I went surfing....

NOT!!!!

Hahaha... Although I wished I did. Kinda regret not doing it when I was in Kuta Beach, Bali. 

But I did try it out. Sorta. 

Fake but at least it is a surfboard.

Oh well, its time to plan another trip there then :)

Happy Haze Day everyone!!!! 

Food Adventure in Bali, Indonesia

Eating in Bali is kinda boring. You'll have the usual western food, lots of fried rice and their famous mee soto/ nasi bebek, etc. So bear with me as I try to recall what we ate on our trip a month ago :p

Our birthday night, after an impromptu pool side party, me twinnie and her E, Rockstar and I headed out for supper. Turning 28th is once a lifetime so we celebrating big with desserts!!! Haha.. We walk down and found ourselves outside Bunute Restaurant and Bar, drawn to it by its live performance.

Me twinnie with her Mr. Coconut - 'Bunute Dream' made from a fresh young coconut water with bacardi and coconut liqueur. RP 70.

Milkshakes - Chocolate & Strawberry. RP 20. 

Nachos. RP 37

Cream Caramel RP 17

Hot Chocolate Brownie RP 17 

Sirloin Steak. RP 80

Decent food, decent performance, great company :)

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Breakkie @ Kafe Batan Waru. 

Wedang Jahe. RP 13. Extreme spice infusion. Brewed with ginger, nutmeg, clove and palm sugar. Not for the weak. 

Fried rice.

Eggs Benedict. RP36.

Shiitake eggs. RP 28. 

Omelette with smoked marling. RP 42.

Rucola Eggs. RP 32.

Total bill came up to RP 592 for 10 person. 

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We stop by a roadside store, on the way to the rice terrace, to try their famous Nasi Bebek, or known as duck rice. Even though it cost us RP 30 each plate, which was very high priced for a road side store, the food is good. Mixture of duck in broth, fried duck, spice duck with some rojak salad thing. Delish!

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Dinner at a restaurant in Tanah Lot. 

Giraffe + Big Coconut. 

Nasi Goreng Ayam.

Total bill came up to RP 581 for 12 person. 

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Surati Coffee Shop was a big favourite. We ate there 6-7 times throughout the trip as the food and service was good. Just a short walk around from Tune Hotel, Legian. Didn't managed to take pictures of most food, but here's some taken at our 1st meal there. 

Highly recommended. Don't bother going to the Warung Murah, a store between Tune Hotel Legain and Surati Coffee Shop. Indeed its 'murah' but quality of food is horrible, tasteless and not worth it. Surati cost slightly higher but you'll get good quality food, free wifi, clean tables and chairs. 

They even gave us free dessert. :)

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Took a breather from the hot weather along Jalan Seminyak at Buzz Cafe. Tried their mint drink which was a thirst quencher and Rice with Chicken Cashew Nut. 

Bill came to RP 147 for just 1 drink and 1 rice. High price but good service.Free wifi too. 

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Warung Ijo. Small malay restaurant just on the Jalan Ubud. Cheap and good. Seems a favourite with backpackers. Cheapest birthday dinner ever in my history of birthdays ;p

Bill came up to Rp 304 for 12 person. 

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Breakie @ 66 Corner along Jalan Legian. Recommended by Trip Advisor. Food is good, western style but much higher price. 

Bill came up to RP 786 for 12 person. 

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Eat & Eat Food Court at Beachwalk Shopping Center, opposite Kuta Beach. A great find with lots of good local food, clean, great view and cheap price averagely between RP 20 - 30. 

Cold stone ice cream @ Flintsones, Beachwalk. Creamy, thick and delicious. RP 50. 

Churros @ Beach walk. Thumbs and fingers up :) RP 15 for 10 pieces. 

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Popsicle at the corner opposite the Memorial on Jalan Kuta. I was trying to snap a picture when this guy walked passed and tried to take a lick of my popsicle. -_-

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Some other food which I can't recall when and where. We had lots of rice, fried rice especially and rice with dishes. All in all, a good experience with great company. Not that expensive if you don't visit establishments targeting tourists. An average decent meal with drink may cost you between RM 15-20. 

I think I like it there.  I'll be back :)

* most photos are taken with my phone camera except maybe 6-7 which were taken with my EOS 400D. Can you identify which ones? 

Finding paradise at Aya's Room Hotel, Ubud

When I planned my family trip to Bali, I booked a 4 nights stay at the Tune Hotel Legian. However, as the trip got closer, and after much research, we decided to spend our 2nd night in Ubud. Why Ubd? Because its the cultural center of Bali and it far different from the beach scene at Kuta & Legian. 

After much, much, much research and time, I discovered this place called 'Aya's Rooms Hotel'. This new accommodation, just opened to public a few months back, had only 2 reviews. But pictures and reviews look superb, and it's the only accommodation that had last minute rooms available for my big group of 12. It had only 2 blocks, with 6 room each block. Our family took up the entire block. 

It was absolutely a delight to find this haven after a walk through a narrow alley. Like a little hidden paradise, just for us. Big spacious rooms, big clean beds, a little but well-stocked pantry, big airy toilets. The staffs was friendly and tried to accommodate our requests. 

And the view was amazing. Beautiful. 

We ran around like chickens, checking out this paradise that sadly was only going to be home for 1 night. We were all on the highest floor when my mum called up to us asking us to pose for a picture. While posing, I turned my camera down towards her and took a picture *failed*. 

It felt like a private villa with our own swimming pool. Small but enough to refresh us when we needed it. We even had a pool party that night to celebrate me & me twin birthday. There were another couple and 2 single ladies staying in the block opposite us but we basically had the entire place to ourselves. 

Fooling around while waiting for the rest to get ready. That's a norm when you have a big group travelling together. Location was superb as its centrally located. Just a walk out the narrow alley and we could find shops, restaurants, bars. The Ubud Market was about 10-15 minutes walk away. 

Next morning, i woke up to this. I'm assuming that is Mount Agung, the mountain with smoke at the background.We didn't get to go there but at least I could see it, from afar. 

I am so loving my new long range lense as it allows me to spy on people. muauahahaha!! Guess how much we paid per room? Only RM120 or USD40 per night. 

After a long walk out for breakfast and some final shopping, it was time to leave. One last dip in the pool, and a group shot. Time to say good-bye and till we meet again. Wish I could stay here longer. 

*photo taken from dad*

It's really, really hard to find a place that meets 12 persons need and requirements and I got to say that Aya's Rooms did. At least some of it. We all enjoyed our stay very much. 

Aya's Rooms Hotel

Jl. Hanoman, Padang Tegal, 

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Cons 

- Water pressure in the higher floors rooms were quite bad. It was hard taking shower with the small amount of water. But have told them, and was assure that they will fix it. 

- Electricity keeps going out. Every once in awhile the entire night. I think it went off and on averagely 5 times per hour. According to them, its a norm. 

- We did see a cockroach at the swimming pool area, but the guy caught it quickly and took it away. 

* p.s. Sorry for the wonky pictures. My laptop/blogger/camera is not working together and until I figure it out, don't sprain your neck turning left and right k? :)