CNY 2009 Bali Trip

Ever since after my grandparents passed away, & we do not have to travel to msia for CNY, every this time of the yr had been boring with no visiting except the gathering of my family with all my new additions to my family. Originally there are just 6 of us... now there's 11. Maybe more to come in future... heehee

Thinking of rather be boring at hm, I agreed to follow my Aunt & family to Bali this CNY after my reunion dinner at home. Set off to KL by train on 2nd day of CNY. We flew to Bali on 3rd day of CNY.

Day 1.
Upon our arrival at Bali, we were greeted by Balinese gals who gave each of us a chain of flowers to wear around our neck. Our Tour guide brought us to a restaurant to have our lunch 1st. We were there just at the power supply at the restaurant was not working. No air-con & weather was so hot. We decided to go to the back yard under a covered pavilion to have our lunch instead of inside the restaurant. After dat to our "hotel", Kuta Beach Club for check in.

After checking our luggage, We headed to Uluwatu Temple, situated at the level of 250 feet above sea level on the cliff of southern point on Pura Luhur. It's filled with loads of monkeys. One monkey snatched away my uncle's specs. Luckily it was retrieved back. We headed to Jimbrarn Beach for Seafood dinner. It's called Grand Sea View "fresh grilled seafood". The setting was by the beach & sunset backdrop was beautiful. But was too windy to have dinner by the beach so we shifted inside the restaurant to have our dinner. The crab especially was not fresh... I can't make myself eat it cos it tasted funny... mushy like uncooked. But my cousin went, "The crab's like uncooked... but how come I'm still eating it..." My Aunt said the lala taste leathery... I also don't take them either had already shifted to her plate. She only ate 1 & left the rest untouched... My young cousin, her bro & dad had stomachache through out the whole trip after this dinner. Some FRESH GRILL SEAFOOD!! Almost half the tour group was sick!

Day 2.
One of my cousin did not follow as he worry he needs to run for toilet during the journey & happen there's no toilets... Our Tour Guide was informed on the number of people fallen sick & took them to BIMC Hospital for some checkup b4 continuing our journey. It was an international hospital so it's easier with communication for foreigners who happen to fall sick in Bali. & it's quite clean inside. After hospital visit, we went on to Mengwi Royal Family's Taman Ayun Temple. The sun was so burning hot even after applying sunblock we can still feel the burning on our skin...
The coach which was assigned for our tour group also had bad radiator leak. Wat a way for us to start the day... We were stranded somewhere half way through our journey. It was too hot & stuffy to wait inside the coach so most of us went across the road to a Mama shop for some drinks. While waiting for the replacement coach to arrive, Our family always being the curious tourist, roamed into the shop owner's house to explore. We were surprised that the look from outside can't tell that this house can lead us so deep inside. They kept a gigantic pig for breeding & the rest for slaughter.... Cows.. Chicken.. Well... kampong style. They were such nice host to let us explore their place.
There's this little basket filled with some flower & some $notes is actually their offerings for prayers. It can be seen everywhere in the streets. Our tour guide explained that the locals have free imaginary god to pray to so if they thought they see some light on anyhting like tree, they'll cover the tree with a black & white checkered cloth means it's being prayed for. They have tree god, road god, car god... watever there's many...

After our replacement coach arrived we got chased by our tour guide to continue our journey to Pachung restaurant situated on a hill with scenic view for lunch & then headed to the famous Beratan Lake Temple & Tanah Lot. It rained while we were at Beratan Lake Temple but it did not spoil our mood taking pictures.

As time was wasted during the day at hospital & waiting for our replacement coach... There was very little time left for us to shop at Tanah Lot. But still we manage to take as much photos as we can & we realised we were always the last being chased back to our coach & the rest of the group was like not taking any pictures or not as much as we did. My cousin joined us for dinner as the restaurant was walking distance from Kuta Beach Club.

Day 3.
We were taken to the Barong & Kris Dance. We were given the story plot to read but we still can't understand the language they spoke which bore us... After the dance, we went to the village of Celuk, famous for its gold & silver work, The village of MAS, a wood carving centre & Batik. Things sold there are in USD so we did not get anything from there.

Lunch was Kintamani village, perched on the rim of the Batur Volcanic basin. But it was raining & foggy so we can't get to see the view from up where we were...
After lunch, we headed to a scared holy spring temple at Tampa siring & the mysterious elephant cave. After dinner some of the tour group went for spa/massage treatment recommended by our tour guide my cousin followed. The rest of us headed back to the hotel. My aunt & cousin decided to go for the hotel's massage instead as it's cheaper & shorter duration. Me & my aunt went out to near by shops to explore & some shopping. But we did not wonder too far as the street was too quiet & there was only 2 of us...

Day 4.
Our last day was f&e. We visited Kuta Beach which was just walking distance. The beach is not as wat we had in mind... It was dirty... & nothing special...
Me & my cousin did the small plaits. I was hesitant at 1st but agreed to to it after awhile. One nail mani & padi was for trial to tempt us to let them do all but time was limited for us.
But as usual we took loads of photos.

Finally i get my ride on horse cart!! So tempted to get a ride while hearing it pass by... "bells ringing & horse shoe goes click clock".
He pooed 2X during the ride right infront of me... I was trying to feel his tail then... he raised his tail (I tot oh so nice let me touch) but green stools came out of his ass! ahah! But they got a bag placed below his backside so he doesnt leave stools all over the road. & His mouth is dirty made me dun dare to go closer!
After checking out, we did some last min shopping as we still had some time to kill till the coach came to to pick us to the airport.
The shops with glass windows & aircon has nett price no bargaining. Those shops without can bargain. We did lots of bargaining from 1/2 their price to 1/3 of their opening price. U can try ur luck by use the walk away method if they don't agree with your price. They might just call u back... We did this many times ehhehe. They sold same things everywhere & were desperate to sell their stuff as times are bad. Their tourist statistics dropped badly after Bali bombing...