi want to drive You only by Ubud center and if You are staying further away, as most hotels, pay more or get out. So when agreeing on price showed address, guest house name and phone number, to be sure that we agree on price that satisfies both of us…and what happens..we arrive at Ubud center and taxi stops and says, “here is Ubud center”, but I insisted that we agreed on price and distance, so when he dropped us to address ( it would be 1/2h by foot with all our bags), took out our bags and even did not say good bye ( that in Indonesia is very special, friendly etc) sat in car and drove away… Ubud is special place for 2 reasons – art and spa. We tried second on – highly recommend spa treatments for price and quality – tried suggested ZEN spa – almost 2h treatment 15 usd, simple body massage 1.5h for 11 usd etc… Stayed at Taman Metsari guesthouse, the cheapest but really good value! Suggest staying north from main street ( ubud palace), with rice field view, as center is quite busy and noisy, in the same time everything is in a walking distance. Had lunch I suggested Biah-biah local restaurant, really good – 10 usd for two with drinks J Forget about buying alcohol (stronger than beer it costs enormous money – eg Havanna for 70 usd a bottle J keep having beer J. Actually if You travel using internal terminal, o possibilities to buy strong alcohol. We did not tried our luck in “non” branded alcohol as lot of people have died of fake.. Thought to be good idea to have some walk in rice fields, got suggested route and started our way that should take some 2 hours. First 2h were great – jungle, rice fields, doggy that followed us..then after some time felt lost..but kept going through interesting villages…and were happy to meet tourists J BUT they were also lost.. so in some tie found one spa hotel and they offered to drop us to ubud…not cheap..but we agreed to any price as I was really tired, walking in heat… Unfortunately had to leave Ubud, but for return to have spa holidays J and took a taxi to Kuta. Read in net that taxi should be fixed in Kuta, never experienced - Airport – Ubud 220 000 with bargain , back – 250 000 and if transfer taken (non taxi but reliable enough) – 250 000 - 300 000, maybe we are not smart enough. Kuta awaited us with huge tourist crowds…no hotel has see view…lots of markets etc but by our way stopped to Quicksilver factory outlet near FOS factory and opposite to Bali Galleria (if directions needed) – suggest for good shopping! So that's it for Bali. Unfortunately very little, tomorrow leaving to Lombok J but : - &# 160; Traffic is better that Java · 60; Prices are better that Java · 60; Tourists are everywhere · 60; Ubud looks like charming place for rest · 60; Java seem to be interesting, feeling local culture and way of living · 60; Miss Java coffee!!! Tomorrow leaving for Labuan Bajo, to meet in person with Komodo Dragon!!!