Indonesia
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Villa Sankara - Balangan
We left Kuta after breakfast which was so-so, the fried banana pancakes included by the hotel.
We left Kuta on a scooter we just rented for 6 days. Ten minutes after we had left we had a flat tire, this time just behind a gas station where a mechanic shop was.
We head to Sankara Villa, an upscale house on Canggu Beach which some friends from HK rented for the long weekend. Michael, Kayla and friends invited us to swim and have lunch with them. Later on we left and bike thru Kuta till Balangan.
We entered by Dreamland and left the bike there. Beautiful sunset just as we arrived Balangan. The hotel we chose had sea view, nice rooms and bungalows and a swimming pool !
Price Reference:
Scooter Rent (6 days + "insurance" ): 200K IDR
Flat Tire: 50K IDR
Scooter Full Tank : 20K IDR
Hotel:
Friday, May 13, 2011
Kota
Finding a descent place in Kota takes a little time. Sometimes the places look shabby, other times they are completely booked and some other times they seem expensive for what they are.
Kota is a fast developing touristic town with a huge beach. Not particularly our first choice of place to visit but conveniently located close to the airport and a good splitting point on your way to the south, north or east of the island. We went for dinner, walked around the beach and the market and rest.
Kota is a fast developing touristic town with a huge beach. Not particularly our first choice of place to visit but conveniently located close to the airport and a good splitting point on your way to the south, north or east of the island. We went for dinner, walked around the beach and the market and rest.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Ubud
Traditional architecture, beautiful gardens, temples, art and culture.
We stayed at the guesthouse that our Spanish fellows recommended us. We couldn't believed the place we were staying in. Typical Balinese house with a central patio, beautiful gardening and amazing handcraft. On top of everything, our hosts happen to be very nice people.
Price Reference:
Warini Bungalows: 100K IDR / night
Scooter: 50K IDR
Elephant Cave: 15K IDR
Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan is the happening island, plenty of options for dinner, places to stay and activities. They are so international they even have a "Mexican" restaurant which sales "Facos"
We took the fast boat to Bali and head straight to Ubud. While waiting for the boat we ran once again into a couple of Spanish fellows we saw for first time on the boat to Sulawesi, they gave us some tips on Ubud.
Can't tell how much the fast boat to Bali was but do remember buying through a webpage instead of on site was more expensive.
Price Reference:
Boat Meno-Trawangan: 20K IDR
Boat Trawangan-Bali: 150K IDR
We took the fast boat to Bali and head straight to Ubud. While waiting for the boat we ran once again into a couple of Spanish fellows we saw for first time on the boat to Sulawesi, they gave us some tips on Ubud.
Can't tell how much the fast boat to Bali was but do remember buying through a webpage instead of on site was more expensive.
Price Reference:
Boat Meno-Trawangan: 20K IDR
Boat Trawangan-Bali: 150K IDR
Monday, May 9, 2011
Gili Meno
We found a nice place in Gili Meno, unfortunately for me without fresh water. The huts are located on the back side of the island, the quiet side. You cross the island from where the ferry leaves you in about 20 minutes.
Price Reference:
Good Heart Bungalows: 150K IDR
Price Reference:
Good Heart Bungalows: 150K IDR
Friday, May 6, 2011
Boat Trip. Kanawa-Lombok
First stop was Pink Beach. It is one of the most amazing places to snorkel. At one point Paula and I were taken by surprise by a huge manta sliding straight to us, it scared the shit out of us!
We had a stop at Rinca Island and a day after on Komodo Island to trek a little and watch the dragons. We got a dip in a salty lake and a very refreshing shower in some waterfalls. Fresh water is something you can miss when you are out at sea.
Along the trip to Lombok we could see dolphins, (something Paula dreamt about just before spotting them), lots of flying fish jumping a hundred meters or more and sunrises you cannot forget.
large flocks. Don't know what to say about it, somehow impressive, somehow scary.
Price Reference:
Boat. Luaban Bajo-Lombok. 4 nights. 1.6M IDR for 2 people.
Komodo Park: 75K IDR + 50K IDR camera.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Kanawa
The snorkeling is incredible with tons of fish, coral, turtles, reef shark, etc. You can climb the hill for the sunset or watch the sunrise from your bungalow terrace. Beautiful skies full of stars at night.
Diving was amazing and although we would have liked to be with less people, the sites were worthy. On the first dive we got huge napoleon, lots of reef sharks, turtles, etc. For the second dive we were taken to manta point were we snorkeled with them for a bit and then dive holding to the ground against a mild current. Mantas were all over sliding like in slow motion, great experience.
Price Reference:
Kanawa Bungalows: 250K IDR
Dive: 1.75M IDR, 2 people, 2 dives each, boat pick up at Kanawa
Food: 25-50K meal
Monday, May 2, 2011
Bajawa-Labuan Bajo
Price Reference:
Bus Bajawa-Labuan Bajo: 100K IDR, 12hr
Gardena Hotel: 250K IDR
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Bajawa
Included breakfast on the terrace of Silverin Hotel, coffee, tea & toast. Little chilly morning with a great sunrise among woods and foggy mountains. We rented a motorcycle thru our hotel, there is a rasta-tourist guide permanently around that provides all kind of services. Quite an adventure if you are the lucky one to wear his helmet.
We ride down to town to get me a raincoat. After looking for it a bit, bought it and used it ever again. I donate it later somewhere else along the trip.
Biked around town to buy the bus tickets to Labuan Bajo. Took some time to find the office, directions in Indonesia are a little vague and left to imagination. At the end we were sent to the house of the people in charge and got them, the bus will pick us up at the hotel in the morning. We went to visit Bena, which is 15km away, a very interesting traditional village of the Ngada tribe. The road over there has great views, surrounded by volcanoes. We tried after to head down to some water springs nearby but at the end the road was too much for the little scooter. We decided to go back to Bajawa before it turned dark, have dinner and take it easy.
Price Reference:
Motorcycle: 80K IDR day
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Makassar-Maumere-Bajawa
I underestimated the travelling time so we didn't know we were about to spent the whole day on the road. Jumped on the bus to Bajawa, after a lot of confusion and bargaining again, you never know what the real price was is, it turns out the ride took 12hr. Lots of stops on the road, picking-up/letting down people, grain bags, live stock, mechanical spare parts and others. We arrived to Bayawa by dusk and checked in at Silverin Hotel, which has a nice view of the hills especially by sunrise and is decently run. We were very tired and went straight down to sleep.
It would have been a better idea to break the road trip from Maumere to Bajawa in two, maybe staying over in Ende makes it more manageable.
Price Reference
Taxi Makassar Airport: 100K IDR, 35min @ 4:30am
Merpati. Makassar-Maumere: 175K IDR
Taxi Maumere Airport-Bus Station: 20K IDR
Merpati. Makassar-Maumere: 175K IDR
Taxi Maumere Airport-Bus Station: 20K IDR
Bus Maumere-Bajawa: 250K IDR for two (kind of negotiable)
Silverin Hotel: 200K IDR (double room, including breakfast)
Friday, April 29, 2011
Tomohon-Manado-Makassar
Lunch at the airport was surprisingly good. We both had fish, rice and vegies which were very tasty. Lion Air flight was alright.
Arriving in Makassar, we took a shuttle bus to town which took around 1hr to get to the city due to intense traffic. We checked in at Pondok Suada Indah Hotel, which is "ok" for a transit night, don't expect too much. Out for dinner and get some money. We were in the idea that the "warungs" (food stands) by the water were a good option for seafood dining. Unfortunately reality was different and we were a little disappointed with the food and had to bear some harassment from the several stands packed together. We decided to head back to bed and get some sleep. A taxi is picking us up at 4:30 am.
Price Reference
Shared car Tomohon-Mando: 6K IDR, 40 min.
Microlets: 2K IDR (in city), 2.5K IDR (to airport)
Lunch: 25K IDR
Lion Air. Manado-Makassar: 325K IDR
Makassar Airport Shuttle Bus: 15K IDR
Pondok Suada Indah Hotel: 250K IDR
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tomohon
Woke up, shower and ready for action. We were served breakfast by the garden and up to the volcano. Although one of the guides said it was possible to walk up in flip-flops, we recommend bringing good trekking shoes. It is a 2hrs walk-up by a dried lava stream which turns very slippery when wet, so watch your bum. We followed our guide along with a couple of girls from London. Funny enough, one of them was friend of a co-worker of Paula's, which happened to be our neighbor in Hong Kong, a small world. The scenery on the way and on the top of the volcano is beautiful. Lots of steam comes out the crater forming huge clouds filled with sulfur and other chemicals, reason why your stay is limited to 20 min.
By the time we came down it started to rain a little, it was not easy to keep yourself upright. Nothing that much after that, it kept on raining and spent some hours at the hotel. After that, a walk to town and dinner.
The day after we climbed the volcano the activity raised and couldn't be hiked. Our Irish neighbor, whom we met on the flight to Manado for the first time, had to postponed his journey up.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tomohon
Price Reference
Bus Manado-Tomohon: 8.5K IDR, 1hr
Volcano Village: 155K IDR, including breakfast
Guided tour to volcano: 150K IDR for two people
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Tangkoko & Manado
We checked in at Minahasa Hotel, it has a pool and is pretty decent. Manado is not a tourist attraction by itself but there is some shopping and some nice restaurant/bars on the back of Mega Mall. We took advantage of the time in Manado to arranged our way to Flores. B & B Travel Agency, located in front of Mega Mall, was pretty good and efficient for this. Our first choice was to fly from Manado to Makassar and then take a ferry to Labuan Bajo. Unfortunately the ferry schedule didn't work for us and we decided to fly to Maumere the morning after arriving to Makassar.
Price Reference:
Tangkoko Park Ticket: 200K IDR
Minahasa Hotel: 235K IDR including breakfast
Lion Air. Manado-Makassar: 325K IDR
Merpati. Makassar-Maumere: 175K IDR
Monday, April 25, 2011
Tangkoko National Park
After checking in and having a quick shower we hurried up into the park. A walk of about 1km from the main road leads you into the gate. Flashlight is a must, especially on your way back. A bottle of water and a raincoat are a good idea as well. We bought our tickets and were assigned a ranger who took us into the woods looking up for tarsiers. These exotic animals come early in the evening out of their trees, and twilight is the best time to spot them. Check them out!
Price Reference:
Bus Manado-Bitung: 8.5K IDR
Microlet Bitung-Girian: 2K IDR
Pick-up Girian-Tangkoko: 10K IDR
Tangkoko Ranger Hotel: 200K IDR
Evening Tarsier Ticket: 85K IDR
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Bunaken Island
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Bunaken Island
Unfortunately our flashlight and Paula's necklace disappeared from our room so we can't give all of our blessing to the place, but we learnt the lesson and buying a deadlock resolved having any further problem for the rest of our trip.
There is a more upscale hotel close by if you feel like pampering yourself. Designed and owned by a Dutch architect, Jochem, and his Jawanese wife Angelica, the place is called Bunaken Village and has spa, a little bar and a swimming pool. Don't expect great beaches in Bunaken, expect great diving & snorkeling.
We were tired and took it easy since we had to sleep at Singapore's airport for some hours and then get to Manado and find a place to stay in Bunaken. We had a beer on the porch of our bungalow, book to scuba dive next day and shared dinner at our hotel with a couple of retired Dutch guys, Hans & Louisa, who built their house by the beach, next to the pier 5 years ago and spend some months a year on this quiet island.
Price Reference:
Taxi Manado Airport-Harbour: 80K IDR
Public Boat Manado-Bunaken: 25K IDR - No public boat on Sundays.
Sea Garden Bungalows: 175K IDR person/night. Including meals.
Daniel's Bungalows: 150K IDR person/night. Including meals.
Bunaken Village: €30 person/night. Including meals.
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