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Published: March 4th 2011
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The Jetstar flight from Singapore to Bali was very good. They are a low cost carrier but although they do not do meals, I got one free. I think this is because I have a RTW ticket so spent a bit more!?...
Once in Bali, I booked the first night at the first hotel I came across because I arrived quite late. It was a bit more pricy but first thing the next morning, I got up early and went to look for something cheaper and more centrally located in Kuta. I found loads of places but in the end, did a deal with the guy who owned the place I was already staying at. I stayed in Kuta and used it as a base to look round the island. Bali isn't a very big place and moving around is easy so I simply went to different places each day. Bali has an excellent shuttle bus system.
The Kuta, Legian, Seminyak area seems to be a main destination for Australian holidaymakers, I think because it's their nearest foreign country, apart from New Zealand, and the surfing is some of the best. One Aussie guy I was speaking too said
it was cheap as well. It's their equivalent to the Mediterranean from the UK.
Kuta has lots of shopping, food and drinking places (Bintang is the local beer, and it is excellent!) and is the home to a great beach set in a bay. The sun sets right in the middle of the bay and the already busy beach fills up just beforehand so everybody can watch. There is a lot more to see around the rest of the island. It is their low season at the moment so a bit cooler and clouder but really humid.
Mountain biking is the perfect activity inland and spent a day cycling from a lookout over Lake Batur and the volcano (which apparently last blew in 1994) along a 26km route through the lush green countryside through the local villages and along the ledges between the rice paddy fields. At times there was a drop either side which looked to be nearly two metres in places, so while riding between the rice fields, often slippery and muddy, low gears were needed to help balance... The last thing I wanted was to fall off and get covered in mud! We finished up
in the village of Pejeng for some excellent local food, Nasi Cap Cay - pronounced Nasi Chap Chai. Rice, veg, chicken and shrimps.
Once the tourism and touts are filtered out, there is some culture in Bali. Saturday (05/02/2011) is Hindu New Year. Part of the ceremony inolves making ogoh-ogohs, large dolls. On Friday before, they invite evil spirits to enter the dolls and then they burn them. The Saturday is Nyepi, where the whole island has to be in total silence and everybody has to stay at home and everywhere is closed, including the airport! In the evening, no lights on and blinds have to be drawn! Someone said this is so the evil spirits can't find them again?!? But it seems generally that this is to allow piece between people. I'm going to miss this by two days but have seen people preparing their dolls and a few processions through the streets.
Check out:
for more information on the Hindu New Year
There are a few Brits out here who must love it because they've been here for a long time. For me though, I was just passing through so wanted to have a look.
Bali is the end of the Southeast Asia part of my trip. The next stop is Perth, Australia, this afternoon :-)
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Babsi
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OMG this Ogoh Ogoh dolls look really scary and they are amazingly HUGE!!! Enjoy Australia!