In Reply to: Do these day trips sound okay? posted by sonia on Wednesday, 23. February 2005 at 12:11 Bali Time:
Sonia,
thanks for the email, as you have a posting on here with some questions decided to give a few answers on here. I probably agree that maybe these are just too much in the one day even though some times the distances arent that far the traffic congestion can sometimes be a pain so makes a longer day. Also as you havent been before you may find its just too hot to spend the whole day driving and sightseeing. I would suggest shorter trips especially if you are going to take the kids.
A really pleasant trip i would recommend is to leave at about 8am and go the Bali Zoo park which is great for kids and adults where youre actually quite close to the animals. You can also have photos with pythons,iguanas,etc. They try to sell you tshirts with the photos on but i normally use my own camera and then give them some cash. From there go to the monkey forest for a quick visit but leave everything in the car and DONT feed the monkeys. Then go to the Lotus Cafe for lunch in Ubud which has a beautiful outlook.
DEFINATELY suggest you get a driver can suggest the one ill be using Made Mangku please have a look at his website www.geocities.com/balidriver_mademangku best to email him prior to going and then ring to work out days etc when you first arrive.He is very trustworthy and reliable. He charges 300,000 for a full day and 200,000 for a half day and will take you wherever you want. His car only seats about 5/6 i think but can get a bigger car if you let him know. We also usually get Made to stop at a small kite factory on the way up to the zoo where you can watch the guys making these.We usually always buy a few for presents. This trip normally has you back in kuta for a swim around 3 and by then your quite ready for one.
Another day trip which would be a long one is up to Lovina and the hotsprings probably woudnt get back till about 7pm.
Nice to go to Jimbaran bay for dinner best to get picked up by 5pm to be there for the sunsets the weekend nights are the best when they have muscians etc. The drivers just wait out the back till youve finished.
The birdpark is apparently nice if you go for breakfast.
You can have the driver just for a few hours so sometimes even nice to see a couple of things in that area and enjoy them .Even though ive been numerous times i still havent seen everything but better to enjoy the holiday rather than try to fit everthing in as i think youll find youre quite busy by the time you fit in some pool time shopping time, massages, things for the kids ie waterbom etc
If you try and cater your tours a little bit with the kids in mind i think it will make for a much better holi.
I have alredy booked Made for some of the time your there but will probably have done most of our bigger day trips the week before youre there. Plus besides going to the orphanage at Tabanan we're pretty flexible on when we go sightseeing.
As youll be staying at the Dynasty as well ill be able to give you more info when you arrive as thats where well be staying.
If you decide to go into Denpasar shopping ask to stop at the Birdmarket for 10 mins its just a very small local market selling fish birds and monkeys just quite interesting for a quick look.
Havent been to Uluwatu but i was planning on going to the Garuda Park and Uluwatu plus for a meal a rest called the Stiff chilli or another recommended one called Demidimidi. This i imagine would be a half day tour in the aftie.
Except if you were going to watch the sunset suggest you always leave by around 8am before its to hot. Hope this is some help give you some more suggestions later. Let me know if any other ?? Judi..