ABOUT BALI
Timezone : UTC+08:00
Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
Visa: Not required for Malaysian
Plug adapter:
GETTING THERE
There are several ways to go to Bali. Since I’m going there from Kuala Lumpur, the easiest would be to just take a direct flight. Managed to buy a ticket on promotional price from Air Asia. Paid only RM371 for return tickets!! If you go to Bali by flight, you will land at Ngurah Rai International Airport, also known as Denpasar International Airport.
Please take note that you will need to pay airport departure tax upon departure from Bali. It can be paid in cash and in Indonesian Rupiah only. The rate will be Rp 150,000 (international departure) and Rp 40,000 (domestic departure). So do remember to keep enough money with you. Infants under 2 years old are exempted from departure tax.
VISA
Visa on arrival: Westerners can just apply for Visa upon arrival. Just bring along your passport with at least 6 months remaining validity, 2 recent passport photos and $25.
Visa in advance: Obtain visa from Indonesian embassy before arrival.
Visa waiver: Show passport, get stamped & that’s it! Applies to selected, mostly ASEAN countries – including Malaysia! 🙂
GETTING AROUND
Getting around Bali is not that difficult. You can rent your own car or bike (you will need to have an International Driving Permit), walk (I did this from Seminyak-Kuta-Seminyak), take a taxi (use Blue Bird since it’s quite cheap & the the most reliable taxi company) or hire a driver (I did this for 3 days tour)
DRIVER SERVICE FOR BALI TOUR
Visiting places like Tanah Lot, Kintamani, Jimbaran, etc. will definitely requires driving and NOT walking. For my 3 days tour, I did hire a driver. Managed to get a contact from the internet and I was so glad that I asked him to be my driver, or known as SUPIR. He was so nice & since he is local, he knows A LOT of interesting places. I provided him with my own itinerary but it changed along the way; added with a lot of interesting places! He also knows a lot of people there so he can help you to get a very nice deal for example for a spa treatment or water sport package. The price for his service is one of the cheapest that I can find. Price is based on per car (not per head & his car – MPV, can fit 7 people! The more people, the cheaper it will be). Price include car+petrol+driver. He is also a music teacher there, so I did learn how to play RINDIK or Bamboo music from him. Such a good & enjoyable experience! See us playing a duet by [CLICKING HERE]. If you are planning to go to Bali, please do contact him (you won’t regret it! I promise you!) and just tell him, TEH (that’s me) recommended him to you. 😉
ACCOMMODATION
Since I went there alone, the word BUDGET is always on my mind. Stayed at Tune Hotels, Legian for 7 days 6 nights & it was awesome! The rate is quite cheap (get a promotion price), paid Rp 1,225,428, around RM400, for a double room with TV. The room is simple yet the bed is super comfortable! The location is also awesome! Shops + minimart + spa along the street, WARUNG MURAH (a good place to eat Indonesian food) is near the hotel, and the best thing is, it’s just 5 minutes walk to Legian beach!
MY 7 DAYS ITINERARY
Here’s my itinerary for my 7 days in Bali. Worth every second & every rupiah spent! 😉
Day 1
- Fly from KL to Bali
- Check in Tune Hotels, Legian
Day 2 (day tour using driver service)
- Pick up at hotel – 8.30 am
- Barong & Kris Dance (Rp 100,000)
- Shopping at Hawaii Bali Oleh Oleh
- Nusa Dua – Theater area
- Nusa Dua Tanjong Benoa – water sport area
- Lunch at Seafood Lagoon
- Golden Kirrin Coffee Factory
- Padang Padang Beach – location for Eat, Pray, Love movie
- Uluwatu (Rp 20,000)
- Dinner at Jimbaran Bay – dinner on the beach + sunset
Day 3
- Breakfast at Legian Beach
- Walk from Legian Beach to Kuta – stopping by shops along Jalan Legian, Ground Zero: Bali Bombing Memorial Park, Kuta Art Market & Discovery Mall
- Walk back from Kuta to hotel
- Hangout at Legian Beach + watching sunset
Day 4 (day tour using driver service)
- Pick up at hotel – 9.00 am
- Mengwi, Taman Ayun (Rp 15,000)
- Coffee Plantation
- Lunch at Pacung – rice terrace view
- Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, Bedugul (Rp 30,000)
- Bali Butterfly Park (Rp 65,000)
- Monkey Forest (Rp 20,000, and do give some tips to the guide)
- Tanah Lot (Rp 30,000)
Day 5 (day tour using driver service)
- Pick up at hotel – 9.00 am
- Sari Amertha Batik
- Segaru Windu – basket weaving
- Prapen Jewellery – gold & silver
- Traditional Balinese Style House (do give some tips to the home owner)
- Art Gallery
- Wood Carving
- Lunch at Kintamani – volcano mountain view (entrance fee Rp 15,000, exclude lunch)
- Pura Besakih (Rp 20,000 + donation fee)
- Mahagiri – rice terrace view + coffee plantation
- Kertha Gosa (Rp 12,000)
- Tegenungan Waterfall (Rp 5,000)
- Kecak & Fire Dance – at Batu Bulan (Rp 100,000)
- Shopping at Krishna
NOTES: Please be aware that there might be some people that will try to con you at Pura Besakih. They will tell you that you will NEED A TOUR GUIDE so that you can walk around all the places inside and they will ask you to pay around Rp 300,000 or more. You can just say no & can still walk around the place with no restriction. Once you have passed the ‘guides’, there will still be someone saying the same thing but they claim to be the ‘Pura keeper’. They will bring you around and once finish, they will ask for money, and keep asking you to pay more! I’m talking based on experience. If you need a guide then it’s ok. If no, just say no.
Day 6
- Brunch at Warung Murah
- Wander around Seminyak on foot
- Hangout in hotel – resting + watching movie
- Legian beach – surfing lesson
- Aromatic Balinese Full Body Massage
Day 7
- Checkout from hotel – latest is 11.00 am
- Brunch at Warung Murah
- Manicure
- Off to airport
INTERESTING PLACES
- Nusa Dua & Tanjong Benoa – a place to enjoy great scenery & water sport
- Padang Padang Beach – the movie ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ featuring Julia Roberts was shot here
- Uluwatu – Pura by the cliff. Just be careful with the monkeys here. Keep your sunglasses in your bag because they might steal it 😉
- Jimbaran Bay – a nice & romantic place to enjoy dinner on the beach while watching sunset
- Pacung – enjoy lunch with rice terrace view
- Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, Bedugul
- Kintamani – mountain view. Raining & foggy when I was there so not much of nice photos but this is a very nice place with very nice view (if the sky is clear).
- Pura Besakih – also known as mother of all temple
- Mahagiri – rice terrace view. Great for having lunch or just go to the coffee plantation
- Kuta – The most happening and crowded place. Kuta beach is also the most popular beach for tourist who go to Bali. It is the center of tourism.
- Legian & Seminyak – Full of shops along the street & beautiful beach! I love Legian Beach!
- Ubud – A town with all Bali cultural attractions which includes temples, traditional performances, handicraft such as painting, batik, basket weaving and wood carving. It is a popular center for exploring Bali’s countryside and rich culture.
- Lovina – go to Lovina for dolphin watching but you need to wake up really early 😉
- Gitgit Waterfall – if you do go to Lovina, don’t forget to stop by Gitgit Waterfall
THINGS TO DO
- Go to the beach or Tanjong Benoa – swim, relax, surf, snorkeling, scuba diving, banana boat, paragliding, etc. Had my first surfing lesson at Legian Beach & it was awesome! Manage to stand on my third attempt 😉 I can’t swim but at least I can say that i can surf … a little 😛
- Enjoy or buy coffee at coffee factory or coffee plantation
- Watch ceremonies at local temple (also known as ‘PURA’)
- Watch or learn traditional dances or music
- Sight-seeing – do visit all of those interesting places
- White water rafting, ATV, hiking, elephant ride
- Go to night safari or Bali zoo
- Shopping
- Enjoy local food
SHOPPING
There are many places where you can just go and buy souvenirs, etc. There are a lot of shops along Jalan Legian, Kuta Art Market, etc. The most important thing to remember is to HAGGLE! As you walk, there might be sellers trying to sell you things. If you are not interested do let them know and don’t ask if you are not really interested. They are trying to make a living so do not waste their time.
If haggling is not for you, do go to Hawaii Bali Oleh Oleh or Krishna. The prices for all items are fix but it is sooooo dammmnnnn cheap!! I prefer to shop at these 2 places compared to shops along the street. Believe me, all items are SO CHEAPPPPP!!!!
FOOD
More readings on Bali:
