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Bali Revisited
23-26 Dec 06. Who would’ve foreboded that I’ll be in Bali TWICE within the same year! I did mulled over Bali when I was at the Matta fair, but opted for KK in the end. This second junket, it was a deadening family (zzz) affair. There was hardly ANY christmas feeling in the air, since almost 90% of Balinese are Hindus.
It started out rather badly as my brother was told by the check-in crew @ KLIA that he cannot go on this trip as his passport runs out ONE DAY short of the required 6 months. She said the Indonesian immigration would deport him regardless of the 24 hour deficit. My mom, was ill-informed by the travel agent (who pledged to fully reimburse the ticket & accommodation), as apparently they informed her that only 3 months is required. So, people, don’t trust your travel agents! 
The theme of the trip, was shopping. Definitely not my kind of holiday. I managed to convince them of at least having seafood @ Jimbaran (where I previously endured the worst case of food poisoning in my life). The second visit, quickly rubbed out that memory as the dishes fared way better. A tip – do not go for grill, stick to fried stuff. The price, was something else!
I initially planned to revisit Uluwatu and Tanah Lot, but my family unanimously voted for shopping, much to my discouragement. My saviour, was the nightlife. 
I returned to Hard Rock Cafe, Kamasutra, Paddy’s Pub and Double 6 during my 3 nights there. We (my Uncle and I) binged on Bintang beer. Booze is certainly overpriced in Bali.
The highlight for me was making friends with a group of dames from Jakarta, and the person I spoke to the most, will be visiting Malaysia on the 15th Jan for a month, and I will be touring her around for a couple of days. :-D
Next up: Seoul Revisited (30 December – 6 January 2007). Until then, have yourselves a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
In front of the hotel we stayed @ Kuta (Mercure Hotel)
The signage before entering Kuta beach
Bakso. Amazing Race Asia inspired me to give this a try. Good!
This was where the 2nd bombing took place…
What the? Aquariums in the urinal? Something fishy…LOL
Something for your ass – Sup Buntut!
Jimbaran Sunset captured with my Motorola V3x. 
Looking out MAS’ Airbus…
Previous Balinese Entries:
Jailhouse Rock (A Balinese Reflection Pt I)
Hakuna Matata (A Balinese Reflexion Pt II)
Never Say Goodbye (A Balinese Reflection Pt III)
nice. i havent been to bali. missed the company trip the year before. i came in just after they came back :p
there’s bakso here too, kan? or, it’s not as authentic as the one u tasted in bali ie. certain ingredients not included, etc.
Good to see you enjoyed your recent Bali trip. Indonesia is particularly fussy about the 6 months ruling and they will take opportunity to “slaughter” you before allowing you in. Not sure about Bali though, but it is rather common practice is Jakarta and the Riau islands.
Stayed in the same hotel as you. Only complain is that the rooms are kind of small but you get location in compensation. Lousy buffet breakfast though.
Didn’t see you writing about Ubud’s babi guling.. did you miss that?
Happy new year.
REMINDS ME OF:
Never say goodbye, never say goodbye
You and me and my old friends
Hoping it would never end
Never say goodbye, never say goodbye
Holdin on – we got to try
Holdin on to never say goodbye
2 TIMES in a YEAR!!! gila
Wei , the sunset pic.. superb.. shall i change my hp ? hhaha
btw, everyone also taking sunset pictures… where are the sunrise? cant wake up huh? kekke
“Aaah, look at all the lonely people…” (another classic Beatles line, and I’m a big fan, BTW)
Bali rocks, my friend. Been there a number of times, last was 3 years ago. Must go with the missus soon.
All the best for 2007!
Nice entry with appealing photos. haha…
Btw, my advice- wherever you go (even the tiny island next to us!) you must have at least/more than 6 months passport validity – from the date of departure. Check your printed itinerary if it’s listed there.
Cheers!
Errr.. what is bakso???
Larawannabe They have bakso in Malaysia? Next up, living octopus…
Fat4 I did, indeed. Yes, the rooms were kinda small, but the location makes it worthwhile. And I agree, the buffet was a letdown. As for the babi guling, well, I don’t eat pork.
Happy New Year!
tihtahpah That is such a sad song ler, but a kickass one!
cely Yes yes, change your hp. Told you Sony Ericsson SUCKS! Hehehehe. Errr, what’s a sunrise? LOL
Keropok Bali’s easily Asia’s best getaway, though I don’t think I’ll be visiting it anytime soon. Twice a year is just too much.
meekiee I am aware of the 6 months ruling, but I didn’t question my mom about it because I thought everything’s settled. Assumptions are the mother of screwups.
Jemima Some funky Indon dish, soury, but not too tatty. I got more than I bargained for when I asked to add spice.
That’s a beautiful pic of the sunset! I didn’t know V3X can take very nice scenery pics!
There is a popular restaurant in Bandar Seri Begawan which has an aquarium in the loo too. Jacq has a picture of it somewhere in her blog. It’s weird having those eyes watching you as you do your business.
JACQ Yes, the V3X is cool! But I might change mobile phone soon – Nokia is calling me back to the path of righteousness.
Jewelle LOL. Tell me about it. Wonder if the fishes are some form of elaborate mechanism that records one answering nature’s call. On second thought, it’s Bali and not Japan!
cely: stay on with the dark side. May the Force (SE) be with you.
Galli: The End is short but meaningful. Oh, by the way, is that sup buntut = to our sup bunjut or something? And again, an Indonesian friend of mine told me that the “pantat” we know here, have a different meaning in Indonesia.
Keropok: that “lonely people” line taken from Eleanor Rigby? Oh, btw, hows Father McKenzie?
Larawannabe: Bakso tu ape? Is it like char kueh on top of taufufa?
Did ya try the Sup Buntut? hehehe
endroo G I dunno whether they serve sup buntut here but I don’t intend to find out.
Che-Cheh No way! I’ll ONLY stick with the meat and not spare parts thank you very much.
Dan: bakso ada in malaysia. LOL. i first discovered it in kajang of all places. then this one small shop near where i live sells it as well.
endroo G: the one that i found here, is a soup dish with rice (like nasi impit/ketupat) with something that looks like fish ball but it’s grey in colour. that ball thing is what bakso is lah. it tastes funny tho (to me lah). more oily than your normal soup, i think they use sesame oil. don’t quite like it
Damn, I need to go Bali in 2007!
Larawannabe: then you gotta go to this stall near your house and take a picture of it. post it on your blog for us to see. and also do a cons review of it. Forget the pros.
Galli: Sup torpedo?
Omg, I stayed in Mercure too!! Hahahhaha!! I could have met you if you had stayed longer, or I had arrived earlier hahaha!
*note to self: type up Bali post soon*
Robert You should, it’s a great holiday destination.
endroo G Sup torpedo? Heard of it…
Sha Mercure’s location was just perfect. Lemme know once your Bali entry is up.
Even Jawaharlal Nehru(1st Prime Minister of India) said Bali is “The Morning of the World” (source – http://www.amazon.ca/Balinese-Gardens-Williams-Whitten-Jenkins/dp/0794602509) when he visited back in fifties.
This year I am planning to visit Bali 3 times. Don’t call me crazy. But Bali is my second home. Nice place to leisure around.
sup exocet?
when i compare my bali pics with yours , there is no comparison…i should take photo-taking course
it is not the subject matter..it is somehow the slant, the focus and not the documentary record like I do. mayb tats why yr pics grab attention
Can u please recommand me which agent suite’s the best for a visit to Bali????
daniel – Agent? I didn’t use any agents. If you’re talking about hotel, Mercure is the best because of its location in Kuta. But for peace and tranquility, look for Nusa Dua.