Day 5 Bali Trip- Selamat Tinggal, Bali

Update on **5 June 2015**

In the last day for our Bali trip, we woke up lately, packed our luggage and had breakfast on 9.30am (first time in year 2015 I had such late breakfast). After that, we did the early check out on 10.30am before proceeding to do the massage in Aeni Spa, which was within walking distance with Solaris Hotel (it's crazy, almost everyday we enjoyed massage, "beh tahan" since it's so cheap compared to Malaysia)

Last day in Bali

Went to Ngurah Rai Bali airport arranged by Solaris Hotel with IDR 39,000 (It's IDR 40,000 but I lacked of IDR 10,000 but Ryan, front desk staff willing to give discount for me) 

Before that, we waited for BlueBird taxi (one the taxi company in Bali) to send us to airport but the telephone lines of BlueBird taxi was engaged. We were informed by Mr Kliman that BlueBird taxi has the good reputation in using certified meter. In other words, the passengers would not being "chopped" on the taxi fare. What Mr Kliman told us was same with what I did the research about the taxi companies in Bali

Furthermore, the management of BlueBird taxi implement the strict regulations to guide the behaviors of their taxi drivers. Punishments and sanctions will be conducted if they violate the established rules and regulation of BlueBird taxi.

Since they have the good reputation, other taxi companies in Bali also followed them by making their taxis look similar with BlueBird taxi (same in blue color, same car pattern). It's difficult to recognize for us. I thought the taxi we took on first night in Bali was BlueBird but it's not (we're falling into trap)

Mr Kliman taught us the best way to recognize the BlueBird taxi was the S.T.I.C.K.E.R of www.bluebirdgroup.com at the back of all the BlueBird taxis. 

Around 5 minutes, we reached airport. 

My first sight about the Ngurah Rai airport Bali was huge, had a lot of international flights to Hong Kong, Taipei, Perth and so on. 

The Good of Ngurah Rai Airport Bali:

1. The immigration officers were so responsible in executing their task by checking every passengers with details. The officer even requested us to took off our shoes and open my luggage to see my canned Tuna that I bought in supermarket Kuta (probably the beeping sound of my canned Tuna). 

2. Live singing performance by the local band group to entertain the passengers. 

3. The toilet were very clean

The Bad of Ngurah Rai Airport Bali:

1. Hot climate in the arrival hall since I reached there on 2pm. My body was so sticky.

2. Flooded with tour guides that kept on promoting his tour packages by tagging along where you went. It's so disgusting until I had to tell him directly I left Bali within few hours.

*********************************************

Souvenirs for family members 

The Good of Bali:

1. Balinese was friendly. They will greet me although I was completely a stranger for them. It really warmed me as a foreign travelers. It's extreme different from the previous countries that I visited before. 

2. Everything was so cheap and the prices were reasonable for me due to currency exchanges (RM 1= IDR 3400). Therefore, I enjoy shopping and massages most in here.

3. It's so easy to communicate with them in Bahasa Melayu. Their Bahasa Indonesia was quite similar with Bahasa Melayu.

The Bad of Bali:

1. Traffic congestion all the times. It's impossible to escape the peak hours in Bali for embarking our land tour. It totally wasted our times for exploring the tourist attractions. 

2. The small roads in Bali excepts the outskirts areas in Seminyak. JoJo said it's so stress when getting around in such small roads. 

The heavy traffic congestion and small roads of Bali impossible to solve by increasing the road space, but the rapid development of commercial buildings and residential houses that could be seen in the roadside caused the government needed to bear a big amount of money that cannot afford.

My humble suggestion like increase the public transportation in order to reduce the numbers of car in the road. Indirectly, it reduces the pollution level of Bali and reduce the stress level of Bali drivers, cyclists, pedestrians. 

Day 4 Bali Trip (Part 4)-Tirta Empul Holy Spring Water Temple

Due to time constraint, we headed to Tirta Empul Holy Spring Water Temple instead of Uluwatu Temple. Based on Mr Kliman, from Verona Spa to Uluwatu Temple needed 2 hours, if reached there around 6pm, 6.30pm started getting dark and difficult to explore there anymore. I never regret at all by not visiting Uluwatu Temple although it's well-known because I had experienced wonderful spa in Verona Spa. I felt contended and happy. 

 Entrance fees IDR15,000

 Ladies and gentlemen that wore short pants or dresses must cover by a shawl before entering 

 large pond

 with big size fishes 

 On the way to holy spring 

 saw lots of tourists surrounded this pond but end up no interesting at all for me 

There were 2 pools holy water to use. Some locals and tourists were bathing at there. Both of us just dipped our hand into the holy water. Bare in mind, if you wished to soaked into holy water pond, remembered to bring another set of clothes. 

Day 4 Bali Trip (Part 3)- Verona Spa

After lunch, we insisted to went for Verona Spa, Ubud (as recommended by few Bali trip bloggers) although Mr Kliman disagreed in bringing us there by saying "you better save the money, go to see tourist attractions first". We explained to him this Bali trip was in the laid-back and leisure form purposely for relaxing our mind, soul and body. One of the best way for relaxing our soul and body was through spa.

Further, visiting Bali without experience the spa was like going to China without seeing the Great Wall of China. At the end, Mr Kliman gave us in by searching the location of Verona Spa. JoJo said we had compromised with Mr Kliman few times, this time we must go to experience the spa package with nice view.  

After 20 minutes, we reached there. The Verona Spa workers will distribute the brochures in the upside of the valley. Verona spa was quite hidden as we needed down the alley to get to Verona Spa. 

Nice slogan of Verona Spa "Everyone deserved to be pampered"

clean environment

Saloon section. I found that the spa center in Bali like the one stop center, you can have the hair cut,coloring hair, facial, nail services at the same times. It's so convenience and saved lots of precious times 

peaceful and tranquility environment 

We try 1 hour 30 minutes Javanese Lulur spa package as suggested by few Bali trip bloggers. We assigned to massage room that facing paddy field. While doing spa, I even heard the birds chattering, breezes kissed me. It's so comfortable and I felt myself like blended into natural environment. 

The massage parlors scrubbed our body with Lulur, then apply the cold yogurt onto our body. When it's done, we jumped into floral bath for 20 minutes. We were given fruits and ginger teas when enjoying our floral bath. It sounds incredible good and both of us really loved it. JoJo claimed it's the best spa they she had in our Bali trip.She complimented me in suggesting the good spa. If next time I have ample time, I'll visit again by trying other 3 or 4 hours spa packages. 

In case if you interested in Verona Spa in Ubud, you may click H.E.R.E for further details

Before massaging, the friendly staff helps us to take photo as our wonderful memories 

Floral bath 

Day 4 Bali Trip (Part 2)-Bebek Tepi Sawah Restaurant

Like what we demanded, Mr Kliman brought us to Bebek Tepi Sawah for dirty duck/bebek bengil lunch. 

 Loved 3 types of sambals Bali

 Ayam bertutu, IDR 92,000. Fell in love with ayam bertutu, the chicken is tender and came with the strong flavor of mixed spices and chilies

Crispy duck, IDR 105,000. It totally disappointed me, it's small and tough. It make me difficult to chew. 

15 minutes Bali dance performance 

 Enjoying such rice paddies view and the Balinese music background while enjoying our lunch

Day 4 Bali Trip (Part 1)-Ubud Market

Update on **4 June 2015**

Like Day 3, we waited Mr Kliman in the lobby on 9am.

*****Day 2 Bali tour******

Ubud Market

Bebek Bengil Tepi Sawah (IDR 263,000)

Verona Spa (IDR 189,000)

Tirta Empul Holy Spring Water (IDR 15,000)

Kicking start my 4th day with S.E.L.F.I.E

Yes, we're in Ubud Market

Both of us took action plan when buying souvenirs such as key chains, wooden handbags, hand-made wallets, clothes and so on in Ubud Market. Most of the stalls in Ubud Market sold the same accessories and items, therefore they were not willing to let us to go for next stalls by giving the satisfied prices for us. 

I remembered vividly when they said " I give you good luck prices, good luck only". Therefore, we took the opportunities to bargain with them. After stall owners made a successful business deals with us, they would like to touch most of the displayed items with the money received from us. Some of the stalls even appreciate us since we're their first customers in the morning. JoJo said probably it was one of the business culture of Balinese. The sign of first customers earnings symbolized the prosperous earnings for the whole day. 

Anyway, we had fun in the Ubud Market by learning the bargaining skills with them. In my opinion, the most useful skills was pretend to left the stalls, if the owners call you back, it means the owners overpriced. In contrast, if the owners not interested to bargain anymore, it probably charged the reasonable prices. 

Day 3 Bali Trip (Part 5)-Jimbaran Beach Seafood Dinner

Our  final destination for day 3 Bali trip was Jimbaran beach. We went there for enjoying our dinner under sunset. JoJo's insisted in having romantic seafood dinner in Jimbaran, at first I was disagreed due to overpriced (call me stingy) but at the end I changed my mind to indulgence dinner at there.

After referring from the several Bali trip bloggers, we planned to go to Lia Cafe. However, Mr Kliman dropped us at Jukung Bali Seafood and told us it was the best place to eat seafood in Jimbaran beach. We had no choice because he had stopped in front of Jukung Bali Seafood and the waitress had welcomed us. 

I was quite shocked when checking the prices in the menu. I can't deny there's wide varieties of seafood compared to Lia Cafe. Therefore we order the Wayan Seafood Package, IDR 950,000 plus tax and services charge 18%, the total we paid was IDR 1121,000.

I'm sure Mr Kliman or his employer obtain a fair share of commissions once he brought customers to there. Really pissed off. 

 A lot of tourists. It's so called tourist traps

Grilled lobsters, grilled prawns, grilled clams with sambal, grilled fishes, fried squids

The overpriced in here includes the seaview, bali dance and Jazz music played by 5 man band. For me, overall the foods were below my expectation. It's so oily although most of foods prepared in grilled types. JoJo even diarrhea in the midnight (luckily she was getting better in the day 4).  

************************************************

We ended our day 3 in doing 1 hour foot massage, IDR 50,000 in Kemberly Spa, which was near to Solaris Hotel. I loves the massage parlous in using sufficient pressures to cure my foot soreness