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Published: June 18th 2012
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Quick trip; Perth to Bali- 3 1/2 hours with Air Asia. Denpasar Airport to Ubud 2 1/2 hours with Ubud Taxi. Bali has become so busy in the last few years, the airport more chaotic, the carpark and roads out of it are virtually gridocked.
However, when you get to where ever you are going, ahhhh. It is good to be back. This trip we headed up to Ubud. I wanted something a bit different, a bit more basic and closer to the activities that we had lined up. We booked 3 nights at the Narasoma Homestay (It also has an attached Yoga Retreat). It was well reviewed, well located and pretty cheap at $42/night (inc tax, breakfast and wifi) so I pre-booked 3 nights.
The journey up there was in darkness but is interesting all the same. The air is warm. We arrive at Beji Lane and find our hotel easily. Drop the bags and go in search of some dinner. The guy at Narasoma reccomends Ibu Rais- it is across the road and is busy. We manage to get a table and have the first meal for the trip - Nasi Goreng Itimewa- delicious. Would recommend it.
Quick stroll up the road to find a shop to buy water for the room. Early night.
Hotel Review http://www.narasoma.com/ First impressions were that it was a bit dingy, there is a lot of work going on in the front area (a new room and underground carpark) and there is a lot of screening off and clutter lying around.
We have a room on the top (3rd floor), was to be Frangipani but hotel changed us to Rose a few days before arrival. They assured us all rooms were the same so it wouldn't be a problem. The room is one of 3 on this level, the one on the far left. The communal area for the floor is spacious with great views over the roof tops of Ubud and lots of spots to sit, there is a tiny verandah (1 chair width) at the back of each room- bonus views of Mt Agung. There is a shared fridge/kettle area in front of the middle room. The room is small. Nicely decorated but small. Enough to have a double bed, a wardrobe and desk. Leads in to a small but adequate bathroom. Shower over bath (wouldn't
recommend it for oldies), sink, mirror and toilet. It is fine. Certainly for 3 days it is fine. No a/c so got hot, you could have the fan on, both doors and all windows open to create a breeze. Luckily no mossies. We slept with the balcony door open all nights under a mossie net and were cool enough to need a sheet by morning. We had a peek inside the other 2 rooms on our floor- same price and much more spacious- I would specifically request one of these or either on the 2nd floor if we went back.
Breakfast was great- simple, fresh and just right. You could call them from 7am to order and had a choice of eggs with toast, nasi goreng or pineapple pancake. This also came with fruit and a thermos of hot water (teabags and coffee supplied).
I think the standout feature of Narasoma is the pool. You go downstairs, through the guest house,through a family compound and it leads to the most beautiful terraced area complete with yoga pavilion and infinity pool. Very tranquil and great to cool off at the end of the day.
Positives- location, price and
Narasoma inside room
looking from bed out back door pool area
Negatives- tiny room, no water supplied except the thermos at b/f, no soap (sounds pathetic but arriving at 8pm at night and then having to go find some is a pain), bathroom could have been cleaner (black ring around bath and toilet).
Would I go back? Maybe (not to Rose).
Next entry- Bali Bird Walk
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