Saturday, January 25, 2014

Nusa Ceningan & Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon
Blue lagoon, cliff jumping - Nusa Ceningan
   While in  Nusa Lembongan - Bali, be sure to visit the neighboring island Nusa Ceningan, only 20 minutes by motorcycle that you can rent from local people at price Rp 50.000 ( $5 ) for one day, to explore the hidden beaches like Dream beach, Tamarind beach, Sandy bay, and my absolute favorite new spot Blue Lagoon you should visit if you're looking for adrenaline junkie activities like cliff jumping. 
   Less touristy, the small island  offers some really nice private villas and bungalows with definitely incredible beach view at different price ranges starting from $30 per night, the village where you can blend in with the locals, restaurants with their own private swimming pool, overall Nusa Ceningan is the place to be for total relaxation. Dom and I suggest you to spend one night or two over here before going back to Nusa Lembongan, why should rush if you get the perfect and pretty cheap accommodation, sun, clear blue skies, beach, Indonesian food and friendly Balinese people to make the most of your holidays ? 


Blue Lagoon, cliff jumping Nusa Ceningan - Bali


Dare to jump ? Blue lagoon, Nusa Ceningan



Nusa Ceningan bridge



Nusa Lembongan
Just hangin with Dom

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Nusa Lembongan


Sunset at Nusa Lembongan



Perfect table for us !


   Dom and I made the right decision to check out earlier that morning from our hotel in Seminyak, went to Perama Tour office in Legian street and booked speed boat at 10 am from Sanur to Nusa Lembongan island ( Rp 150.000 / one way / person ). I've never been to Nusa Lembongan, but the island seems perfect to get away from busy streets, clubs, traffic and touristy places in Bali ( including people with Bintang singlets           too ! )
   We arrived in the island around 12.30 pm. Some local people tried to offer us hotel or guesthouses to stay, but I decided to just keep walking on the beach, enjoying the warm weather and sands on my feet til I found these 2 low budget, clean and really nice hostels owned by British and Italian guys. Scroll down for more info, rates, photos about Bungalo No.7 and Secret Garden in Nusa Lembongan.
    Be sure to bring with you lots of cash, as they only have one atm machine in the island. If you plan to dive here, almost every hotel will offer you diving courses and snorkeling tours at a very different price ranges, but Dom recommended you to join with Bungalo No.7 and Secret Garden. Speaking about food, we found most of the restaurants there have the same menu and prices, there are some bars too, but do not expect big party like the ones you probably had before in Seminyak or Kuta. The island gets so quiet at 10 pm. And while walking around the small island, I thought I could actually leave Jakarta and move here. I loved how it's sooo quiet there, people just really friendly, you can even still feel the culture, spirit, surrounded by great spots for snorkeling and diving, hotels, private villas, restaurants with  amazing beach views, and only 20 minutes journey to Nusa Ceningan and Blue Lagoon by motorcycle.
    


Nusa Lembongan





Enjoying cold drinks and Nusa Lembongan

Three Musketeers at Nusa Lembongan



Breakfast for 2





Bungalo No. 7

Dom and I had no idea where we would spend a night ( or two ) at Nusa Lembongan. Well I wanted a nice place with sunchairs and table with beach view - just so I could spend the whole day relaxing and sunbaking. We arrived in the island around 12.30 pm, kept walking to the left on the beach and after walking around 5 - 7 minutes, I saw this restaurant with table and sunchairs, I was like this is exactly what I wanted ! Then we found out they actually have nice and pretty cheap place for us to stay.  Bungalo No.7 offers more than just clean rooms, nice little garden, friendly staff and diving lessons at Nusa Lembongan. I found the food in the restaurant was good, the Italian guy who actually owned the diving school was super nice too, plus the room rate is Rp 130.000 for double bed including breakfast ! Sweet deal, aye ? Simple life in Nusa Lembongan island makes me think I could just give up my big city life, pack my bags and move here...  

Welcome to Bungalo No.7



Room at Bungalo No.7



Secret Garden, Nusa Lembongan

   While visiting new places, I don't mind at all to move from one hotel to another one. Even tho sometimes it means I should check out on time, carry my stuff, find another hotel and wait a lil bit until the hotel staff let me to check in. The good thing was Dom never complained about this, in the end, it's all about the experiences, photos and recommendations we would love to share with you all on the blog. 
  Since Dom knew that Secret Garden in Nusa Lembongan offers yoga classes for Rp 100.000, and ahhh...the evening lecture about manta rays - which obviously I have never attended any event like that before, I gotta agree with Dom - we had great stay with Secret Garden. The British owner and the rest of the staff was super friendly, I like the homey atmosphere and garden in front of our bungalow.The room rate was Rp 120.000, not including breakfast, but you can always order food from the kitchen and of course, the local ladies there will make sure you get anything you need. Just like any other places in Nusa Lembongan offers diving lessons, Secret Garden offers the best deal ( Dom said it was the cheapest compare to others ) for diving. I forgot how much exactly it was, but Dom and other guests were really happy to see lots of manta rays and great dive with professional diving instructors. FYI, Nusa Lembongan is always fully booked during summer, so if you plan to stay here, you'd better book in advance.
    

Pool and garden at Secret Garden, Nusa Lembongan

Secret Garden, Nusa Lembongan


Saturday, January 4, 2014

Padang Bai



Sunset at Padang Bai
Cows scared Nic and I. Stuck for almost 30 minutes just standing..
  
    Talking about the highlight of 2013...
    I couldn't think of what was the best thing happened to me last year except being really healthy for a year, didn't get any flu or even fever, I am totally grateful that my super-fit body helped me a lot making the most of the year. Have always surrounded by good people, I was lucky to have chances learning about business development, sales and marketing, travel writing, photography, get involved in big events, went to new places, met lots of interesting people, even did auditions. All these things I saw, experienced, including my failures, ups and downs too, sort of give me a conclusion that I can't help wanting bigger and better things in my life, I will never settle for less, at some point I realized to dream big means I have to go through a very long process, hard work, but I really don't mind with that ... knowing after keep trying and trying for the past 12 months, I will get what I want in less than 40 days. New place, new life, new people, new adventure waiting out there...
    ( Still ) talking about BALI - still as beautiful as ever, no matter there has been a lot of changes and development every year, and even though the island is crammed with tourists, this place just never seem to lose magic and will always have a magnet at its very heart. Have always wanted to visit Padang Bai since years ago, but I always ended up staying in the same place around Seminyak or Legian, so this time while Dom busy doing yoga with Radiantly Alive Ubud for only $15 ( 3 sessions per day, sweeet deal ), I decided to catch 08.30 am Perama Tour shuttle bus from Ubud to Padang Bai. Arrived in Padang Bai, the port where people normally take a ferry to Gili island looked busy as usual. If you're not in a rush, try to spend one night or two relaxing here. Nic and I stayed at Topi Inn, which around  10 minutes walk distance from Perama tour office in Padang Bai or you can take moto taxi for Rp 10.000.  Love the tropical atmosphere, restaurant, friendly staff and live music at night, plus it's only 5 minutes walk distance to Blue Lagoon beach and 20 minutes to Bias Tugel beach ( it's a bit far but really worth it ).

Blue Lagoon Padang Bai




Future super models :)

Bias Tugel beach



Bias Tugel beach


Topi Inn, Padang Bai

Topi Inn Padang Bai



Room at Topi Inn, Padang Bai Rp 130.000 per night