MimmaBenz.com

Travel Kwento: BALI

Travel Date April 13, 2013 – April 16, 2013

Travel Party: Mimma, Didda, Kite, Laya; Sister in Law Leslie with kids Gio & Paulo; Friend Bong with kids Nik & Max – 10 pax (4 grown ups; 3 teenage kids; 2 tweeners & 1 toddler)

Airfare: 50% one way sale P8688/pax

Kunja Villa & Spa: $556/night for a 3 Bedroom Villa (1 room per family kami)

Airport Transfer: P9,100 for both ways

Vacation Type: Luxurious. Pace: Chill.

Additional Note:

I booked Cebu Pac on my own but for the hotel I asked help from Happy Travels for recommendations because I knew the trip will highly depend on the place where we will stay since I know the beach there is nothing compared to Boracay. Choices were:

The Dusun  Three bedroom Pool Villa: Usd651/net/villa/night – incl. abf

Karma Jimbaran Three Bedroom Luxury Pool Villa: Usd: Usd 674/net/villa/night – incl.abf

The Kunja   Three bedroom Pool Villa: Usd 556/net/villa/night – incl. abf

We chose Kunja for the vast space and for the fact that the rooms are all kinda Masters bedroom-ish: King Size bed on all rooms and all bathroom are spacious. Karma was a second choice simply because the living room is air conditioned. It would be nice to be able to stay and chit chat with everyone in comfort, but the layout wasnt as good and the space wasnt as big too.

Day 1

Our flight to Bali was at 4am so we left house at 1am. So glad Stephen (Happy Travels) called Kunja the day before to find out if we can have early check in. As soon as we arrived the resort, we just filled up the forms at their lobby then we were immediately brought to our villa with a welcome drink of Ginger with Lemongrass (really yummy) and cold towels. We arrive at the villa at 9am and asked reception if we can have breakfast served since our flight on the last day will be too early, they happily obliged and we really appreciate that. While waiting for breakfast, the kids went swimming.

LONG walk from airport to car port

Villa 10

The Breakfast Guy

Cooking our breakky

Waiting for breakfast

Overflowing condiments

Breakfast is ready!

Rightside room, extra bed beside the door leading to the pool/garden.

Bathroom of the rightside bedroom. The bathroom in master’s bedroom is much bigger pa.

Our IT for the day is to just enjoy the villa and go to KuDeTa in Kuta for Sunset. Our plans for the next day is to do a city tour so we spent the afternoon browsing thru tons of brochure we got from the airport. Nap a bit then headed to KuDeta, a bar in front of the Kuta Beach, nice place to chill and watch as surfers enjoy the waves, the kids playing with sands and just enjoying the beach.  Too bad it was overcast that day and we werent able to see the sunset, but our kid enjoyed the beach and the waves so it’s ok.  Besides the kids are too tired from swimming since some didnt nap so we decided to head back to the villas as it started to drizzle. Upon reaching the villa we ordered dinner thru the hotel’s reception. Kids swam again after dinner.

KuDeTa

Beach View

Playing with the sand

Pictorial by the beach.

Day 2

We do plan to stay in the villa a lot but still we want to see sights and see Bali. So we rented a car that would fit all 10 of us, we got an Elf Van that seats 12 pax for $75 for 9 hours add $10 for a guide. We picked places I see from the brochures and just asked the guide to bring us there.  It was really hot and we are all dreaming of the pool so we kinda cut short the trip and headed back.  We went to the ff places:

Taman Ayun Temple is a Royal Temple of Mengwi Empire and it is located in Mengwi Village. It is so worth going to, I love how beautiful the temple is.

Taman Ayun Temple is a Royal Temple of Mengwi Empire and it is located in Mengwi Village

Ulun Danu Temple in Lake Beratan. It is atop a mountain so the temperature is cool. Another beautiful temple.

Fruits and handicraft market.

Monkey Temple

Monkey Temple

This is our rented van. Our guide sat at the seat beside the driver. Can seat 12 passengers including the seat of the guide. $75 for 9 hour rent.

Whole Babi Guling ordered via the resort at 800,000 INR or roughly P3,400

Day 3

They left at 8am to go rafting (Siobe & I were stayed at the villa). They came back at around 2pm. Super fun but the walk to the rafts were so tiring and treacherous. Abet & Bong tried white water rafting in CDO and it doesnt compare to this one.  This one give you a pause to catch your breath and it is action time again, while the one in CDO has a lot of calm water parts.  The kids ranging from 9 years old to 14 years old all enjoyed it and didnt get scared at all.  According to them they will definitely do this again should we go back to Bali.  Also should research well on which operator to pick.  Some are located far so there’s a long long, some have a short rafting route so short rafting time only. There’s too many rafting offers but we chose the one who offered the cheapest price $30/pax inclusive of transfers, rafting, insurance, lunch (lousy one), equipment. The most expensive at $50/pax I wonder if the more expensive ones has the shorter walk/better service.

That night we went to have dinner by the beach at Jimbaran, oh it was far pala (45 mins via taxi at 80,000IDR or P340). The food was awesome. Not cheap but not too expensive since we ordered a lot and we ordered lobster, prawns, crabs, clasm and fish and a lot of young coconut juice.  Must try their young coconut juice they squeeze a slice of lime, their clams is also really good, the Barramundi Fish too and the Prawns are really so good. Great end to a great trip!

Day 4

Wake up at 5am leave resort at 5:30am for 8:30am flight.

Our photos at:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151878509863662.1073741830.594228661&type=3

NOTES:

There are several places we want to go back too so perfect for a next trip. Along the way we saw the nice boutique and cafes at the Kuta area (very near Seminyak lang where our resort is) next trip we will do a 4 day trip. Day 1 chill then dinner at Jimbaran Beach. Day 2
Culture day go visit the temples and sights. Day 3 rafting and Sunset at Kudeta. Day 4 Chill, Shop, Beach, Boutique and Cafe day.

We totalled all the expenses it’s at P240,000 all in na even the terminal fees and airport taxes. 10 pax (4 adults, 3 teenagers; 2 tweens, 1 toddler)