Cheap Hotel in Kuta, Bali below USD 50

After few years being asked by my friends who wanted to go to Bali and looking for cheap hotel in Kuta, now I am making a list of it so next time whenever my friends asked me again I’ll send them this list

List of Cheap Hotel in Kuta and Legian, Bali below USD 50

These hotel is quite good, clean and comfortable. C’mon if you want to have a five star service, you should stay in a five star hotels where you can complain as much as you can and get complimentary meals or upgrade as a compensation (I met lots of things like this when I worked as a receptionist in a five star hotel).

Please don’t blame me if you stay in one of this hotel and not satisfied. I have no relationship with this hotel and this list is based on my search on Agoda.com and some visit when one of my friends stays here..

• Dewi Sri Hotel rate starts from US$ 34. Located in central Legian, close to bars and nightlife.
• Melasti Beach Bungalow Price start from US$ 41. Not on the beach but walking distance. Very close to shopping area and have a nice garden ( I thought o)
• Green Garden Hotel Price starts from US$ 34. My friends favorite hotel because very close to Discovery Shopping Mall
• Legian Village Hotel Price starts from US$ 23. One of my close friend worked here before. Very nice small hotel. Hidden in the busy shopping street and close to nightlife bars.
• The Oasis Kuta Price starts from US$ 37. Modern style hotel. Looks clean and have a nice layouts surrounding the main pool
• Tune Hotel Kuta Price starts from US$ 23. Very new otel located in close to Kuta Square. Rooms are very small. Suitable for people who only need place to sleep.
• Balisani Padma Hotel Price starts from US$ 25. Traditional Balinese room and walking distance to the beach
• Adi Dharma Cottages Price starts from US$ 41. Located in Legian Street close to shopping area
• Barong Kuta Hotel Price starts from US$ 35. Walking distance to Kuta Beach and lots of cheap restaurant along the poppies lane

Ok. I think thats all I can found but actually there are lots of cheap hotel along poppies lane in Kuta where young people or backpacker ussually stays. Poppies Lane is very famous for its cheap restaurants and walking distance only to Kuta beach.

I'm making another list. Hotel in Kuta and Legian below US$ 100

Rafting to Telaga Waja

After Rafting at Ayung River, Now I'll try Rafting at Telaga Waja. This time is my department outing and we are in a group of 16 people so I'm sure it'll be lot more fun. Telaga Waja is a class III + rapids and my friends said is a lot more fun than Ayung River. Ayung is more flat but the view is prettier in Ayung.

After one and half hour drive from Seminyak to Karangasem, we arrived in Telaga Waja and as usual the guide gave us the short brief before we hop on to our boat. The water is crystal clear and lots of big rock makes our boat a bit bumpy. The side of the river is a green rice field that looks like a grass in the football field. The guide told me that this river is mostly used to water the rice field.

On the way we found many traditional bamboo bridge that are so low and we have to lay down in our boat to avoid our head hitting the bridge. It's so fun I wish there are more of it on the river. We also hit lots of rock and therefore our guide told us to hang on the safety rope tightly tied in the boat.

Whenever we passed other boat we always spray them with water from the river to get the other boat's passenger wet. They usually spray us back and that makes a water war more fun. There was one boat with 4 young girls that all look like Britney spears on the boat who never spray us back no matter how hard we hit them with water from the river. They just stay calm and don't even have facial expression. I thought maybe they don't like the rafting or maybe they think we're so silly trying to hit them with water. Whatever! they're just so not fun :p

We also passed a waterfall so we stop by to take some picture and to take a rest. The journey after the waterfall is a bit quite, no hard steep banks, no bumpy raft and no bamboo bridge, only a high cliff on both side of the river. After a while the guide told us to hang on tight on the safety rope and lay down inside the boat. I wonder what happened because I saw no bridge nor a big rock but then closer to it I realize it was a 4 meters waterfall that we will pass with our boat. We screamed so loud as the boat fell down with the water and we hit a big rock so hard. After a while of that thrilled moment we laugh so hard seeing how big the rock we hit and the waterfall is quite high, scary but fun!

Nothing too challenging after that and at the finish point we enjoy ourselves bathing in the river and playing like a kids. The water is really fresh and clear, I really don't want to leave. The rafting took about 2,5 hours and we already got tired and hungry so we immediately change our wet clothes and have our buffet lunch served in a high bamboo restaurant with the view to the valley and the rice field.

Se slept in the car all the way from Telaga Waja back to Seminyak...

My First Diving to Nusa Penida

Allright, I told you all about how I want to go diving after my seawalker experience to the bottom of the sea. I now got another invitation to try diving in Nusa Penida by BIDP. I’ve never been diving before so this will be my introductory diving experience.

I went with my friend, Cole. After a few trouble on the road, his motorbike tyre was broken, and the we try to find a service station and left the motorbike there because we don’t want to be late. We stopped a taxi but then the taxi driver was so impatience he left us after a few minutes waiting, so we have to run behind the taxi and scream to him to stop and wait for us. The taxi finally stopped and the driver told us that he thought we cancel the taxi because he’s been waiting too long, OMG it’s only 2 minutes.

Anyway we thought that we’re late but we’re not. In fact we’re the first persons arrived at BIDP’s office. 10 minutes later a couple from Singapore arrived and then another 3 persons joined. We tried the dive suit, the shoes and the life jackets. Then they drove us to Sanur beach where a very bright yellow BIDP boat wait for us. Let’s go to Nusa Penida

The boat trip took about 1 hour from Sanur to Nusa Penida. Our first dive will be at Manta Point. The singaporean couple told me that I was lucky that my first dive at Nusa Penida. I feel lucky too and really excited to go underwater. When we reach at Manta Point there were several boats from another diving company. Our diving guide said there must be lots of diver down there wanted to see Manta.

All other diver in our boats are experienced diver only me and Ngakan are the beginner, really beginner. So they rolled back to the water one by one while we’re just watched them gone to the deep blue sea. I thought the roll back thing is really cool and I wanted to do it too but my guide told me that he will put my equipment in the water since I am a beginner. So I went down to the water and my guide put the fin, the life jacket and the oxygen tank while I am floating in the water. Not really cool.

My dive master then told me whenever I am ready he will push the button in my jacket to make us sink, then I must equalize my ear to avoid the water pressure.. I was scared, so as Ngakan. We dive slowly until we reach 5 meters deep. I couldn’t let my hand off from my dive master since I was scared that I can’t control myself underwater.

Only 5 minutes down there, I saw nothing but a big ugly corals in the midle of the sea. I thought where’s the manta? The I saw my guide’s hand shaking me and pointed to a dark creature swam closer to us. OMG that was Manta fish. Very big, the size of my garage I think. I thought Manta fish was small and cute but this Manta was far from small but still cute. Other divers swam closer to the Manta and some took the picture. I have no underwater camera so I can’t take any picture. Pity me I really wanted to take picture with Manta so I can post it on Facebook. ;p

After Manta Point, our boat leave for Crystal Bay. Here we stopped and have our lunch in the land. I am glad we eat on the land because being in the boat make me sea sick already.

After lunch, Ngakan said he won’t dive again because he don’t feel good about diving. Poor Ngakan he’s scared of the sea and he told me he’ll never dive again. Whatever, I don’t want to miss this dive again. I know our first experience at Manta Point is not really good but it’s our first dive ever so it’s a bit scary and maybe we’re not get used with the equipment and being underwater yet.

I told my guide that this time I want to do the roll back thing like other professional diver did. So he put all my equipment on the boat the I rolled back to the water. It’s cool really cool. I feel like a pro…

Since Ngakan didn’t dive again the dive master will only took car of me which is better. I dive 11 meters down and I saw these really beautiful corals. It does look like paradise here, the corals are colorfull I even touched a corals and they suddenly popped in to the rocks, really pretty. I ask my guide not to hold me all the time because I want to swam alone. I mean he’ll still be right by my side so I feel safe because the under current here is quite strong. I dive down untill 20 meters depth and more pretty fish I saw, more pretty corals I really love it.

I felt like only 5 minutes down there (it does feel like 5 minutes) when my guide told me that we have to go up. I said I don’t want to with my hand sign to but he insisted that we go up. When we reached the ocean’s surface I told him that I still wanted to be there but he told me that my oxygen can only supply me for maximum 1 hour and we’re already 45 minutes down there. Oh…..

The view that I saw at crystal bay really impressed me. NO wonder people love to dive, the view underwater is really pretty. My guide also told me that sometimes Mola-mola fish can be seen in crystal bay. I feel like I wanted to dive again, maybe next time in another place…

My Sea Walker Experience

Today I’m going for sea walker in Sanur with Sea Walker Company.
I got too excited last night, I couldn’t sleep well imagining myself dow to Bikini Bottom with helmet to keep me breathing. Just like Sandy, friend’s of Spongebob Squarepants.


When I reach Puri santrian Hotel, where the sea walker will start, my heart pounding in excitement. I can’t believe I’m going under the sea to see fish in their habitat closer. Well I did snorkel sometimes but snorkelling only make you see them not touch them.


I’v ever consider to go diving but I’m too scared doing that. So I thought seawalker is fine. Before started they play a DVD about what to do and what we shouldn’t do underwater. I listened carefully because I don’t want to miss a thing that might cause me in danger. I am a bit scared too doing this seawalker. They said the helmet is very heavy.


We went to the Seawalker pontoon by a small boat. There are 6 of us. 2 japanese girl, one French tourist and 3 of us. When we reach the pontoon, the guide once again told us about the hand sign if any problem occur. He said we can breath just like normal but maybe we will experience some ear problem, then we have to equalize by pinching our nose until it feels normal.


One by one we go down into the water from the side of the pontoon. Once our body sink to the water, they put the helmet into our head and we immediately sink down to the deep blue sea. Well not too deep it’s only 5 meter depth. The seawalker guide with diving gear always stay right next to us.


We walk through the empty sand at the bottom of the sea. I saw nothing but a never ending bluish greenish water. My ear feels the pressure so I pinch my nose again to equalize. The guide asked me with hand sign if I was ok and I told him it’s ok.


After a few 15 or 20 step I started to see fish, litle fish they’re colorfull. The guide gave me a bottle full of fish food and I can squeeze the bottle and the fish food will burst out from the bottle. Fish love it so they gathered around me to eat the fish food. I started to feel excited. I touch the fish one by one but they’re scared of me and always shocked everytime I touched them hehehe…


The guide then show us a bunch of corals with more fishes. We kneel down near the coral and everybody squeeze their bottle and more fish coming to us. I almost can’t see anything but fish all around me. They’re small fish and colorfull. Some bigger fish in flashing blue color also passed by sometimes. I put the fish food on my hand and they eat it directly from my finger. Their teeth is sharp, sometimes hurt my finger too, but I’m too excited to worry about that.


I feel like only a minute with the fish when the guide show me a star fish on the bottom. I can’t bend because the water will come up to my helmet so the guide took the starfish and gave it to me. I took a picture with the starfish I named Patrick.. (^_^)

After a while, the guide took us for another walk. I thought we’ll walk to another corals but now, we went back to the pontoon. I’m a bit dissapointed. I thought they say we’ll be 30 minutes underwater and it’s only like 5 minutes but we’re finished. But I can’t talk down there as they can’t hear me.

When all of us got back to the pontoon safely. I asked the guide why we’re underwater for only 5 minutes and he said “no, we’re there for 30 minutes and show me his watch. I told him it feels like only 5 minutes. He said we could feel like that because we walked very slow underwater. I wonder why can’t we stay for 1 hour then? And he asked me to pay more… owww..

Anyway the experience I got underwater is great and really unforgettable. Now that I know how underwater look and feel like, I think I’ll go for diving. See my story next!

A Visit To Elephant Safari Park

Yesterday I got invitation from Bali adventure Tour who managed the Elephant safari Park at Taro Village in Ubud to attend the launching of their new package of Safari Under The Star.

Since I never visited the Elephant Park before, I was so excited to finally see it with my own eyes the real park which I ussualy recommend to my guests to visit. All the information I have before are only from their brochure.

The journey took about one and half hours drive from Seminyak to Taro village. However the view along the way is stunning, The countryside in Ubud reflect the real Balinese life and it seems like untouchable by the busy and touristy life in Kuta and Seminyak. Who would wonder that there are somebody who build heaven for elephants in this beautiful forest.

When we get there, I just cant wait to see more of the park instead of just sitting and waiting for other party to come. So I asked the staff if I can take a short walk along in the park and get closer to the elephants. The friendly staff offered if I would consider ride the elephants to show me around the park. Well off course I said yes.

Off we went for an elephant ride which is quite scary at first because I thought I would fell off to the ground. The elephant, named Tagor are very calm and I happen to know that he was an artist too. I saw his paintings at the souvenir shop inside the park. I saw lots of elephant in the park, eating some grass. They looked happy and friendly. It seems like they are taken care so well here.

Late in the evening, Mr. & Mrs. Mason the founder of the park invited us to see the elephant show and try the Elephant safari under the star. There isn’t stars that night because its rainy. So we use a raincoat and an umbrella to see the jungle at night riding the elephants. This time I ride with Miki, another beautiful elephant who can’t stand to pick some leaves along the way to the jungle.

The experience with the elephants was fantastic and I enjoyed it so much. This time I got more information and experience it myself then with no doubt I can explain it better if my guests asks about Elephant Safari.

Later that night when I already in the comfort of my bed and it is still rain outside, I wondered about Tagor and Miki and the other elephants who plays in the water, aw… I already missed them..

This is our picture with Tagor.. He looked very happy...

White Water Rafting

Recently, I experienced several adventurous activities like Buggy Drive and Surfing Lesson . This week I got invitation for white water Rafting arranged by Sobek. Off course, eventhough I am not an adventure person, I took the invitation excitingly and start counting the day for this exciting adventure on the river.

Sobek is one of the famous company for rafting in Bali and was a pioneer of White Water Rafting in Bali. We recommend Sobek for our guest in the hotel if they would like to go for rafting and now they invited me to know better about their company and experience the thrill of white water rafting.



Well, I am quite nervous and scared of rafting as I thought it is quite dangerous. But Mr. Tiger (our Rafting guide), who was very funny and friendly told us that it is very safe if we are following the rules. I was with one chinese family, a father, a mother and a child approximately 11years old in the rubber boat. Unfortunately they can’t speak english so it is difficult to start a conversation with them. After Mr. Tiger explained about the safety then we hop on to the raft and already my adrenaline rushed for excitement.


I forgot to mentioned that I went for rafting at Ayung River in Ubud. The River is famous for its natural beauty. Many first class hotel are taking the advantage of the river’s view for their selling point. The river is actually flat for those who seek a thrilling rafting, but Sobek also offered rafting at Telaga Waja which is famous for its Class III + rapids.


Anyway after a few meters of paddling on the raft I saw the towering cliffs that was carved from the bottom. The carving tells a story from Ramayana Epic I guess. The relief was so beautiful makes me wonder who did all this carving and how many days it took to finished it? Mr. Tiger told me that it was carved by the local artists that lived around the river.


After several raft in the river banks, we saw another rubber boat that stuck between rocks in the river. We laugh at them and splash them with water by using our oars, they were definetely wet. After few metres we did not realize that they were free from the rock and tried to catch us for a revenge. A very fun water splash war happened then. We laugh so hard. I feel like a child again, playing with water and feel happy.

We stopped at the waterfalls for a few photo shot and a hard shower under the water falls. We also swam in the river. What a view with a fresh air. I feel like I don’t want to leave this river. We continued challenging the river and sometimes saw an interesting trees, or local people along the river. After 2 hours Rafting, I feel tired and thank God it’s finished in front of Sobek restaurant where delicious Indonesian food served near the river. We ate on the terrace river café with buffet lunch while our clothes are still wet. After meals we take a quick shower and change of clothes. Our driver were ready to take us back to Denpasar… Ooowww..I don’t want to leave yet.. It felt like a very short adventure.

Bali Quad and Buggy Drive

Another adventure invitation from Bali Quad for us. This will be an exciting new adventure for me. I am just so glad that Bali Quad invite us to experience Quad Bike and Buggy in Ubud. They pick us up in the morning to go to Ubud. The place is in Marga Tengah Village, near Kintamani which is abpproximately 1,5 hours drive from Seminyak..phheewww what a long journey to start.

The Buggy and Quad Bike are specially designed Off Road vehicles that cope with all kind of terrain. First they give us a clear instruction and practice both Quad and Buggy before I decided to go with Buggy. Quad bike seems too difficult to handle and I am a litle bit scared in riding quad bike during our practice. Buggy seems more safe and easier to handle. like driving an automatic car.

The tour start to explore the off road amongst rice fields and traditional village. I drive carefully because there are lots of mud and pool of water on the road that makes my clothes get dirty when I pass it over. It is quite exciting to get dirty with the mud. things that I did a lot when I was a child. The track become a litle tricky when there are terrain that we have to pass. I am quite nervous driving this Buggy in a difficult track. Once I even hit the Quad Bike in front of me, which is happen to be our guide.. We laugh a lot. Luckily my Buggy did not turn upside down when I hit the Quad.

The track is passed a very traditional villages, where we meet lots of children waving to us with their smile. One child even gave me flower that she picked from her garden. So sweet.. I feel like this is the real Balinese village with their traditional ways of living. We also passed the rice fields and rain forest and have a short coffe and tea in a traditional hut with a view to the mountain.

The Off Road adventure with Quad Bikes and Buggy started to split because some people drive fast and some people like me drive slowly especially in a chalenging track, but the guide never leave us alone. They also split and keep an eye to us and show us the way. After 2 hours of adventure we went back to the place where we start and delicious lunch is ready to be served..

Surfing Lesson at Surfer Girl Surf S’cool

I got an invitation for the soft opening of Surfer Girl Surf S’cool to learn to surf. I saw a lot of surfer everyday and arrange lots of surfing lessons for my guests but never think that I want to larn to surf. It look dangerous and look scary. All the negative feeling always come to my mind first. What if the waves are strong, what if I can’t handle the board, etc..etc..

The invitation looks fun, so I call them if learn to surf is dangerous and what will they teach me and how will I do that. They told me that it is safe, fun and there will be professional instructors teach me to stand on the board. So I ask my friend if she want to accompany me to learn to surf, but everybody refuse. Too many negative feeling as I have. When I desperately look for company, the assistant manager pass by and I ask her if she want to learn to surf? And she said she’d love to. Then the next morning off we go.

First they ask us to change with rash suit that already prepared with very girly color available. Off course this school are only for girl. They also ask us to put safety helmet and a high SPF sunblock for our face, arms and legs. The instructors are female too and they are so friendly and 2 male assistant for back up.


The instructor give us the theory to read the waves, paddle to the sea and ride on the waves. Well I cant wait to practice it. When it comes to practice, we practice first on the sand then to the water. Well it is not to difficult, paddle and ride the waves. We are not stand on board yet. Just paddle and ride the waves but I feel it is so much fun that I wont stop.


The second lesson is about how to stand on the board. This one is difficult. We practice it on the sand. And I can’t even stand fast. The sun is already too hot (it is only 10 am) and I feel exhausted because I got too excited on paddling on the waves. When we have to practice it on the water, Oh my god , it is so difficult. The waves keep me down whenever I tried to stand. I even hit my friend while trying to stand on my board. On one occasion I stand…. Oh yes.. I STAND… I can stand on the board while riding the waves.. Yahoo..! It is only like 1 or two second before I fell again because I can’t balance myself on board. But I feel so happy. I can be a surfer girl someday…. Hehehe..


The lesson finished at 11 am. It is already 2 hours we were on the water. All of us look happy and exhausted. All keep telling each other how it feels when they stand on the board.. My friend even ask me to do it again next time so that we can really really stand on board and ride the waves like a pro..


The Surfer Girl Surf S’cool gave each of us a certificate with our name on it mentioned that we have ride waves and stand on board. They even gave us a goody bags full of Surfer Girl Stuff, like Surfer Girl calendar, Surfer Girl Keychain, bags and lots more.

Bowling in Kuta Paradiso

This place should be a good place to hang out plus doing some sport for my lazy muscle. And it is fun because not only it is a place for bowling but also for pool table..They have ladies night too..only Rp. 10.000 and ladies can play till drop (well they close at 2 a.m) I am now practicing a lot..bcoz everytime I bowl the ball doesnt seem to go straight forward to the pin, people keep saying that bowling need patience, well I turn too emotional when my ball didn’t hit the pins.
I will wrote again once I become a good bowler, so that I can tell you how fun it is to bowling..

Waterbom

Sunday is a great day for family, especially this sunday when we celebrate our hotel's anniversary in Waterbom. Children can't be more happier when they are in Waterbom, splashing, playing, swimming.. We could enjoy more adrenalin games in their new Boomerang games.. well I tried it too many times until I felt so dizzy, going up and down and step on a very very high stair..huuuhh.
Another games is in maccaroni tube.. well this is scary because it is so dark inside the tube but that can make you scream so loud...I like it not because it is dark or high..but because I can scream as loud as I can, and people in the park could hear you like you are so scared...
you'll go home very tired after all the fun..and the next day you can see a darker skin inline with your swimsuit...