30 and Fab, My Bali Experience Part Three

Today is all about the Bali culture. We have contracted the Hotel to give us the Kintamani Tour of Bali. The tour will approximately take 8-10 hours, depending on what we want to see. The tour starts at 9, where we will see the Barong dance. What is the Barong dance you say? I don't know because we woke up late and we missed the show. Haha. But apparently, it is a ritual performed only in the morning.

We woke up around 9, had a quick shower and ate breakfast. The hotel breakfast is a mix of american (cereal, toast, egg, etc) and balinese food (satay, something something, something something). We left the hotel at around 10 and since we missed the first itinerary (Barong Dance), we went straight to the next item in the list. The "art" village. We went to a batik factory and to a silver and gold accesories shop.

Ate making batik designs



Me posing before Ate-Batik



I found this interesting piece of art inside the shop. Bastos! haha.




This is the silver and gold shop. Dragonflies are supposed to lucky omens.



Silver ring being shaped by fire.



I did not know we were supposed to imitate the poses of the three statues. Ayan tuloy and corny ng pose ko. ;p




We wanted to buy matching rings or bracelets but the items are too expensive so we ditched the plan and posed for some more photos instead.




Next stop is a Civet Coffee farm but along the way we posed by the rice terraces. My snarky comment on the rice terraces? "Ours in the Philippines is way bigger and more majestic". haha.



Cool Bali Factoid. Unlike here in the Philippines where school uniforms are white then block colored pants/skirt, in Bali their tops are batik. Cool.


Indonesia is known for their coffee so we visited a place where Civet coffee is being pooped, er I mean farmed. Agro-tourism is big in Bali and here we met the one and only local who can speak and understand English well. Plus si Kuya ay pumopophotography. :)




This is the civet "food" will then be....




.... this. Pupu of the civet.




The poop will then be roasted by the Coffee Prince and Princesses.




Which will then be this really strong and bold coffee.




We also got to taste for free, their other flavored coffees. The choco one is the best. All three of us bought one bag each.




Then we went to Kintamani, which required a really longish drive. This is an active volcano located up in the highlands. The view is breathtaking. The set-up is akin to that of Taal in Tagaytay, Philippines.



Pout!



We had buffet lunch here. Food is mainly Balinese. It is not bad but not something to rave about too, just enough to satisfy your hunger. haha.




After the volcano, we went to a temple where people are bathing in waters that are supposed to have cleansing and healing properties.




Peep this heartwarming picture of a father and his child bathing in the healing waters.




After this, we had another longish drive going to the elephant cave. My friends are saying this is my favorite stop of the tour since i got to wear the required temple wear, which is just really a sarong tied to the waist aka palda!




We tried to do a jump shot in front of the cave.




Next and last stop on our itinerary is the fire dance. All along we thought it was similar to the dancing girls and gays in Bora that were responsible for this butterfly picture.



So were excited for the picture possibilities but we were pleasantly surprised to find out that the fire dance is a re-enactment of Rama and Sita. Similar to the Barong dance, this is a ritual that Balinese people perform daily but this one is done every sunset.




What is memorable on this stop is the chant by the "background singers", "chaka chaka chaka chaka chaka chaka" See the lolo above? He is the star of the show. haha. After the show, we drove back to the hotel.

Although this had already been a long and tiring day, we are not yet done as we are determined to party Bali style! We planned on leaving the hotel around 11p but typical of the three of us, it took longer to prepare than we have planned because we took pictures!



More and more pictures!



Look who got caught by the camera, powdering his nose. Haha.




We then went out to a couple of bars where we got offered ecstacy and cocaine, almost got charged a really expensive cab fare, almost paid unnecessary cover fees, got hit on by a local and danced till the DJ packed-up. Havey na havey!

It has been a long and tiring and happy day so for now we rest for tomorrow we continue our quest for the best and whitest beach in Bali.

Next, the search for the whitest beach and the massge that will never be...

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Location:D. Silang,Marikina City,Philippines

30 and Fab, My Bali Experience, PART DEUX

Continuing with my Bali Experience...

If you want to be a millionaire, you should move to Indonesia. The exchange rate is 195IDR per 1 peso. The denomination of the bills are in thousands and let me tell you, I was eternally confused. My mind is wired to read only the first two numbers and the zeroes are really, really, really, confusing. Blame it on my "commoner" upbringing. I am not used to a lot of money. Haha.




After we have checked out of Immigration (scary scary - why? see previous post). We waited in line for a cab since Ai did not arrange for a hotel pick-up. I find that it is better to arrange for transfers whenever I travel as it lessens the hassle, but the waiting is not really long at the Den Pasar Airport, so it was ok this time.









After a 10 minute taxi ride, we have finally arrived at our hotel, Best Western Hotel in Bali. The hotel is in Kuta beach but not in the "happening" area. It is a good 10 min ride away from the beach. The hotel has a pool and our room is on the first floor near the resto and the pool.




There is a bar by the pool too.




We were all very hungry (mainly me) by the time we have checked in at the hotel so we ordered at the restaurant. The food is not very good but it is satisfying especially when you are hungry (again, mainly me).




Free breadsticks given while waiting for the food to be served. The poor bread did not even last 10 mins. Hungry hungry hungry! Haha.




We might have ordered too much though. We were not able to finish the pizza.











We rested a bit after eating and started to explore Bali. First agenda is Kuta Beach. This is where the biggest mall in Bali is found, Discovery Mall. The hotel has a free shuttle to and fro Kuta Beach. Since I am too lazy to memorize and/or type, I just took a photo of the sched. Turns out Ai and Jo did too. Haha. Weird minds think alike.




The Discovery Mall looks like a municipal building from afar. It is not high rise as it is by the beach. I tell you, it is no MOA. Haha.




The mall is right by the beach so after checking the mall, well, we actually just passed thru it, we walked by the beach.




I had to dial in at the daily con-call with my client at 4:30 so I was doing a call while walking at the beach.




We saw a wedding photoshoot while we were walking. Oooh frou frou.




Bali is dotted with temples and images of their gods and goddesses. Each god is almost always with an offering. This is supposed to bring them luck and more blessings.




The offering. Flower or sometimes food.




There is a tiangge near the beach. So naturally, we shopped. This is where we bought our bintang bali bags. The key with haggling in Bali is to pretend that you are leaving and is no longer interested, then, once they call you back, offer 70% off of the original price. I am telling you, it works. Parang divi lang. :)) But once you agreed to the price, you can no longer back out. So make sure to haggle for the lowest possible price before saying Yes.











We drank bintang beer by the shore while waiting for the sunset. Bintang is "d" Indonesian malt. It tastes bland though, San Mig is still better. :p




Look I am still in a call (spy the white headphone)!




Kuta beach is not really white sand (but it is white by their standards). It can't even hold a candle compared to Bora, however, their sunset, is resally really gorgeous.




This is where we met the golden running man. Bali sunset is beatiful!




After sunset, we ate at this very expensive resto where our tables are by the water.




Fierce pose (the-pretend-i-did-not-know-i-was-being-photographed-look) by Jo while waiting for the food.




They have really nice signs to distinguish the boy and girl tandas (washroom). This is for the men's washroom. See the penis? Haha




While this is for the girl's. Boobs! Haha




On our way back to the hotel, we bought chips, water and bread - breadtalk! (for me, mainly). Although a bit dissapointed with the beach, (this is it? no it can't be!) this was still a fun day. Key word? Men,men,men,men! Haha.

We have arranged for the kintamani tour from our hotel for the next day. Second day will be all about the balinese culture. For now, we rest (tour starts at 9:00am) Goodnight Bali!


More pikatures of our second day!

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Location:Eastwood Ave,Quezon City,Philippines