Indonesia 2014 Bali Adventure Ride: 01 KL - Kuta - Ubud

"Do something now that will make the person you'll be tomorrow proud to have been the person you are today..."

Tranquil Beaches and Majestic Mountains

Day 1 - Thursday, 23 Jan 2014

(KL - Kuta - Ubud)

We had earlier booked a taxi direct to KLIA through MyTeksi for 5:00 am.

When we arrived at KLIA we performed subuh prayers first before we checked-in via the self-service kiosk. It was a simple and fast process. We then headed straight to the boarding gate as we did not have any check-in luggage.

(Nasi lemak breakfast at KLIA)

The MAS 9:00 am flight took almost 3 hours. It was raining slightly when we reached Ngurah Rai International Airport Denpasar. After going through a very slow immigration clearance we were greeted by a hotel personnel and transferred by a van to The Zuk Hotel in Kuta Beach.

(Airport transfer to Kuta Beach)

In the hotel we met with the rest of the bikers gang who arrived a day earlier. There were 10 of us, 4 couples and 2 singles, and we will be riding either the Honda Tiger 200 or Honda CBR 250 around Bali island. After a brief introduction we walked to the nearest Nasi Padang restaurant for a late lunch. After a short briefing and a simple check on our rental bikes, we started riding out of Kuta town towards Ubud around 3:30 pm.

(A short briefing before the ride)

(Inspecting the rented sports bike)

Kuta is the best known tourist resort town on the island of Bali and has a great surfing beach. It has long been a popular destination for backpackers next to Katmandu in Nepal and Khao San in Thailand. Even after the tragic even in 2002, Kuta today still attracts some hardcore backpackers and tourists from all over the world.

(Lorong tikus to the main road)

(Normal traffic out of Kuta) 

(Riding out of town)

Because of its popularity and continual development, Kuta has become overcrowded and congested and most roads are constantly busy with motor scooter, taxis and private cars. Instead of using signals, motorists prefer to honk to indicate overtaking or squeezing in between cars.

(A lady selling Jamu)

(Vespas with side cars)

We rode slowly and carefully out of town through the massive traffic jam towards the Bali Mandara Toll Road. It is a tolled causeway bridge stretch across the Gulf of Benoa about 13 km in length, an alternative route between Denpasar, Nusa Dua and the Ngurah Rai Airport.

(Riding on a toll road)

(Rider approaching the toll booth)

(Motorist paying the toll)

Apart from providing access and smoother traffic, drivers and motorists can enjoy a nice scenic drive. The toll road has a special lane for motorcycles and they are charged Rp4,000. The toll charges for cars is Rp10,000 and higher for bigger vehicles.

(Stopping for photo shots)

(A photo shot on the toll road)

(A scenic view along the highway)

(A glimpse of the Benoa Habour)

We stopped to refuel at one of the petrol stations before heading towards Sindhu Beach. Sindhu Beach is a peaceful and beautiful white sandy beach situated in Sanur Village with stunning view to the Indian Ocean. It is blessed by the breathtaking scenery especially at sunrise with the blue sky and Gunung Agung as a backdrop. This beach is one of the famous beaches as a tourist destination in Bali Island.

(Refueling at a petrol station)

(Signage to Sindhu Beach)

(Parking our bikes)

(The bikers gang)

(Clean sandy beach)

(Not so crowded in the evening)

We rode to Ubud using the smaller trunk roads passing through Sanur. There are many roads leading to Ubud and the ride was made interesting as we rode through quieter roads passing different villages. The journey brings on a feeling of discovering more of Bali. Ubud is located amongst rice paddies and steep ravines in the central foothills of the Gianyar regency. As one of Bali's major arts and culture centres and famous for it's artists and paintings, Ubud has developed a large tourism industry and difficult to distinguish the town itself from the villages that surround it.

(Looking for signage to Ubud)

(Riding on the trunk road)

(A small trunk road)

Before we reached our hotel, we stopped at Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary for some photo shots. The Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is a nature reserve and temple complex. The sanctuary complex houses crab-eating macaque monkeys. The Monkey forest contains the Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal Temple as well as a ‘Holy Spring’ bathing temple and another for cremation ceremonies.

(Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary)

(No parking area) 

(A group photo)

We reached the Pertiwi Bisma Resort near dusk. The resort is quiet and clean, nestled in between small lots of paddy fields. After checking-in and a short rest we rode to a nearby theater for a Legong and Barong Dance Show which cost us Rp40,000.

(A small plot of paddy field)

(A small road to the resort)

(The Pertiwi Bisma Resort)

(Ready to go out for dinner)

Legong and Barong dance show is a very ancient dance traditions that is part of the religious and artistic expressions. The Balinese dancers express the story of dance-drama involving Rangda, the witch and the great beast Barong through their bodily gestures, fingers, hands, head and eyes movements.

(The Dance Drama)

(The Barong Dance)

(Expressive Balinese Dance)

2014: 02 Ubud/Kintamani/Lovina, Indonesia👉