Meeting the family in Nusa Dua

After taking in the sights of Ubud and its surroundings, we found our selves in South Bali.  As Zim's Sister, brother in law and niece were holidaying in Nusa Dua, we decided to stay in a hotel close by.  The area didn't really have many budget options, however, we did find a reasonable hotel more suited for people on business rather than the beaches. It was a massive building among shacks and the place felt eerily quiet. However the room was spotless and modern, with a tv and air con included so we could hide away from the dirty streets.

Over the next six days we spent in Nusa Dua, our priority was spending time with Zim's family.  This was the first time I'd met any member of Zim's family.  In the 2 and a half years we've spent together, its one of the draw backs of living thousands of miles from each others families.  

As they were staying at a beach front resort, which was only a quick taxi ride away, we spent a couple of days hanging out at the pool side with  them, having a few drinks, eating and catching up. It was a very nice place, with a great pool and good for a relax. One afternoon the adults hired paddle boards (and one on a windsurfing board), which was a lot of fun. Another night we ate dinner together on a beach front restaurant. We also all went on a snorkel trip and boat trip to a 'turtle conservation centre' which was probably one of the worst cases of animal cruelty I've seen in a long time.   

But by far one of the best things we did was head to Waterbom park. This water park was quite simply, the best day ever!  No one can help but regress to childhood in a place like this. So if you do find yourself in South Bali - Go there!!!!

All the pictures in this blog post were taken around Nusa Dua beach. I had fun here in Nusa Dua but this had more to do with being in good company rather than the place. On the surface it all looks so beautiful. But even with the resorts cleaning the beach front each day, the waters were filled with rubbish. 

And if you leave the resorts, the place was just ugly buildings and squalor.  For me one of the hardest things was trying to find food within our budget close by, which in the end we had to give up on. 

On one occasion me and Zim headed to Jimbaran beach to watch the sunset and eat seafood.  The Prawns were delicious and watching the sunset was beautiful (no pictures I'm afraid as I forgot my camera), but It was the planes that I remember the most.  As the airport is right next to the beach, we just watched them fly down one after another, continuously heading into Bali as day turned to night.

    

Leaving south Bali was sad because hanging out with Zim's family was probably one of my highlights of the trip. They were the nicest funnest people and I'm so glad to have met them. Thank you for holidaying in Bali guys!!!

Ubud

With a boat and A bus ride we found ourselves in Ubud; Cultural darling of Bali that in recent years got alot of attention from that Eat Pray Love book. 

For four nights we stayed in a home stay right in the centre of it all.  If someone was to ask me what I did in Ubud, my first thought would be not a lot, just chilled. However, when I look through my pictures it tells another story....

We went to the Monkey Forest

This is where tourists come to take pictures of monkeys, whilst the gang of hooligans steal anything they can and fornicate amongst forest entrapped temples. And yep I bloody loved it! Monkeys playing in water, monkeys messing with bamboo, monkeys doing what the hell they wanted. 

They even had punk monkeys -check out the Mohawk on this guy.

Although my outfit choice of the day wasn't the best, as many baby monkeys liked my skirt so much that they kept trying to pull it down.

And it turned out the temples in the complex were pretty cool and definitely worth a look. 

We relaxed with a capital R

Watching the sunset and rise from our room's balcony was pretty cool.  Over looking several family compounds (turns out no one moves out here, only sideways and up) and hearing the sound of roosters, scooters, kids playing, temple prayers and dance shows from the palace, we got a good feel from Ubud. Although I didn't like the row after row of tourist clothing shops selling overpriced hippy clothes and their aggressive owners, I did enjoy getting a massage and just getting that chilled out feeling.

View of rice fields from an Ubud Cafe.

We went to a traditional dance show

These guys can put on a show.  Great costumes ,a little humour and fantastic choreography.

Only major annoyance was this woman raising her camera every two seconds into the view of those behind her and not actually watching the show. I mean sure, I too took photos but I spent the majority of the time watching the show I payed to watch. What a doughnut.

We got fat to help others

What's better than eating the best food in the whole of Bali? Knowing that all the profits of the restaurant go to a community hospital that's what!  Wandering the streets we came across Fair Warung Bale, a restaurant set up to give Ubud's neediest medical help.  The food wasn't good; it was amazing. I actually believe it was the best we tasted in Bali! We made multiple trips during our stay in Bali.

Mosquito dusting from our balcony through out the lanes of Ubud.

We took in the sights on our way down to South Bali

As we needed to relocate to South Bali to spend some fun times with Zim's family (more on that next time!), yet still wanted to see some of the countryside and other sights, we decided to kill two birds with one stone by hiring a driver to take us to Nusa Dua and stop and stop at some sights along the way.  Our driver, Edy, was a family member of our home stay and was really chilled and helpful.  Sights included a rice terrace, Goa Gajah (elephant caves) and a really wicked temple that to my shame I can't remember the name of. Yeah I really am that lame!  By starting early we also missed the crowds and had many areas to ourselves.

Offering over rice terrace.

Bali traffic.

Walking over bamboo 'bridge' to caves-I decided to crawl...

Ancient Caves

And that was our time in Ubud.  It was touristy, it was relaxed (Except for the stupid calls for taxi as you walk passed idol drivers) and it was fun.  Then it was time spend a few days in South Bali...

Nusa Lembongan, Bali

 
Our time in Bali began like it does for so many, getting herded off a plane, handing over $25 dollars to immigration and beginning the great adventure of picking a taxi driver who isn't going to over charge you; which is pretty much impossible. Unless you've prepared a driver in advance, have the patience to wait in the queue for pre-paid or have the energy to walk out of the airport and flag down a metered taxi, its a losing game. And after 18 hours in transit, coming to a place I'd never been to in the middle of the night, I didn't care (to a point) if we were over charged, I just wanted a shower and clean bed. So after a little haggling and the small drama of me temporarily losing my ATM cards (which miraculously were still sitting on a lawn where I'd dropped them!) we got to our hotel, which except for the notable smell of Asian cities (i.e bad sewer systems) coming from the bathroom was pretty nice for $20; tv, air con, free wifi and a comfy bed - bargain!

The next day we were on the move. We had a wedding destination to get to and a plan to leave the smelly streets of Denpassar behind. After checking out we were picked up from our hotel by our fast boat provider and taken to Sanur, where our chariot was waiting. We even shared to boat with other wedding guests.
It took about half a hour to get over to Nusa Lembongan from mainland Bali and it wasn't long into our transfer* to Mushroom bay that we started to see the appeal of this Island. However, it was when we rocked up to our accommodation that I knew this place had real potential.

This was our pool side hut. Nestled among six identical ones, it was so plush. It even had its own enclosed outdoor bathroom, which in my eyes screams tropical paradise, I'm classy like that...
So the next few days was filled with Zim catching up with close friends from Perth and me meeting them for the first time, which sounds a bit weird after being together for 2 1/2 years!!! Highlights included;

    Hanging out at Mushroom bay and watching the world go by

Me and Zim chartering a boat for a few hours and snorkeling around the island and its big sister, Nusa Penida. Zim was even lucky enough to swim with (and take a video) of a Manta Ray; lucky so and so!

Hiring a scooter for the day and wizzing around the island. Moving past seaweed farms, mangrove forest and tackling questionable 'roads,' we realised having your own wheels made everything a lot easier. 

And of course the reason why so many people had decided to head to NL at that certain time; a beautiful wedding. Honestly this was probably one of the best weddings. ever. With a sunset setting on the beach, a good looking couple and a tonne of people that loved them, this wedding removed all the pomp and awkwardness and just put on a great party. I'd love to show you how fantastic the dinner was, how beautiful the bride was and how merry all the guests got. But these are not mine to show, except a sneaky picture of everyone waiting on the beach... 

Nusa Lembongan really surprised me and it set the bar high for the rest of Bali. But after five nights it was time to move on. However, we weren't quite ready for mainland Bali. Next up; the Gillis.... 

* there are no cars on the island - just modified trucks to move hotel guests and scooters - lots of scooters...