HOTEL RATING: 8.5/10
Hello, my beloved readers! Its been awhile since I posted a blog post, haven't I? Well, I'm back, and today, I'll be touching on Bali, Indonesia, and of course, not forgetting to review about my stay in Hotel Neo+, Kuta, Legian. It'll be quite a lengthy one as I'll be sharing my unforgettable getaway with you guys, so sit back, maybe get a drink or a snack, and read on!
What, When, Where, Why Bali?
Oh, where should I begin? Well, first thing's first. Bali isn't as small as you think it is. Hahaha! Although just an island, and one of the many that makes up Indonesia, Bali has so much to offer. From their volcanic mountains to nature, from sunsets to the beaches, from their culture to their religion and then to their rich tradition, it all left a mark in my heart.
The map of Bali island
Bali is known for their mix of Hindu and Buddhist religion which is called the Balinese culture. It is a culture where the people are extremely devoted and some may even say that the Balinese people have reach self-contentment. This can be seen through the many practices and ceremonies that have become a large part of the Balinese culture and that it defines the lives of most Balinese people. One of the practices that I have never failed to see throughout my stay there would be the Canang which was laid on the ground in front of houses, shop houses, restaurants, etc.
A Canang is one of the daily offerings made by Balinese Hindus to thank the Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa in praise and prayer. It is offered as a form of thanking for the peace given to the world, and it is the simplest daily household offering. The philosophy behind this beautiful offering is self-sacrifice; the amount of time and effort it takes to prepare it.
A Canang is one of the daily offerings made by Balinese Hindus to thank the Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa in praise and prayer. It is offered as a form of thanking for the peace given to the world, and it is the simplest daily household offering. The philosophy behind this beautiful offering is self-sacrifice; the amount of time and effort it takes to prepare it.
A Canang is a square coconut-leaf basket overflowing with flowers
So now you can proudly say that you do know a little, or should I say a teeny-weeny bit about the Balinese people, their culture, and their religion. Let's head on, shall we?
The flight from Singapore to Bali will be about 2 hours and 45 minutes. The time might differ due to weather conditions and of course, if there is a delay in flight schedule.
The airport in Bali that you will stop at is known as the Ngurah Rai International Airport, and it is your gateway to Bali. If it is your first time to Bali, then BEWARE of the cab drivers who will literally grab/carry/hold your bags for you right after you get out of the arrival aisle. They mean you NO HARM as they're just trying to get business, but they can be very, extremely persistent in bugging you to take their cab which is one hell of an experience for me. (Do note that I was scared for my life and praying that I would not get involved in human trafficking. Yes, my imagination is on point, I know.)
If you would rather settle your own transport at your own pace (because you are afraid for your life), then there is an Airport Taxi Counter near the exit of the arrival hall. The taxi rates are published and no haggling is allowed compared to those cab drivers that rushes you to their vehicle. It wasn't the most amazing way to start my Bali adventure, but it certainly gave me something solid to remember about my trip, don't you think so? Hahaha!
Overview
From the airport to the hotel that I was staying in was about a 20 minutes drive. Oh, I stayed at Hotel Neo+, Kuta, Legian at Jl. Troppozone No.8 which is rated a 3-star hotel. I chose that hotel because it was located in the heart of Kuta, and along Legian Street, also known as where the nightlife happens because of all the bars and clubs that are situated there. The hotel was barely a 2 minute walk to the closest bar. (I didn't even enter one throughout my stay there though.) The hotel is close to many convenient stores as well, and about a 15 minute walk to the iconic Kuta Beach.
Hotel Neo+'s facade
The pool area that can be seen from the reception
I checked-in on the 21st of December, 2015, and it was RM600 for a 3 night stay in their Superior Room, and the price was inclusive of tax, service charge, and breakfast buffet. It was a tad bit more expensive as it was close to Christmas, and was considered a peak season.
The Superior Double or Twin Room
The Superior Double or Twin Room is a 23 m² room with a choice of either 2 single beds, or a double bed. All 117 rooms overlook the pool area so its A+ for the view. An LED TV sits in front of the bed on the wall, and a working desk that has ample space stands right below it. A mini bar, a safe, a coffee & tea maker, and WiFi is provided as well.
The Superior Double or Twin Room
The Superior Double or Twin Room is a 23 m² room with a choice of either 2 single beds, or a double bed. All 117 rooms overlook the pool area so its A+ for the view. An LED TV sits in front of the bed on the wall, and a working desk that has ample space stands right below it. A mini bar, a safe, a coffee & tea maker, and WiFi is provided as well.
The layout of the room
The view outside
A picture I took from the room
The Bathroom
The bathroom was real spacious. With a frosted glass dividing the bedroom and the bathroom, it came with a large basin area and a hair dryer that is fastened on the wall. For all Superior Rooms, only a standing shower is provided but that's okay because the water pressure is hella fine.
The bathroom
On Site Restaurant- Noodle Row
This hotel also has an on-site restaurant called the Noodle Now Restaurant that serves continental cuisine for breakfast. Their breakfast spread surprised me as it was not only good, but it came with many varieties to choose from. From Pancakes to Bacon to Hash Browns, and then to the local dishes like Fried Rice, Fried Mee, and porridge, you'd probably be stuffed. There is also an Egg Station where you can request how you would like your Eggs to be. Choose from either boiled, scrambled, or sunny side up. Can't decide? Then take all three! Hahaha!
The layout of the restaurant
Facilities and Services include:
- 1 Restaurant On Site
- Sun Terrace
- Airport Shuttle
- Outdoor Swimming Pool
- Front Desk Services- 24-hour Front Desk, Baggage Storage
Check-in time: From 2pm
Check-out time: Until 12pm
I would rate this hotel an 8.5/10 as not only the rooms are inviting, but the staff are all friendly too. The mega plus point of this hotel would be how easily accessible it is to the convenient stores and attractions around. I hope this has helped you narrow down your options if you're looking for a place to stay around Bali!
Well, well, well, congratulations on reading pass this point! If you're keen to read more about the places of interest that I've visited, then do carry on. I'll be touching a little on the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary at Ubud, Uluwatu Temple, and finishing it off with Kuta Beach.
Some Things To Do/Visit In Bali!
I wanted to particularly visit Uluwatu because:
1) Its a must visit place when you're there
2) Have you even seen the pictures of the place online? Dayummm.
Well, the distance from Kuta (the place where we were staying at) to Uluwatu would be at least a 45 minutes drive, and I wanted to stop by the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary at Ubud too, which was at least a 1 hour and 30 minutes drive away. So, the plan? To hire a private driver that would take us to Ubud first, and then to Uluwatu, just in time for the sunset.
Driver's name: Nyoman
One day tour around Bali based on per car + driver:
550.000 IDR= RM160/ 41 USD
Airport transfer from the hotel we stayed @Kuta (one way):
30.000 IDR= RM9/ 2.3 USD
You can search him up on Facebook @ Nyoman Budi Cool Cool
It was around 10am-ish after our breakfast that we decided to leave for Ubud. It was a pretty long ride there as we did a few stopovers, all on the way, and all less than 15 minutes to visit a Ralph Lauren Factory Outlet store, a small Batik factory where they make and sell the decorated cloth, and then to a place where wholesale Batik cloths and clothing can be bought at a reasonable price.
Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud
We reached the Monkey Forest Sanctuary around 1 p.m. in the afternoon and proceeded to buy our entry tickets while our driver waited for us at a nearby restaurant. Below will be some information on the place and ticket pricing effective January 1st, 2016.
Entrance fee : Adult: 40.000 IDR= Around RM12/ 3 USD
: Children: 30.000 IDR= Around RM9/ 2.3 USD
Open daily: 8.30AM – 6.00PM
Ticketing service: 8.30AM – 5.30PM
Address: Jalan Monkey Forest, Padangtegal, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali (80571)
Recommended length of visit: At least an hour
For more information,visit: www.monkeyforestubud.com
The Ubud Monkey Forest is a nature reserve and a Hindu temple complex in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. Its official name is the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, also known as the Balinese Mandala Suci Wenara Wana. The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is not just a tourist attraction, but also an important spot for research and conservation programs. The type of monkeys that live in the area are known as the Balinese long-tailed monkey, also called the Macaque. After entering the forest, a small stall selling Banana's will be seen, and you can purchase some to feed the Monkeys.
Monkey: "Oh, Banana."
Monkey: "Why are his hands so high up? Doesn't he want to feed me?"
Monkey: "Good human. Here, give me that."
Monkey: "Ahhh, finally. That was a tiring experience just to get a Banana. Oh well."
The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary isn't all about the monkeys and feeding them, but it is honestly a really nice place to just take a stroll and to breathe in what nature has to offer. The forest also has 3 temples inside, and a cemetery for Monkeys that is used temporarily while waiting for the day of the mass cremation which is held once every 5 years.
Beautiful statues around the forest
Just strolling around
Pura Luhur Uluwatu, Uluwatu Temple, Uluwatu
We took our time just strolling around while taking pictures. It took us a good one hour or so to finally want to leave the place and head to our next destination. Hahaha! And so the journey begins again from Ubud to Uluwatu which took about 2 hours. By the time we reached Uluwatu, it was already around 5 p.m. in the evening and we could see that a long line has formed at the ticketing counter with many people just waiting patiently to see how magnificent Uluwatu really is. Below will be some information on the place and ticket pricing.
Entrance fee : Adult/children: 30.000 IDR= Around RM9/ 2.3 USD
Open daily: 9.00AM – 6.00PM
Address: Pecatu Village, sub-district of South Kuta, Badung District, Bali.
Recommended time of visit: Before sunset
Pura Luhur Uluwatu, also known as Uluwatu Temple, is a Balinese sea temple that is one of Bali's nine key directional temples dedicated to protecting Bali from evil sea spirits. It is a place on the south-western tip of the Bukit Peninsula of Bali, Indonesia, and if you think that the temple itself is remarkable, then wait till you see where it is located- perched on a steep cliff 70-metres above the Indian ocean. Amazing or what? Hahaha!
Visitors are reminded to wear appropriate clothing when visiting the temple as a form of respect. Before heading in after purchasing the entrance ticket, a sarong or a sash will be handed out to you and it must be worn around the waist.
The best time to visit Uluwatu is just before sunset. A Kecak dance is performed everyday at the adjacent cliff-top stage at 6:00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. where the background would be of the sun setting. Those who would like to watch it will be charged a nominal fee.
The best time to visit Uluwatu is just before sunset. A Kecak dance is performed everyday at the adjacent cliff-top stage at 6:00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. where the background would be of the sun setting. Those who would like to watch it will be charged a nominal fee.
The breathtaking view of Uluwatu
See that purple sash on my waist? Well, that's one of the rules of the temple
Kuta Beach, Kuta
Last but not least, Kuta Beach! Kuta is a beach and resort area in the south of the island of Bali, Indonesia. It is best known for its Indian Ocean surfing and party-centric atmosphere, not forgetting that it’s particularly popular with Australians. Kuta's long and consistent waves makes it a popular surf spot, particularly for beginners, and plenty of outfitters offer board rentals and surf lessons.
Kuta Beach
It has been one hell of a long post, hasn't it? Hahaha! If you've made it till the end, then thank you for reading, and thank you for letting me relive this adventure by writing them down for you. Do feel free to leave me a message or comment below if you would like to know more about certain things or so, and I'd gladly get back to you shortly. Till my next post! xx
Disclaimer: This write-up and the opinions shared are all mine. I was not paid to promote or to review this hotel whatsoever. Some pictures provided are mine, while some have been taken from the web.
