” Gaby,
I found your blog on through Google and have enjoyed reading it very much so far. I wonder if it will be possible to get some advice from you about my stay in Bali: where to go, what to see and eat, etc……Kuta makes me sick with all the tourists everywhere. I came to Indonesia to experience the culture, the food, the beauty, and the people.But here in Kuta, with all the development and crowding, I am getting none of that, and starting to go crazy because of it…. Please let me know soon if you are able to help us! We appreciate so much already what you have written on the internet that we will have no hard feelings if you cannot help us……I have only 7-8 more days to discover the amazing beauty of this place, not the ugly tourist centers that we are currently in.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Brian “
So last month I received this email from one of my blog reader, and quite surprising as he pointed out that finding my blog through Google has given him some good tips about what to do in Bali to help him escaping from his ‘helpless’ situation in the Bloody Kuta (later he told me how he ended up in Poppies Lane, on his first visit to Bali!staying in a dirty cheap hotel,and surrounded with some tourists that showed a disrespectful act to locals, and it made him and his friend were very sick of it).
Believe it or not, to have that kind of response from what I wrote on my blog, besides receiving lots of comments on every blog posts, and more and more of followers on Twitter that brings pretty big traffic to my blog (Thanks to USA now!), is a rewarding moment for me as a full time blogger, as well as for Bart who has consistently inspired me and supported me technically.
So here we were : Benny & me, on a ‘Mission‘ to save Brian & Francisco-2 nice guys from Austin,Texas- we picked them up at Kuta, ‘rescued’ them from the crazyness of this busiest touristy spot ever in Bali (and people just never stop abundantly attack and invade Kuta Beach & its famous spots!), took them to my favorite places and introduced them to the ‘real’ Bali as it should be enjoyed. And here’s their “VelvetEscape” (borrowing from my fellow blogger, Keith from www.velvetescape.com) in Bali :
1. LAKE VIEW, Kintamani – the scrumptious lunch overlooking Mount Batur & its crater lake
Mount Batur crater, a stunning view from LAKE VIEW RESTAURANT balcony
Found best spot to Lake Beratan, after Bart took the wrong turn to Besakih Temple!
A very nice lunch spot on LAKE VIEW RESTAURANT
2. IBU RAI, Ubud – what’s better than cold beer & wooden fire pizza?
An angel pouring cold beer & freezed Cisco’s face…
IBU RAI Restaurant sparkling in the night
3. RAFTING with SOBEK, Ubud – paddling the spectacular Ayung River
FORWARD!!!..See..how hard I’m paddling while the 2 guys just enjoying the ‘going with the flow’..*sigh*..
SOBEK – The Adventure Specialist www.balisobek.com
4. WARUNG WARDANI,Dps and SPICY GRILLED FISH,Jimbaran – the hot & spicy culinary tour
Balinese chicken spicy rice WARDANI (they put lots of ice cubes in Cisco’s beer glass…WOTT?!?)
Hands are much better utensils than fork & knife to deal with these crazy fish bones!
5. BALI ARTS FESTIVAL, Denpasar – an annual big cultural show not to be missed!
Mask Dance Drama
6. BALI TRIATHLON, Jimbaran Bay – get up and RUN, Cisco!!!
People get ready to SWIM – BIKE – RUN !!
People get ready to watch people Swim-Bike-Run..zzz…
This Bali experience seemed like has given them some deep thoughts about several things in life and Bali in a very particular finding. One experience lead to another. Cisco decided to quit smoking! Brian agreed human hands are the best utensils to enjoy the spicy sauce grilled fish. Despite of the overly charged airport taxi, they knew there is still probably a disguised angel named Made Jaga who voluntarily walked with them to the beach, drove them to Ubud, found them a place to stay there, and refused to get paid for the service, for helping a lost tourist is a ‘good karma’ for him..
I hope this BeeAmazing experience made Brian & Francisco 1st visit to Bali memorable and never a dull moment passed on this fun trip! Thank you to Benny ‘Bart’ Risanto who patiently drove us to Kintamani & Ubud <3 !
Hotels Brian & Cisco loved :
– HARRIS TUBAN, next door to airport, worth for every rupiah spent, clean, modern (just don’t go to the cafe accross
the hotel,please!!)
– SARI SEGARA RESORT, Jimbaran, their 4th floor room gave a nice ocean view with fishermen boats on the background, cozy balcony to hang out with friends!
Hotels Brian & Cisco wish never to go back there again :
– ‘MH’ Hotel in Poppies Lane 2
– ‘PG’ Cottage in Jl.Hanoman, Ubud
they are both just dirty & noisy, with ‘ thin made in straw wall’ (WHATT??really?) rooms
For a great selection of places to stay with discount prices visit Bali Hotels for more information
Related posts :
– BALI ARTS FESTIVAL 13 June-11 July 2009
– A Night at Bloody Kuta
– THANK YOU, INDONESIA!
– Mangrove Photoshoot
Follow Brian on Twitter
Follow Fransisco on Twitter
All photos on this blog post are courtesy of www.risanto.com
Glad you save them, bee. I think Poppies lane is the hell for new visitors (1st time visit Bali) hehehe. As far I know, young bule yang udah sering ke Bali pada booking hotel murah for 1-3 month…udah serasa penduduk poppies aja. Mereka jadinya suka suka hati 😉
Another amazing post, Gaby. I like how many pictures you have been able to put in lately. I think your skills are improving!
What a great time we had with you and Benny in Bali. We are so lucky that Benny is a great photographer to preserve the memories from that trip!
@gita : yup, only aussie & japanese surfer with tight budget mostly stay there, and definitely would not recommend for the 1st timer!
@brian : I’m glad you & Cisco enjoyed your stay in Bali. Comeback next year!! There are much more beautiful beaches & hot spicy food to explore & try! :p
This is a great heart-warming story. Not just because of your friendliness and hospitality towards these visitors, but that they were aware enough to see that Central Kuta is a beer-sodden tourist trap designed for the narrow needs of bule gila!
.-= borborigmus (Vyt)´s last blog ..The Only Watch You Will Ever Need in Bali =-.
Hi @borborigmus ! haha..but you’re not one of those ‘bule gila’ in Kuta right? Thanks so much for stopping by! Cheers!
Woo! Local Austinites! <3
Sounds like you were a superhero saving them from a terrible travel experience!
Thanks Erica! You have an amazing blog! Make sure you don’t come to Kuta first before you visit another non-touristy place in Bali. Cheers!
That’s so nice of you to show them around. I have been reading all your posts and I want to thank-you so much to have been taking the time to create this amazing blog. I will be in Bali with my friend Corine ( 2 girls passionate about food, traveling and life outside the office lol) in Legian from 17th September 2012 for a month. My friend is an artist and myself I am a chef. I also have a food blog called Foodie Follies where I do reviews of restaurants in the Los Angeles area.
http://www.foodiefollies.blogspot.com
We would be very delighted if you’d like to meet us for lunch or dinner as we love meeting new friends and interesting peoples from around the world.
Natacha Mannhart
natachamannhart@gmail.com