Diving in Amed & Visiting charming Ubud on Bali

Friday 20^th February

It’s typical of us to drink the night before we are travelling, it’s has almost become a tradition now. We did it before leaving Nusa Lembongan, then Gili T. and now here. So stupid of us, as being tired is not really making travelling easier... 

Iben had decided to stay in Kuta Lombok for some days and hopefully get more independent by being by herself for a little while. 

Erik & I got picked up from Banana’s Homestay at 7.30 am, we then picked up 4 other passengers for the car that just fitted all 7 of us, but on top of that came six large backpacks, six small backpacks, a couple of plastic bags, camera bags and a surf board, so after spending 20 minutes on strapping a lot of these items to the roof of the car, we finally hit the road. 

We arrived at Bangsal harbour as planned, and booked our ticket to the public boat going to Gili T. This actually wasn’t our destination, but because we already knew the place, we had planned to break the trip up in two, before reaching Amed on Bali the next day. 

Just after we got our tickets, Erik started talking to a local guy, that said he worked for the boat company to Amed, and that he could sell us a ticket for 250.000 Idr. each. Erik knew that this was a good price, the same as from Gili T. The friendly guy also offered to help us get the ticket to Gili T. refounded, and we agreed to let him do so. 

Bangsal harbour has one of the worst reputations around Bali and Lombok, many people get tricked to buy tickets for boats, that when it comes to it, aren’t valid. So Erik was very sceptical with this young guy, but in the end he seemed honest enough, to get Erik convinced of his good intentions. 

The boat was suppose to leave the harbour at 11am, but at 11.30 it still hadn’t arrived. So we both got more and more afraid that we had been scammed even though we took all the precautions we have learned... The guy was still around us, and insuring us that the boat was on it’s way... Finally it also arrived, and we got on board as the only passengers to Amed. 

We quickly realized why the boat had been delayed, the sea was the problem, BIG waves threw the big speedboat around like it was an umbrella in a hurricane. This definitely was NOT the best way to treat our hangovers, and on the open sea I watched the crew constantly, to see how they reacted to this ride, most of them tried to sleep so I assumed that this could be much worse, and when we were able to see land again, I calmed a bit down. 

The big waves disappeared, and only smaller ones and big swells was left, this made the last part a whole lot better, as we could also see dolphins jumping out of the waves on both sides of the boat. We never get tired of watching those beautiful and always smiling creatures. 

We made it to Amed on Bali after one hour crazy boat trip! 

In Amed we took the first homestay we came across (Kubuku Homestay), and to our luck it was cheap, and very nice, by far the nicest room we’ve had this time in Indonesia, and at the same time, also the cheapest, 100.000 Idr. (50kr) pr. night incl. breakfast. We then had a good and cheap homemade burger at a restaurant only 35000 Idr. (17,5kr) before spending the rest of the day in our bed watching our rainy day/hangover occupation, the series: Breaking Bad.

Waiting time in Bangsal

Bangsal Harbour

 Saturday 21^st February

At times it can be really difficult to be productive with writing blog, we have to be in a certain mood to get it done. 

To get some new and fresh energy we made up our minds about renting a motorbike and get some diving arranged for the following day. 

At lunch time on a small, open and cosy restaurant we met a couple of Danish girls, Pernille & Lonnie. 

We quickly got along with them and when a tremendous rainstorm started outside we agreed that it was Bintang time, we couldn’t do anything else than wait for the storm to pass by anyway. 

A power cut ensured us that we made the right decision. A couple of natives started to cut down a tree, in the pouring rain, it had become too alive and exciting in the heavy wind. Meanwhile we were in shelter sharing beers, experiences and best travel moments. 

At sunset we jumped on the motorbike again and drove the 1½km back, we planned to take out money from the ATM, but obviously they didn’t work before the power had returned. 

We delivered the bike back, booked our diving, and told our friendly host, that we were out of money until the missing power was fixed. He ensured us that we could go out on any of the nearby restaurants and get some dinner, and get them to make a bill for us to pay the next day, we just had to mention where we stayed - then everything would be all right. It was awesome as we on the other hand would have gone to bed hungry. 

On the local reggae bar ‘One Love’ we ordered our dinner and thanked them for being so generous to us. After that we went straight to bed, our pick up for the sunrise dive the next morning was at 5.15am so we needed a prober sleep.

Hubuku Homestay near Amed

Views around Amed...

Sunday 22^nd February

It was pitch black when our driver picked us up, the electricity was back on again, so we could get money out from the ATM to pay for our dives. 

I wouldn’t in my wildest fantasy have imagined that so many locals were awake already. We passed several villages on our way to Tulamben and the activity in the streets surprised us. 

In Tulamben we geared up in the dark, as the power still wasn’t on back there, even though it was only 25 min. drive from Amed. 

All three dives were just of the beach, and an easy 5 min. walk from Dive Concept. 

We did the famous Liberty Wreck at sunrise, where the fishes are more active - the school of bumphead parrotfish hanging around the wreck was massive and so funny looking with their horse-look-alike overbite. Coral Garden offered us so much new stuff to explore, the underwater temple and buddha statues were amongst our favourite parts of the dive.They were all great dives and we enjoyed during a bit of diving again. 

We hardly ever meet French people that we like, but the French girl that we dived with was outstanding from normal French behaviour. We really connected with her throughout the day. 

In the late afternoon we returned to Amed and ate at ‘One Love’ reggae bar again - just to thank them for letting us eat there the night before, when we didn’t have any money. Around 10pm we got a clear sign from the staff about their closing time, because we were using their wifi, and they just switched it off, and in that way they got rid of us quickly. Easy that they didn’t have to communicate with us!!

Diving in Tulamben

Monday 23^nd February

Our friendly and helpful host drove us to Ubud, for just 350.000 Idr. (175kr). On the way we got a good insight in the Balinese living style and how a workday looks like for the natives working in tourism. 

A good paid waiter is normally getting 800.000 (421kr) Idr. per month. A divemaster or diveshop helper, either foreigner or local, is paid 1,5 million Idr. (790kr) per month. 

In the more touristed areas the wage is a bit higher, but there it’s also more expensive to live. Our host also told us about how the locals import rice from Vietnam, as a lot of their rice fields has been bought by the big resorts, so they don’t have enough rice fields to support themselves any longer.  

The trip to Ubud took us through a beautiful area with mountains, nature and rice fields. We got dropped off on Monkey Forest Road, where we immediately sat down on a restaurant to have our lunch.

Afterwards I went hotel hunting. All the hotels or guesthouses looked similar, they all had the classic Indonesian entry with elephant statues made out of rocks, they had small cosy green areas in the back and swimming pools. 

After I had seen 10-12 different places I was a bit confused cause they all looked the same... But I picked my favourites to show Erik. I went back to get him and all our stuff on the restaurant. 

Then we walked to my favourite place, but we only stayed there shortly, as the bathroom was really dirty and Erik couldn’t put up with showering in a bathtub, where you couldn’t detach the showerhead (this means you have to shower with bended knees, if you’re taller than 1,6 meters). 

On the contrary the second pick went straight in ‘I love you’ with the boss, and my choice was excepted. We got a nice big room, with a extra bed for Iben, and a balcony with view over the pool. 

Iben arrived later and we all went out to explore the famous and charming town of Ubud. We quickly fell in love with it, and loved all the special shops with all kinds of bits and pieces. 

We sensed that there was some innovative people in the town, as all shops DIDN’T sell the same stuff. 

The town is known for it’s brilliant handmade art and countless amounts of galleries and exhibitions. 

We only saw a small percentage of it this night.

The Balinese people worship Buddha by putting these bamboo decorations everywhere.

Stone carving is all around Ubud

Tuesday 24^th February

We browsed around the small streets and shops of Ubud. We visited the art market, where wood and stone carving is displayed in almost every shop. 

The shopping is amazing here and it’s easy to spend money and several days just walking around and exploring. 

The weather was warm and humid as always, so after some hours in the market with zero fresh air we went back to cool down in the pool and relax for a bit. 

We had bought tickets for a traditional dance show at night. It was held on the palace and we made it up there seconds before a tremendous thunderstorm started and the lightnings lighted up the sky for us. 

The show started and we were impressed by the way they danced with their eyes, all though it didn’t caught our attention for very long, the movement quickly became monotonous to look at, and the same music played over a long time also became annoying. 1½ hour was a long time watching it, but it was an experience. Afterwards we went out for a few drinks. 

The thunder and rain didn’t stop at any stage, but we had a funny time with trying to fit three people under my tiny umbrella, while we visited different bars and eateries. 

We stumbled across a dead snake on the road (a green viper), that probably had been washed away by all the rain, and then hit by a car.

Living the luxurius life

More fascinating stone carving

Erik loves the shopping...

A busy day at the workshop...

These wood carvings is in every shop, and I wonder who buys them!

Balinese Dance Show

Wednesday 25^th February

Erik felt lazy so he stayed at the hotel and prepared some videos for the blog, meanwhile Iben and I went out to look at more shops and do a bit of shopping. 

We also went for a long walk to the rice fields out of town. It was great to get out in the nature and it was so peaceful and beautiful out there. Being away from all the chaotic traffic and noisy motorbikes was much appreciated as well. 

Iben had a couple of friends that she met in Kuta Lombok by herself. They arrange to meet up for dinner later, and invited us to join them. It’s was a brilliant initiative, we found a cosy little restaurant with cheap food and drinks, and just as we were about to order our food the power cut off... That gave us a limited menu card, as they could only use the stove then. Most of us ended up eating in the dark before the light was on again. 

Unfortunately the evening ended a bit suddenly, as Erik and the Canadian girl had strong, but disagreeing opinions about tipping rules in Canada and the States. So she and her friend ended up leaving suddenly, when they got too tired of listening to Erik.

Leftovers from the worshipping of Buddha.. It gives the locals a bit of cleaning everyday!

Ubud have countless beautiful stone carvings

Visiting the rice fields

Thursday 26^th February

We were useful with preparing the next blog in the morning. Then we checked out, and was picked up by our pre-arranged shuttle bus, which transferred us to Kuta beach, still on Bali. 

We choose to have a night there, because we wanted to be close to the airport for the next day, as you can never depend on transportation times, so better be safe than sorry. 

We didn’t have time or energy for being piggy about a place to crash, as we only stayed for one night and we wouldn’t spend time in our room anyway. 

Erik and I had made plans to meet up with the Danish girls Lonnie and Pernille, who we met a couple of days before in Amed. We invited Iben to join us and thought it was obvious possibility for her to talk with other travellers, and maybe even travel with Pernille on to the Philippines later on. Sadly Iben rejected the offer and went home instead. 

We, on the other hand, met up with the girls and had a lot of fun. We ended in Bali´s biggest nightlife area, a building with 8 different clubs, called Sky Garden. We had a blast in there, and Erik was, by a lot of boys, considered very lucky to have three girls dancing around him all night. 

We didn’t want to leave the party as early as we did, we were having too much fun, but we knew we had to be the party killers, because we had a long travel day ahead of us, and it could end up being even longer if we woke up with hangovers. So we took the wise decision to get something to eat and find our beds around 2am.

Lovely Indonesia