North-West Bali: Bali Gecko Homestay, Pemuteran

There are loads and loads of hotels, villas, and homestays on the coast. You can take your pick depending on your preferred location and budget.

NorthWest Bali: West Bali National Park and Menjangan Island

A quick day trip anyone can do is go up North-West Bali and explore the little but beautiful towns on the coast like Banyuwedang, Pemuteran, and all the way to Lovina and Singaraja.

RANT: TERRIBLE experience renewing the Social Budaya

Let me share the annoyance and inconvenience I encountered. Hopefully this will prevent you from anything similar when you go renew your SosBud.

My Terrible Experience:  Bule Sponsor vs Local Sponsor

How to RENEW the Social Budaya in BALI: Cost and Process

After you receive your Sosyal Budaya Telex (Visa Sticker) from the Consulate, you will have 3 months until the Visa expires so you need to enter Indonesia within that time.

Once you enter Indonesia / Bali, the visa’s allowable 60 days starts running.

Then, 7-10 days before the 60^th day, you need to RENEW your SosBud.

Note of WARNING: 

Renewing the Sos Bud is a time-consuming and tedious process as one is expected to go to the Immigration a total of 3-4 times! This is why most expats use an agent in sorting this out. But if you don't mind the hassle or would like to learn how this is done, read on..

Here’s HOW: 

How to APPLY for the Social Budaya Visa Yourself

An option to stay for a certain amount of time legally in Indonesia is using the Izin Kunjungan aka the famous (Social) Sosyal Budaya.

I say famous because most bules or foreigners that "live" in Indo, especially Bali, use this kind of visa. 

And it is POSSIBLE to do it on your own without having to pay unnecessary agent fees. 

Bali: Karangasem -- White Water Rafting at Telaga Waja River

Just months before, I and some friends went to Telaga Waja River in Karangasem, and had such a great time. So when friends from San Diego came to visit, I took them here as well.  

Kristin's TOP STREET FOOD choices in Bali

To be honest, I am not a fan of Indo cuisine. I guess this is due to my coming from a place with amazing food and flavors, the Philippines. Also, I find dishes in Indonesia being too rich in MSG and artificial flavorings. Plus, the sambal (shrimp paste) gives me allergies.

However, there are a few that I actually really really like.

Amed

East Bali: Tirta Gangga Water Palace

After bidding farewell to Kusumajaya, we walked down the hill and a hundred meters up the road to the Tirta Gangga watergarden. I had been looking forward to visiting this site for quite a long time and hadn't told Kristin about it at all, so I was excited.

East Bali: Tirta Gangga & Kusumajaya Homestay

After visiting Pura Goa Lawah and continuing another hour north, Kristin and I were ready to settle in for the night. I had been told the best place to stay in Tirta Gangga was the Kusumajaya Homestay. Sitting halfway up a mountain, the site overlooks the beautiful valley below. It's not the easiest place to find, but we didn't mind exploring the surrounding area's rice terraces before finally arriving at our destination.

East Bali: Pura Goa Lawah

Pura Goa Lawah is one of six temples known as the Sad Kahyangan, or the 'six temples of the world'. The Balinese believe these six temples are the pivotal points of the island; along with Pura Goa Lawah, Pura Besakih, Pura Lempuyang Luhur, Pura Uluwatu, Pura Batukaru, and Pura Pusering Jagat makeup this sacred group.

Bali Treetop Adventure -- Face your Fear of HEIGHTS!

Last week the parents committee of the school I work for organized a day-out activity for the students and parents. It was at the Bali Treetop Adventure Park in Bedugul.

I had been to one 2 years ago in the Philippines and totally enjoyed myself so I didn't think twice of joining the trip. It was a day of extreme challenge and thrill. I don't really like heights so this was a great way for me to muster up and face my fears. I just wish I prepared well enough in terms of wearing the right clothing -- pants or leggings and gloves would have helped in preventing the injuries I incurred slamming on the trees and nets! But, at the end of the day, all the scrapes and bruises were worth all the fun I had!

Lady Di Wanders -- a wanderer who's definitely not lost

Diana Ogilvie is a traveler slash writer slash teacher slash garlic benefits lobbyist. She insists that I should eat raw garlic to keep healthy. Hmmm...

Not sure about that but I'm sure of her expertise in written accounts of her travels to her hilarious experiences as a flight attendant. She is currently based in Bali and writes for several magazines on the island as well as international publications.

Get to know her. Hit:

Blog:  Love2TravelWriteFilm

Her FB account:  Lady Di Wanders

yep. she's felt madonna up!

Peripheral Vision

As I started my motorcycle for my morning ride to work, something compelled me to take a different route. I complied, driving slowly and enjoying the new scenery. I stopped as I passed an elderly man. He was diligently preparing his water buffaloes to till his rice paddy, but looked up and smiled widely at the sight of a foreigner.

10 Things I truly, madly, deeply LOVE about Bali

10 Things I truly, madly, deeply DISLIKE about Bali

"One does not love a place the less because one has suffered in it."
--Virginia Woolf, The Common Reader

I would have used ‘hate’ but Mike keeps telling me it’s such a strong word so, I used ‘dislike’ instead, with some adjectives for emphasis. =) 

The Impermanents on Surf Wanderer!

Follow the link below and check out my article published last month on Surf Wanderer's Online Surf Magazine. 

A little insight to one of Kristin's and my favorite beaches here in Bali's Bukit Peninsula -- Balangan. 

We have plenty to share about the Bukit soon, 

but enjoy this for now!

        Escaping Motorcycle City: 'B-Land' Bali Surf Travel

Setting Up in Bali: Part II -- Renting Transportation, Communications, and Internet

How to Rent Transportation?

Things to Do in Canggu & Kerobokan

Rapidly expanding Seminyak has already begun spreading north into the Kerobokan and Canggu area. Now home to a healthy ex-pat community, this area also has plenty of accommodation for tourists as well. The beaches can be a bit dirty, but there's lots of great shopping and dining. Villas set amongst the rice paddies and its proximity to the action south make this a popular destination.

Setting Up in Bali: Part I -- Accommodations, Furniture, and Appliances

Sorry for the delay in between posts. Life has gotten quite stressful and busy here in Bali land.