Traveling Puffins » Bali

You can eat on the beach in Sanur, Bali

Tina — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:58:41 +0000

After our stay at Langon Bali Resort, we headed to Sanur. We stayed three nights at Puri Sading Hotel which was another place we found through wotif.

It took about a day to adjust from Langon to our new nest but after we did we saw the charm that Sanur has to offers.

Sanur is a beach town with nicer stores and restaurants than Kuta but not as upscale as the Nusa Dua resort area. The shops range from local markets that sell anything and everything to high end stores that sell beautiful silver, lace, and silks. They even have Dolce & Gabbana store. There are great resturants right on the beach. You can choose from an intimate romantic settings (two person table with a candle) or a fun funky reggae places.

One day we went to find wedding bands in Celuk. Seb already posted about that earlier. Here are some pictures of a guy shining up the silver on a ring.

After our three night stay in Sanur we took a cab to Ubud. The road to Ubud has shop after shop of beautiful wood and stone carved sculptures. What I would give to be able to buy one of these and take it home. But Seb reminds me all the time that I have packed to many things.

Our cab driver encouraged us to stop at this place they sell and make batik silks. It was amazing to watch these ladies design and then dye the fabrics. The items were beautiful! Many of them reminded me of China Seas fabric, my auntie use to work for them in downtown Chicago many years ago and I use to think that they were so beautiful.

In Ubud we are staying at Suly Hotel, which has a school connected to it that helps to serve underprivledged students. It is about 10 minutes for the town center but we have a nice big clean room and the kids are really sweet. Excus me miss.

Driving around in Bali

Tina — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:12:04 +0000

For the last 7 days we have been staying at a nice hotel called Langon Hotel and Resort in Nusa Dua. The resort is a little far from the beach, restaurants, and massage spas but the hotel provides transportation. However, we choose to also rent a motorbike so that we could get around when we please. These pictures have been requested from a special lady, Alison, the expecting mother.

It is wild to ride around town on these motorbikes. It was defiantly helpful that Sebastien had experience with his motorcycle before. Here are the crazy things we have found on the streets of Bali.

There does not seem to be any laws of who has the right of way. We asked the hotel owner about this yesterday and said, “it is whatever you feel”. I guess you tell your insurance agent, “I felt strong so I went.”
Families of 4 ride around on these small motor crafts. I have seen babies being held by their mothers, who are sitting with both their legs on one side, and their 5 year old son sitting in front of the dad who is driving. Wild! None are wearing helmets.
There doesn’t seem to be a driving age here. Very young kids who look to be 12 years old are driving around on these speed demons.
You can cut across to the other side of the street, into oncoming traffic, if you feel that your lane is going to slow.
There are more motorbikes than cars.

Besides risking our lives everyday to be like a local we are enjoying our life here in Bali. Our daily routine consists of waking up around 9 ish. Going to breakfast (which is included in our stay) then spending time on the internet before heading down to town for lunch and a surf. We then return back to the hotel for a shower or to get ready for our daily massage before dinner. What a life!

Kuta, Bali

Tina — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 04:39:19 +0000

We made it and are loving Bali. We spent a whole day traveling around Australia but finally got to Bali at about midnight on January 6th. After picking up our bags we took a taxi to our hotel in Kuta. The taxi service at the airport is very organized. You walk up to a counter and tell them where you are going and there is a flat fee. It is a good system.

Sebastien had found our hotel on Expedia and though it was more than we were expecting to pay I was very impressed. The hotel is called Kuta Seaview Resort. It was right on the water and had a nice pool and breakfast. We stayed there for two nights and then looked for a cheaper place. We found Suji Cottages which is off the beaten track a ways but much cheaper.

We have been receiving massages everyday! That is by far the way to live! Inexpensive and just as good as the ones I get in the states. The first day we got 90 minute massage at the hotel and it was only 17 US dollars. Ridiculous! Other than getting massage and eating great Indonesian food I have been reading a wonderful book called Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert. It is her book following Eat, Love, Pray. It is perfect because it is all about her traveling around southeast Asia right before she gets married.

One of the days we also surfed. The water is about 80 degrees but there is a lot of debris and garbage floating around.

We are taking a shuttle to Ulu Watu tomorrow. Sorry I can’t upload pictures which is a real drag because my memory card is full.

Lots of love to everyone who has sent us comments! I miss my girlfriends very much and have had to strike up conversations with randoms to fill in the void. But all is well and Sebatien and I are doing great! Look forward to more adventures with my puffin!