How to find good local restaurants in Bali

As a cook, I have to confess that I am not good enough to talk about the quality of Balinese food but as a food lover, I am perfectly qualified in talking about all the local traditional food and enjoying them. Since I came to Bali, my husband has been permanently shocked how much I enjoy eating Balinese food. As a polite husband, he can't dare to stop me eating but he seems to worry about the quantity of food I eat. However what can I do when I simply can't stop loving the local food, especially all the fish dishes.

There are plenty of reasons why I love Balinese food. They are surprisingly fresh. All kind of fresh juices here contain real fruits and they are unbelievably cheap so I don't have to hesitate to get them whenever I want with main meals. Fresh banana juice and mango juice are impossible to miss.

The foods are very tasty as there are a lots of local fresh spices used for cooking. Especially fresh garlic, ginger, local white pepper and chilli paste make unforgettably delicious local taste.

The portion of the meals are smaller and lighter than western food so I feel less guilty to enjoy them more.

It has been always hard for me to eat fish dishes often enough in Australia even though they are my favourite because they are very expensive. Therefore I am enjoying fish dishes as much as I want here. Quality of the fish is great here. For lunch I ordered a grilled whole fish dish today and the chef brought out a fresh fish to show to me to confirm the size of the fish. He looked bit concerned that the fish would cost me too much. It was only $5. Can you believe this?

Balinese dishes don't look luxurious or fancy. They look like mum's food and taste like mum's food. 

To get the real local taste, you need to find the right restaurants. As there are too many tourists in Bali, many restaurants moderate local food's strong taste by putting less local spices and use more western ingredients to be suitable for tourists. In my opinion, these chances can spoil the real taste of local food. We have tried hard to find decent local restaurants that serve real local food to both tourists and local people and luckily found several great ones for our daily meals. They cook incredibly tasty local food with unbelievably cheaper price. You can't expect beautiful plates and 5 star service from them but you can taste real local meal. So, I would like to share with you some tips to find good local restaurants in Bali. If you need a higher standard food and service, my tips will not work for you but if you are like me happily experience true local food with local price, then I believe that you can get bit of benefits from my tips.

1. Avoid empty restaurants: If there are no one sitting in the restaurant, don't go in even though the restaurant looks good and menu looks delicious. Good local restaurants are always filled by tourists and local people at anytime. Even it is not a meal time, there must be people who are waiting for the food. Therefore, if there are no customers and only staff are sitting in the restaurant, it will be highly unlikely to get delicious local food. 

2. Too long menu never can be good: Normally you can have a look at the menu before you go into the restaurant. If the menu is too long with too many types of food, It means the quality of food would not be great. Especially full of western food list can guarantee that you will have mixed and unknown origin food with taste which is hard to define actually what it is. 

3. If local people are sitting and having food in the restaurant, then you can have, too : Although food prices are seriously cheap to us but they are still expensive to local people. So having a meal at a restaurant is still for a special occasion to them so if they like to eat their food at the restaurant, it can be a good sign for you to enjoy the local food. 

4. Is expensive food better? : Don't presume expensive food will be tastier. That is not always the case here. We used to get food from bit more expensive places at the beginning but the food didn't seem to be better than cheaper ones. At the moment, we normally go same places which provide delicious food with cheap prices and we are totally happy with them. 

5. Restaurant's outlook is not important : One of our favourite places to eat here is called 'Bamboo corner' located in a small lane, poppies 1. When you see the restaurant from the outside (also inside), you would not be convinced to step in but this restaurant is permanently full. Ugly tables, unstable chairs, 100 years old looking decorations and menu board on the wall and cheapest looking cutlery wouldn't bother you when you start earning and paying. You will be surprised when you eat as food quality is excellent and you will be surprised again when you pay as it is unbelievably cheap. Therefore, don't presume the food quality based on appearance of the restaurant. 'Gong's Corner' located a connecting lane between poppies one and two is also our favourite places to eat here so you can try them if you come here. 

I feel sorry for people who don't know how to enjoy local meals when they are in another country. I understand that it can be very different from some people's taste or too strong for them but I believe that we need to try local food when you travel overseas because trying local food can be one of the best ways to feel/taste the differnt culture. 

Please enjoy some Balinese main dish photos below.

 

                        Creamy crab soup

 

 

                    Grilled fish with spinach 

       

 

                 Rice noodle soup (Bihun Kuhan)

 

 

                 Fried rice (Nasi goreng) 

Best value hotel in Kuta, Bali

I would like to write about the hotel, Yulia Beach Inn (www.yuliainns.com/ybi) where I am staying in Kuta, Bali and recommend to people who are planning on visiting Bali or who want to come in future. Frankly, I didn't know anything about this hotel before I left Sydney. I chose this hotel based on customers reviews and reasonable price on hotel booking websites. Until we checked in, I was not sure about my choice. Only I could do is hoping for not too bad. However, the hotel exceeded our expectations and we decided to cancel a booking on other hotel which is 30% more expensive and far well known in order to stay longer at Yulia. Main reason I want to share my experience in staying at Yulia is that I want to be a little help to someone who wants to find a decent hotel in Bali. It is never easy to find out a good accommodation in overseas to me so I hope my experience and recommendation can help future travellers to Bali.

Yulia Beach Inn is not a 4 or 5 star hotel. It is a 3 star ranked hotel and simple and decent accommodation so if you want to enjoy a luxurious holiday in Bali, you don't need to read further as you would feel the hotel is not good enough to you. However if you want to have a hotel with reasonable price and good location to enjoy more of your time on your limited budget, this hotel will be a perfect choice.

Here are some reasons why we like to stay at Yulia Beach Inn in Kuta.

1. Great location : Less than 500 meters from Kuta beach and 3 minutes walking distance from the shopping centre with a big supermarket called 'Matahari'. It is very handy to buy stuff what you need, especially for ladies. Being close to local shops, restaurants and traditional markets will offer you more things to do and enjoy your time there. The hotel is on a simply great location! 

2. Great value : You pay less for more. Price is very reasonable and you can get higher standard services at Yulia. I could pay less about $18 per night which can be all day meal costs for two people and got bigger and newer room. 

3. Cleanness : I can stand a small and old room but I can't stand a dirty room. Yulia satisfied me perfectly. The cleanness exceeds 4 or 5 star hotels' standard. Every day, they provide clean and comfortable conditions for us to enjoy spending time in the room. 

4. Friendly and attentive staff: We have been received the best care from the staff at Yulia. They are always ready to help with great smile and friendly approaches. They have been providing diligently whatever we asked for. I would like to thank to them, especially two ladies at the reception, Sema and Rahayu. 

5. Quiet surrounding: Even though, the hotel entrance is facing to the busy street, rooms are located away from the street so rooms are very quiet. Garden and swimming pool are small but both are very nicely maintained. 

Poor Internet connection and variety of breakfast can be improved but they don't spoil my time at Yulia as I believe that Yulia is one of the best value hotels in Kuta. When we cancelled the other hotel and came back to Yulia, we got offered an upgraded room without extra charges so now we are even happier than before. I hope I could help you out with finding  a decent and great value hotel in Kuta, Bali.

                            Rahayu at the hotel lobby 

Things to learn in Bali

The decision we made to visit and stay in Lovina, 4 hours drive north from Kuta was ended as an excellent decision. We were quite surprised that there were not many tourists in the town but as there are always good points are come along the bad ones, less tourists made us enjoy the quietness of the town more and also have opportunities to get closer to the local people's life. Instead of joining day tours, we decided to travel ourselves and used local transport called 'Bemo'. Most of our tour was walking around rice paddies, local temples, traditional markets and browsing areas where locals live so we could see and feel more about local people's real life. As I wished learning new things more through our journey, I gladly admit that there are plenty of things to learn wherever we go.

Hereunders are what I have learnt so far in Bali and I would like to share them with you.

1. How to negotiate : Many western people would feel quite awkward to try negotiating the prices when there is no price tag and given price from the seller is ridiculously expensive. In Bali, you need to negotiate the price down as the seller's price is far higher than fair price and they know that you will start negotiating down the price. Funny thing is that often you think you negotiated very well and got a good price, and then got out of the shop proudly, you can find out that you could have gotten even cheaper from the next shops. I normally compare more than dozen of shops where I offer less than 40% of asking price to figure out fair price and buy things based on the price. Sometimes negotiating prices can be annoying but if you try to understand their cultural background and nature of business based on tourists who don't know the real price, it is not too bad and it can be a good fun.

2. Ask to get things needed : if you ask, you will get most of things what you want here. Let's say, there are endless flexibility and availability for what you need and want here. When we arrived a hotel in Lovina, the room was very nice and clean but seems to be bit smaller than the photos on their website so we asked if we could get a bigger room as there was nothing to lose. Of course, we got a bigger and better room without extra charges. Many things are working like this here. We took a Bemo for one destination and asked for extra one more destination with little more money so we could get the final destination quicker and easier. As I have an Asian background, it was quite hard for me to be assertive and ask questions but now I know how to get what I want and need.

3. Be positive : I am trying to live and see things positively but when I see the people here who giggle all the time even though they are extremely poor and working very hard to survive every day, simply I don't know how they manage to keep themselves being positive. Obviously having more money can help us to enjoy more but money can't be the main source of happiness. Be happy with who you are and what you have is crucially important and I am glad that I can see and meet the live samples here.

4. Be modest : Having a modest life enriches our trip more. Having local food, using local transport and wearing local clothes make our travel expenses lighter and also our life simpler. There is nothing to show off and no need to put ourselves into a certain level of social status. The fact makes me feel so free.

5. Value of money: The money that I cannot buy anything in Australia means a lot here. With less than $2, I can buy my favourite lunch in a restaurant here. 4 hours driving by a taxi costed us about $35 here when we have to pay more than $100 for 30 minutes driving to the airport in Australia. I am learning here about the value of money and proper attitudes on spending money. I believe learning how to spend is more important than how to earn money and I am happy that I am in the middle of the learning process.

6. Be resourceful : people here are incredibly resourceful. They don't waste anything. What we think rubbish or useless stuff can be wisely used here. Financial hardship makes people here not to waste anything and reuse them to creat money to survive. This lifestyle teaches me to rethink my behaviour on using and discarding goods at home.

7. Business minds that always open to new chances: Bali people are always ready and open for new business opportunities which can bring money. The driver who brought back us to Kuta from Lovina would be a good example. He owns a small shop in Lovina that sells clothes, groceries and simple medications. A part of the shop is being used as a money exchange office and also travel information centre for tourist. He also works as a driver and property agent for Foreign investors. He owns three shops and get rental incomes from the tenants. While he was driving us, he didn't forget to offer us some properties for investment. Many of Balinese are doing similar things to earn as much money as they can. I know that this can only happen in a third world countries as there are still unclear rules on business setups but I do highly recognise their constant attempts and open minds. I have been wanting to have my own business for a quite long time but I haven't had enough courage or open mind even though I have far better conditions to start anything than they have. Therefore, looking at them is very impressive to me.

Of course, there are tons of things people can't stand here. Too many annoying sellers, unbelievably lazy people, tricky young guys, uncleanness, too much focused on money, etc... However I believe that there are more things to learn and educate myself to be better here. As I love the journey of my trip, I am truly happy to learn new things and different attitudes on the way through.

Simple living practice in Bali

I am sitting at an ocean view cafe in Uluwatu, one of the most famous surfing spots in Bali and enjoying the 270 degrees of sea view at the moment. Ordering a bottle of cold water for 10, 000 Rp ( $1.10 Aud) allows me to sit and enjoy the picturesque view until I get bored. My life here is extremely simple and I have to confess that I absolutely enjoy living like this. By the way, who wouldn't... 

Yulia Beach Inn Kuta (http://www.yuliainns.com/wp/home), where I am staying at is a small size of 3 star ranked hotel. When I wanted to book this hotel, I had to persuade my husband with good customer reviews as he was bit reluctant. First thing he worried was the low hygiene standard in Bali which I completely agreed with so he wanted to choose bit more expensive and luxurious hotel. I understood why he worried but I gave a go on the good reviews because I wanted to know how different it would be from the more expensive hotel, Kuta Puri Bangarow where we stayed before. Therefore, our deal was staying half of our trip at Yulia and the other half at Puri and yesterday we cancelled the booking with Puri after one week of staying at Yulia as we are totally happy with our simple living at Yulia. 

A double bed in a small room with ensuite bathroom, a safe in a small wardrobe, tiny outdoor table and two solid timber chairs and 26 inches TV are all we have in the room and I truly feel that I don't need anything more. I am enjoying the lightness of this simple life. How much space we actually need to be happy? How many unnecessary things can make us satisfied? I did not think that our endless desire on having more and better things can bring happiness to us and now I am experiencing that my thought was right. I am happy with simple local food and simple clothes that I don't have to worry about how to look after. Why would you care about what you have, what you wear what you can buy when you are truly happy with yourself. That's what I exactly feel at the moment and I feel absolutely free in my $3 top from Thailand and $6 beggy pants from Bali than in expensive working suits.

I am doubting about focusing on working hard for earning money more when not having any time to enjoy and spending most of earnings for unnecessary stuff. Please don't get me wrong that I am against working hard or earning money more. I do love money and wish to have more as most of people do but I want to make clear the purpose of working and making money. I don't want to work hard and earn money for having higher standard of living. I work and save money for having freedom of choice and simple living allows me more options and freedom I can choose. For the next 4 months, I will live on 20kg bag and I am happy to learn how to live simply. 

Surprisingly, having less makes me feel richer and freer than when I had more. Maybe I am not mature enough to enjoy luxurious living yet or I am truly maturing that I can enjoy my life more in simple living.

           View from a cafe in Uluwatu

How to enjoy days in Bali

My days in Bali

Exactly one week has passed since my long break started and having my 4th day (except the arrival day) in the paradise, Bali. Lying next to the swimming pool to cool myself after running 1 hour under the burning hot weather instead of sitting in front of the desk and staring computer screen unconsciously is indescribable joy. I am now practicing on how to enjoy my days without any regret.

1. Getting up whenever I want as there is no where I must to go every morning.
2. Having a Balinese coffee served by my husband every morning.
3. Having Indonesian breakfast served by pleasant balinese waitress and realising that I don't need to cook.
4. Going for a run along the beach whenever I want. Who cares if it is morning or afternoon. I run whenever I feel like.
5. Walking around shops when I feel bored. Don't need to buy anything as my baggage needs to be under 20kg but checking up things are still fine.
6. Eating my favourite fish dishes whenever I want without worrying about prices. I can afford a whole snapper for $5 here.
7. Sitting on the beach and waiting for the sunset in the afternoon.
8. Sharing a can of beer with local peanuts with my hubby before sleeping and chatting not really important stuff seriously.
9. Sitting next to the swimming pool and think about where to go tomorrow.
10. Having plenty of time to think about what to write in my blog.
11. Taking photos of whatever interests me and having so many different things around me that would be very sorry to miss.
12. Complaining to myself that there are not much things I need to do.
13. ThinkIng about where to go for dinner and what to eat. No cooking, no washing is simply wonderful.
14. Not thinking too much and enjoying moments.

These are how I spend most of my days in Bali since I came here and I am enjoying this lazy days completely. I am blessing every single moment given to me and appreciate this opportunity I am having. My days are so precious and beautiful that I have to awake myself to realise that I am not in a dream. I am amazed that I can live the dream at the moment and hope I can find a way to continue this wonderful moment in future. Too big dream? No, nothing is impossible as long as I know what I want and be ready to take actions for it.

Today was simply fantastic as yesterday.

Things to avoid when exchanging money in Bali

Be careful Be safe!

What I am going to talk about is based on our live experience on the second day of the trip in Bali so I hope this will help someone who travels and tries to exchange currencies in overseas. We were staying in Kuta, one of the most popular touristic areas in Bali. As we expected that we will get better exchange rate in Bali, we changed only minimum amount of money in Sydney so we needed some Indonesian rupees to get some food and fruits. There are hundreds of exchange offices in Kuta so it would not be any problem to change Australian dollars to Indonesian rupees. However, there are many challenges to overcome not to get ripped off and get correct amount of money so please take a note on my tips for your own safety.

Be very careful with and better avoid hereunder.

1. Shop with a small desk placed deep inside of the shop or a shop located in a deep and narrow lane : Many offices put the signboards with far better rate on the busy street but actually located far from the main road. Do not even try to go in. You will never get promised rate. Thing only you can get from them will be unsafe feeling with less changes. 

2. Too many guys around : If you see too many guys are around the office, better avoid entering the office. You will feel like getting into the war zone surrounded by enemies and I promise you that you will never get the correct amount of money. 

3. Destruction with smaller notes: If the person start counting smaller notes such as 20, 000 Rp ($1.80) to exchange your money, better grab your money back and run. They will trick you while you are counting the notes and you will end up getting less money than you are supposed to get.

4. Touching the money all the time : If the person touches the money again and again, it is time to run. Because they are ready to confuse you and rip you off. 

5. Moving hands fast and recounting money repeatedly : No explanation needed. Just leave. That will be the best thing you can do. 

6. Dropping casually a few bank notes from the hand to the drawer behind the desk : When they count money, look at the hands properly. Some notes that supposed to come to your pocket can go back into their drawer. 

7. Keep an eye on your money : Keep your money properly. Don't let the person to have the money before you get the correct local currency. You never know when it can be disappeared in front of your eyes.

8. 'No commission' doesn't mean no commission : Before you enter the office, ask them if the sign 'no commission' is real. If not, better find another one. 

9. Exceptionally high exchange rate : Too good to be true never be true. Do not even try. 

We ended up changing our money with a guy who has been having the business for over 20 years at the same place near the beach. The best way to exchange money is finding a reliable person and use him or her repeatedly. Be careful and be safe.

 

                        No Commission????

Live the dream - Day 1: Sydney to Bali

Today is the day! Day 1. 4 July 2013. 

Today is the independence day for Americans and also the independence day for my husband and myself. I am sitting very close to the huge wondow and watching the airplanes going and coming at the Sydney airport. We are heading to our first country, Indonesia. 

Bali is one of our favourite places to visit. This is our third time to Bail. Fantastic weather, Surfing beaches , especially for my husbsnd, variety food with unbelievable price, relaxing surroundings, being with local people,  being exposed to a very different cultural background,  etc... Plenty of reasons make us to miss and come back to Bali. We wanted to start our journey with peaceful and relaxing time so Bali was the best place for us. As we were very unlucky with Dengue fever from Lombok so we are very cautious on mosquitoes. Nothing can stop us from this trip except our health so we will need to try our best to maintain our good health condition.

6 hours flight from Sydney and we will be in a totally different world and that amazes me the most. We have chosen Bali to relax and distress so we will try our best. Bit sorry for the friends, colleagues and family who will fight their days at work instead of being next to a swimming pool but I believe that we deserve this freedom as we worked on getting it and finally got it. Please be with me and share our journey together. I believe you can feel bit of fresh air from our trip in Bali.

 

     Airport shuttle bus always excites us.

 

                                   To Bali