Exploring the world - my way: bali indonesia I Exploring Bali and Nusa Lembongan

Mystic Bali

We are a couple from the city of Kolkata,India.We are travel birds.As this was to be an international tour planning for the tour was of prime importance ,though we knew that Indonesia offers VISA free entry for Indians for stays less than 30 days.

Pre tour planning

Like for every tour planning starts with finding cheap holiday package deals and cheap airfares.At least this is the case for budget travellers like us.Direct flights to Bali from India are non-existent.Most flight routes are through Kuala Lumpur and other than that there are multi-city flights through Singapore and Thailand too. Now every airport has it's own transit rules.For Kuala Lumpur, if the layover extends 3 hrs you have to take Malaysia VISA for that.Now the cheapest flights to Bali from India starts at around INR 8k.But the catch is that the journey time is almost 17 hrs and for travellers from Kolkata it's much more.In that case you have to go through the hassles of undergoing through Malaysian VISA process and also bear the charges.So you have to find a midway solution of getting minimum airfare and that too without having to take intermediate transit VISAs and at the same time undergo minimum travel time so that the fatigue of the journey doesn't bear upon you.

For such strategies you can watch my video regarding ways of selecting flights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoJDNMSDrCU .

Regarding selection of cheap airfares you can visit these sites:

https://www.skyscanner.co.in/

www.momondo.in/‎

https://www.trip.com/

https://www.wego.co.in/

Regarding Kuala Lumpur transit VISA info,you can watch :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyZ5m0hWi7I

Regarding Forex : US dollar is the best option to go in this case.

You can exchange dollars to IDR as per your requirements.

For Hotel bookings,visit:

https://www.tripadvisor.in

We stayed at Ibis Styles Benoa https://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-8449-ibis-styles-bali-benoa/index.shtml and we decided as per location,price and the types of restaurants nearby.

We decided on the duration of stay by researching on things to see and do at Bali. Also in this trip we included Nusa Lembongan.

Regarding Tours and Sightseeing we contacted the hotel staff and also local tour operators nearby on the day we landed in Bali.We decided mainly on prices offered by each of them on each tours and adventures keeping in view the already fixed itinerary we had in the back of our mind.

The onward journey

We took an Air Asia fly-thru to Bali from Kolkata via Kuala Lumpur.

(Regarding fly-thru flights of Air Asia watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyZ5m0hWi7I )

At Kolkata airport

Our Air Asia flight

At KLIA 2

Having breakfast at KLIA2

Getting ready for onward journey to Bali from KLIA2

You have to pass immigration checks twice at KLIA2,quite strict rules exist here.

Denpasar airport,Bali

Just behind this signage,you have to go through immigration and out of the airport.But you need not worry at all as there is no strict immigration checks here.It's a totally tourist friendly place.

Out of the airport..........

.........and to the Hotel

All Balinese people can communicate in english very well,so finding a taxi to Hotel wasn't a problem.

Day 1 at Bali

We reached hotel by noon.These are the first glimpses of our hotel.......

My honey got ready to explore Bali

After reaching hotel we had task cut out for arranging all the following tours and sightseeings. So without wasting much time we went out for the same.We explored the locations nearby our hotel in the afternoon. These are some of the pics around the hotel property.........

Then afterwards we went for lunch as we were hungry. We went to New Delhi Indian Restaurant which was just 5 mins walk from our hotel.

The food tasted authentically Indian and the rates too were reasonable.
Convenience store Circle K was 2 mins walk from the hotel.

Then after lunch we took some rest in hotel for an hour or two and then again went to Benoa beach for a stroll and to see the sunset.
The Benoa beach was just opposite to our hotel.

Night views of our hotel......

Day 2 at Bali :

Day 2 started with the hotel breakfast which was included in the hotel fare.

Today's itinerary was watersports in the morning and sightseeing in the afternoon.We booked watersports package with Ciwa Sempurna Dive Academy which was 15 mins ride from our hotel.We booked to and fro car ride for the same.

Pic of watersport spot...

After coming back to hotel we enjoyed the hotel pool.....

In afternoon after lunch we proceeded for our 1st sightseeing
First we visited Taman Ayun Temple,Megwi.

Some refreshments in between...

2nd stop was Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest....

3rd stop was Luwak coffee plantation....

The Luwak

Luwak's poo, from which Luwak coffee is made

The final stop of the day was Batu Balong and Tanah Lot Temple....

Tanah Lot temple.....

Day 3:Bali to Nusa Lembongan

Today we were to embark on a ferry and go to Nusa Lembongan.For that we needed to go to Sanur port.We arranged a car for our trip to Sanur.

Our ferry was waiting...

We booked Scoot ferry services

Inside the ferry.....

The trip is of 30 mins........

Reaching Lembongan island........

Reached lembongan.......

At Lembongan we stayed at Sukanusa Luxury Huts.Some pics of the property .......

We used to eat at Lemongrass restaurant which was 5 mins walk from our hotel.....

The food options,tastes and rates were really good.

Day 4: At Nusa Lembongan

Today's itinerary was snorkelling with Bali Dive Academy. Snorkelling took place at three different spots including the mangroves.The amazing flora and fauna under the crystal clear sea water was amazing.Also we were lucky to see the Manta Rays.

All the staff of Bali Dive Academy were coordial and thorough professionals.

Rest of the day was upto us to explore on our own way.We hired a bike at IDR 75K for the whole day and went for local sightseeings....

This was our hired bike

The bike tour started,we roamed the streets of Lembongan.....

The first spot we reached was the Panorama View Point.This view point was unique as we could get a bird's eye view of the whole Lembongan island......

The next stop was Mushroom Beach......

3rd stop was Sunset Point....

4th stop was Devil's Tears....

Our final stop was Tamarind beach....

During our return journey through hilly winding roads we again stopped at the Panorama Point.....

In the evening after we returned from our sightseeings we strolled in the Jungutbatu beach which was 5 mins walk from our hotel.........

After a memorable action packed day,chilled by the side of the hotel pool under the full moon...

Day 5: Nusa Lembongan to Bali

We were to get back to Bali today at 11 O'clock Scoot fast Ferry. We woke up early today and went again to Jungutbatu beach. This is the view of the road to the beach from hotel....

Collected these souvenirs from the beach........

Waiting for our pickup from hotel to the port.....

At the port,waiting for our return ferry.....

Embarked on the return ferry....

The return journey.......

Returning from the Sanur port to hotel at Bali......

After freshening up had lunch and went for the final day sightseeing. The itinerary was Uluwatu temple and Kecak dance.

The setting sun in the backdrop of rhythmic Kecak dance was an unforgettable experience....

Came back to hotel and got ready for dinner of the final night.....

For dinner we went to the Queens of India restaurant which was again just 5 mins walk from the hotel. Got one discount coupon for the restaurant from a random seller who was marketing the restaurant as an Indian restaurant just in front of our hotel that day. The price range in this restaurant was on the higher side but we didn't feel the pinch as we had the discount.

Food was delicious and was authentically Indian.

Later we came back to hotel and chilled by the hotel bar and summed up our memories of the tour....

Day 6 : Departure

This was our departure date. We had to leave hotel at noon. So we had the morning to spare. We went through a couple spa session,for which we had the hotel coupon.