| C Morris |
13 August 2001 |
Stayed at Balihai Resort and Spa - Bali, Indonesia.
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We truly appreciated this property. In particular, the grounds were lovely, and having never been to Bali before and expecting to find a cultivated Hawaiin experience in the culture of SE Asia, we found Kuta alarmingly lacking in safe and effective infrastructure, extremely dirty, garbage everywhere, no recycling program in sight, open sewage run-off into the sea, and we were overrun by tourist sales hawkers. We were particularly sorry to see so many coral pieces being sold in the forms of jewelry, etc., which of course represents the irreversible destruction of the natural reefs. Many travellers will pay very good money to be allowed to see nature in its natural state, not produced for temporary tourist markets, and we hope places like the Bali-H'ai can influence the local villagers to stop their plunder of the natural resources, and conserve their environment for those seeking eco- and cultural tourism experiences.
To have the resort be such a pretty oasis in the midst of ugly Kuta was a wonderful thing.
We took a day trip to Ulu Watu, and went on for five days in Ubud from Kuta, and then stayed in Sanur for the last part of our trip. We did not venture to the restaurants nearby, because Kuta was so unwelcoming, particularly for two sisters travelling alone. The hotel menu was fine.
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| J Sugiyama |
07 August 2001 |
Stayed at Millennium Hotel Sirih Jakarta - Jakarta, Indonesia.
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I visited the zoo called Kebun Binatang Ragunan in Jakarta. I saw beautiful white tigers there.
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| W Bowring |
06 August 2001 |
Stayed at Puri Dalem Hotel (BSB) - Bali, Indonesia.
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I hired a car after PAYING for a local 30day bali licenses (1for a car and 1for a motor cycle..300.000rp for both)... The car was delivered without petrol..another 50,000rp fro a tank of fuel.
I met up with friends and went to Dempasar markets and from there negotiated with a losal driver to take up back to the hotel and in the conversation arranged to hire him for 4hours to drive to Ubud and places for 160,000rp
The Young Artist shop in Ubud ( a bit of an apprentice workshop centre),is the best for paintings of all sorts and supporst the local artist directly.
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| V Anantha-nageswaran |
05 August 2001 |
Stayed at Balihai Resort and Spa - Bali, Indonesia.
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A trip to Ubud from Denpasar is well worth it. Both in terms of sight seeing (Royal palace, Monkey forest and Elephant cave) and shopping.
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| R Benson |
04 August 2001 |
Stayed at Garden Hotel - Bali, Indonesia.
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Surabaya is a busy city. Several large shopping malls. For day trips there is a nice waterfall neat Batu ourside of Malang. Tretis is a mountain resort nearby.
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| D Johnson |
05 July 2001 |
Stayed at Diwangkara Beach Hotel - Bali, Indonesia.
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Tanah Lot is a MUST. Don't just get the sunset at the beach and temple, head out of the town for about half a mile and look back towards the sea; the water in the padi looks as if it is on fire!!
We hired a Suzuki Jimmny which was great for the local roads and plenty of room for two people (+shopping!). Once you get off the main roads the signing is woefully lacking and there are no such things as road numbers. A road map is a must, but is only partially helpfull. If you are from the northern hemisphere don't forget that in the summer the sun goes from the east through NE to N at noon and through NW to west at sunset - took me a couple of days to get used to it.
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| P Zummo |
04 July 2001 |
Stayed at Bali Hilton International - Bali, Indonesia.
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Bali is the best. It reminded me of Hawaii a bit although there were distict differences as well. Nua Sudua is great - very clean, very beautiful - even if it is a bit artificial. Still, the rest of the island was beautiful as well.
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| D Snyder |
02 July 2001 |
Stayed at Melasti Beach Bungalows - Bali, Indonesia.
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Bali is the greatest place on earth. (You MUST stay a few days at Bali Cliff Resort, absolutely the nicest people you have ever met and the place is a palace.) Get out and meet the local people at the Warungs. I love Jimbaran at sunset for seafood. I don't care if the scales are off it still a great deal.
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| M Van de watering |
30 June 2001 |
Stayed at Garden Hotel - Bali, Indonesia.
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Taxi are very cheap. Take some trips in the area like Malang and Bromo to escape the crowded Surabaya.The traffic is crazzy!
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| R Gupta |
27 June 2001 |
Stayed at Waka Shorea - Bali, Indonesia.
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I would highly recommend a night or two at one of the black sand beaches on the west coast, as the black sand against the crashing waves makes a dramatic backdrop
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Traveller's Tales: Places to go and see in Indonesia
