Bali Bali Bo-Bali

Note:  I am now the Asia Correspondent for a new travel blog, Family Travel Diary.  Check it out!  Also, this post was a collaboration between me and Jason. 

People will tell you that Singapore is small and that you'll be eager to travel the rest of Asia out of sheer necessity, because it only takes you a few months to see all of Singapore.  After three months,  Jason doesn't find this to be the case and still thoroughly enjoys exploring the various towns, parks, etc. of Singapore.

All the same, we have a relatively limited time here in Southeast Asia, and decided we better start exploring the rest of the region as early as possible.  As a result, our first trip out of Singapore came a month after the kids and I arrived.  We chose Bali, Indonesia, because we only had time for a short trip and we wanted to ease the kids into international travel before we started to explore some more (comparatively) exotic locations. It is only a 2-hour plane ride from Singapore to Bali (Densapar), which is like a blink of an eye after the 20-hour flight from New York to Singapore.  Cooper even told me he liked the long flights.  (I told him he needed to see a doctor.)

Sophia and Cooper at the Changi (Sin) Airport

After some minor confusion, and a near Locked Up Abroad experience at the Changi airport (KLM failed to provide a required departure stamp on our boarding passes, which airport security didn't find humor in) we were on our way.  When we landed, all I could think of was, "Where the hell am I?"  The airport was honestly not very nice, and it was crazy crowded.  However, the Visa-on-Arrival process was completely painless and we were quickly on our way to find our name on a driver placard outside the arrival area.  In a sea of drivers we found ours and he led us to the pick-up area...where complete CHAOS ensued. 

Hard to see, but these are the motorbikes at the airport

Surrounded by friendly Aussies, also enjoying their holiday in Bali, we witnessed a melee of cars, vans, and motorbikes all jumbled together, each trying to drop off or pick up passengers.  Bali is clearly in need of a new, more modern airport (which is under construction) - and at least one traffic engineer - to sort out the congestion and complete insanity of the arrivals and departure process.  Many cars just pulled up, put on their parking lights, and the driver hopped out to go look for their passengers...all the while leaving 6-8 cars stuck behind them with nowhere to go.  Somehow, our driver made his way to us, and masterfully picked the correct lane to get around this mess and leave the airport.  It took only about 15 minutes for him to collect us and our baggage and get us on our way.

Our driver, Jordan, was super nice, very chatty, and stopped at the local Circle K so we could get some beers.  (And some Mad Dog and Boone's Farm.  Oh wait...that was what we got from the Circle K at Wake Forest.  Good times.)  Instead, we picked up a couple sodas, Oreos, and Pringles (for the kids), and a mixed 6-pack of San Miguel Lite and Bintang (for the adults).  Oh - and Jason picked up ice cream for himself and Sophia.  He is addicted to those new "Magnum" ice cream bars.

Let me talk briefly about the driving habits of Indonesians.  Yes, there are lanes, and I *think* there are actual road rules.  But no one seems to realize (or care) that they exist.  In addition to the insane amount of cars on the road, there are 20 times as many motorbikes.  Everywhere you go, it's like Bike Week, minus the tattoos, leather jackets and loud motorcycles.  Rather, it's like a Vespa road rally where no one has a helmet, half aren't wearing shoes, and 50% of the time at least one child is standing in front of or hanging onto the back of the driver.  Additionally, the bike riders seem to think that riding four bikes to a lane (those that recognize the existence of a lane) is an okay practice and overall it's just a free-for-all.  Scary stuff. 

Thanks to Jordan's expert driving skills, we arrived at our hotel without injury. We stayed in an area of Bali called Nusa Dua, right on the Indian Ocean.  The entrance to the Nusa Dua area includes a security stop, where the guards checked under the hood as well as the trunk.  We passed (phew! - I was worried they would confiscate our six pack of Bintang!) and our driver dropped us off at the Westin Nusa Dua.  After going through another security check (sadly, the effects of the 2002 Bali bombings are alive and well), we were greeted by the friendly staff and a lovely woman dressed in traditional Indonesian garb.

The entrance to Nusa Dua

While Jason was checking in, we were offered some fresh juice and the kids were delighted to receive their own Westin Kids Club "Adventure Bags".  (They named the bags that, not the hotel.)  All kids get this upon arrival, there is no additional fee or requirement to sign them up for anything.  Included was a nylon bag, bucket hat (the kind Gilligan wore - and yes, I had to google what it was called), water bottle and make-your-own postcard kit.  Also included was the incredible schedule of activities for the kids (more on that later).  The water bottle can be used at any of the hotel restaurants (including pool) for free juice or soft drinks.  I cannot tell you how much money that saved!

  

Our room was on the ground floor, with a nice patio overlooking the pool, and just a few steps to the beach and Indian Ocean.  The rooms are small, but that is normal for this region, including Singapore.  Surprisingly, the bathroom was quite large though.  Several bottles of water were included in the room each day, as well as the requisite slippers and bathrobes.  (There were also condoms in the minibar area, just in case that is high on your hotel requirement list.)  These are pictures of the bathroom from both sides.  The shower is in the same room as the bathtub, with no barrier.  You just shut the door take a bath or shower!  It really is quite nice.

  

We arrived at around 9pm, so we went to one of the hotel restaurants, Ikan, for a late dinner.  Jason and I shared the appetizer for two (satay, spring rolls, etc.) which was excellent.  We were first introduced to the local Indonesian beer, Bintang, at the previously discussed Circle K, and we continued with it at dinner.  I have to say...and so sorry Singapore....but Bintang is SO SO SO much better than Tiger Beer.  And it's so cheap here!  Even at the hotel it was about $5 USD for a draft.  (At the Circle K, it was like $1.50 a bottle!)  After dinner, we let the kids run around on the beach under the lights and search for shells and crabs for a few minutes.  No doubt Sophia was going to have fun on this vacation!

 

So after some Bintangs to go (the restaurant staff were amused, considering room service is 24 hours a day), we tucked the kiddos in bed and sat outside and marvelled at our surroundings.
 
The next day we got to see the hotel in the daylight - and wow...it did not disappoint.  The landscaping was beautiful, the lounge chairs top-notch, freshwater and saltwater pools, a water slide, and a gorgeous private beach.  We were in heaven.  The first thing we did was hit the breakfast buffet, which at $15 an adult and $7.50 a child was a bargain.  It was HUGE, offering everything from gourmet meats and cheeses to a fresh fruit juice bar, traditional Asian fare, made-to-order eggs, waffles, crepes and pancakes, as well as assorted pastries, cereals, fruits, breads...you name it, it was there.   There was even a separate kids buffet with colorful plastic plates, chocolate milk and a scaled down version of the bigger buffet.  Picnic tables and a flat-screen TV playing cartoons added to the kid vibe.

The cave between the fresh and saltwater pools

Fountain feature in the hotel

The Westin beach

After breakfast, we continued to explore.  The Westin resort is one of several resorts along the beach in that area, and the trail is just beautiful.  Lanterns hang from trees, and like all of Indonesia, there are temples everywhere.   (not like churches, but more like what us Americans would consider shrines)  Statues with sarongs, parasols and offering boxes are ubiquitous.  We didn't know anything about anything when we got there, but asked our taxi drivers and they clued us in a bit.  I'm in desperate need of doing some research to understand the religion (90% of Indonesians are Muslim - however most in Bali are Hindu).  I will get on that right away!

Little boy flying his pirate ship kite

Friday night we had dinner in the Japanese restaurant, Hamabe.  Since the kids had never had the experience, we opted for the Teppanyaki style dinner, although you could also have a regular sit-down dinner.  My pickiest eater, Cooper, was not so into it at first.  But thank goodness, he totally warmed up and we had a lovely dinner.  It wasn't a flashy show, like some hibachi style places can be, but the food was plentiful and delicious.  For the price (approx. $45 for adults and half that for kids), you had unlimited access to meats and fish including salmon, tuna, mussels, prawns, steak and chicken, and then of course all the vegetables, rice and soup included.  It was a great deal.  The kids wanted to go back the next night!

Saturday, we went to the Waterbom Water Park in Kuta.  Okay, okay, some of you are thinking right now...."They went to Bali and spent their time at a water park?"  Understandable thoughts, but you would be wrong.  First, it was Cooper's 7th birthday, so we wanted to do something we knew he would love, and second, it's just an AWESOME water park!  The price is right and the surroundings and rides are great!  You pay your entrance fee, but then put money on account on your electronic bracelet - a cashless system.  Jason enjoyed the wristband - it reminded him of that horrible Justin Timberlake movie, "In Time"...for everything you wanted, you just scanned your arm and moved on.

We rented a family cabana by the pool for about $20 for the day.  It was great - gave us a homebase and somewhere to eat.  Speaking of eating, the food was great!  There were so many types of food to eat, and it was inexpensive and higher quality than any park of this type I've been to.  I would highly recommend waiting until your kids are 7+ for the park, however.  Cooper just made the height limit for most of the rides.  (120 cm)  There were things for the younger kids to do, but at Cooper's height, you could do it all.  And he DID IT ALL!  My children are daredevils and I love it!

For a nominal fee (like $5 a kid), they can do the "Euro Bungy".  They basically attach the kids to bungy cords and they jump on a trampoline - REALLY high in the air.  It freaked me out a little, especially when both kids did somersaults, but not on purpose...but they both loved it.  Check out these pictures!  Jason thinks he's hilarious!

All in all, it was a fabulous day and I will go back every time I am in Bali (ha ha, that sounds like I will be there frequently!)  That evening the hotel delivered a cake to Cooper!  (at no charge to us!)

 

Just down the Nusa Dua resort trail along the beach is a little area that is not a separate island, but close.  Hopefully the pictures explain it better than my words can!  Tide was low, which allowed us to walk way offshore through what can only be described as an episode of Blue Planet - Tidal Pools.  Once on the little island area, it got a little nutty.  Some poor landscaper was literally cutting the grass with a knife.  There were several acres and he was just working on one little section.  How is this possible???  It was a largely deserted area with little trails out to the cliff areas.  Just indescribable.

 

On the opposite end of our resort area was a little peninsula with a Balinese structure (ignorant as I am, I have no idea what to call it).  It was so relaxing and the kids loved exploring the rock area.  Jason got up early one morning for sunrise and took the most amazing pictures there.

On Sunday, the kids signed up for the kids club.  The Westin has great indoor and outdoor areas, complete with rock wall, trampoline, playground equipment etc.  They have a full schedule for two age groups, 3-6 and 7-12, which goes from 9am-5pm and includes lunch ($25 a child for the day).  Sophia and Cooper spent a few hours there, but unfortunately got bored.  I'm not going to blame this on the Westin though, they were the only two kids in there at the time (the resort was not crowded at all).  With the exception of adding some more toys for their age group, I'm not sure it could have been run any better.

While they were in the kids club though, Jason and I took a nice stroll through Nusa Dua.  We browsed through the little shops and of course, stopped for a drink along the way.  Here are some of the things we saw:

Unfortunately, after a few more hours at the pool, our short trip had come to an end.  We were so unhappy to find out at the airport that our plane was delayed over two hours.  But eventually we got home (to find our security guard asleep on the job).  I have to say it's a lot easier to come home from a vacation when your residence is in a tropical climate.  That feeling of dread is definitely diminished, but not totally absent.  So what's a girl to do....plan the next trip!

If you'd like a sneak peek, we're going to a tiny island off of Malaysia called Tengah Island.   The resort, called Batu Batu, is the only thing on the island!