24th

HELLO!

Great start for 2016 New year was with the girls. Impromptu staycay at Hotel Boss, fireworks got blocked but it was alright. Supper at Kampong Glam cafe. I kinda up all night watching movie on tv since Fareh was snoring away. LOL So I had my first ever solo trip for 10 days to celebrate my 24th birthday. 

Overall it was AWESOME!

3rd January 2016

The girls send me off for my 5am flight. So nice of them to make time for me. Thank you so much girls.

Window seat yay!

Arrive around 8 ish and i made my way out of the airport to rent a motorbike. Cost me 500k IDR for 10 days rental. Well from what i heard from other backpackers that i talked to, you can rent for a month about 600k.

So i made my way to Ubud. It took be about 2hrs ride since i got a little lost along the ways. Stayed at Puji Bungalow for a night. By the time i reach the hostel i was so sleepy so i went straight to sleep upon checking in.

Well by the time i woke up it was dark and since i need to get some stuff i head out for a walk around the city area. Just a quick walk and head back to the hostel for a short swim.

I booked for a sunrise trek at Mt Batur which would pick me up around 230am so i just plan to rest while waiting. Got hungry around 11 plus and went out searching for food. The streets were quiet but luckily there was still a warung open.

4th January 2016

I looked at the time it struck 12 midnight! 

Took a quick nap after eating. Well i still have about 2 hours till the transport pick me up.

Arrived at the start point about 4am. We had torch lights for the hike and there were also many others that were doing sunrise trekking so it kinda form a trail of lights leading up to the top.

The walk back down was torture on the knees. Haha. Like for real my knees were feeling it during the decent.

Overall i had a great experience and it was a birthday well spent up at Mt Batur.

IT WAS DEFINITELY A BUSY AND TIRING BIRTHDAY FOR ME.

Arrive back at the hostel about 11am all tired and sleepy. Check out was at 1pm latest so that means i only had less than 2 hours nap time.

Dragged myself out of the hostel and off to Tulamben for my dive course which starts the next morning.
 

The journey took me almost 3 hour bike ride. Stopped once for bakso along the way cause i had to since i haven't lunch and my ass was hurting from sitting on the scooter too long. haaa

So i checked in at Bali Reef Divers, Tulamben and i went straight to bed to catch up on sleep. Woke up for dinner to find that the area is very very quiet. The area is more for diving and not touristy at all. Head over to a restaurant down the road. Great view overlooking Mt Agung.

The place sells pork so i decided to find a halal restaurant. There was one according to Tripadvisor and it turns out to be just opposite the dive centre. SO MUCH FOR HALAL. There's pork in their menu too. PFFT! Well at least the location was nice, just by the seaside with the wave splashing. Ordered seafood combo with tom yum soup and 2 milkshake. Yes 2. LOL. The whole meal cost me 150k.

Well the food at the restaurants are basically similar prices. Only warungs would be half price cheaper but they are only open during the day. 

Did some reading on the open water dive course theory and slept early that night. 

5th January 2016

Surprisingly i woke up early. Took my scooter around exploring the area before starting the course at 830. Managed to catch the beautiful sunrise by the beach.

So there were 4 other Singaporean post grad that was doing the dive course else well. My roommate was from China, funny thing was that she doesn't know how to swim and all. Maybe she is just collecting certs. hahaha

Ok so the instructor brought us to the other outlet at Amed since its a big group and the pool is bigger there. First half of the day was dry, mostly theory. We watched like a 3 hour video as an alternative from reading the whole theory book which obviously would take longer.

Second half we did pool session. Try out and practice some skills underwater and we were done for the day. It was about half hour ride back to Tulamben. I literally went straight to bed. Yes, it was that tiring. haha

Woke up for dinner. Went to the same restaurant and had soup along with mango juice. I guess i had no appetite that night. 

6th January 2016

That morning we head over to Amed again for another pool session before going for open water. Practice a few more skills and we were good to go. First dive was a Jemeluk bay after lunch. 

 

Ok 30 min into the dive i felt nauseous. Maybe due to he buoyancy. I felt like vomiting and had to accent to the top. Felt bad for my partner that was diving me too cause we had to end the dive. Rest a while and we have to go for our second dive. I was still feeling nauseous but i gotta give it a try at least. Went into the water and i knew i won't make it long underwater so i call if off and chill by the beach while the rest do their 2nd dive. 

It was nice seeing the locals enjoying their afternoon over by the bay. So anyway we called it a day after the rest finished their dive. Head back to Tulamben, went off to dinner on my own at another restaurant overlooking Mt Agung The sunset view was really nice from there.

Gado-gado

Yes thats how their gado-gado looks like. I only at like 1/3 of it. hahaha. Didn't really had an appetite. Joined the Singaporeans gang after my dinner. At least they are really friendly Singaporeans. haaaa

7th January 2016

Last day of open water course. We didn't have to go over to Amed. Me and another girl had to complete 3 dives since we skipped 1 the day before.

 

Waving underwater be like.....

U.S.A.T Liverty wreck

We had final exam after the dive and that was it. We completed it. Tiring but great experience.

It was already late by the time the course ended that day. So one of the dive instructor offered to crash at his couch for the night.  Had dinner and chill at an unfinished resort just talking under stars. It was really nice.

8th January 2016

Sunrise view from my couch. Lol

I woke up in the middle of the night and end up watching a movie on tv till sunrise. Slept a lil more and went on to the dive centre for a while before exploring the the small town. The weather was crazy hot so i went back to the house just to avoid the scorching hot sun. Went on to ride around again when it was less sunny.

Thats where the villagers showers and collect water.

Went on to catch the sunset at Jemeluk hill. Really nice view from there.

Met my friend back at the house and had dinner. By the end of the day i turns out i stayed there another night. LOL

9th January 2016

Exploring Amed day 2 

Went in search for a waterfall but turns out it have not been raining so much hence, no water falling. haaahaaa. So went on to explore up the mountain. Great fun.

 It was really amazing. Afternoon well spent for sure.

Yet another night on the couch. haha

10th January 2016

7.30am said goodbye to my friend/dive instructor and made my way to Ubud. Wasn't looking forward to the 3 hour journey but i have no choice.

Goodbye Amed

Drop by Klungkung, to check the place where i had my race back in early nov. 

Thats the view from the starting point. Love it.

Rode around Klungkung too just to find the motorcross track by couldn't find a rental a bike for rental. And the weather was already killing me so i made my way to Ubud. It was about 4 hours plus. Booked a hostel with A/C this time. Rest a while and i was off to find the waterfall just 30 minutes away.

Tegenungan Waterfall

Definitely a great afternoon well spent cooling off from the hot weather at the waterfall.

 Had a really nice bakso on the way back.

There was much  to do at Ubud at inght. Thought of watching the dance at Ubud Palace but i went on to walk around instead. The shop close early which sucks. I wanted a massage but too late. Sigh.

11th January 2016

Made my way to Seminyak which was around an hour plus. Stayed at M boutique hostel which was amazing. It was only 120k per night. 

Pretty much my last day in Bali so i actually wanted something nice at Beachwalk but i couldn't decide and end up eating at pizza hut. hahaha

Just 110k. Thats $11 only!!

Bought the value deal for 2 which cost 110 only include tax and all. Obviously i couldn't finish it and packed the pizza. So worth it!

Kuta beach when its not packed. lol

I made my way to Uluwatu after late lunch to catch the Kacak dance and sunset there. 

Quick look at the local bicycle shop while otw to Uluwatu

The entry fee to Uluwatu clearly stated 20k but somehow maybe i looked local i was charged domestic price 15k. That was nice! haha. The ticket for kacak dance is 100k and its about an hour ish...

Rush back to the hostel cause i wanted to try the holy crab which is just a distance away. But.....in the end i decided to try it next time since i was still super full from lunch.

and i end up sleeping early on my last night in Bali!! urghhh

12th January 2016

Well started the day early and had plenty of time till check out. Went exploring around Seminyak.

Potato head beach club!

Back to the hostel for nice relaxing swim before i had to checkout at 12pm

Had the pool all to myself!

Went for a full body massage and then head over to discovery shopping mall for my A&W!

Flying home soon :(

 I was still early for my flight so decided to grab some ice cream sandwich i was kinda craving.

 

Yes Singapore Ice cream but i don't see it in Singapore. Pffft.

Ok so at this point i was dragging myself to the airport. Its just sad to leave. Sigh.

Returned the motorbike at the hostel and walked down to the airport. 

Kitty cat acting as security guard. haaa

The flight home was a good one for sure. Had a good chat with a fellow Singaporean that was sitting beside me. The flight attendant gave an acoustic solo nearing to touch down which was nice. That was the first time i've seen live in flight performance.

HOME SWEET HOME.

Felt so bad for leaving sparky at the airport carpark for 10 days  but i had too of course. Don't wanna take public transport with my backpack. hehe.

Head home wash up and i met Suhail for Dinner/supper at Simpang. 

All in all i had such a great 10 days solo trip. Best birthday i've had in years for sure. A solo trip is a must try for everyone so please don't be afraid people! 

Till next post....