Fall in love with the view: Menjangan Jungle & Beach Resort

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Menjangan? At first it sounds unfamiliar to me. I was a kind of tourist who mostly spent the weekends at crowded places such as Kuta and Seminyak. Although I have stayed in Bali for two years, I wasn’t really sure about the name. What is it? Where is it? What can I find at the place? Until one of my friends Pingkan who has visited Menjangan Resort previously asked me and my other two friends Meita and Wira to spend a weekend trip at the resort. Well, I thought backpacking is my favorite traveling style. Why not? We choose a weekend in July as a perfect time for the trip. As it was very crowded at southern Bali in summertime, we better search for a place to relax and enjoy the nature voices.
We went on Saturday morning. But we’ve been pretty excited ever since a week before. Each of us prepared something for the trip. I prepared snacks, transportation, and documentation (I promised my friends to update the story and pictures at my blog). Meita prepared MP3 players and cards. Pingkan prepared guitar, snacks, information about the place and also arranged the resort bookings. Wira? He prepared himself to cheer up the trip. Right Wir? ;) We started on nine and head to the resort via Tabanan.
The resort located inside West Bali National Park, north-west part of Bali which very close to Gilimanuk where we may find ferries to Java Island. It took us approximately three hours drive from Denpasar to Menjangan resort. But it was really fun during the trip. As we saw great views of beaches and rice fields along the way. We stopped for several times and took some pictures on scenery points. We also stop at one of the tastiest sate restaurant in Tabanan where we ordered Sate and Gulai Kambing. We finished our early lunch and then continued the trip to Gilimanuk, where we had another lunch at Men Tempeh Betutu. One of the well known Betutu restaurant in Bali. We also stop on a small wharf where we may find transportation boats to Menjangan Island, a small island next to Gilimanuk which is also a praying place for the Hindu.
It took us half an hour trip from Gilimanuk to Menjangan Jungle and Beach Resort. On the way to Singaraja from Gilimanuk, we found the Resort's big signage on the left side of the road and we entered the area. At first, my opinion about the place was a very dry area. We found every plant has few leaves and has yellow-light brown branches. With its rough roads, it made us remember about African safari trips which we saw on TV. We straightly went to Bali Tower where we met Mr. Wayan, the resort’s staff who informed us about the resort, where we should go and what kind of activities we might do. Enjoyed our fresh cold Guava Juice, Mr. Wayan informed that this resort actually a combination between Balinese wildlife and beautiful resort. During their stay, visitor may find the local fauna such as Menjangan, Wild Chicken (I was wondering how wild could it be? ;) Hopefully not the one I found at the backyard, Pok Pok Pok), and also Wild Pig (reminds me of very well known restaurant in Ubud, Ibu Oka's). There are actually different types of room offered by the resort. I noticed Mangrove Gazebo and Monsoon Villa. The Gazebo located right in the beach front. It is more backpacker's style with its own breathtaking view and private beach. The other type Monsoon Villa is more luxurious, with its high end furniture, share swimming pool, and garden view. Well, we thought Gazebo fits us best. It's not everyday we can enjoy our very own private beach. Finished our chit chats with Mr. Wayan, we took our Gazebo key and walk straightly to our room.
The Gazebo surrounded by Mangrove trees which disables other visitor to see the Gazebo although it was 5 meters away (sshhh...It’s impossible to peek the next door’s gazebo activities. Please bear that in mind!). At first we were impressed with its wooden way, on the way to each Gazebo. But then, we were more impressed after we saw the Gazebo and its surroundings. We were very lucky. Each gazebo is located right in the beach front (I have never imagined, beachfront was so pretty), surrounded with Mangrove trees which made light nature voices when the wind breeze, and not to mention, the scenery we saw from the balcony. Blue Mountains next to clear transparent beach, where we may snorkeling and canoeing on our private beach. We decided to blend ourselves with the nature and swim on the beach that afternoon. We had a great time on the beach, but wondering about anything else to see at the resort. So we decided to use the safari car and go to other part of the resort: The Monsoon Swimming Pool, one of the resort’s facilities which located on the Monsoon Villa’s area. On the way to the pool, we found Menjangan, the local fauna which is also the resort’s icon, the Wild Chicken (Awwrrr.. scared us, really!), and also another guests had horse ridding activities. After swimming at the pool and use the resort’s Jacuzzi, we had dinner at the Bali Tower where we found great sunset view of the resort. Although we could only had dinner at Bali Tower (it was very far to find dinner outside the resort), the resort provide menu with great taste and competitive price. We finished our tasty dinner, and got back to our gazebo.
We just realized that there was full moon, it made the night very bright although the resort uses natural rare lighting. We decided not to sleep early and spent our time playing cards and singing along the night with our guitar at the balcony. The clear night view was truly hypnotized us. Although it was midnight, the moonlight was so bright as we may saw the mountain’s silhouette. Plus, the sound of water and winds made us enjoy the “back to nature” feeling.
The next day, I woke up first time in the morning. I didn’t want to miss the special sunrise, so I woke my friends and ask them to gather at the balcony. We sat on the lazy chair, enjoy the wind breeze and played guitar, waiting for the sunrise which finally came. It was very pretty.
Before had breakfast, we decided to play at the beach that morning. The sky was very clear and so did the water. We saw various kinds of fish and sometimes dolphins. We finished our swimming activities and then took a bath on the bathroom which has no ceiling and only covered with Mangrove trees (the architect mustn’t have concerned the “latest” invention called Google Earth!). We went to Bali Tower to have breakfast and also went to the fourth floor to enjoy the resort’s view. From the tower, we were able to see the Bali Strait, Menjangan Island, and also high mountains of Bali. The resort has such a great view, and I was wondering why most of my friends didn’t know much about this place.
As we need to get at Bedugul on lunch time, we leave the resort on 11 am. We spent such a GREAT time at the resort and hoping to come again sometimes.

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