Yes its lovely here in Bali, I’m here, Barrie’s here and Chandrika’s here. After a breakfast of choclatine, danish roll, coffee and carrott juice at Café Moka I went to Global Xtreme to knock out a stack of e-mail.
You’ve heard it before but I’ve got to say spam is getting out of hand these days and craftier. I can spot ones like ‘Bigger is better’; and ‘Spy on your neighbors’ but now they do ones like ‘My reply’, or ‘In regard to your e-mail’. I do so much mail that I can’t remember if Gladys Smith or John Simpson actually did e-mail me before. At least the coffees are big at Global so I can sip one of those while working.
Three hours later I took off for home and made sure I slowed down to 10mph on our new skid pad, the gravel road installed by the road crew. They have turned a moderately dangerous road with potholes into nightmare scenario for anyone hitting the brakes or going faster than a trot. I came through this the first night after they had done it and had a very nervous skid, Chris be warned this thing is treacherous.
The latest hotel on my list of targets happened to be the one Barrie was staying in called the Bali Opel in Legian. It is listed as a budget hotel and doesn’t have all the extras of a place like Jayakarta which is next door.
Barrie is paying 170,000rp per night and I talked to him about its pro’s and con’s.
The manager Wayan and I talked about the hotel and Bali tourism in general. I regurgitated my speel about Bali having it all and the need to get the message out there ( which I totally mean, but it sounds like a broken record after a while ).
Wayan told me Barrie was in his room and as we were calling him room the lobby he appeared with Chandrika. We sat under the marvelous bamboo roof and talked about food and drink here in Indonesia. There’s a certain yellow liquid ( no another yellow liquid ) that is served in this country that is a caffeinated pick me up. Chandrika loves the stuff and Barrie and Wayan suggested I try it sometime. Apparently the locals make it at home and sell it from a large bottle on their back.
Barrie and Chandrika left for dinner and I shot downtown to Internet Outpost. After a short while they both appeared and told me about the awful food they just had. Barrie had eaten at McDonalds for lunch and had a substandard pizza for dinner…..is he trying to kill himself?
We chatted and Chandrika who speaks no English made friends with Endah behind the counter after I had told her that Bandung Java ( Endah’s hometown ) is ‘tidak bagus’ ( no good ).
We chatted for a while in the internet café, me sipping a beer while Barrie and Chandrika drank Coke. I tool off about 9pm for Bamboo Corner on Poppies I for makan ( food ).
I tell you if you’re on a budget and like decent food this is it. Everyone I’ve taken here agrees. Nasi goreng ( fried rice ) super with vegetable, prawns and chicken for 7,000rp ( 85cents). Today I had a watermelon juice, bowl of asparagus soup and a vegetarian sandwich with fries for 14,000rp.
Back at Internet Outpost the staff are playing a CD with the same 4 songs circulating after each other, by some ‘Sublime like’ band. If I hear ‘I don’t know much about Cinco de Mayo’ again I’m gonna scream.
Tracey, Barrie handed me a sheet with room prices on for the Jayakarta. Here’s what’s on the sheet.
Standard Single $140 Double $160
Superior Single $150 Double $170
1 bedroom delux suite $250
2 bedroom delux suite $350
1 bedroom apartment $220
2 bedroom apartment $320
All prices in US$
Rates are now subject to a 60% discount
I’m sure if you contacted them and offered the old ‘give me a deal and I promise not to tell’ routine they’d bend.
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Hi everybody!,
Knew I forgot something. I went for a search and find mission yesterday around the back streets and came across this delightful Chinese Temple and Vihara.
It’s located down the only gang that runs off Jalan Buni Sari. I was amazed with its peacefulness being located on a busy street. Brightly pained in red (being good luck) and yellow (being harmony) as are all Chinese temples, it is complimented with an array of Bhudda statues and the various deities of Chinese Bhuddism. There is an excellent gold statue in one of the 3 rooms located within the temple grounds.
I did speak with the monk there and inquired as to the temple’s age, but he was evasive and replied ‘Sudah lama’ (already a long time).
If you are interested in places of worship and need to chill-out in a serene setting, then check this place out. It is well worth the visit.
Hi Nick and Barrie
serious good stuff on the website the
last few days .always been good but
seems to get even better since Barrie
arrived.
see ya
Detlef
Hi Nick & everybody,
The sun is going down on a Sunday and I am near to contemplating devouring some food. Which reminds me, another restoran for you to check out. Candika & I cruised down Jl Legian towards Seminyak but stopped short when we came across this delightful restoran. It’s located not too far from Poppies Lane 2 and well worth checking out.
Legian Cafe
Jl Legian (Opp. Agung Cottages)
The restoran is set back off the road, however a few table at the front make it a delightful experience doing it alfresco. The restoran has a ’specials’ board out front and worth taking advantage of even though they have the usual western and Indonesian food available.
Candika had Bihun Goreng (Rp10,000). This is fried white noodles (in the West commonly called glass noodles), chicken, vegetables and rice. Judging by the speed she ate it, I surmised Candika enjoyed it immensely.
I decided on the Fu Yung Hai (Rp10,000) which is basically a Chinese Omelete toppped with a mixture of tomato and a sweet warm sauce. It can be eaten with nasih putih which can be rather filling.
I have eaten Fu Yung Hai across the Archipelago and can truly say that the one I ate last night was the best I have ever had.
Food Quality: Excellent
Atmosphere: Pleasant
Service: Friendly and efficient
Rating: 8.5
Now I am off to try another epicurean delight somewhere because my stomach is rumbling!
You might not all realise this but Barrie studied languages as well as anthropology. He has a wealth of knowledge about Indonesia having lived in Yogya.
He is extremely knowledgeable and takes down facts with great attention to detail.
Myself I tend to do best with the ‘Monet painting style’ of reporting. I remember scenes and images and atmosphere, also things said. I lose some of the details as far as what road we turned on or what the main course was.
Looks like we’re going to have a few more places to visit come the year-end meeting. This is brilliant - if this Ant likes anything, after all, tis food!
Nick - Sean and I ae cracking up over the “Monet painting style” of reporting. Now we need someone to do abstract reporting.
Thanks for all the restaurant reviews, Barrie!
I agree - excellent reporting description. Abstract reporting would be interesting too - not too detailed but just enough to wet one’s appetite to seek more.
Your reviews are read and enjoyed, Barrie. Thank you.
G’Day Nick & everybody else,
Here at the Internet Outpost and it’s 11.00am and my stomach is regretting the suicide mission I embarked upon yesterday. That’s right folks, I did a Nick and ‘went over the edge’ - Mcdonalds for lunch AND then Pizza for dinner. But I will tell you about the pizza later.
Made the big move today from Seminyak to Kuta and we are now staying at the Prawita Cottages. Fantastic place all in a distinctive Balinese setting. I’ll see if Nick will do a blog on it cos it is A1.
I was talking to Nick last night here at the Internet Outpost and I casually mentioned that Candika and I intend to eat at a different restoran almost every night as well as during the day. Nick gave me the go-ahead to do reports on these restorans for you lovely people out there who are coming to Bali. So, here is the first:
Fajar’s Restoran
Poppies Lane 2 (off first gang)
I should have gone with my instincts and not eaten at a place where they use drawing pins to tack down the plastic tablecloths. It’s an open-air warung with little character and the service leaves a bit to be desired.
Candika tried the Sweet & Sour Chicken. She said the chicken was too dry and highly salted, and the sauce extremely bland. The serving was a child’s portion and far from sufficient for the Rp7,000.
I was a tad more adventurous since I was on a junk-food sojourn for the day. I ordered Ala Fajar Pizza (Rp16,000). Small size pizza which looked great when placed in front of me. The toppings were a bit suss and I wondered why the cook disappeared into the backyard whilst preparing my meal. One bite of this pizza conglomerate was a gastronomical disaster!. The cheese and toppings flew across the table (then I knew why they have plastic tablecloths!) and my teeth became jammed in the pizza crust. It reminded me off the frisbee I have at home!.
Candika and I decided to rate the restorans on a scale of 1-10 with ‘1′ being absolute crap.
Our verdict on Fajar’s - 1.5