Bali, I'm (still) in love - 1st Day

I wasn't sure how many times I went to Bali though. The first time I went there when I was in Junior High School, when I was about 15 years old. In January 2003, not longer after tragedy Bali in October 2002. Bali, when I first time went there was pretty quite. Though the tourism in Bali had significantly decrease, at that time I found a man who was the first time I brave myself to talk with foreigner properly. I do still remember his name is Culdy from U.S. We had a bit conversation in Kuta beach. What a teenager stuff to get attention from a cute guy. ^_^

However although so many times I went to Bali, I never get bored anyhow. In my own opinion, Bali is like a place where the traditional cultures keep steady but blend with an international arrivals.

This is the story when the last time I went there in the end of August 2013. I won a testimonial photo contest from a feminine hygiene soap and I got a grand prize free holiday 3 days 2 nights in Bali, starting from Friday up to Sunday.

I got a morning flight from Jakarta to Bali by using Lion Air. Me and 5 another winners from Jakarta and Bandung met together in Soekarno Hatta airport with dress code white on top. Definitely new friends I got through this competition.

Lion Air JT 0028

It took an hour and half to arrive in Bali finally. Oh yes, the smell of Bali was sooo good. Welcome to the only one an island of God, Bali.

Me and another winner who seated beside me, Novita

In the Ngurah Rai airport me and 5 winners met with another 4 winners. (Total of winners in this competition was 10 person). Then we were picked up with local tour guide to go to hotel, Adhi Jaya Hotel in Kuta. We got a beautiful welcoming flowers from the tour and travel after we arrived in hotel. It was so much cute.

All of the winners got a sharing room hotel and I got a room mate named Feby from Central Java. It didn't take much time to make us feel comfortable each other because accidentally she just went to Europe as well, and Paris was one of her visitation. So we shared about our nice experiences whilst we unpack our luggage. It was really good time though.

My sharing room with Feby

Our room's number: 226

On our bed, we found a special package for our body treatment and also Bali sarong from the agency. Olala, it was so pleasure!

We just had an hour to prepare ourselves to have shower, re-touch make up, unpack luggage, chit and chat bla-bla-bla. After that, the first place we visited was Alas Kedaton. A place where you can find a lot of half wild - tame monkeys grow naturally with the local people.

Alas Kedaton in Tabanan, Bali

It needed around 45 minutes from my hotel in Kuta to reach that place. I have to be frank I was not sure how much the price we had to pay because we used travel agent who arranged it all in a package.

Do not worry if you got another local tour guide follow you o your team behind you, it because they know exactly how to handle the monkeys there. Just give them a proper tip, case closed. Moreover, if you want to have an interaction with the monkeys, you can buy peanuts and be double careful because you will get 100 percents attention of the monkeys around you. You will be a target of them. It sounds dangerous, but it will be so much fun!

I got my best experience when I just want to take photo near the monkeys, I got truly photos with one of them who was standing "so innocent" on my head. OMG, I was bloody panic at that time though. The tour guide asked me to stay calm until the monkeys left my head automatically. It was a very amazing experience that I got in my beginning day in there.

Note: Special thanks to Novita who took me this silly photos. Oh well, you got me, monkey!! >_<

Anyway, my own advises when you go to this place, take care about your accessories such as sun glasses o watch o necklace, who knows you will get the same experience like I had. Also, for girls who get period, you couldn't enter this place unfortunately. That was a rule.

In the same place, I went ahead to explore this place. I found local people rent their pets, bats. Whats?? Pets?? Are you kidding me??! Cat is much better than bat though.

So, if the visitors could take photos with their pets by paying IDR 20k o valued USD 2 (for local price). So I didn't want to waste this great opportunity to have photos with them.

Photo with Tora, the name of this bat

After about an hour looked around, we continued our destination to the second place named Tanah Lot for watching a traditional dance named Kecak dance. I was sooo excited for that.

Tanah Lot

Tanah lot is one of popular place to visit whilst you are in Bali. As same as Kuta beach, many people spend time for watching sunset here. Like I did.

Sunset in Bali is around 6 pm in local time. So if you want to enjoy the sunset, make sure you get yourself before the time mentioned. Trust me, here you can find plenty good view to take photos. So empty your memory card and fully charge your camera's battery.

06:30 pm it was the time to watch kecak fire dance! Ssst, pay attention please for an hour ahead.

The most thing that made me excited because I could take photos with the dancers too.. Yippi!

"Cak - Cak - Cak - Cak - Cak"

He copied my pose.. OMG, he was so funny with his scary mask!

At least this monkey will not stand on my head

Last but not least, finally all of the winners had a special dinner with the ambassador of the product I won the competition, Absolute Feminine Hygiene.  A woman who has half heritage of Indonesia and half of Germany. She was absolutely gorgeous! I was so proud I could have this moment in my life.

Me and the Ambassador of Absolute, Ira Wibowo.

 Oh well, time ran out so fast. It was 10 pm in local time. All of us got tired already. So we went back to hotel to have a rest and be ready for tomorrow plans.

Stay tune for my second day in Bali, I will make it in my next post.

Love,

Aditha