Archive for September 11th, 2006
Ubud internet access sucks, that’s my verdict. On this trip I have tried to work at the extremely expensive (90,000rp for 1.5 hours + hot chocolate) Highway, and the other local internet cafes (spend 20 minutes trying to get into my mail).
Your options in this town are horrible, the mom & pop dial-up, being the absolute low end, but the newer ’satelite’ places not doing much better. Highway cleans up with the Ubud expats, who need to get stuff done, but bring your wallet.
source : www.baliblog.com
September 11th, 2006
Most tourists visiting Ubud end up at
Monkey Forest, located at the southern end of Jl. Monkey Forest, in downtown Ubud.
Ika, Jevon and I were staying at Rahayu Bungalows on Jl. Hanoman, so getting to Monkey Forest took about 3 minutes my motorbike. Riding up to the entrance of Monkey Forest, one sees two large cement monkeys, attached to large boulders, either side of the road. There is a shady parking area and a ticket office. Price of admission, 10,000rp for adults, 5,000rp for kids. I gave the 25,000rp and the staff GAVE BACK the 5,000rp for Jevon!!!
The macaque monkeys who live in this forest are probably the most nakal (naughty) in all of Bali. Well fed, unthreatened and very used to humans, these cheeky monkeys will grab anything that isn’t nailed down, including your hat, glasses, wallet, bag, camera, water bottle.
Monkey Forest is itself quite pleasant, with tall shady trees, forest and the lovely Pura Padangtegal Agung, at the rear. Ika is scared of any animal with fur, including rabbits and monkeys. This stems from when she was a girl, and a rat dropped from a ceiling joist, down her shirt!
Jevon did not know what to make of the monkeys and most of the time was carried by Ika. We stood and watched their Balinese keeper, sit and feed them bananas, the aggressive larger monkeys grabbing the bananas, the weaker ones looking on jealously.
The whole time we were there no monkeys approached us. For some people though it can be intimidating. Monkeys are finely attuned to human behaviour. They can read body language like a Kuta street vendor. In a weird way I think having the kid along, kept them at bay. I have seen many times in the past, tourists getting handbags and sunglasses snatched. They sense fear, as most animals can and will surround a frightened person quicker than a group. Even so, visiting Monkey Forest is safe and enjoyable.
source : www.baliblog.com
September 11th, 2006
Sunday night I was invited to join 2 people for dinner at Yut’s in Legian. Yut’s is located on Jl. Padma and was originally owned by a Javanese lady named Sayuti.
A friend of mine who lives in Legian frequents Yut’s a lot and I have been there quite a bit. Last night we ordered a chicken cordon bleu, my friend his usual portion of penne carbonara, myself the mahi mahi, with wasabi sauce (32,000rp).
We arrived around 8pm and the place was packed, only 1 table left. On arrival we each got a welcome drink, myself also ordering an arak madu. I commented to my friends that Yut’s seems very popular with the older generation Aussie and Euro crowd, and I reckon that market in their bread and butter.
Legian, which ha been deadville for that last several months, is showing some signs of life. The other day I rode around in the early evening and saw people out and about, a few places looking busy (Poser’s Pub for example).
Yut’s has a fairly extensive menu, featuring western favourites, a Specials page, and Indonesia menu. Give Yut’s a try if you are in Legian.
source : www.baliblog.com
September 11th, 2006
The annual Wismilak women’s tennis tournament is underway at Nusa Dua. The tournament, officially called the
Wismilak International 2006, features star players such as Svetlana Kuznetsova, Patty Schnyder and Lindsay Davenport.
What happened to Anna Kornikova? She was the main reason men watched women’s tennis. I reckon Anna should get a ‘bye’ to the Final, appearing at every round for a photo session.
Location of the tournament is the Grand Hyatt, Nusa Dua, which will take you about 25 minutes from Kuta.
Wismilak International
Toll Free Number
0800-1-099-099
For further information, please contact info@wismilakinternational.com
source : www.baliblog.com
September 11th, 2006