Our
shuttle bus (Rp35k/person) from Perama took us back to Kuta
after passing Gianyar, Sanur and the Airport. It was a Tuesday
afternoon and we wandered into the gangs (small lane or
alley) of Kuta. I guess I have to admit that it was the
first time I got lost. It was indeed confusing, there were
not signs denoting the lane, and you can easily miss a turn.
As we had no prior accommodation, it took us sometime to
find a nice place. Finally, we settled for New Arena Hotel
near Poppies Gang I. It was a bit high-end by my standards
(Rp100k/night) but I suppose it's ok to splurge sometimes.
After
taking a short nap in the Hotel, we walked around Kuta Center.
As of most Southeast Asian countries, there were constant
chanting of "taxi" and "transport" into
your ears once "touts" recognize that you are
not local. Touts are in quotes because they don't quite
behave like touts in Hanoi, Bangkok or Medan. Although touts
in Bali do attempt hard selling but once you say no, they
will smile and even revert with a "Thank You"
sometimes.
Before
we came to Bali, we were advised by many to try the cheap
seafood warungs in Jimbaran (10mins away from Kuta by taxi,
Rp30k). These warungs sell fresh seafood and you can dine
by the sea. The experience was ok, though the food wasn't
something to die for. |
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Pp
and Bb (my ex) just before we left Pramesti Guesthouse for Kuta.
It was our "home" the previous 3 nights and it
was a nice place. |
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It was
a shame as we had KFC for lunch in Kuta but we simply can't
resist. It was certainly not as cheap as compared to eating
to a warung. But the ayam goreng was hot and crispy. *I
don't work for KFC ok* |
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Bb (my ex) at
BreadTalk (Singapore bakery chain made famous due to its
pork floss bun) in Discovery Shopping mall, in Tuban, Kuta.
Tell the guy who was staring into camera not to worry. We
didn't buy anything, we simply thought it was funny to play-act. |
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Me in
front of the only authentic store in the whole of Indonesia
(Discovery shopping mall, Tuban/Kuta) that sells Bir Bintang
merchandise. They were selling Bir Bintang T-shirts at Rp85k/piece.
I tried to tell them I bought mine at Rp15k. The sales girl
simply laughed. I bought a lighter cum bottle opener (useful
for my future travels) at Rp27.5k. |
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It was
probably insensitive, but I wanted to imitate thee Oct 2005
bombings in Bali but pretending to run into a A&W restaurant
with a backpack. I am not trying to say that I actually
support these actions, but just wanted to tell those fuckin*
terrorists that they suck. I should have worn the "Fuck
the Terrorists" T-Shirt which I saw so often in the
streets of Kuta. |
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This was
real dumb. I thought I was Forrest Gump, sitting outside
of the Bubba Shrimp Company resturant in Kuta. |
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The empty
tables of the seafood warung laid by the sides of the Jimbaran
beach. Obviously, confidence are still not in town after
the Oct 2005 bombings. The singing by a nearby band didn't
help much. |
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Pp and
Bb (my ex) with our seafood dinner in Jimbaran Grilled Seafood resturant.
We had a grilled fish (1kg, Rp80k/kg) and some nice squid
(800g, Rp60k/kg). The rice and sambal vegetables were on
the house (I guess it was costed in the first place). It
cost us Rp110k (after the boss gave us a 30% discount).
The food was ok, but the experience was good. |
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It wasn't
a good picture, but all I wanted to show was a security
guard sitting near the entrance of McDonalds in Kuta Center.
I suppose this was done to restore confidence but I thought
the security guard just sat down there watching the world
passed by. |
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This was
the Memorial Wall which the Indonesian's built for the 12
Oct 2002 bombing in Kuta/Legian. On the plague, it stood
the names of the people who had died in the blasts. The
flowers were long gone, but memories still remains. - Pp
and Bb (my ex), a cloudy Wednesday morning, 11 Jan 06. |
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