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Bali and the Orient
  • Colleen Boyer
  • Denis
  • Colleen Boyer
  • Denis

Bali and the Orient

A long awaited excursion for Denis, Colleen, Paul and Cheryl. Time for R&R in Bali, on to Singapore for a bit, a 2 week cruise of the orient, ending with a short stay in Hong Kong! Read more
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  • Trip start
    January 19, 2020
    Bali and the Orient

    Calgary airport!

    January 19, 2020 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ -4 °C

    Finally on our way! Leave shortly for Vancouver where we will wait for another 4 hours. Now that it is finally warming up in Calgary, we are leaving.
    I'll try to check in again from Vancouver. Hoping our bags meet up with us in Bali or I will be shopping!Read more

  • Bali and the Orient

    Still at the airport!

    January 19, 2020 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ -5 °C

    BTW best time to check in at Calgary airport is 4pm on a Sunday! Not one person in line at check in counters or at security. I have never seen this airport that empty. Much busier now.
    🤸‍♂️

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    YVR

    January 19, 2020 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    The flight from calgary left a little late. But that's ok. It is 9.20pm here and we are at gate 58 awaiting the flight to Taipei (Eva air BR09). Only 2.5 hrs till we board lol. Then another 45 minutes till it leaves. We will wander a bit and get some some steps before the long 13 hr flight. We are on row 64 and there are rows behind us and 10 in each row! Everyone must be going to Taiwan these days. Let the journey begin!Read more

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    Taiwan Taipei

    January 21, 2020 in Taiwan ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    This is my 3rd attempt to post from Taiwan airport. I guess I am tired after the 13 ht flight. It was good tho long. Got 3 meals, a glass of (horrible) wine and a few hours sleep. Also watched Downton abbey.
    The immigration line was miles long. Took about an hour.
    Last flight leaves at 10am. Will be glad to finally arrive in Bali. I hope Paul and cheryl are there waiting for us. He just told me it will be $35us each to get in the country.    Read more

  • Bali and the Orient

    Taiwan Taipei

    January 21, 2020 in Taiwan ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    We survived the 13 hr. overnight flight from Vancouver. I managed to catch a few z's and Denis caught a fee more. Huge plane with lots of screeming babies but they did settle down after we had a hot dinner (3.30 am for us!). Kathryn, I got to watch Downton abbey. Arrived at 5.30am Tuesday morning here. Security line was worse than Disney but moved quick so took about an hour. Hopefully we will meet up with Paul and Cheryl at Denpasar airport then off to the hotel. Glad to see it has warmed up in Calgary!Read more

  • Bali and the Orient

    Parigata Resort and spa

    January 22, 2020 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    We arrived around 5pm yesterday. The resort is very nice, tho maybe a little tired looking. We had a quick dinner and refreshment and then to bed.
    The hotel provides buffet breakfast so we are now done that and off to explore.Read more

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    Thursday in Sanur

    January 23, 2020 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Today is Thursday and I think I am finally beginning to wind down. Paul was up at 6am and took the sunrise photo attached. We had breakfast at 7 and at the beach around 9am. Already over 30C and 90% humility. We have arranged for a car at 3pm to take us to the temple at Ulugawu?? And we will have dinner there as well. Driver for the 4 of us for 5 hrs is about $50 and he will tour us where we want to go and stop when we want to stop. The locals are very friendly here and always smiling. Apparently it is rainy season but we have been blessed with good weather so far. Tourism is down so business is slow. Could be the fires in Australia and now the corona virus coming out of China. Kat-using the hand sanitizer. Love Mom and dad 🐧😘🍭Read more

  • Bali and the Orient

    Friday night in sanur

    January 24, 2020 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Today was our last night in Sanur by the beach. So we mostly just grazed by the beach. Hot again and the water was a little weedy and scummy at times. Paul and cheryl had a problem in their room last night when the air conditioner broke. They finished the night in another room then moved stuff in the morning.
    We went to the night market around 5pm which was much smaller than we expected. Had a little street food but not impressed with what we chose. So we cabbed back to the hotel for a nightcap. They had a music trio playing so we sang along with them for awhile. There were only another 4 in the place who didn't seem too friendly. Oh well. Packing again as we leave for Ubud at 9 in the morning.    Read more

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    Off to Ubud on Saturday

    January 25, 2020 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    We were up early and packed and our driver Charlie picked us up before 9am. We first stopped at a dance show. Traditional Balinese telling a story. Costumes were beautiful with witches and gods and dragons and monkeys. It did go on a little long tho. Over an hour. Next stop was a place where they hand draw batik on fabric. Beautiful work and I managed to not buy anything. Then on for a stop where they sold paintings of all types. Once again very nice but didn't buy again. Charley took us to a restaurant for lunch at a place overlooking a rice field. From there we went to the betutu villas to check in.
    I guess we were unimpressed with having to walk down an alley to get there (300 metres). Poor lobby. Our room missing alot of amenities and then the pool was scummy so we didn't go in. I'll attach a few photos and post this one. More later. Hugs    Read more

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    Ubud Bali

    January 25, 2020 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    So Saturday evening we just walked the strip to get the lay of the land. Had a great pizza dinner at Osteria. Near the monkey forest. We didn't go in the monkey forest as they were going to close at 6pm. We decided we weren't satisfied with Betutu villas and made arrangements to move to the Bali Spirit for the rest of our time here. They even came and picked us up so we were relocated by 10am. Much nicer room and resort. And if course more money!
    This is Colleen writing this from Den's phone to attach some more photos. I will write again tomorrow about our Sunday.    Read more

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    Sunday

    January 26, 2020 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    We moved to the Bali spirit by 10am. It's a mu6nicer place . But lots of stairs to anywhere from anywhere. Beautiful pool so we relaxed, swam and had lunch. A short nap and woke up to a thunderstorm! It rained very hard for about an hour and then the sun was out again for cocktails on our balcony.
    Paul found the #1 restaurant in Ubud. Uname. It was fantastic. And a great price to. A short 10 minutes by cab. And the owner brought us back. Must review them on TripAdvisor. And hopefully we can get back once more before we go.    Read more

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    Monday

    January 27, 2020 in Indonesia ⋅ 🌧 30 °C

    Off to town on the shuttle. The boys for their walk and the girls to the marketplace. We did a little shopping and it sure is the barter system. Started at 200000 for a pair of pants. Paid 50000 ($5 CDN). We met the guys at the Lotus Cafe for lunch and it started to rain just before we were about to leave. Had a little walk in the rain which was actually cooling. From there we went over to the monkey forest. So cute. Then back to the hotel for a much needed swim! And cocktails. Red wine for cheryl. Bintang beer for the boys and bintang lemon radler for me. Dinner location TBD.Read more

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    Tuesday. Last day in Bali

    January 27, 2020 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    For our last day here we wanted to see some of the countryside. The traffic in Ubud is crazy. Especially all the scooters. The hotel got us a driver for the day and we were off at 8.30 am. First stop was a beautiful waterfall. A little hike down some steps to get there with alot of gorgeous foliage. Next stop was the coffee plantation with many types of fruit trees and spices. They gave us a sampling of about 15 different kinds of teas and coffees. But the Lewak (poo coffee) was $5 per cup. I tried it but didn't like it much. I don't think it was the poo, it was just very strong. We bought some saffron and ginger teas and vanilla coffee.
    Then we were off into the mountains to the volcano. He took us to a lovely spot overlooking the mountain and valley for an Indonesian buffet lunch. The clouds were coming in and it started raining hard as we finished. Our last stop was the rice terraces. You can zipline or swing over them but we just watched.
    Then back through much traffic and rain to the hotel. Just in time for a before dinner swim. We will eat our last dinner at the hotel do we can pay by visa. We may need to get some cash in the morning to pay the driver for today who is also taking us to the airport at 8.30 tomorrow morning.    Read more

  • Bali and the Orient

    Wednesday fly to Singapore

    January 29, 2020 in Singapore ⋅ 🌧 25 °C

    A Scoot flight at 2pm from Denpasar had us in Singapore at 5pm. Paul and cheryl treated us to the lounge before the flight for snacks and drinks ! The flight was a little rough and we landed in rain. Actually almost landed once but pilot wasn't happy so we went back up and around again.
    The Chengi airport is amazing. Jewel. We stored the bags and toured around and had dinner before heading to the hotel. $55 cab ride. The hotel is a high rise and rooms are small but it is clean and centrally located. Ibis on Bencoolan.    Read more

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    Thursday Singapore at the Ibis

    January 30, 2020 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    What a full day! We had breakfast at the hotel (included). Very good and something for every nationality. We were off by 9 to find the hop on hop off bus stop. We were unsuccessful so came back to the hotel and had a cab take us to the main bus area. Purchased a 2 day ticket each plus 2 attractions and it was $200. Singapore is not cheap. Their $ very close in value to ours. We took the yellow line around downtown and got off at Little India. Shopped and wandered then tried some Indian beer. A short walk from there was the Arab neighborhood. Lots of tailors and fabric shops and we had gelato on a croissant for lunch! Delicious. Much map reading and getting lost and we made it back to the hotel around 2.30 for a short rest. Den did a little laundry.
    The hawker stall5are only a block away so we went there and each chose a different something for dinner. Like the food court at a mall. Can't say I was overly in love with it but my $3 noodles with chicken was ok. Cheryl had a variety plate with fish for $6.50.
    We then made our way back to the bus to Gardens by the Bay. All built on land reclaimed from the ocean.    Read more

  • Bali and the Orient

    Friday in Singapore

    January 31, 2020 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Friday morning we got an email from Celebrity saying that due to the corona virus they were changing the itinerary to end in Singapore rather than hong kong. They will give us full credit towards another cruise and up to $500 credit to adjust our flights home. We could still go on the cruise with the new itinerary which omits Japan and adds Manilla phillipines. Unfortunately Paul and cheryl went to Bali through Hong Kong 11 days previous and would be denied boarding. They get 100% refund. We spent most of Friday trying to figure out what to do. Stay or go. Thought of new Zealand and other options but in the end decided it is safest to go home. I spent most of Friday night online changing our flights and soonest we can leave is Tuesday morning.
    So we spent Friday back on the HOHO bus. We visited little india and Arabia. Ended at Marina Bay Sands . Gorgeous gardens and cloud forest. Singapore is a beautiful clean city though a little expensive. Especially liquor. Rum $70 for a 26er.    Read more

  • Bali and the Orient

    Saturday in Singapore

    February 1, 2020 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Saturday we shopped near the hotel while Paul and cheryl went back to little Arabia to find deals on grommets and sewing stuff. We regrouped in the afternoon then had a great Japanese dinner. In the afternoon we went back to Marina sands to the rooftop observation deck. 57 floors up on the waterfront. Sorry that the Singapore flyer isn't working. I would have loved to it.Read more

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    Sunday in Singapore

    February 2, 2020 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    We took a cab to Chinatown today to explore and shop. Big bargains there! I bought a beautiful silk reversible jacket type thing. Red with a print on one side. Cheryl found it. We had lunch in a Chinese restaurant near the hawkers. Lots of new year's celebrations still going on. Dragon dances.
    We returned to the hotel to cool off with a beer before dinner. We have all of Paul and Cheryl's bags in our room as they have checked out. Walked to an upscale burger place for dinner called 26 degrees. Also spent sometime in the IT mall at the corner looking at all kinds of electronic gadgets. So hot and humid wherever we go. About 28c.
    Paul and cheryl left for the airport about 10pm but their first flight isn't till 6.30am. They have a lounge pass but it is only good for 3 hours. I guess they were asked to leave about 2am and spent the rest of the night in the departure area. Meanwhile we showered and had a good sleep!    Read more

  • Bali and the Orient

    Last Day in Singapore Monday Feb 3

    February 3, 2020 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    As Paul and Cheryl left on an early flight(s) home via Tokyo and Washington, Denis and I were left to explore one more day on our own. We decided against the ‘bamboo bikes’ and decided to walk. We headed to the National Museum and parks surrounding it. Quite a climb up to the reservoir. Then down to St. Andrews Cathedral which is actually multi denominational, primarily Anglican. Across the street was the Raffles Mall - lots of very high end shops so we just stopped fora cool juice. We quickly went through the lobby of the Singapore Fairmont (very modern - not like the ones in Canada) and then Raffles. We didn’t stop for the $35 Singapore sling but opted for a couple hats and a Christmas tree ornament. Back to the hotel to pack, out for dinner and to bed early. We were up at 6am Tuesday morning to get to Changi airport for a 10am flight to SAN Francisco (about 14 hrs), 2 hours in SF then 3 hours home to Calgary. Tuesday was a very long day as we picked up 15 hours! Total travel time was about 19 hours.Read more

    Trip end
    February 19, 2020
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