Archive for October 6th, 2006
Travellers visiting Bali may be tempted to visit Java, the attractions being Mt. Bromo in east Java, Solo and Yogyakarta in Central Java. The way I got to java back in 1993, was to take a bus from Kuta, out through Negara, to the
port of Gilimanuk.
Most people don’t hang around in Gilimanuk, as it doesn’t offer much, except cheap guest houses and a warungs. Trucks drivers heading across country are the main customers. If you do have to spend a night in Gilimanuk, here is some of the stuff that’s available. Nusantara 2 - located next to Gilimanuk Bay, just 5 minutes from ferry terminal.
The actual port area in Gilimanuk may not be the best for accommodation, due to the volume of truck drivers going though. Just 15 minutes away though are several places to stay:
•Kartika Candra
•Nusantara 1
•Surya
These places are all cheap guest houses located on the main road. About 2m south of the port, are 2 decent places, Hotel Sari (0365) 61264, has cheap rooms. Pondok Wisata Lestari (0365) 61504, basic with, some with AC.
There are nice views from Gilimanuk of East Java and its volcanoes. Should you get restless and just decide this is not the place for you, ferries run every 20 minutes, the crossing takes just 30 minutes.
Gilimanuk has one very good place to eat, Warung Men Tempeh and the grilled chicken is supposed to be worth the trip. This warung is open from 10am-4pm.
Driving time to Gilimanuk from Kuta, is about 3-4 hours.
source : www.baliblog.com
October 6th, 2006
The
Bali Barat National Park (Taman Nasional Bali Barat) has one very nice place to stay. Its called
Waka Shorea, and is located in the middle of dence forest. The bungalows are on stilts, built in an eco-friendly way, without destroying the forest by clear cutting. The whole are is populated by wild animals including deer, boars, birds and other animals.
Close to the white sand beach are 2 more bungalows, these 2 are deluxe, and have gardens complete with wild flowers and herbs. The hotel has a spa and restaurant and is a perfect place, outside of the tourist circles, to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of Bali.
Waka Shorea is located on the eastern side of Prapat Agung Peninsula, facing Palau Menjangan.
The only way to get to Waka Shorea is via Lebuan Lalang. Driving time from Kuta, 4-5 hours.
source : www.baliblog.com
October 6th, 2006
The
Bali Barat National Park (
Taman Nasional Bali Barat) has a few short hikes. In order to
hike in the
National Park, you must
obtain a permit from the
National Park HQ at Cekik, or the
National Park office at Labuan Lalang. The price of the permit used to be 2,500rp a couple of years ago and may have risen, although its likely to be no more than a couple of dollars. You must
hire a guide, rates are around
120,000rp for a 2 hour hike.
For me this takes away part of my interest in visiting a National Park, but that’s how they do it here. One of the hike is the Tegal Bunder Trail. This hike like many others in Bali, is most pleasant in the morning and take 1-2 hours. A Bali Starling Pre-Release Center is set up in the middle of thick forest. Access is via the village of Sumber Klampok followed by a 2 km walk.
Driving up from Cekik you will see local vegetation, including Sonokeling (Rosewood trees), Panggal Buaya (Crocodile trees). These type of trees are part of the Dry Monsoon Forest, that cover a large portion of the Bali Barat National Park. They can survive for long periods with little rain, and shed their leaves periodically.
Sumber Klampok is the location of a ranger station. The completion of the National Park has not been totally without problems. Locals in Sumber Klampok say the government did not tell them how things would work. They complain that local fisherman cannot access certain areas, and locals are not able to search for wood as they used to. There was also a rumour that a large resort would be built in the area. The government has offered a tranmigrasi option to Sulawesi, for the people in Sumber Klampok, but obviously this is never a happy situation. Villagers have refused to leave and currently there is no resort.
Getting to the Bali Barat National Park from Kuta: Driving time is around 4 hours.
Accommodation: Pondok Wisata Lestari and Hotel Sari guesthouses back in Gilimanuk are cheap. For a resort style option go to the Waka Shorea or Menjangan Jungle & Beach Resort , just east of Labuan Lalang. Both places are a bit spendy.
source : www.baliblog.com
October 6th, 2006
Taking to a trip to
Lovina, on the north coast, can be a pleasant change from the busy shopping / party scene in Kuta.
One of the things you will notice instantly about Lovina, is the black sand beach and lack of large, crashing waves. The water is also several degrees warmer than on the south coast. This is a great news for divers and snorklers. Although serious divers will only use Lovina as a base, preferering to dive at Pemuteran or Menjangan, Lovina is great for snorkeling.
One of the best ways to go snorkeling, both for afun and safety, is to walk down to the beach and hire a fisherman to take you. Being slightly offshore is actually very relaxing and having the boat right there, means you can relax, knowing your safety is assured. The price will be around 30,000rp.
For people visiting Lovina, who want to arrange scuba diving, Spice Dive has 2 offices, one in Kaliasem, the other in Kalibukbuk, (0362) 41305. Spice Dive also operates Spice Cafe, which provides canoeing and wind surfing.
(0362) 41969
Dive operators in Lovina:
•Aquatropic
Has outlets on the main road in Lovina.
(0362)42038
•Baruna
Main road in Kalibukbuk and at Puri Bagus Hotel
(0362)41084, (0362)25542
•Malibu Dive
Many counters, plus outlet next to Malibu restaurant, and another on Jl. Bina Ria.
(0362)41062
•Moaka
On main road in Kalibukbuk
(0362)41968
•Permai
At Hotel Permai
(0362)41471
•Spice Dive
Kaliasem, also in Jl. Bina Ria and Jl. Mawar.
(0362)41305, (0362)41171
•Sunrise Dive
Jl. Bina Ria
(0362)411820
•Wisnu Resort
Main road across turning towards direction of Banyualit.
(0362)42319
Spice Dive accommodates paragliding for $15 per session, plus wake-boarding, waterskiing for $20 for 20 minutes. Also featured are banana boat rides.
Sailing, fishing and spear fishing are possible at Kubu Lalang restaurant.
(0362)42207. Negotiate your price, but you will be looking at something like 60,000rp per hour for fishing, 90,000rp per hour for the rest.
Remember to wear a hat, bring your sunnies and splash a handful of sunblock on you, when you take apart in these activities.
source : www.baliblog.com
October 6th, 2006
Lovina is a fairly quiet, relaxing resort area. If you feel like some energetic activity, a hike might be what you need. My guidebook suggests a hike from the village of Selat to Asah Gobleg in the area to the south of Lovina. This hike is 10kms and takes 4 hours. In the heat on Bali, I’d prefer to hike downhill myself, so I’m going to describe the hike from the other direction.
The other day I talked about a hike, from Jatiluwih, to Lake Tamblingan. This Asah Gobleg to Selat, hike starts from the northern side of Lake Tamblingan and finishes at the small village of Selat. You can actually keep going and finish at Sipoklabuh waterfall.
Starting from Lovina, you can hire a driver, to take you to the road, which runs directly north from Lake Tamblingan. If you are already in the Lake Tamblingan area you can hire an ojek (motorbike taxi). The road runs NW from the lake, towards Asah Gobleg. This hike basically starts at Gobleg plateau, and follows quiet mountain roads, making it easy to navigate. The plateau area has pine trees and fields of brightly colored flowers. If you have any problems, ask a local. The first half of this hike is the most scenic and quietest, with plentiful forest and few people. You will pass the occassional Balinese farmer and this is an ideal chance for photos. Coffee and other things such as cocoa grow here, in steep gorges.
You follow the road north to the village of Bangkiangsidem, and keep going north towards Selat, turning NE towards Tegallinggah. The 10 km hike has up and down sections, but you are descending in height overall. Remember to bring at least 2 liters of water each plus something to munch on.
For those who have had enough, you can end your hike in Selat and arrange a ride back to Lovina (maybe you have already arranged it with your morning driver). Energetic hikers can carry on to Sipoklabuh waterfall, which is another 3kms to the NE. Ask locals again if you have trouble finding it. There is, incidentally, a path from the waterfall all the way to Anturan, in Lovina.
•Length of Asah Gobleg to Selat hike: 10km
•Duration: 3-4 hours
•Cost: Free
•Guides: No
•Services: None
•Transport: Arrange your own / ask a local for car hire / motorbike taxi.
•Best time to hike: Start after daybreak if possible.
•Easiest way to do the hike: Get ride from Lovina to drop you at Asah Gobleg plateau, hike down to Selat, ride home.
•Longest way to hike the hike: Start from Lake Tamblingan, hike to Gobleg plateau, then down to Selat, carry on to waterfall, then take hidden path the last 4kms to Anturan.
source : www.baliblog.com
October 6th, 2006