Bali, The Gilli Islands and KL
I feel like as I have only just started this blog I will working my way through my travels backwards! I only got back from Bali, The Gilli Islands and KL (Kuala Lumpur) just under two weeks ago, so it makes sense to start with this trip.
From humble beginnings… Me and my close childhood friend Sarah were at a cheese and wine night early June hosted by me with the Girls from my sixth form school (Chesham Grammar School). After sneaking off to the kitchen to do some clearing up, me and sarah got onto the conversation of travelling. The next thing we knew is we were booking flights to Bali!
Why Bali? I have done quite a bit of travelling around South East Asia and after falling in love with everywhere I went meant we couldn’t go wrong discovering more of this part of the world! We checked the weather and it was hot- perfect for two sun-seekers and there seemed plenty to sightsee and explore, so it was a done deal.. To Bali we went.
Flights.. I am a SkyScanner addict. For those of you who haven’t used it before you definitely need to check it out. It is basically like moneysupermarket.com in the way it price compares all the different flights available. I have to admit after starting my placement in June, my wonderful friend Sarah did most of the ‘sky-scanning’ and searching and found some brilliant prices. We checked the prices over about 3 days- A top tip when using the site because they often fluctuate in price and go up and down! We started off with £653 flights but after some waiting they went down to £500 each. Dont be fooled though- as the two of us are students we went for the cheapest flights and by no means the most direct! With two stops each side of the journey they were quite long but got us there and back nonetheless and on a student budget you have to make a compromise somewhere.
Planning the trip.. Sarah did most of the planning of the hotels and managed to find us some amazing deals through groupon (but the australian version). Both of the hotels we stayed in using these ‘vouchers’ were amazing and I would highly recommend to check them out! We had only booked two hotels when we flew out there and as we didn’t go in peak season it was relatively easy to find hotels and villas as we travelled around. All you have to do is type into google- Top things to do in Bali and you get lists of (mostly) helpful advice which will help you- and helped us plan your trip.
Top things we did in Bali
1. UBUD
We wanted to start off the trip doing the ‘cultural stuff’ in Bali and Ubud is the best place to head. It is known as the major Arts and culture centres in Bali and is set in steep ravines and rice fields with Jungle surrounding it. Me and Sarah took the opportunity here to hire a driver on our first day who took us around loads of the major things to do here. As we only had two weeks we wanted to ignore the jet lag and get on and sightsee. Luckily enough we had an amazing guide who actually was the guy who picked us up from the airport and dropped us to the hotel. It is not that expensive to hire a driver for the day I think about $25 US dollars each. I highly recommend it though as we got to see the rice fields, visit the monkey sanctuary, visit a couple of the biggest temples in Ubud and get taken around each of the villages which specialise in a different art. This meant in one village you would walk around art galleries and the next you would be looking at silver jewellery. Another amazing thing we did here was visit yogabarn and go to a (hard and intense!) yoga class. Little did we know it was for advanced yoga practisers and there me and sarah were surrounded by ‘bendy wendys’ rolling around making a fool of ourseleves- nevertheless you should definetly try it. We ate at some amazing local restaurants (definitely ask your guide to take you to eat at a restaurant looking over the rice fields- it is simply stunning!), stayed at an amazing and friendly hotel and had a wonderful massage.
http://www.ddubudvilla.com/ – Our amazing hotel and Villa
http://www.theyogabarn.com/ – The best place to try Yoga in Ubud
Me and Sarah in Ubud with the Rice Fields behind us
2. JETSKIING
I had never been Jet Skiing before but this was just immense fun! Think we paid $15 US dollars each to do it, which is cheap even compared to Europe. We all swapped about and had a go driving it which was very fun. Soon after this we found sea snakes in the water and managed to lose a pair of Ray Bans so glad we tried this before that happened!
Nic, Sarah, Josh and I getting ready to go JetSkiing in Sanur
3. SANUR AND THE VILLA
We met Josh in Kuta and In Sanur we met Nic (Josh and Sarah’s friend from University) and 3 other friends. We decided the cheapest option to stay together would be to rent a small Villa. We found this amazing little villa with its own pool, kitchen and lounge and rented it for about £10-15 a night. This is the norm in Bali if you don’t book before and as it was low season we really had the power to haggle. We asked them to put two extra mattresses in each bedroom and that was perfect for all of us. I had so much fun at this Villa due to the people and the crazy nights we spent in an empty (yes i really do mean empty) Superclub called Aurora. We had two massive nights out here where we would just drink before we went and then have the full reign of this place- which was huge may I add. With good company, good music ( a bit of dressing up) and alcohol of course we had a brilliant time! I also loved the beach we found an amazing little restaurant, went jet skiing, rented these ridiculous canoes (that didn’t fit anyone in them) and had a brilliant game of rounders on the beach! On the last night though we all got together and made a meal in the kitchen. It was actually so much fun going to the Balinese supermarket and choosing all the ingredients and then cooking it all. We were limited by equipment and space- with only two hobs and 3 saucepans Josh and I decided to cook a Thai Green Curry with Rice and garlic prawns. I am not bragging but I was rather impressed with how it turned out -although it was a bit too spicy! Sarah and Nic got together and made these amazing ice cream sundaes with everything you could imagine in them- even a balloon for decoration.
All of us in the Villa with our Thai Green Curry
4.SNOOP DOG
Yes we really did go and see Snoop Dog in Bali- ridiculous I know! We queued from about 11am outside this beach club in Seminyak (Near Kuta), and drank with lots of Australians. When the doors opened the queue was manic- with everyone shoving and pushing to get tickets. We got to the front and I got out all the cash we needed and thrust it to the lady on the door before these two people faffing about next to me. Well thank goodness WE GOT TICKETS- they were about £50 each but worth it especially as we were the last ones in the queue to get in! Result!! We heard that loads of australians had even flown over to come and see him so we really were excited. When we got in we bought a bottle of Grey Goose Vodka and mixers and sat on this grass area drinking. Well then I lost Sarah and Josh for the WHOLE duration of Snoop. God knows how many randomers I danced and made friends with that night but Snoop Dog was amazing and the whole experience was definitely worth the money!
http://www.ptthead.com/ – Potatoe Head Beach Club:
(Left to right) Me, Sarah and Josh with our Snoop Dog Tickets- The Excitement!!
5.KUTA
Although this is literally like the Aiya Napa/ Costa Del Sol for the Australians, it really was an amazing few days for a couple of reasons.
1- J Boutique Hotel: Sarah and I were not only obsessed with the breakfast- where when hungover we crawled down to and ate copious amount of noodles and prawn crackers. We also loved the pool- which nobody but us seemed to visit. Situated on the rooftop it was so beautiful but it was the crazy waiter who we made ‘friends’ with that really made it. Turning up the music to full blast and letting me behind into the DJ box whilst he thrust at me and Sarah just cracking us up! We also ordered Chicken Satay to the room in the evenings as dinner whilst getting ready which was amazing. The customer service of this place was just brilliant- amazing room service, didn’t charge us for the extra bed for josh, amazing clean and modern room (with amazing american TV!) and we loved the pool!
2- The Japanese Restaurant BlueFin. It served the most incredible food and we went back twice! Definitely a must for a great dinner in Kuta.
Overall- Kuta was an amazing place to go out and party but it was very commercial and I would only stay there for a maximum of 3-4 days!
http://www.jboutiquehotel.com/ – J Boutique Hotel
http://www.rama-restaurants-bali.com/bluefin/ – BlueFin
Top things we did on The Gilli Islands
1. SCUBA DIVING
We went with an amazing dive school (there are so many on Gilli Trawangan!!) who took me and Josh out on two dives – one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The prices of diving on Gilli are capped by the local authorities so you aren’t at much of a risk to be ripped off or dive unsafely. Our first dive was a drift dive with a strong current pulling you down the reef, and the second dive was incredible. We saw so many turtles and other sea life and there was only 4 or 2 of us to one guide which is brilliant.
Josh and I before going on a Dive.
2. RENTED A BOAT TO GO AROUND ALL 3 ISLANDS
We rented our own private boat to go around to all of the three Gilli Islands- ( Gilli Trawangan, Gilli Meno and Gilli Air- all of which are situated off the northwest coast of Lombok- Indonesia). It really didnt cost much more than to go with a group- but being typical me I insisted it was just us 3. It turns us it was us three with one driver and one guide- what more could you ask for! So we visited and snorkelled from about 8.30 am to 12.00- by that time we were exhausted. We got off at both islands and even bought ourselves and our crew a beer! Saw so many turtles and wildlife- a definite must!
4. SUNSET BAR
We were recommended this amazing bar by the boys we met in Sanur. It is right on the left hand side of the island and a little walk- or horse and carriage ride (which were terrifying!). Although full of honeymoon couples, it is THE place to watch the sunset go down and get a cocktail whilst your at it. Absolutely stunning and a perfect spot for some scenic photos.
The View from Sunset Bar.
5. THE FOOD!!!
Well the food was just incredible!! You have to visit the night market. This is a market which is run through the evening selling a variety of local food on stalls. It reminded me of an eat as much as you like buffet- local style. With food you have never tried in your life which is fresh as anything you can get you have to go! Also the backpacking central due to its cheap prices and bustling atmosphere. Also loved the food at a hotel called Scallywags. We bought our piece of fish we chose at the counter, which they cooked freshly and then you had access to a buffet style salad counter- the killer chocolate brownies made it though.
Home
Sarah and Josh eating at the nightmarket
6.THE BEACH CLUB
Where we spend a lot of our time relaxing and chilling. If you spent 100,000 rupees you could get free wifi, a sunbed and use of their pool for the day. It really was a ‘Marbella Nikki beach’ feel to it, and as the food was just incredible we returned here most days- definitely spending more than that on milkshakes and lots of food.
http://pearlbeachlounge.com/
Kitty's World 