Friday, March 25, 2016

[Indonesia, Bali] Dolphin Watching - Pura Ulun Danu Beratan Temple - Pura Tanah Lot

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When mentioned Bali, it is often associated with volcanic mountains, iconic rice paddies, beaches and seaside temples. This place is probably the most famous island in Indonesia. As I’m travelling with elderly, this trip is planned in the way to visit the iconic symbols of Bali (mainly temples). Perhaps I will plan a next trip that focuses on water activities, beaches and café soon…

Overview

After much research, we realized that to travel in bali, it is essential for you to hire a local drivers due to the lack of public transport and the complication of the road. In bali, you will realized that there is lack of highway, thus travelling time from one place to another tend to be long. Hence, this was probably the best way to explore a lot of key sights of the island without being too rushed or stressed.

Day One : Having to reach bali late at night, we plan to travel from the airport to lovina beach where the next day activities are situated.
Denpasar Airport ® Hotel (Lovina)

 Day Two : Lovina beach is where you are given the opportunity to catch sights of dolphins and corals. We will also be travelling to Pura Ulun Danu Beratan Temple before engaging in the fun of riding the ATV. Lastly, we will visit Pura Tanah Lot in the evening as it is the only time the temple is being accessible.
Dolphin Watching (Lovina) ® Pura Ulun Danu Beratan Temple ® ATV® Pura Tanah Lot

Day Three (Read here): we start our day enjoying the view of the rice paddies while having decent food at café pomegranate before visiting another cliffside temple (Uluwatu Temple).  Explore the gigantic Hindu sculptures at GWK to enhance knowledge of Hindu religion. Lastly, we immerse ourselves in the breathtaking sunset view while enjoying our dinner at the Jimbaran Bay.
Café Pomegranate ® Uluwatu Temple ® GWK® Jimbaran Bay

Day Four (Read here): Start the day early by waking up at 2am to hike mount batur before visiting the coffee plantation for a taste of coffee luwak.  We do some last minute souvenir shopping before visiting the famous café Angelita Patisserie. This also signified the end of our Bali Trip.
Mount Batur ® Coffee Plantation ® Angelita Patisserie


Summary


Date
Day 1 (23rd Mar)
Day 2 (24th  Mar)
Day 3 (25th Mar)
Day 4 (26th Mar)
Summary of Activities
Bali ® Lovina
Dolphin Watching ® Pura Ulun Danu Beratan Temple ®ATV® Pura Tanah Lot
Café ® Uluwatu Temple ® GWK ® Jimbaran Bay
Mount Batur ® Coffee Plantation ® Souvenir Shopping ® Cafe
Breakfast

Padma Sari Resort
Munari Resort & Spa
Takeaway Breakfast from Hotel
Morning

Dolphin Watching ( 120K IDR » SGD12)
Café Pomegranate
- Hike Mount Batur

-Coffee Plantation
Lunch

Warung Babi Guling Andi Jaya (Babi Guling)

iiga warung (Pork Rib)
Malioboro ( Ayam Tulang Lunak)
Afternoon

-Pura Ulun Danu Beratan Temple( 10K IDR » SGD1)

-ATV 250cc
(Single US99, Tandem USD
-Uluwatu Temple ( 20K IDR » SGD2)

-GWK Cultural Park( 100K IDR » SGD10)
Souvenir Shopping
Evening
Transfer From Denpasar Airport to Hotel near Lovina Beach
Watching Sunset at Pura Tanah Lot( 30K IDR » SGD3)

Angelita Patisserie
Dinner

Warung D’Sawah
Seafood at Jimbaran Bay

Stay
Padma Sari Resort Lovina (Villa)
SGD 50

Munari Resort & Spa (2 bedroom villa)
SGD 150

Jungle Retreat Ubud (Deluxe Suite)
SGD130



Day One

We took KLM flight from Singapore to Bali. Personally, I like the air fare really reasonable ($150 incl of return ticket) given that KLM was an economy flight. It was my first KLM experience and I really enjoyed. The food, service and even the inflight entertainment really makes my journey very delightful. To know more about my KLM experience (read more). If you like my travel experience and would like to have a feel too, tickets can be purchased at www.klm.com.

The flight from Singapore to Bali takes about 2 hrs plus. There is no time difference between Bali and Singapore. We took the flight at 5.30pm and reached bali at about 8.05pm. 

My favourite blue airplane
The delicious on-board meal~
Upon exiting from the customs, we headed to the exit. Directly at the exit, one will see that Telkomsel simPATI simcard counter where we can purchase simcard to enjoy local calls and mobile data. I have purchase the 350k (8gb + 60 mins local call).

Pathway to the carpark. 
Denpasar Airport to lovina area required about 2.5h ~ 3 hr drive due to the lack of highway. We reached our hotel late in the night. 

Our Villa Room
Balcony to enjoy the poolside view
We realized that by booking the dolphin tour via the hotel, it cost less. 100k IDR only (SGD10)

For more view of the room, feel free to adjust the 360° camera.

Post from RICOH THETA. - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA
Instruction: 
This is a 360 degree camera. So you can view different angle.
Drag Hand cursor to switch angle in the video.
+Zoom In
- Zoom Out

Day TWO

We woke up early in the morning at 5am as we need to wait for the driver to drive us to lovina beach where we can watch the wild dolphins. Upon reaching the beach, we boarded the “special looking speed boat” to catch glimpse of wild dolphins and sunrise. The sun starts to rise at about 6.30am.  

Special looking speed boat
Last glimpse of the moon
The sun sets to rise 
The “drivers” are really good at spotting the wild dolphins. The moment the dolphins are spotted, you can see all the “drivers” starts to accelerate their boat to “chase” the dolphins so that visitors can have closer view of them.




You can see large number of boats carrying visitors for this attraction
After dolphin watching, we were recommended by the drivers to watch the corals in the low clear sea (about 1.5m depth) before returning to our hotel for breakfast.  

This is how clear the water is
Time to pack up before heading to the café for our complimentary breakfast. We have to pack up as we have booked different hotels based on our itinerary so as to maximize rest. 

View from our balcony
View from our balcony
View from our balcony
The infinite pool~
The café has a very simple decoration where you can see Balinese style sculptures being used. 



This is how the café look like. Do adjust different angle to see different view. 
Post from RICOH THETA. - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA

Instruction: 
This is a 360 degree camera. So you can view different angle.
Drag Hand cursor to switch angle in the video.
+Zoom In
- Zoom Out

For the complimentary breakfast, it comes in 4 different sets for you to choose. 

The menu
Continental Breakfast (Pancake) , American Breakfast ( egg , bread, sausage),  Experience (Porridge) , Indonesian Breakfast ( fried rice/noodles)
Fresh Salad Yogurt
American Breakfast (Poached eggs, bread, bacon, mushroom, sausage and tomato salad): It generally very dry. Unlike the usual American breakfast, there is no sauce added to this breakfast, resulting in the bland taste of the egg. The poached eggs were overcooked. The taste of the other toppings such as bacon, mushroom, sausage was salty. The taste of the dish lacks the “blending element”.
Banana Pancake: Fresh banana was blended into the pancake batter. Hence, you can find bits of fresh banana in every bite. However, this dish tend to be very “gerlat” as the pancake was thick with not much topping, except that two tiny piece of watermelon and a scoop of yogurt.
We checked out from our hotel before embarking on your bali adventure. 

Hotel Lobby
Hotel Lobby


Location:

Padma Sari Beach Front Resort  
Jl. Raya Seririt, Singaraja
Bali, Indonesia


The first destination was Pura Ulun Danu Beratan. Pura means temple. Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is a very famous landmark in Indonesia as it is located on the western side of the Beratan Lake, having a complex building structure.

Ulun Danu Beratan temple has an entrance fee of IDR 7,500 for domestic tourists and IDR 10,000 for foreigners. For visitors who want to enjoy more scenery of the temple and the surround, they can opt for a tour on the lake via boats. 

360° view of the walkway to the temple
Post from RICOH THETA. - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA

Instruction: 
This is a 360 degree camera. So you can view different angle.
Drag Hand cursor to switch angle in the video.
+Zoom In
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Walkway to the inner temple where the famous icon is situated.
Walkway to the inner temple where the famous icon is situated.
Walkway to the inner temple where the famous icon is situated.
Walkway to the inner temple where the famous icon is situated.
360° view of the temple surrounding
Post from RICOH THETA. - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA

Instruction: 
This is a 360 degree camera. So you can view different angle.
Drag Hand cursor to switch angle in the video.
+Zoom In
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The inner temple area
The iconic temple
The mandatory “I have been here” shot
Beratan Lake
Greenery On our way out
Greenery On our way out
Greenery On our way out
Location:

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan  
Desa Candikuning, Kec. Baturiti, Kabupaten Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia
Operating Hours: 0600-1800
Entrance Fee: IDR 10,000


The weather was really warm so we did not stay there for long.  We were craving for ice cool drinks very very much.Our drivers bring us to try their local style babi guling. It was really very “local” as the place was kind of run-down. You can spot many locals having their lunch there, enjoying every bite of the dish.





Roasted/Fried Pork
Different parts of the pig are being used in this dish


Location:

Warung Babi Guling Andi Jaya
Jl. Raya Denpasar Singaraja no. 1, Denpasar, Indonesia
Bali, Indonesia


With enough energy, we headed to our next activity – All Terrain Vehicle (ATV). We were given the opportunity to ride through the village admiring the paddies as well as go through jungles.

Rice paddies
Rice paddies
The manmade jungle with lots of humps and narrow path to increase drivers’ experience
It was us riding the ATV through the village
Thankful enough, it was breezy and a little cloudy during the ride, thus it wasn’t too sunny. After the ride, we are offered cold fresh coconut to quench our thirst. We will definitely be back for more fun.

Moving on, within an hour ride, we reached Tanah Lot just in time to see the sunset about 6.30pm. Tanah Lot Temple is very famous for its unique offshore setting and sunset backdrops. It was during the late afternoon that the sea was experience low tide, enabling the visitors to walk on the shore, or else, you can only see the temple from far.  

During low tide: we can walk on the shore admiring the sunset and the beauty of the temple. 
During low tide: we can walk on the shore admiring the sunset and the beauty of the temple. 
Sunset 
The shore that will be hidden in the sea during high tide
The shore that will be hidden in the sea during high tide
Unfortunate, I am unable to take a nice view of the temple
ã From Google image
When it was not during low tide, visitor cannot walk on the shore
ã agustobalitours
When it was not during low tide, visitor cannot walk on the shore
ãbalitourismboard
In order to reach tanah lot, you will need to go past many souvenir shops as well as stalls selling roasted corns :D As such, we did spend some time shopping and eating before leaving for our makan (eating) place. 

Shops outside the temple, a quick shot before I rush into the temple area for the sunset
My favourite roasted corn which retain the natural fragrant and freshness of the corn

We left tanah lot for our dinner at Warung D’Sawah which sells Chinese, Indonesia and Balinese food. This restauarant is located at Seminyak. As it was drizzling during our visit, we could not take much photo. The place was generally very dark (due to the rain and cloudy) for us to enjoy the magnificent view of the place.

Moments before the sun fully set, before the rain start to fall. 
Too dark to see L
If only the weather is better, we can enjoy these view
ã Warung D’Sawah
If only the weather is better, we can enjoy these view
ã Warung D’Sawah
If only the weather is better, we can enjoy these view
ã Warung D’Sawah
Menu




Bebek (Duck) Rendang (IDR 120,000): The rending sauce was really tasty and rich. It was sweet and spicy mixed together with coconut milk. The duck meat was also very juicy and tender.  
Bebek Nginyah (Crispy Duck) (IDR 66,000): It was really crispy, juicy and tender. I enjoyed it a lot. However, if you take a closer look, you will see that the duck hair was still present. This grosses me out and I stop eating the skin. For non-fussy eater, I must say that it was really crispy
Satay Meal (too dark to take any photo)ã Warung D’Sawah 
Bill for this meal for 4 pax
The food was generally nice and reasonably priced. If you can enjoy the amazing view, I think it worth your time travelling here to eat.

Location:

Warung Babi Guling Andi Jaya
Jl. Raya Kerobokan, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung
Bali, Indonesia
Operating Hours: Daily, 0800-2300


With that, we checked-into our hotel (Munari Resort & Spa). 


Munari Resort & Spa
I will post more photos and continue writing my bali adventure in next post.

For more about Munari Resort & Spa, café pomegranate, iiga warung (pork ribs) ,Uluwatu Temple, GWK Cultural Park, Jimbaran Bay, read here for more.

For more about Jungle Retreat Hotel (Kupu Kupu Barong Resort), Mount Batur, Maliboro(Ayam tulang Lunak) and Angelita Patisserie read here for more. 


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