copyright -(for distribution) welcome to joshua’s guide to bali kuta
TRANSCRIPT
Dress Welcome To Joshua’s Guide to Bali, KUTA This Guide is sponsored by Su’s Bar
Do visit my bar in Bali, its located at 29, Jalan Benesari, Kuta.
Drinks are priced at 5,000 rupiah for arak shots 10,000 – 15, 000 rupiah for house pours 18,000 – 25,000 rupiah for beer. Su’s bar is a place where you can just chill, have a beer and people watch.
If the mood allows, you could get wasted with the wide array of drinks from Arak(local whisky) to house pours, beer bongs, tequila shots and even spiked bubble tea. Do contact Wayan at 036 19198254 for enquiries of email us at [email protected] if you would like to book us for bachelor or birthday parties. Directions: From the Main street of Legian. Look for MAMA's German Restaurant walk all the way in and look for Su's Bar.
Or Look for Legian HArmony hotel . It is 3 mins from there.
Nearest Beach KUTA: 7 mins walk
(Su’s bar ; tourists and locals make up the customer base)
Introduction First and foremost, I want to introduce myself. I’m Joshua a
Singaporean and have visited Bali more than 15 times over the past 3 years. Why is this so? Its paradise! And I have a small bar that I have to take care of located in Kuta.
As we know that on Bali the locals are relatively tolerant, to the ugliness of us tourists, we still must respect them and their culture.
Why did I make this guide? I made this guide because I have so many friends of friends of friends asking me, what to do when they are in Bali, and where to get good rates for watersports, where to go for clubbing. I have noticed quite a number of scams; of course I do not want people to get cheated too. This guide is based on my own opinions, I am no way responsible if you feel it was not up to standard, remember this is a personal guide , for my friends and contacts. But, since it was so sought after, I thought I might as well give it out for free. This guide will cover -‐ Taxi from Denpasar airport to Kuta -‐Massage -‐Warehouse shopping -‐Shopping malls in kuta and tuban area -‐Moneychangers -‐Surfing Water rafting -‐Watersports and Adventure Agencies -‐ Nightlife – clubbing and bar hopping -‐Food – Nasi Jingko Babi Guling, Bebek Goreng. Seafood -‐“Chomp chomp”, Laota, Dog dragon grill, -‐Motorbike -‐Prepaid Sim Cards -‐ Accommodation
Taxi from Denpasar airport to Kuta
If you do not have anyone picking you up at the airport try and get a taxi and remember to confirm the price of the fare with the driver before getting in. Travelling from Denpasar airport to Kuta will take about 20 minutes if traffic is good and it will cost about 50 000 rupiah to 90 000 rupiah if you’re staying in the Kuta area.
I will generally not pay anything more than that. Do note that from the Airport to Kuta, it is actually quite near like less than 5 kilometres. However, due to improper planning of the roads the drivers always have to use a longer route. If you need to take a taxi anytime you’re in Bali do use “bluebird” as they run on meter and are less likely to rip you off.
Traffic in Kuta is generally quite bad. Think, Bangkok or Jakarta but on a smaller scale.
Massage I do not have a particular massage place to recommend.
Massage parlours in Bali are aplenty , at almost every corner you can find masseurs who will ask you to try their services, most of these masseurs are quite professional , again abide by the golden rule of confirming the prices before you start them, not much bargaining is available at massage parlours, they have a range of activities from ear candling to Swedish massages , fish spas to Brazilian waxing. Most massages parlours do not practice “ happy endings” Warehouse shopping
Shopping at warehouses is done along the bigger roads such as
JL By Pas Ngurah Rai No. 11 H -‐ WBF warehouse. You can get to these warehouse via a bluebird taxi which should not cost you more than 50,000 rupiah or for the more adventurous you can travel there by motorbike.
They have surf apparel and sports apparel, all original but take note they are past season. I bought a pair of quicksilver board shorts for a bout S$30 which to me is a steal. The available brands just to name a few, quicksilver, nike, adidas, billabong, havianas , crocs etc.
There are 5 warehouses along that stretch so you definitely will find merchandise that you fancy.
http://panugrahan.com/MenuSurf.htm
Havaianas Outlet Store In Singapore, these flip flops cost about $25-‐ $30 sing dollars a
pair, in Bali , past season models cost only $13-‐$15. The same brand, same quality just older designs, at half the price! The first time I entered the stall I went berserk! So Many designs to choose from, Flip flops/ slippers are a daily part of my life, I use them more often than I use shoes. At the cashier I was holding 5 pairs, awaiting my turn to pay and this Australian lady looked at me as if I was ‘kiasu’ or weird! Haha. A must to visit if you are a “slipper-‐person”.
Address: JL Sunset Road No.6 Semniyak Bali
Shopping malls in kuta and tuban area Matahari Kuta Square located at Jalan Bakung sari no.1 Kuta ,
this will usually be the landmark that many will use. It consists of fast food, coffee house, departmental store and a Supermarket. It is worth a visit, but I can tell you that the shopping there is sub-‐standard. I bought semi-‐ branded boxers at $5 a piece and they were pretty comfortable. Matahari square is also the most recongisable landmark in kuta, 3rd to the 2002 Bali bombing memorial site and Hard Rock Café.
Discovery Shopping Mall located in Jl. Kartika Plaza, Tuban, Kuta is one of the newer shopping malls located in tuban, it is within walking distance of Matahari Kuta Square,about 10 minutes walk. It has a Sogo, Starbucks, Centro, A& W, the last time I was there, it had a Topshop, I’m not sure if its still there. The products in this shopping centre are relatively more expensive and I can’t guarantee authenticity. But if you really need your shopping mall fix, you should take a look.
In Bali, bargaining is a MUST be it if you’re on the beach, by the store that is on the road, even in the massage parlours or hair salons. Of course common sense has to be used, negotiating for prices will not be entertained in shopping malls and bigger establishments.
Remember to bargain to a minimum of 70% if you are buying “Bintang singlets, towels” or the fake designer shades. The prices have been marked up drastically. The most I would pay for a Bintang singlet is S$7, Bintang towel S$10, fake designer shades S$7.
Moneychangers One very important point to note; do not change money at
moneychangers that have black boxes or look dubious. The moneychanger will do various ‘tricks’ and return you less than what you are supposed to receive. Besides having rigged calculators, one common trick they use is to change the currency into smaller denominations and return you much less after a “magic show”.
Change your currency at licensed moneychangers which have their rates in electronic signs, or those that are air conditioned.
-BMC Seminyak PT Bali Maspintjinra(opposite Bintang Supermarket, next to Sip restaurant on the Kuta side.)
-PT Bali Maspintjinra, Head office Jl Raya Seminyak No 16A
-PT Bali Maspintjinra, Sanur, Jl Danau Tamblingan No 18
Surfing
Ok here’s my take on surfing, the first timed I tried surfing was with an instructor on the beach of Kuta. The instructor will teach you the right technique of getting up on the board and he will also accompany you for the 1st hour. The 2nd hour you can either continue using the instructor or give it a shot on your own. I didn’t sign up with any school, I signed up with those private instructors that ply the beaches.
Do take note that if you break the fins of the board you might have to pay. I didn’t pay more than S$15 for my 2 hours with the board and instructor.
It was incredibly hard to get up on the board. Out of 10 tries, I only managed to stand up once. And it was tiring as hell to pull the board against the currents. Overall, it was pretty fun and definitely worth a shot. The waves at Kuta are not as high as other beaches. And they are suitable for beginners and kids.
http://www.prosurfschool.com/bali-surf-locations/surf-kuta-beach.html I have never tried this school, before but yea, give it a shot.
Water rafting
Water rafting in Bali is situated out of Kuta along with many other water activities. From Kuta it took about 40 minutes to get to the water rafting spot. I paid about S$30 or 200,000 rupiah. This includes pickup from the hotel and return trip, 3 hours of rafting and the rafting guide, insurance and also a buffet lunch.
All in all I would recommend the rafting, it is grade 4 rapids and there are two locations, Ayung river North-‐West of Ubud and — during certain times of the year — also on the Unda river North of
Klungkung. The water is cold and it is a lot of fun, ducking bridges and paddling. The rapids are strong enough to push the whole raft, without much paddling.
There is even a 2-‐meter drop. The rest point is a mini-‐waterfall where refreshments are sold and pictures can be taken. Remember to wear shoes, sandals are not recommended, as you need shoes to protect you from rocks and gravel. You get picked up at your hotel at about 11am and you return to Kuta at about 430pm. They provide waterproof bags, bring as little money as you can and avoid bringing your mobile devices or valuables.
Watersports and Adventure Agencies Watersports can be booked at “Blues Brothers Adventure” they
are located at Jalan Benesari No.69 Kuta-‐Bali Mobile : 0361 9210210 , 081 236 952 222.
They have a no bargain policy, and their prices are pretty reasonable. They have packages for snorkeling, reptile island and parasailing for USD$30 – they also have river rafting which comes with buffet.
Volcano trekking is recommended if u have 12 hrs. Pickup is at 2am and you return to Kuta at about 2pm. I have not tried their cooking classes or cycling packages. But they have a lot of activities lined up.
Packages outside of minimarts can be booked as well usually
they will ask u to pay 50 percent as a deposit. BE SURE to bargain to at least 40-‐50% as they will raise the prices initially. Snorkeling, Para-‐sailing
For about S$30 or 200,000 rupiah you get to go snorkeling in Tanjung Benoa beach located in Nusa Dua, go to reptile island( 10,000 rupiah entrance fee) and 1 round of Para-‐ sailing. Transport is provided to-‐and-‐fro. DO NOT take a taxi there and get then try to book activities there, I have heard 1st hand horror stories, of friends getting cheated. Like paying US$10 to get there but getting shoved exorbitant prices in their faces.
Always book your activities in advance from a reputable source, even though it might cost more. That’s why I recommend Blue Brothers Adventure as I have not once heard a complain, and they do not believe in haggling. Even though, certain times they might charge
higher rates. It is because of convenience and trust that I recommend my friends and family to their business.
Snorkeling takes about 1 hour; you are provided with the snorkeling gear and a locker to safe keep your belongings. Again, bring as little valuables as possible. Bring a spare towel or a change of clothes. The boat that takes you out to snorkel has a glass bottom, so you can actually see the fish without going into the water. Bread, which is used to feed the fish, is provided too. The fish are generally shy in those waters and they do not really come that close. One tip during snorkeling, ask for a life jacket so you don’t have to keep trapping water or tire yourself by swimming.
Reptile Island Reptile island consists of eagles, bats, snakes , huge green sea
turtles, hedgehogs and many other animals which are rarely seen and when you look at them you will go ‘huh’ ? You get to feed the turtles and take pictures with all the animals. Of course you get to buy souvenirs and have an overly priced meal of instant noodles.
After Reptile Island, the boatman will take you back to Tanjung Benoa beach, where you get to parasail and if the weather is bad they will replace it with another water sport, such as the ‘donut’ or something that the vendors deem of the same price.
Is this package worth the money? Yes, and I will say go for it. Although, the water is not crystal clear and the fishes are shy, you still get to do 3 different things at a low price.
(Reptile island; Feed the turtles and take pictures with them)
(Reptile Island; iguana)
(Snorkeling: feeding the fish, using the lifejacket to float, so you
don’t have to trap water)
Nightlife – clubbing Clubbing in Bali basically has three main areas; Kuta,
Semniyak(Jalan Caplak Tanduk) and Semniyak (Jalan Oberoi) Kuta, In Kuta, you can get to visit chill out bars in benesari , where
drinks range from $1.50 for house pours and $2 for Bintang beer some bars have shisha too. Half the time when im not clubbing I will just go to bars to meet new people , pubs and bars in kuta are the best place to meet new friends as everyone is relax and extremely friendly.
Clubs in Kuta are on the main street of Legian. Sky garden, V Ai P , Bounty ,most clubs are free for foreigners and the drinks range from about $4 for house pour and $5 for beer. You can your different genres of music from, house to electro, hip hop , rock. I recommend SKY Garden as they have 4 floors , each floor catering to different genres. And they are packed almost every night.
BE WEARY of touts that push drugs and magic mushrooms, do not buy from them as there have been cases of double crossing, where they snitch on you to the police after they sell to you. Besides, it might even be poison (or some chemical) that they are selling you. NEVER change money along that clubbing stretch after 9pm .
( Jungle Juice; local rice wine mixed with a soft drink)
Semniyak(dhyana pura) Drinking in Semniyak(dhyana pura), this stretch is where the
bars are more classy, décor is a lot more sophisticated and the crowd is more matured. Basically, Kuta is known to attract many bag-‐packers, hence the majority of patrons are young bag-‐packers. In dhyana pura, you will find Mexican restaurants, bistros , bars and the highlight will have to be the stretch of gay bars and cabaret shows.
Bars such as “Bali Joe” and “Mixwell have drag shows; where cross dressers impersonate divas, such as, Beyonce, Rihanna and lady gaga. They lip-‐sync to their latest hits and are backed up with dancers. The whole set up is so well thought, they you will be forgiven if you mouth is wide open the whole time you are there, or even think you are in a private concert.
There are well-‐built male dancers that gyrate on bar tops, with their oiled up torsos in full view. And despite all these, 20-‐30% of the crowd is straight. Drinks go for around 30,000 rupiah for beer and 70,000 for cocktails such as mojito etc.
The bars are packed almost every single night, and even on less crowded nights the party atmosphere and friendliness of the patrons never seem to dwindle. If you’re looking for something, out of the ordinary or ‘different’ head on down with an “open mind”. For guys, do take note that not every dude will ‘hit’ on you (unless you’re brad Pitt or Ryan gosling) but there’s a higher chance you’ll get more attention than any normal straight club.
(Packed like sardines, its actually a 2-‐way road, but the crowd very frequently spills over to the road)
Semniyak (Jalan Oberoi)
The bars in Semniyak (Jalan Oberoi) are for the higher in status
and the place to be seen if you want to flaunt your wealth. Bars such as kudeta and hu’u bar price their drinks at about S$10-‐S$15 a glass of cocktail. The décor and ambience are of course; splendid and they have theme parties. Personally, I don’t really fancy this kind of places, but would recommend you to take a look as certain groups of people do come to Bali to lead a luxurious holiday.
Please do visit Potato Head Beach Club located at Jalan Petitenget 51 B | Kerobokan , Seminyak, Kuta, Bali 80361 , Indonesia, there is no cover charge to enter. Its basically a beach club with an infinity pool and lounge beds , food served there is nothing to rave about. But the ambience is in a world of it’s own. Head on down to catch the sunset! ( dress code : No beer branded apparel)
My personal experience at one of these bars’ was having a cockroach crawl out from their table. Other than that these places are pretty far from the main roads, about 10 – 15 minutes drive.
FOOD
Nasi Jingko Nasi Jingko, is the equivalent of Singapore’s Nasi Lemak.
Except that the rice is not coconut rice and they mix a bit of noodles into one packet. It consists of a bit of chicken, egg, rice, noodles and the awesome sambal chili. Personally I can wolf down 2 packets, as the portion is relatively small.
I would order half boiled eggs to go with it; where you add your own amount of pepper and salt. Washing it down with water or Jamu ( a semi-‐sour orange drink) that is supposed to be good for you if you need to sober down. Nasi jingko is especially tasty after a night of drinking.
Can be found at street corners near more congested junctions. There is a hawker that sells nasi jingko near tanaya bed & breakfast hotel at Legian 131 . Kuta . Bali . Indonesia. Another hawker is located after the end of jalan legian. After you pass the bomb memorial, follow the one-‐way road and walk all the way down, sky garden will be on your left. Continue walking for about 10 minutes and turn left when you see a junction, continue walking for another 5 minutes. You will see an old lady and son with their authentic nasi jingko.
( Nasi Jingko)
(Unmistakable Auntie and her Nasi Jingko)
Babi Guling
Babi Guling is a must try, it is different parts of the pig , deep fried and usually eaten with rice. The pork melts in you mouth. Innards are also used. Can be found at most small lanes. There is one just beside the Nasi Jingko after Skygarden.
Bebek Goreng
Bebek goreng is fried kitten. Yup, you read it right, fried kitten Nah, I’m kidding , its deep fried duck , which has been marinated in a secret recipe. It is available at many places in Bali. The one that I frequently visit only sells ducks. And the ducks they use are like “teenage” ducks cause they are not fully grown.
The meat is tender and after adding some dark sweet sauce and mixing with the sambal that is provided. You will be in gastronomical haven, the meat is tender and succulent and besides going with rice the duck is excellent with plain crackers. This is
highly recommended, if you’re not riding it might be a little difficult to explain to your driver. Here’s the full name and address. Bebek Goreng H.slamet at Jl. Kediri 50x,Tuban (Jl. Kediri 50x,Tuban), Kuta, Bali . Phone : (0391) 888 3823
Try to go before 4pm, because business is so good you there are days where they don’t even open for the dinner crowd. They have a limited number of ducks per day and if they are sold out, they call it a day. They are closed on certain days of which are not fixed. Elusive but definitely worth it!
(Bebek Goreng; fried kitten duck. <this picture does no justice to the food!>)
Seafood
“Chomp chomp”
If you ask about seafood in Bali, touts will probably direct you to Jimabaran bay, where you can eat and enjoy the sunset, I have never been there but have heard from friends that “ the food there is horrid, they use a lot of chili, and its also expensive.” I have never been there, thus, I can’t say for sure.
I wouldn’t need to go there, cause I get my craving satisfied in Tuban or Kuta. If I don’t want to get out of Kuta and just want to take a stroll, I will head over to what I personally coined “chomp chomp of Kuta”. This place is located in between MacDonald’s and Hard Rock café, along the beach. They have about 10-‐15 stores mostly serving seafood, Japanese, Korean also western food. The prices are pretty average. Fried fish or ikan bakar goes for about S$5 -‐ S$8 and a meal of about 3-‐4 dishes should set you back about S$20.
The quality of food is nothing to rave about. But it is decent and not pricey. Try not to get a shock when you step inside this area, as the hawkers will use every language they know to get your attention. Shouting at the top of their voices. This is known as the ‘orchestra’. I always ask my unsuspecting friends to step in first, haha.
Laota
(4 of the 7 dishes, fried fish, vegetables, pork, and egg)
‘
(Look out for this sign board!)
Laota restaurant is located at Jalan Raya Kuta 530 , Tuban Indonesia tel : 0361-7429068. This 24-hr Hong Kong restaurant is famous for their porridge. Do give the porridge a try, even if you’re not a fan of Porridge. They have many different kinds of porridge such as crab porridge, abalone porridge, seafood porridge. Their fried fish with bean sauce is a must, just mentioning the cereal prawns make me salivate, the vegetables are fresh and prepared in the right style. They also have an array of duck dishes to choose from. Their crabs are reasonably priced. When I was first introduced by my friend, to look for this restaurant I was a bit apprehensive as being a frequent traveller to Hong Kong and being from Singapore, where the food is top notch. I was thinking “ how good can seafood be in Bali?” Boy, was I wrong. The dishes are authentic, like something out of a coffee shop or Tsi Zhar stall from Singapore. Definitely a must to visit! For 6 people with 7 dishes, as far as I can remember, prawns, chicken, vegetables, fish, porridge and two other dish which I cant remember; it will set you guys back about S$60 or 400,000 rupiah.
Dog Dragon Grill Dog Dragon Grill is located at Jalan Benesari, Poppies 2, Legian, KUTA. They are known mainly for their steaks. Be it Australian imported beef or local produce they have it. The steak goes for about 65,000 rupiah with 2 side dishes.
They serve chicken and seafood as well. Their imported steaks are 200g and you get to choose between red wine sauce, mushroom sauce and brown sauce. The steak is succulent and done right. Priced reasonably, and with a pleasant ambience, if you’re on a date or just wanna have some steak, do drop by. My personal favourite is the bangers and mash, two thick sausages drizzled in brown sauce, served with mashed potatoes that , melt on your tongue, priced at 55 000 rupiah.
Owners are very welcoming and they serve great cocktails as well.
Motorbikes Renting motorobikes in bali is convenient and hassle free. Try
to rent from hirers with shops. The bikes that are mostly rented out are, 125 cc – 150 cc semi-‐auto bikes or automatic scooters; this means not having to worry about biting points. You generally do not need a license; all you have to do is provide them your hotel name and the room number of which you’re staying at.
The longer you rent the cheaper it gets, say for example if you plan on renting it for 7 days it will cost between 40 000 rupiah to 60 000 rupiah per day. If you plan on renting it for 3 days ,it may cost 60 000-‐ 70 000 rupiah per day. Petrol is sold per bottle in kuta at 5000 rupiah for 750ml. where in the petrol kiosks outside of kuta you get 3 litres at 10 000 rupiah.
Riding a moped in any country is generally NOT safe and you need to have better than average control and reflexes. The potholes, bottleneck traffic and uneven roads make riding in kuta very challenging. I recommend everyone to walk, as that essentially helps you to ‘see’ more and find out bars, shops or diners you would never have noticed if you were riding. For those that are bent on riding, remember to wear your helmet at all times; for safety reasons and also the police will fine you, and eventually you end up paying a lot more for your fine.
Always follow the traffic and do not ride against it. Take a picture of your motorbike’s license plate, for easy identification; if
you’re going to park it beside the dozens of motorbikes outside the mall or by the beach. Always remember to handle lock the bike to prevent theft.
If you plan to ride out of kuta make sure you know your way around as the highways can be quite hazardous. There have been hundreds of incidents of tourists injuring themselves severely and even dying on the bigger roads.
NEVER drive when you’re intoxicated. Prepaid Sim Cards Pre-‐paid sim cards card can be purchased from almost any
store that that has the banner hanging from it( provision stores, and circle Ks) that are many companies such as “Mentari or XL” the cards range from 30 000 rupiah – 40 000 rupiah with 5000 rupiah worth of credit inside the cards, alternatively you can choose to top up more credit on the spot or at a later period. Do note that the cards will expire if you do not top them up after 2 months.
Accommodation Stayed at The Spot a couple of times, if you’re very concerned
about location and how everything is within waking distance. The Spot is the place, its about 2 mins walk to the Bali Bombing memorial, 2 mins walk to the main clubs of sky garden, vaip, bounty etc, strangely enough, the noise from these clubs did not invade my hotel room, even if it did it was just minimal, and I’m easily irritable when it comes to these minute issues. The Spot just opened in 2012, it’s a boutique hotel, it has 21 different rooms, and I have stayed at the rooms ‘Tango’ and ‘New York‘. (WIFI in common areas and some rooms.)
Very interesting concept, I realized their rooms are themed after musicians, artists and famous places. The Staff were friendly and hospitable, always taking the initiative to ask if I need any help, with anything. That really impressed me, as certain times, you want to ask questions but you’re actually afraid to do so.
The 650 000 rupiah per night per room, came with breakfast with a view, why with a view? You see the roof top dinning and bar is surrounded by a reflective lounge pool, which overlooks Legian. Impressive! So naturally my friends and I spent our time baking in the sun and frolicking in the pool and we also had pre-‐party drinks at the bar before heading to the bigger clubs. Overall a good stay!
www.thespotbali.com for reservations. Address: Jl. Raya Legian, (Ground Zero) Troppozone Lane No. 8 , Kuta - Bali - Indonesia 80361 Phone: +62 361 854 8990 or +62 361 751 940 | Fax: +62 361 734 725 | [email protected]
(One of their many rooms, if I’m not wrong its Union Jack )
(Sunset by the pool, Magnificent! Don’t have to go far, it’s in the hotel itself!)
The views expressed in this brochure do not necessarily reflect the views of Su’s Bar
and Joshua Su. Su’s Bar and Joshua Su are in no way responsible for the misuse of this guide. This guide is meant for informative purposes only. Readers are to use discretion at all times. If any establishment or brand has been portrayed in the wrong manner, the author sincerely apologies and will be more than willing to remove the content. This guide should not be sold and no profit should be collected from this guide.
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