Bali Vacation 2nd - 5th March 2012

Bali - Indonesia

2nd - 5th March 2012

Preparation :

It started on June 11, 2011, I had subscribed to jetstar fair and they send me a promotion, which cost about S$372 air tickets for 2(inclusive of taxes). Thus immediately had a discussion with Hayley that evening and book it.

Few weeks after that, with my sister Geok Cheng's advise, we decided not to go to Kuta or Ubud, but to go to a place which is not that popular for tourist - Tulamben. This place is famous for Divers due to the Liberty Wreck. The Liberty was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine out in the Lombok Strait, 11 January 1942, the captain was able to steer the ship to shore. but in 1963, a nearby volcano which is the biggest volcano, Mount Agung erupted pushing the ship back to the sea. It was left there till now.

Type of Trip : Free and Easy

Traveler : Hayley and Kirk

Air Ticket Time : Supposedly
Departure Singapore to Bali - 2 March 2012, 10:35am.
but in September 30th 2011, Jetstar send an e-mail that their flight had changed its schedule to 7:25am. but we overlooked and by the time we arrived, the flight had already gone. With frustrations, we went to Air Asia and bought an expensive $440 1 way trip to Bali.

Hotel : Tauch Terminal Resort

Transport : Hotel Arranged transport.

Language : English, Bahasa Indonesia

Currency : Indonesian Rupiah, Euro

Meals : Balinese style, Morning breakfast provided.

Camera Equipment : Nikon D7000, D70 IR 720nm with Tamron 18-270mm f3.5-6.3, Tokina 11-16mm f2.8, Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35, Double glass and Fisheye Optics. Canon IXUS 110 IS with Underwater housing for Diving.

 Day 1 : Singapore to Bali Ngurah Rai Airport

Early morning, we arrived at around 8am, had breakfast and then wanted to check in, but realised that the flight number was not on display, so we went to the Changi Airport information counter to check, and what shock us is that the flight had already departed, so we went to Jetstar to check and they verified it. Lots of frustration that morning, we went to the information counter again to check which other flight goes to bali and we were told in about 1.5 hrs, Air Asia will have a flight there. So we went to Air Asia counter to purchase a ticket, it cost us additional S$440 + $27.

Our Flight to Bali, Air Asia, QZ8491

 Queuing up to check in at Air Asia Counter

Our most heartache bill, a total of $440 for our 1 way airticket to Bali due to us missing our flight.

After we go in, wanted to make sure the pick up driver received our E-mail that our flight had been rescheduled.

This is our driver, who waited about half hour, pick us and drove us to Tulamben.

Some monuments along the way from airport

 Hayley ask along the way, at some of the village, we see at the roadside alot of these wheat like thing, the driver explain that it is due to new year festive but the people are lazy to take it down, so remain there.

Some sculpture on the way up to our room.

Upon arrival around 7pm+ we were very hungry, so went to the restaurant for our dinner, we ordered "Bakso", that is the meat ball soup.

This prawn and chicken fried rice was ordered by Hayley. real nice balinese food.

This is their famous mix fruit juice with lots of pulp.

Our room from 2 different angle.

Day 2 - Diving at Tulamben Liberty Wreck and Drop Off

Day 2 early morning, I report at the dive shop, after the Dive master brief us about the spot we are going to, what to expect. after that we rested awhile and then proceed to our Dive site. my buddy happens to be an Austrian who is also into dive photography, he holds a Olympus E3 or E5(Not so sure about that). Dive Master's name is "Made"(Pronounced as Mar Dee) and buddy's name is "Johannas".

Our Dive master briefing us and the next picture shows us walking towards the dive site.

3 of us entered the water, wearing our mask and going down.

Above picture is a picture of a Pygmy Seahorse spotted by our Dive master, really need good eye power to spot it.

I'm literally almost swimming underneath the school of fishes.

 3 of these cute Nudibranch spotted and 2 of them seem to be going to mate.

A random shot of our Dive Master and my Buddy.

Half way through, we spotted this Lionfish hiding in a crevice.

After the 2 dives, I came up, and went snorkeling with Hayley, such a tiring day for me.

After I meet up hayley, she went to pick up a bootie and a pair of fins, we walked to the liberty wreck site and we went for snorkeling.

This fish followed us till awhile later it disappear, guess this fish realised we don't have food with us.

A picture of hayley underwater.

After our snorkel, came up and met Johannas, he also had just completed his dive, so went to take a picture with him.

After our snorkel and dive, we decide to come up, just walk around and have our lunch and rest for the day.

Walk out of the resort, take a picture and then go to hunt for lunch.

Found this eating area outside our resort, and it charges 1/2 the price compare to our resort, so came here for our lunch, unfortunately the owner told us they do not open at night.
1st thing we ordered was a bottle of Coca cola, the old glass bottle type, it is really good... cooling.

This is a simple and nice restaurant, quite a lot of people eat there, but when we arrived there, not many people left as they are closing also.

At bali, they like to rare chickens and cocks, mostly are ayam kampung, which is kampung chicken, small, but the meat are lean, can sell more expensive, and they usually rare cocks for cock fight, mostly for gambling.

After lunch, we decide to come back, rest, then go for massage.

Have abit of photoshoot here before we go for our massage at the bali massage place.

Also try out some of the macro and close up shots using my lensbaby and macro converter. well, not very stable as I didn't set up tripod. and the weather is no good. can't get a good sharp picture.

While walking to the spa, saw this and just wanted to take a picture of it.

After that, we went to "Spa Relax" for Balinese massage. It cost abit more than the traditional balinese massage who will go to your room or outside at the poolside, but I personally like their facilities and skills more. We took the full body massage which include front and back body and it cost Euro $16 each.(Definitely cheaper than Bintan or Batam).

Took some picture of the swimming pool before we head on to our massage.

After massage and Dinner, we bought a bottle of Bintang Beer and a cup of Hagen Daz Ice cream, went to our room to have them and watch Friends on our Ipad. what a relaxing and wonderful evening we've got.

Day 3 - Day Trip to Tirta Gangga, Bersakih and Kintamani

Tirta Gangga

On the 3rd day, we signed up a local tour to these 3 places. We instructed the driver that along the way, if we see any of the padi field plantation, just stop and let us take some pictures. and the driver is good.

We were on the car when we saw alot of people walking on the streets.
We understood from the driver that it is a mass cremation ceremony.

We asked the driver and he told us that it is a culture for Balinese to cremate when a person die, the reason is when a person die, you will need to cremate it, otherwise the soul will be separated, but if create, the soul will still be with the body.

There are 2 types of cremation.
1) Individual cremation for the rich.
2) Mass cremation for the commoner, normally when a person, dies, he will be buried and have to wait generally 5 years, at 5 years, they will march and go to the cemetery, where they wil put the bones to a place to cremate

Along the way, we stop by this padi and took a few pictures of it. Of course, the weather is always bad there, cloudy.

The one hectare complex was built in 1946 by the late King of Karangsem but was destroyed almost entirely by the eruption of nearby Mount Agung in 1963. It has been lovingly re-built and restored and has an air of authentic royal magnificence

 The Entrance and Exit of Tirta gangga.

Water Palace

Hayley and I hopped those steps that is above the water, and while hopping it, I nearly miss 1 of the steps and nearly fell into the water, after that, I broke into sweat and had to do slowly hop out of the water.

There are 2 Tirta Gangga Bridge, 1 at the far end and the other near to the entrance.

Tirta Gangga to Bersakih

Next stop, Bersakih, it is also known as the Mother Temple, or Pura Besakih, in the village of Besakih on the slopes of Mount Agung in eastern Bali, is the most important, the largest and holiest temple of Hindu religion in Bali, Indonesia, and one of a series of Balinese temples.


History : The temple probably dates to the fourteenth century.

While going up, we were informed by the driver that everyone who goes up, need to wear a Sarong as a form of respect. So the driver drove us to the entrance to buy 2 piece of sarong, reasonable priced.
While going up, we see many youths wearing white top, so we ask the guide, our guide told us that the youths wear white to go up for their praying and offering.

Our guide help to take a picture of us with the Temple and Mount Agung, we are wearing the bali sarong bought there.

Picture of us with Bersakih entrance.

From a distance, we see a group of girls worshipping. There are 4 parasols(Umbrella like), The guide explain to us that.
1) The Red Parasol personalifying Brahma, who is the god of fire
2) The Black Parasol personalifying Vishnu, who symbolise the god of water.
3) The White and Yellow Parasols Personalifying Shiva, who act as pemralina or the demolisher.

but after searching on the internet, some sources mention that.
The Yellow Parasols is in honour of god Mahadewa and White Parasol personalifying Shiva.

 On our way down, we met a big rich family going up to do their prayers.

Outside Bersakih, a woman selling Snake Skin fruit.

 Bersakih to Kintamani

 After Bersakih, we continue with our journey to Kintamani for our lunch.
A little bit of information about the volcano there.
There are a total of 2 volcanoes there.

Mount Agung - It is the highest volcano, which is 3134Meters high
Mount Batur - It is 1717 meters high, which is the 2nd highest.

Separate both Mount Abang(A mountain) and mount Batur is Lake Batur.

In year 2000 Batur had a small eruption, and since the crater is big, the explosion is not big and no casualties had been reported. Batur had 3 craters, 1 on top and 2 below

Mount Agung's eruption happened in year 1963, where about 2000 people died there.

Our bali buffet lunch, and facing us is the mount Batur Volcano, a spectacular view.

Took a 9 shots exposure of Mount Batur and blend it.

Can't help so took a 2 shots exposure on my IR and blend it after that.
After the lunch, our driver ask if we would like to visit the coffee plantation. so we went and visit this place that sells Coffee Luwak.

Coffee seed found at the plantation.

Upon arrival, we were welcome to this sheltered place, where we were served with all different types of coffee and Tea(Except for Coffee Luwak).

 From this we can see that all teas can be tested free, except for Coffee Luwak, which will cost RP 50,000 for tasting only.

What is Kopi Luwak or Luwak Coffee?
It’s a gourmet coffee made from the ripest coffee berries which has been eaten by and passed through the digestive tract of this animal (Paradoxurus Hermaphroditus). The civets eat the berries but the beans inside them pass through their system undigested. The Luwak graciously deposits them on the jungle floor where they are eagerly collected by the local coffee farmers.

After the last stop we visit at the coffee plantation, we make our way back to the resort and then immediately went to the spa shop to book appointment for massage, unfortunately they have no more slots, so we decide to get those traditional balinese massage where they will come to our room.

Day 4 - Bali to Singapore

Early morning, we go for our breakfast at the Tauch Terminal restaurant as usual, after that we took some last few photos there before heading to the airport.

The restaurant facing the beach

This is the place we will wash our Wet suits and fins.

Our Nitrox Tank, rigged up for us before we go for our dives, it is really a place you are treated like a prince, people will carry the tank for you to the shore, and even wear it for you if need to.

The dive shop, I actually misplaced my tripod, but they were nice to collect for me from the car and place it at the counter for me to collect it.

Tauch Terminal resort lobby.

Hayley wanted to take a picture of the women who carry our tanks, as I was waiting, I took my ND filter and took a picture of the rocks there.
1st time I was there, I realised that I didn't bring my ND filter, so went up to get the filter,
2nd time I came down, I got my ND filter, but realised I forgot my shutter released. and my equipments already setup. so didn't care and just used my finger to press it. Thank God that the picture turn out ok still.

A Balinese woman carrying a tank on top of her head.

This woman carries 2 tank, BCD and regulator on her head. It is hardwork for the balinese woman.

After that, I took a picture of the scenary, a very beautiful place which the pool is just there facing out to the sea.

After that, went up to our room to pack up to prepare for check out. before that, we realised that we did not take alot of our room photos, so we took some of them also.

Picture of our Balcony.

Our driver waited for us awhile to send us to the airport. In the car, Hayley say, lets show the "Yesss" sign that we are excited that tomorrow we shall start work again. to me, I was like..... "Siao"(Crazy)..

 On our way back, we keep seeing this statue, so we ask the driver and he explain briefly that they believe this god is place there to protect the bridge.

After about 2 hours +, we finally arrived at the airport. ready to check in and be back to Singapore.

So far this trip is not the best we had, but this is still a comfortable trip. Also an expensive one.