Bali Trip Day 1, 13 April 2011

Ok.. it seems that I'm blogging backwards, doesn't matter much as I feel like jotting down some memory. And I would also like to post the pics here so that my mom is able to view them. So here the whole journey is.

On 13th April, I called a cab the day before to book in order not to be late for my flight the next day. I woke up at 5.30am to prepare myself and just to give a call to the taxi service to remind them. Fortunately my cab came on time and we departed from the house at 6.30am. It was raining heavily when we reached 1 Utama to get a ride from Sky Bus. Bought the ticket for RM15 per person and the bus left at 7.00am and reached LCCT at 8.15am.

We checked in our luggage and went to have breakfast at Marry Brown. Yummy. Our flight is at 10.55am therefore we have ample of time to walk around LCCT. Its not a big place but good enough. After that we went to have a cig break at an open space outside meant for smokers, where there it is exposed to the sun, so friends who go there after 12pm.. good luck.

Me boarding Air Asia

The walk from the boarding gate to the plane was far. The plane took off a couple of minutes later and it was a bumpy ride. Most of the time, we were asked to be buckled up. I made a mistake when I booked the seats and I could not recline the seat. I requested to switch places and the kind attendant gave me the hotseats and I manage to have a comfortable trip. The normal seats I would say are really pack and I felt I was going claustrophobic. We landed in Ngurah Rai Airport at approximately 2.00pm and we walked around the airport to get out and it was rather pack with Japanese.

Arrival at Ngurah Rai Airport

We manage to find our way out after 30 mins and to our surprise someone was holding on to our luggages. It was obvious that we were the last few exitting the airport and these people who are holding our luggages are not the airport staff. When I wanted to take my luggage, they just took it for us and guide us out of the airport through the security system. Couple of times I wanted to take back my luggage but they insist on holding on to it and move away from us. Both our luggages are in two different men's hand and I felt something was not right. Before going through the main exit, I pretended to look at the money changer and they both stop and asked me if I wanted to change currency, I quickly grabbed my luggage and I push my friend to get hers. These two man then asked us each to pay them 1 Dollar which I responded 'NO' and walked off quickly.

At the exit to the right, there is a booth for taxi and I proceeded there to get a cab after reading bad reviews about the overcharged cabs there. We got a cab at the fare of Rp55,000 and to me it was reasonable. We each brought Rp1.5 mil. We got to the Hotel Adi Dharma withing 15 mins ride and it was awesome to me. Very cultural and local I would say.

Entrance to the Reception

Walkway in the Hotel to the Rooms

The door to the room, however this is my friend's room

Service Directory is provided in each room

Interior of Room

Bath Tub with Toilet

Bathroom View

After checking in, I felt a grumbling sound in my stomach and I realised that I'm super hungry, so it's time to go jalan jalan cari makan. I read online that Bali is famous for their Nasi Padang which is also our Malaysian Nasi Campur but with local delicacies. We walked around Kuta and found a small shop which is quite hidden within those big shops which serves Nasi Padang. We enter the place and it was stuffy with only two customer. The place is cramp but decent enough. We ordered to plates of Nasi Padang with beef, chicken and potato. It tasted really good. But very expensive indeed for a small portion of food.

The lighted up window which display the food has attracted my attention

From left: Chicken, Rice with Curry, Beef and Potato

Check out the Potato(face)

Food with Sprite

Nasi Padang at Kuta

After food, we walk along the street where there are many stalls selling attire, surfing clothing and local handmade souvenirs. There are many arts, scarfs, sarong and beautiful home decoration items. Bargain for the right prices, you can get up to 70% discount. But I would say it would be better if you can buy your souvenirs at other places and in bulk. Along the street you can find plenty of convenient stores about 100 meters apart. Convenient stores along the roads are K-Mart, M-Mart and Indomart. Each convenient store has different pricing for the same item among the stores. Hot sales item among foreigners will be beers and cigarattes. These items are really cheap at unbelievable prices which I bought abundant of it. I also manage to check out the place for the famous bombing of Bali.

Names of the deceased. RIP.

As the sky got a little dark and it started to drizzle, we made our way back to our hotel and took a rest. Later in the day we will be meeting up with the rest of the Loud Peeps. Already checked-in in Bali before us, is Vishal, Yong Jia, Lisa, Joni and Irene. By the time we get back to the Hotel, the next team member who would have checked in would be Calvin. The last team to check in will be Mavis, Nikki and Jennifer. At about 9.00pm we headed out for dinner at a local shop called Warung 96 which is a short distance walk behind of the hotel. These place serves good pork.

We had Pork Rice and big bottles of beer. This place is more like a shack but the people are warm and friendly. We manage to fit 12 person in a long table and everyone enjoyed their meals and laughters. The Loud Peeps have decided to go on to Hard Rock for Clubbing but its just not my thing. Me and Mag decided to make a round of shopping in the convenient store because we would like to bring back some local food which we could not get from our country. It was a fruitful walk as we have bought plenty of stuff. There after we retire for the night after a bottle of Bintang.

Night 1 in Bali, this is what we bought.

Left is from Bali, Right is from my home country

I couldn't sleep early and I decided to watch tv till the wee hours in the morning around 3.00am. It was raining and the air cond is so cold. I'm glad the the tv stations that this hotel serve us is not letting me down as they have local movies, HK movies with Indonesian language voice over, block buster movies, comedies, Japanese shows, Korean shows and Cartoon Network. It was a beautiful night indeed, apart from the snoring pig beside me. Hehehehe.