Suluban Beach / Blue Point Bali - Lower Stage

Blue Point view

Suluban Beach / Blue Point Bali - Lower Stage

it's another exotic beach with a marvelous sightseeing, lies on the South Kuta. after Secret Beach, now we move to North West towards the famous Pura (Temple) Uluwatu, near Pecatu Resort. no worries mate.. the way to be here isn't quite complicated like we'd have to take to our previous destination, Secret Beach.

all you have to do is just follow the direction to the Pecatu Resort and Uluwatu. then you'll find a sign of "Suluban Beach", that's we're heading to.   

Deep Blue

before you reach the shore, you will have to take a walk through ladders, local village and a small pass through a hill. you'll be welcomed by the sands and great sounds of wave hitting the reefs. 

you can just surf or swim among the blue ocean, or take another ladder upwards where it leads you to bunch of restaurants that offers you vast different menu. you can just relax there and spend your time watching the ocean. but I would prefer to hunt the wave. 

just like Secret Beach, this place lies on the South, so the 

best time here is after midday. everyone here is waiting for 

the sunset and have their own getaway. 

catch the wave

Secret Beach Uluwatu-Nusa Dua

road to secret beach

Secret Beach Uluwatu-Nusa Dua

 

Secret Beach is a brand new open destination. some people might not notice where it is. because it's secret. yes.. it's secret, hidden between the big hills and cliffs. this beach lies on the South of Bali and the best time to be here is before the sunset.

it was so hard to be here. you have to take a long road & hectic Jimbaran-Nusa Dua-Uluwatu traffic. but no worries, I can give you the path to be there.

1st, you should take the route to Jimbaran or Nusa Dua, you shall take the Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai that will lead you to an innersection, where you meet Benoa Square and Warisan Outlet (then you take the right path towards GWK).

the downhill view

after you turn right and get to GWK, you still have to find a direction to Bali Cliff (you'll find another innersection, if you pick the right side, you'll be at Uluwatu. and if you take the opposite, the left side, you will find the direction to Bali Cliff. when you find the Entrance of Bali Cliff, you have to look out, cause there's a new constructed road that leads you to South. and that new constructed road will lead you to this Beach.

it's quite confusing, isn't it? haha :D well,, the name tells it though.. Secret Beach..

secret beach with no people

as soonest you're there, you'll find a marvelous beach with no one there (creepy!?) 

just take your time here, lay your head on the sand and enjoy the wave.. hope you won't forget your sun block... :)

well, I mean few people

Double Six Beach Seminyak

Surfboards Rental

Double Six Beach Seminyak

Seminyak is the next district north of Kuta (about 20 minutes from the airport). Seminyak has more luxury places and upmarket choices than other destinations in Bali. Double Six itself was a name of a famous night club just beside this beach, so people named it "double six beach" (the club is now closed).

Seminyak has more quiet environment than Kuta. the inhabitants itself are more uptown and fancy than the others. lots of 5-stars hotels, fancy stores and high end spas open their branches here, trying to offers us different varieties.

before sunset

it's quite relief to be at the beach, cause the traffic here is far more crazier than the other parts of Bali.

the route to Seminyak is quite complicated, you have to pass traffic jam in Legian, narrow road with no alternative and sometimes Road Block, when a Banjar (village in balinese language) holds up a ceremony. taking a taxi or cars would obviously be a bad idea. but by bikes or taking a shortcut (by walking along Kuta beach) will definitely be a great way to reach this place. actually Kuta-Seminyak-Kerobokan are in a parallel line, so having for a walk always be a great time though.

Huts along the beach

even though the wave here isn't quite so scary, but you have to be alert, cause in some parts of this beach, there are signs of swimming prohibition. if you hesitate to swim, you can just ask lifeguards who always walk around this area. they are noticeable with their red caps, red shorts and whistles. they will lead you to safe parts of this beach. quite similar like Kuta, people always expect beautiful sunset to spend (what else?)

after sunset

surfer walks by

Kuta Bali

Kuta Sunset

 Kuta Beach and Roundabouts

Kuta, one of the main tourist destination in Bali. Kuta is well known by its beach, shops, night clubs, cheap hotels and lifestyle.

I decided to stay here since 2010 'til now. And years by years this place continues to develop its own identity, to be a great melting pot of people around the world.

it only takes 10 minutes from Ngurah Rai Airport to the beach. never have any worries that you won't be welcomed. ever since you arrived at the airport, Taxi drivers, Ojek (Public Transport by bike)

Waiting for the sunset

or some guys with sun glasses will greet you and offer you transport service (it's a warm welcome, isn't it?). it's all yours, just make up your choice fast (sometimes they won't wait) cause Kuta has tons of choices, and don't forget to bargain & bargain.

Along the road you will discover shops, spas, hotels, cafes, pubs, everything you want is available 24/7. but sometimes everything which is available might not comfort you. over crowded population, noisy environments and traffic jams are common here. you might have to get used to it :D

soonest your feet step on the beach, everything surrounds you, surfboard rent, sellers, tattoo artist, even you will find ladies who offers you a massage & hair-do (crazy isn't it?)

the crowds often gather here for the sunset, they wait all day long for this one. but if you might consider yourself wouldn't be fully comfortable to just sit on the beach. Kuta provides you lots of restaurants beside the beach. there are Rosso Vivo (italian resto), Hard Rock Cafe (with their famous balcony view) or just throw yourself to

McDonald's (there's McCafe, with well cappucino & ice cream)

Kuta Square full of shops

when the night comes by, the mainstream always flairs to night clubs in Legian Street / Jalan Legian (just 10 minutes from the beach). they arrange party all night long & there's no entrance ticket for tourist (but local will be charged around 5 USD). There are 2 most famous night clubs in Jalan Legian, they are Sky Garden & Bounty. it's easy to spot those 2 night clubs, Sky Garden is quite like a complex with tall modern building (beside the Ground  Zero)

and Bounty is quite like an amusement park from outside with lots of flags & banners. they always have lots of guests. they hold the party from 9pm 'til 3am & they're likely closed at noon.

that kid with red shirt thinks like I do :D

Kuta always offers you different choices, and the choice is always yours. it never waits what you want to decide, but it always has their own identity. 

bit of a suggestion, you might have to stay a little bit longer here, cause Kuta always gives you a surprise & "wonderful sightseeing"

                                              

Trucuk Rain Forest

Sigit with one of the Monkey

 Trucuk Rain Forest

in the middle of our trip to Gilis, we passed a great Rain Forest. we just saw big green trees on the both side. 

we weren't noticed that the road led us deep into the jungle, we couldn't see neither any houses nor buildings, only green vegetation surrounded us.

we kept follow the Road Signs "Bangsal 50km" means it still another 30 minutes to be on the port. 

Suddenly, we surprised with a crowd of people who stopped, we wonder what it could be? 

it was some people who gather and fed some wild monkeys.

in many encounters, this primate is quite annoying

me & the monkeys

monkeys in malimbo

and sometimes, because it's wild, it attacks people. fortunately the monkeys here were not.

they're wild but quite friendly. their curiosity led them to a mutual contact with men (they get food, we get the photos)

some of them approached us with no hesitation. well, it's not a suggestion to do like we did in the picture, cause we might not know what would happen to you later on :))

and.. after we took 15 minutes break, we continued the journey...

Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan Beach

Gili Trawangan

Gili Islands are an archipelago of 3 islands by the north of Lombok. There are 3 Gilis, Gili Trawangan (the biggest, the comfortest), Gili Meno (Seaweed farm, Salt plantation, Bird sanctuary), Gili Air (Scuba paradise, the quietest). you can just take a public transport (you can find it around Mataram & Senggigi, a big car which carries lots of people; but do not ever take a taxi, if you are in limit budget). 

my trip to Gili was short, we both, Sigit & me rode bike, with another shortcut, we rode along the Trucuk Rain forest, where you can have in touch with friendly monkeys.

Sigit watched towards Gili Sea

Gili Trawangan Turtle Conservation

the road will lead you to Bangsal, a small port that delivers you to Gilis. 1 ticket costs 10.000 IDR to Gili Trawangan, and after you landed safely, you need to check in to a security office on the island. 

Never hesitate to check the room price first, cause closer you are to the beach, it will always require extra money. 

Hotels here aren't quite like ordinary hotels, they're quite like Villa and Bungalows, and most of them are owned by foreigners (so if you're local, you might not suit in).

there are plenty Restaurants in Gili Trawangan with lots of choices (western, oriental, sea food, middle east etc) and even you can find some Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) in this part of island, so you won't find any troubles with funds. 

A trip around this island by foot will only take less than 60 minutes, but there are also bicycle rent, horse ride and no bikes or cars. 

it is a joyful sunset & sunrise with a great beach. just throw yourself with the others visitors, cause they come from anywhere (US, Aussie, Italian, Russian, Dutch, German, Swedish, French and even from Africa).  just like you were stranded in the middle of nowhere with people who never ever saw your face, well just blend, it's a paradise though, your holiday...

Plongee de Nuit (Night Diving)

Beware of Sharp Objects

Lombok Island 2010

Lombok Island 2010

Senggigi Beach