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:

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.

Ubud

Great little town!

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.

We rented a scooter for a couple of days and went to check out the rice fields, the elephant cave and the rest of the surroundings. We got a flat tire while there, nothing but rice pads around. A random guy passing by helped us out, went to buy the spare part and did all the work. We were offer coffee and food while waiting, no money asked, just what the new tire costed. Great impression from Balinese 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

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

Boat Trip. Kanawa-Lombok

It was hard to leave Kanawa. The boat came to pick us up at the pier where we were swimming with a school of fish. There are two britt couples with us, Claire & Uri and Paul & X. A crew of four and us on a four day boat trip to 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.

The night before arriving to Lombok we did a stop somewhere in Nusa Tenggara to watch the flying fox, a huge bat that takes off at dusk in 
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.

Kanawa

Breakfast at hotel's terrace and decide which island to move to. Also we needed to arrange a boat trip to Lombok and some diving. We managed the boat trip through Kencana Tour & Travel, just in front of Gardena Hotel and the diving with Bajo Dive. 

In front of Labuan Bajo there is Kanawa & Seraya, two beautiful tiny islands where you can spend some days isolated from the world. We decided to go for Kanawa. Their office is on the main road, not far from the hotel and they have a boat that leaves everyday at 12, so be there earlier. The island has 16 bungalows by the beach, a pier with hammocks and puffs, a restaurant and two deer.

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. 

We stayed here for three nights regretting a little not staying longer. It became one of our favorite places in Indonesia and with luck we'll come back to visit again someday. By the time we were there, there was an Italian fellow building bungalows in another island close by, might be worthy to check them out.

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

Bajawa-Labuan Bajo

Ok, another day on the road. As I previously mentioned, I overestimated the average speed on which you travel these roads. The mini-bus picked us up at our hotel and then waited for half an hour or so at the station for more people to fill in. Long road to Labuan Bajo, 12 hours with a lunch break in the middle and a gas refill 2 hrs before arriving. The trip should be splitted in at least two days. 

By the time we arrived we were so tired that we didn't want to do anything but rest. Just before arriving to Labuan Bajo, a drunk guy joined on board and made the last 30 min of the trip almost surreal. We checked in at Gardena Hotel, unluckily for us, the hotel was almost sold out and the only rooms available were the ones on top of the hill. We were so tired we took it anyways instead of looking around for other options. At least the view from the room was pretty. We took a shower and climbed down for dinner. There are only three or four options for dinner in Labuan Bajo, but the offer is definitely growing.  The hotel was upgrading and building new rooms by the time we were there.

Price Reference: 

Bus Bajawa-Labuan Bajo: 100K IDR, 12hr

Gardena Hotel: 250K IDR

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