Candi Dasa, Bali - Go & Explore!

Where else should we stay in Bali… I felt like exploring a new area that I had never been to, quiet and far from tourist buzz. It was the law of attraction. Mr. Right wished for the same thing. Another law of attraction, by talking to a friend, we would be in Bali for the same few days. 

View in front of http://www.villakaniksa.com/ Candi Dasa, Bali

Thanks to Nijsen family, we were introduced to Candi Dasa. It is near to where we stayed in the previous day, Padangbai (Tranquil bay, Padangbai)

http://www.villakaniksa.com - Candi Dasa, Bali

"Just drive along the main road, you will see a pool on the right side, drive a little bit more until the main road turning left and.. bla bla bla...."

Candi Dasa main road

Restaurant along Candi Dasa main road

What's in Candi Dasa main road

Restaurant next to lotus pond, Candi Dasa

That's the instruction given to reach the gorgeous villa facing Candi Dasa beach"... Anyway, we passed "the pool" which apparently to be a lotus pond. 

Lotus pond, Candi Dasa

Candi Dasa is situated in Karangasem district Bali, the area that I had never been to.  It is around 90 minute drive from the airport.  



Government elementary school, Candi Dasa Main Road

This seaside town is growing, some hotels, restaurants and shops were established along the main road of Candi Dasa.

 

Jump for the lovely sunset!

Sunset

Let the pics tell everything… Gorgeous moments during sunset in Candi Dasa…

Gorgeous sunset, Candi Dasa

Sunset, Candi Dasa

The weirdest thing happened? It is one in a ten million ---- It was almost sunset, I was standing behind the fence of the pier looking at a guy who was fishing. He pulled his string with a big squid! Lucky him, squid for dinner!

Red circle: a squid squirted on me!

I was wrong! The squid defended himself by squirting his ink. Quickly, the black ink squirted toward me who was standing quite far away!! 

Just before sunset, Amankila, Candi Dasa

Lovely rainbow on before the sunset was the perfect Valentine’s present ever!

Valentine's rainbow was seen from Amankila, Candi Dasa

 

 

Pasir Putih (White Sand) Beach 

One morning we rented a boat and eight of us (four adults, one teenager and two kids) boarded to Pasir Putih. Leaving Candi Dasa, we were welcomed by big waves, splash, splash, wooo... Hari ini ombaknya bagus, kemarin lebih besar lagi, the guy said.  He, captain of this wooden boat took us passing the big island for sightseeing…  This boat can also be rented to go Blue Lagoon in Padangbai for snorkeling/diving (15 minute drive by car). 

Pasir Putih from far...

 

Pasir Putih beach can also be reached by car, five kilometers north east of Candi Dasa. But I was told the road is not smooth. It took us around twenty minutes until we saw the five hundred meter long, isolated, beautiful white sand beach - pasir putih... is known as one of East Bali's well-kept secrets.  

Pasir Putih, Candi Dasa, Bali

 

There is plenty of small wooden boat along the shore, and a few small restaurants on (warung) the beach. They offer local cuisine and seafood, as well as sunbeds and umbrellas for rent provided we buy food there. Shower and changing room are also available.  

Pasir Putih, Candi Dasa, Bali

 

As soon as we arrived, a group of men assisted the boat guy to position the boat well, helped us to walk to warungs and even carried our belongings...

 

We settled in a warung belongs to Wayan, Balinese guy who is running this business with his wife.

Fresh coconut & umbrella @ Pasir Putih

 

A fresh of young coconut was a good way to start sunbathing… Sun, white beach, waves, umbrella by the beach,… Balinese women offer massage/manicure/pedicure or "kepang" hairstyle (hair braids) walked around the beach…

So relax… Pasir putih, please remain virgin...

Tirta Gangga Water Palace

Other than water sports activities, Candi Dasa has other interesting attraction such as Tirta Gangga Water Palace. In fact, this site is ranked number one in Candi Dasa main attractions according to TripAdvisor.



Tirta Gangga, Water Palace, Karangasem, Bali

 

Literally Tirta Gangga means water from the Ganges. It is a site of some reverence for the Hindu Balinese. Strictly, the name refers to the water palace built here in 1948 by the King of Karangasem Bali.

The palace area is not very huge but it nice to walk around, run on stepping stones and see the fishes, take pics and even to swim in the open swimming pool...

Tirta Gangga, Water Palace, Karangasem, Bali

 

An old lady selling local fruit called Salak, or it is known as snakeskin fruit. She did not have change when my friend ‘Ida’ gave her Rp50,000 note. So, she told us to pay the entrance tickets first, eat her Salaks and pay later when we get out the palace. Only in Bali… Terima kasih Ibu, Salaknya manis...

 

Food!

Thanks to TripAdvisor, we found Vincent's (Vincentsbali.com) where we dined in our first evening in Candi Dasa.  Without having any reservation, we could sit outdoor at the backyard tropical garden.

Fresh squid, prawn & lobster

 

 

Jukut Urap Bali as appetizer (Balinese salad?) and big prawn with bean (prawn with les haricots verts) in Balinese herbs as main course were perfect. Sedap! Enak! Yummy! Miam!

Being in Bali means eating local food! Returning home, after being away from Indonesia, means gaining a few kilos! But that’s partly the beauty of returning home…

Psst… honestly I only started to like Balinese food in the last few years, when my friends introduced me to Nasi Campur Bali (Balinese Mixed Rice) and Sambal Matah (Balinese raw sambal/chili). Since then, Nasi Campur Bali has become my favorite. 

Balinese cuisine; bebek betutu, urap vegetable, sate lilit, etc

 

Most of our stay, we dined at the villa. Candi Dasa; seaside = fresh seafood! 

Pertamina oil port - tankers, view from the high hill of Candi Dasa

Go and explore! That’s what we did in our last vacation in Bali. By exploring new areas, we got to see new things and have new experience...

Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar Bali - Expansion is ongoing

Domestic airport, Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar, Bali - under renovation

Domestic airport, Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar, Bali - under renovation

Next posting? It is still related to Indonesia as travel destination...

Say it with flowers... HK Flower Show

I was not so interested to come to this exhibition until some friends said that Indonesia won the Golden Award of Outstanding Exhibit in the past few years. 

Booth of Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong @ HK Flower Show 2013

As to support my beautiful country, I arrived at Victoria Park at noon at the day when it was very sunny...  I went straight to the information center and asked for the Indonesian booth. Well, the booth made me proud being an Indonesian in Hong Kong.  

See the pic of Saman dancers @ Indonesian booth

This year, Indonesia presented a booth themed on the Indonesian province of Aceh. The booth attracted attention of many visitors. People were standing in front of the booth taking pics of the booth and flowers, the Indonesian dancers too. The booth was never alone!

Indonesian dancers @ Indonesian booth

Gile, susah bener motret booth ini tanpa orang2,…  Banyak yang mau foto bunganya, booth-nya, atau foto bareng sama penari2nya…

Other booths from different countries (and other entities in Hong Kong) present gorgeous flower arrangement as well...

Tulips

Thailand booth

Macau booth

Japanese garden style

Without having planned it, I went there again on Sunday the last day of the exhibition. The crowd seemed double! Victoria Park is always crowded anyway on Sunday as it is the day off for the migrant workers.

What does it look like?

Cute flower arrangement

Cute "mushroom" flowers

Bonzai

Still the Indonesian booth organized by Indonesian Consulate General was crowded.... Bahasa Indonesia with many different accents could be heard in almost everywhere.  The beautiful dancers dressed up in different outfits. They are as pretty as always…

Some more Indonesian dancers

This flower is not about moving Mong Kok flower market to Victoria Park, but it is better than I expected.

My 2nd favorite booth, after the Indonesian booth @ HK Flower Show 2013

Congrats Indonesian team! Good job!

Like this!

About the Event: HK Flower Show is an annual event organized by Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department to promote horticulture and the awareness of greening. The event was held on 15 to 24 March 2013 at Victoria Park - Causeway Bay. See link: http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/green/hkfs/2013/en/index.php

Tranquil Bay - Padangbai, Bali

Padangbai is in between Ubud and Candi Dasa in Bali, the island of God.  That is based on my personal calculation considering my limited geographical knowledge through Google map.  

It is only 10-12 kilometers to Candi Dasa but it is around 90 minute drive from Ubud. I couldn’t bother to find out how many kilometers as I fell asleep in the car. 

When I browsed information about Padangbai, I noticed that it is a place for transit. Visitors go there to take ferry to Lombok - an island in West Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Barat) province, Indonesia. 

Bali beaches that I am familiar with are Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Benoa, Jimbaran, Sanur,… They sound familiar to many visitors to Bali… Choosing Padangbai as the first time was a good experience. It is time to explore other areas in this exotic island! 

Great view from the hill!

 

Let the pic tells everything… Above is the view from Bloo Lagoon where we stayed 

Thanks to Toni and Marita, we joined other group of guests enjoying the Chinese New Year set menu dinner. We sat in the long table together with around twelve people, a mix of guests from Bristol, San Francisco, etc., and us: one is originally from Jakarta and one is from Hong Kong…

 

Nasi Campur Bali - Balinese mixed rice - common dish in Bali

 

All wanted to stay in Padangbai for the atmosphere, weather, scenery, tranquility - far from the busy beaches…

 

Bloo Lagoon, Padangbai, Bali, Indonesia

 

Pssttt…. It was quite sunny days during our stay, sunblock and sunglasses are definitely required if you visit any Bali beaches. Also, drink lots of water. Some may not like the humidity, but personally it is nothing compared to Hong Kong humidity.
 

Sunset from top of the hill at Bloo Lagoon, Padangbai

Snorkeling

Other than a transit place, Padangbai is actually known as a place for diving and snorkeling. This small port town has a few diving operators to cater such need.

 

Hello sunrise! Padangbai, Bali

The hotel driver dropped us to the pier and we sailed to Tanjung Jepun for snorkeling. It was quite an activity in the pier. A group of Japanese tourists was about to board the boat too. Across the pier, a group of other tourists were having breakfast at the cafe along the road.

The guy who’s responsible for the simple wooden boat started the engine and we were sailing… "Ada dua tempat untuk snorkeling dan diving, Tanjung Jepun dan Blue Lagoon. Kita ke Tanjung Jepun dulu".  There are two snorkeling/diving points in Padangbai: Tanjung Jepun and Blue Lagoon. Normally, tourists are taken to Tanjung Jepun first, then Blue Lagoon.

 

Somewhere in between Tanjung Jepung & Blue Lagoon

 

It took us only 15 minute to reach Tanjung Jepun.  Some boats have arrived earlier. As I can see in the ocean during my ‘short’ snorkeling, there are many Nemo in this area. They seem happy swimming with snorkelers and divers from different nationalities. I could also see the Pertamina jetty from not very far… 

On our way back to the pier, we stopped at Blue Lagoon. Fishes are bigger comparing to Tanjung Jepun… We were told that Bola-bola (fish) is normally can be seen while snorkeling in Bali, especially in Blue Lagoon. Mmm… it was not our good day then, no Bola-bola fish appeared… 

It was a short one night stay in Padangbai, but good memory remains…

 

View from Padangbai main road (right: ferry terminal)

 

Next: Another beach nearby… Bali trip continues...

Bali, Romantic Ubud

My first love to Bali happened in 1993 during my first trip to this Island of Gods.  Is it two decades ago?  I went to Kuta like most tourists from Jakarta would do, for New Year holiday. 

My love to Bali seemed stagnant.  I didn't go to Bali again until 2003. Since then, I was addicted...

I visited Ubud only after 2003, and I started to love it.  Even though it is located a bit far from the airport or around 1-1/2 to 2 hour drive, but it is worth the travel.

Rice field, Ubud

Ubud is a small town located amongst rice paddies and steep ravines in the central foothills of the Gianyar regency.  One of Bali's major arts and culture centers; many beautiful paintings, galleries, stone carvings, it is a quiet and bloody damn too romantic place… 

Tips: bring sunglasses, hat, fan and it is useful to wear sunblock.  Drink lots of water. B ringing a small flash light might be useful too.  Many hotels are typical of villa where one room to another, and to the reception is a bit far, and we have to walk in the open garden under the moon.  Some locations are hilly, be ready to go up and down.

 

Lotus Pond, Ubud - day time

Lotus Pond, Ubud - before the dance starts

Things to do in Ubud

Watching the Balinese Dance Performance is a must!  There are a few places offering performances in the evening, they dance under the stars. 

Welcome Dance, Balinese traditional dance

 

During my childhood, girls' common extra curriculums were either practicing traditional dances (Balinese or Javanese) or ballet.  

Legong dancer, Bali

My mom sent me to Balinese dance class. I attended it twice a week ever since I was at the first grade of elementary school until I graduated! Six years practicing Balinese dance, every Monday and Thursday. Each session lasts two hour class.

Oleg Tamulilingan (the bumblebee dance)

The lessons were run by Tante Wila Wirya, the wife of Doctor Wila Wirya, a pediatrician. My house used to be only 15 minute walk from theirs in Kebayoran Baru, south Jakarta.



Mask dance, Bali

Doctor Wila was my family doctor. Every time I got sick, I ended up in his practicing room - that is just next door to the hall where we practiced the Balinese dances. Oh yes, I could hear the gamelan Bali instrumental from the cassette player. Ok, please laugh reading "cassette" player, no CD nor MP3/4 nor ipod during those times! 

…….. Ubud has a few places where we can watch dance performances. One of them is the lotus pond in Ubud main road, next to Starbucks. This beautiful pond becomes more beautiful in the evening, especially with the lights and gamelan orchestra (traditional music)……. 

Gamelan orchestra

Together with many girls around my age, Tante Wila taught us those dances;

 

• Pendet (welcome dance),
• Tenun (about several girls who make cloth with traditional tools),
• Margapati (the dance illustrates the movements of a lion roaming in the jungle hinting for prey),
• Panji Semirang (it is about a lady who tried to find her lost fiancé named Panji in a battle field),
• Nelayan (fishermen dance),
• Oleg Tamulilingan (bumblebee dance),
• Legong Keraton
• Kebyar Duduk (sitting dance)
• Wiranata (the magnificence of a prince)

Kebyar dance

I still remember some movements. Tante Wila's instructions ringing in my head: tangannya tinggi, nyeledet kanan, ekspresi matanya..., ngeseh, kanan, putar, kiri..., goyang pinggul, kepala...

"Nyeledet" - eyes expression, Balinese dance

 

I used to like the male dances such as Margapati, Panji Semirang, Nelayan, Kebyar Duduk and Wiranata. The movements are more energetic, the outfit and make up are simpler! No need wearing long sarong or extra long hair wig as pony tail.


Quand j'etais petite - Pendet - une dance balinaise

Walking Tours

 

Rice harvest, Ubud

Thanks to TripAdvisor, we found a good walking tour. Wayan and Balioffcourse took us visiting Balinese traditional home compound, walking around the rice field in Ubud, dropping by a water fall, and walking again until wherever!

View around Ubud, Walking Tour

 

Having Balinese food for lunch was a good way to end the tour. Thanks for the wonderful walk, Wayan!

Left: traditional Ubud market which soon be replaced by modern building (right)

 

Ubud Market

This is the place to shop. This traditional market is under renovation and soon will occupy a modern building.  I am worried about its uniqueness but we shall see…

Ubud Market, July 2008

 

Ubud Market, Feb 2013 - soon it'll be ready

Stalls in Ubud Market

Other good areas for shopping are the along Monkey Forest road and Hanoman road. Lots of things to find there; clothes, souvenirs, silver wares, restaurants, cafes, mini markets, gelato shops, ATMs, etc.

Lotus Pond, Ubud

 

Pura (Temple)



Ngaben preparation, July 2008

Ubud has many beautiful Pura. I have not visited many of them except Pura Desa Ubud (the main ‘town temple’) which is located across Ubud market.

 

I went there just before “Ngaben” the Balinese Royal Cremation which was a huge event held in July 2008. Refer to this link for more info;

http://www.bali-travel-life.com/ngaben.html

Ngaben preparation, July 2008

 

Monkey Forest

During Walking Tour, Ubud

Yup, another place to be visited with the family in Ubud. Oops, sorry, I have never been to Monkey Forest even though I had been in Ubud a few times. But please feel free to check this for more info.... http://www.monkeyforestubud.com/

Riding in Ubud

Rent a motorbike to go around Ubud is fun! If you are energetic, you may also rent bicycle. Please bear in mind that Ubud is hilly!

 

Spa, Yoga, Meditation

Ubud is the place to balance your holiday; art, culture, shopping, fun exercise - refreshing the body, mind and soul!

 

Somewhere in Komaneka Bisma, Ubud

What’s next? Still about Bali... Let's go to the beach!