This beautiful and cosy homestay is situated in the middle of the city and all the places in and around Ubud is accessible from this homestay.
The rooms are spacious ,neat and beautifully decorated.
The homestay is surrounded with trees, flowers and has a in house stream with koi fishes in them. The owners are very sweet,kind and welcoming. We had a very comfortable stay . The beast part about this homestay was the homemade pancakes and the balcony view from the room.Also they have a swimming pool at their second floor which is a great place to realx.
We definitely recommend this homestay to all our readers.
Pecatu ubud review
We booked our stay via booking.com
Tusita hotel
Tusita hotel is situated in the centre of Kuta city ,its very close to the airport and Kuta beach.The hotel is okay and the services are good. The rooms are spacious and normal with no view at all.
The reason we chose this hotel to stay is only because of the convenience to reach the airport.Other than that you can always choose to stay in an homestay.
Kuta is on an expensive side and we found this place also little expensive as compared to the place we stayed in Ubud. The best part about the hotel was its swimming pool area.
You can get a fast boat from Sanur port which departs mostly in the morning 8 am and returns at 5 pm in the evening. It takes about 90 mins from Sanur port to Nusa Penida. The cost depends on the type of ferry you have chose.
Places we visited in Nusa Penida
Crystal beach
We decided to visit crystal bay first and we rented a scooter from a restaurant near the port itself and it took us 20 mins to reach the beach. The roads are pathetic and you have to be very careful while driving in these roads. Basically, there are no proper roads and there are small boulders on either side of the road, so if suppose you fall down chances are you will get badly hurt.
You have a parking space just near the beach and there are no charges for it.
The beach is famous for snorkelling and if you are planning to stay in Nusa Penida for a day or two please go ahead and enjoy this activity.
The beach is very beautiful and you can find of corals, crabs and other nudibranchs on the beach. The water is very clear and you can see corals very easily.
NOTE: when you are inside the water be very careful because the coral actual hit your feet and can hurt you badly which actually happened with us.
Th beach has been recommended for being among one of the beat sunsets beaches as its west facing.
You may also find some parasol shaded sun beds available by the locals.
Kelingking beach
Every person who visits Nusa Penida definitely has a picture in this place. To tell you the truth this place is just not hyped but its naturally very beautiful and a must visit beach.
It takes about 35 mins from crystal beach to Kelingking beach and roads are super messy as mentioned earlier and make sure you have petrol in your bike because there are no petrol stations in between , you may find some local shops selling petrol in plastic bottles but cannot actually guarantee what they are.
As soon as you reach the beach there is parking space for bikes and its paid. You have to walk a few kms to reach the view point of the beach.
After reaching the view point, we felt like going downhill and witness the actual beach.
I really don’t know why we thought like that but it was the best experience of the day.
We started climbing downhill wearing flip flops. In the beginning there are steps so we thought how difficult it would be to go down. Later after some time the steps vanished and there were barely any steps but only rocks.
These steps are extremely steep, uneven and can get very slippery after rain.
This is a difficult hike and you definitely need decent shoes, sunscreen and plenty of water. There are closely 800 steps to climb down and the height of the cliffs from top to bottom is over 200 meters while the hike is said to be about 400 meters down the narrow cliff ridge.
Halfway we actually thought about climbing back because it was super sunny but something inside us told us to continue and we did it!!!
It took us close to an hour to climb down and the beach was so beautiful it took all our tiredness away. The waves very rough even at 1 pm we couldn’t imagine how it would be in the evening. The beach closes by 3pm because the waves almost covers the entire shore.
It’s worth climbing downhill but only if you have the energy and water to climb uphill.
We noticed some smoke coming from the mountains it was actually water vapours becoming clouds mesmerising view it was.
Its definitely very tough!!
We took more than an hour to climb uphill and we were damn exhausted, tanned and dehydrated. We literally took bath one bottle drinking water each. Had our lunch and left back to the port because our boat was scheduled by 4 pm
Harrytinkers tip
Wear trekking shoes if you are planning to go down hill in Kelingking beach. Flip flops are not at all recommended even though we did it but we would not recommend
Carry enough water and hydrate yourself
Have a first aid kit handy because you can get hurt either by the bad roads, corals in the beach or while trekking.
Have enough petrol in you bike as there are very few petrol stations.
Have proper breakfast and lunch as you would need energy to explore the island
Carry the contact number of your ferry crew because you never know when you might need help.
Carry sunscreen and apply it in every 3 hrs if possible, otherwise you can get terribly tanned.
Try something which challenges you , its the best way to explore yourself
When we look at the pictures of travellers visiting Bali what is the first thing which comes to your mind. That’s right!! BALI SWING. Definitely this was something which Maya wanted to do in Bali. So, we Headed to a place where we can visit the rice terrace, taste Luwak Coffee and enjoy Bali swing. There are lots of places which offer you all these activities together and after doing little research we found out this place in Ubud: Alas harum Bali.
Alas harum agro tourism started as a coffee tasting place which evolved into a place which attracts the tourists because of these reasons
Bali Jungle swing
Here one can experience different levels of Bali swing. Single swing with different height and a couple swing decorated beautifully with flowers. The Bali swing takes one to the highest adrenaline rush in between the beautiful rice terrace and tropical jungle.
The first time they push you, that extreme trill you experience is so intoxicating because you feel like flying towards the sky amidst the coconut trees. It’s a must do if you love adventures in nature.
Sky biking
Sky biking is the new addition to the adventure activities in Bali wherein you can drive a bicycle suspended on a high wire which is 30 ft above the ground. Another adrenaline rush activity, looks easy but is challenging. It’s fun and scary too because you are held up in the air and you have maintained the balance of bicycle and your own body when the gravity pulls you down. It feels like you are swaying in the air and have no control on your upper torso because of the safely equipment. Our suggestion is not to be tried by an acrophobic person.
Bali nests
There are about 3-4 varieties of bali nests in the park and you can enjoy the view by sitting on them ,but usually there be lots of people waiting to click pictures so it is advised not to take too much time in one nest.
Rice terrace and Photo booths
Walking in midst the lush green rice terrace is a wonderful and refreshing experience. There are loads of points to take pictures from. The whole setup reminded us of temple run and as if we had entered an ancient temple with moss. WE loved the swaying bridge and glass floor its super surreal.
Luwak Coffee
Coffee tasting is one of the favourite activities in Bali and you are served two coffee: Luwak coffee and normal Balinese coffee and the difference can be instantly felt because of its intense aroma, nutty taste along with a hint of caramel and chocolate. It’s said to have made with coffee seeds extracted from Luwak’s poop.
Luwak coffee
luwak
It’s a beautiful place from the time you enter the place. Natures beauty is totally utilised and maintained. Very friendly staff, swings are worth the price, you can get amazing instagram worthy pics and enjoy coffee on the glass bottom terrace facing the rice terrace.
the glass bottom floor
Harrytinkers tip
It’s not suggested for people who have difficulty in walking because you have to climb loads of stairs and walk a lot.
Acrophobic stay away from sky biking and Bali swing (it might make you little dizzy)
There is no restaurant inside so eat something from outside the park
Luwak coffee is good, taste it!! Have some fun.
Bali swing and sky biking a must try and it feels wonderful after the adventure 😮
the entry is free but you have to pay for the activities you prefer and this is the prices of the activities ( in 2019)
Mount Batur is an active volcano located at the centre of two concentric Calderas North West of Mount Agung on the island of Bali, Indonesia. It is beside the caldera lake. We had just read in books that an active volcano always has lakes besides them and it is really required to cool down the hot molten lava.
We were staying in Ubud and our cab picked us up at 2:30 Am and it was a terribly cold morning we reached our base camp by 3:30 Am and had small session with our guide and our team mates. We were handed over two small water bottles each and a mini torch.
Close to 4 o clock we started the trek and the weather was very cold and we did not expect it to be so cold. As we started walking suddenly we looked up at the sky and what we saw was so mesmerising ; a sky full of stars , a perfect place for sky gazing .The trek was fun for the first one hour as we were having fun climbing and we finally reached our first pit stop where we took a break
early morning view
WE were six People in a team four ladies (they were sisters) and both of us. Our guide was very sweet, jovial and motivating along with the super energetic teammates
our team members
By 5 am the sky had started changing its colour and we were excited to see the sunrise from the peak. Maya was super dehydrated and tired because of the climb. So, we started drinking water in every 10 minutes which was very helpful.
To watch the sunrise from the highest peak in Bali was a blissful moment. It’s very beautiful and mesmerising sight.
Sunrise from Mount batur
For those who get tired climbing and want to reach the peak, there is motorbike service available. These are racer bikes and these bikers generally drive very fast and little rash too, because the way is very muddy and slippery. And you will reach very fast with this.
It took us almost 2.5 hours to reach the peak. The trail is super dusty and muddy, more than the rocks. We were damn exhausted, thirsty and hungry by that time we reached the top. Our trek plan had breakfast included where we were given sandwich, boiled egg and banana.
On the side of the mountain there was smoke coming from various portions of the mountain, later we realised that it was the smoke of the volcano and we are on top of an active volcano. Those were warm vapours which were getting released from the mountain craters.
The joy of completing the trek
Also, we realised that climbing down was more difficult than climbing up. The main inconvenience with whole trek was there was no arrangement of washroom and also as you tend to hydrate yourself so it’s definitely a requirement.
Climbing down also took us the same amount of time as climbing up. As its steep while climbing down, there are more chances of slipping as you lose your control. Also, if you don’t wear trekking shoes you may sprain your ankle as well.
We also saw a place which was destroyed by the volcanic eruption and covered with black lava. Its just in books we had read about lava but this one was real and we were amazed to see it.
The black portion in the left side is the black lava
Climbing down was not that interesting maybe because we had already experienced the beauty of sunrise and we just needed a restroom and some place to relax.
On total we loved the trek and it was amazing to watch the sunrise from the peak and of course climbing on top of an active volcano was a dream come true.
Harrytinkers tip
It’s an intermediate level trek please keep the below points in mind:
Build your stamina by running or jogging three days a week at least a month prior
Carry 2 litres water and stay hydrated, have water at least every half n hour
Pause and climb there is no hurry.
Carry energy bars or something sweet which gives you energy
Carry a jacket which can keep you warm in the morning
Wear comfortable loose clothing
Wear trekking shoes (very important)
Have the good sleep the previous night of your trek.
The most important point is having faith on yourself, if its first trek you can definitely do it
Bali has always been fantasized for its natural beauty and picturesque beaches. Bali is romanticized to be the best honeymoon place for any newlywed couple and also for someone who loves to enjoy a tropical Hawaiian feel in an affordable destination.
Rafting and white-water rafting are recreational outdoor activities which use an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other body of water. This is often done on white-water or different degrees of rough water. Dealing with risk and the need for teamwork is often a part of the experience.
Our Experience
The first place we visited in Ubud was Ayung river for river rafting. Ayung river is the longest river in Bali. We visited Bali in October and the climate was very pleasant and perfect for river rafting. We had pre booked this activity online (www.govoyagin.com) three months prior so it was very reasonable for us.
The service was too good as they contacted us a week before to check our itinerary and there was a pick up and drop-down service included with the package along with the lunch. We had our lunch before the river rafting and that actually gave us lots of energy later for the activity.
As soon as we reached the destination we were introduced to our guide and two more members who would accompany us for the adventure. After the introduction he gave us the safety jackets and the boat peddle
All ready for the adventure
We went in another cab to the starting point from there we walked through some rice fields and through some forest area and finally reached the river bank. Thereafter the guide instructed us the basic rules and some safety instructions for river rafting.
You have to walk a lot
Fortunately, we got the front row to sit and trust us it was super thrilling and if its your first time and you love adventures and some adrenaline rush, definitely prefer the front row.
As the raft took its pace our hearts stated beating fast for the unforeseen adventure ahead. In the beginning the flow of the water was mild and slow but later as soon as we started approaching the slopes the water was wild and fast.
The best part about rafting is the sense of flying in the air for few seconds in the slopes and with the wild waterflow and the strong and extreme current and turbulence in the water makes it very thrilling.
The gushing river water, the luscious forest surroundings, mighty hills, clear sky and sounds of melodious birds , everything seemed so surreal , a paradise in dream. This experience is a must have from Ubud. AS it was our first adventure together Akhil was really too careful about me and we really had a fun time together.
Half the way through the adventure we stopped in to have so refreshments like tender coconut water and the again started to raft. Our guide was very funny and he knew how to keep his guests enthusiastic.
There was a place where we observed numerous small waterfalls from the mountains on either side. And our raft stopped at one of those waterfalls so that we can grt drenched in the cold waters of Ayung river. This was so refreshing. The water looks very deep but was only till our waist level.
river rafting fun
It was a one-hour journey in the middle of a white river and the forest which covers the area and we truly had the best time on our first day to Bali.
FAQs
Do you need to know swimming for river rafting?
NO. Everyone on commercial rafting trips wears a coast guard approved ‘life vest’ which is designed to aid in keeping you afloat in the event that you find yourself in the river. Many non-swimmers go on rafting trips, and they have a great time. Your guides will give you an in depth and engaging safety talk before your trip explaining what you should prepare for and do in the event you fall out of the raft.
Your Guide is trained in white-water rescue and will work with the rest of your team to ensure that you are able to feel comfortable with the white-water conditions on your trip. It is advised to all non-swimming folks to inform their guide before the trip.
What to wear during rafting and what to take along?
Wear your swimwear or clothes which are best suited for water sports
(something which absorbs and dry faster)
Take a set of dry clothes and flip-flops to change into after your rafting adventures.
Take a dry pouch to keep tour phone in case if you want to take pictures
A bottle of water because you will feel very exhausted
SHOULD I TIP MY GUIDE?
Yes, please do. Your guide works hard to ensure that you have a fun, yet safe adventure, and they appreciate being tipped. If you feel your guide has done a good job at keeping you entertained and sharing the wonderful river environment with you, feel free to tip them.
Harrytinkers tip
Carry water bottle with you and stay hydrated
As you have to walk as well as do the rafting ensure you wear comfortable footwear
Wear clothes which is water resistant
Don’t worry if you don’t know swimming just hold the side rope tightly and follow the instructions by the guide
Carry a waterproof camera or a mobile cover to protect you phone if you are shooting
Have fun and let the adrenaline rush take you to more adventures
On the auspicious day of Makar Sankaranti we decided to go to the Kashi Vishwanath temple and get the blessings of Lord Shiva. It is a very beautiful temple and you would feel very peaceful after you go inside. There is a continuous chanting of Om Namah Shivaya when you enter inside the temple to enter the temple and sometimes you need to stand for a queue and queue goes through the small gullies of Varanasi and all these gulllies have these small shops which sell some of the other religious related souvenir.this temple has gone through numerous destruction and re-construction over a period of time still it stands as one of the most famous temples in India,
Another interesting fact is about the gold dome on the top which is said to have fulfilled loads of wishes of the devotees . It is believed that if you make a wish after seeing the dome, Lord Shiva fulfills your wish.it is located in Vishwanath Gali Godowlia and opens from02.30 am to 11.00 pm every day.
Pic from wikipedia
Maa Annaporna temple
Annaporna means goddess of food and nourishment. If you have visited Kahi vishwanath temple your next pitstop would be Maa Annapoorna temple.The main deity here is Maa annaporna ( incarnation of goddess Parvati).Its said to have two idols in the shrine, one Gold Idol and One brass idol. The brass idol is open for darshan everday whereas the gold idol is kept for darshan only a day before Diwali.The temple is pretty spacious to accommodate arounf 100 devotees at a time. It is located in Vishwanath Gali Godowlia and opens from04.00 am to 10.30 pm every day.
pic: india easy trip
Note: Beware of the pandits who will do some random rituals and ask for money for the same.
Kaal bhairav temple
Kaal bhairav is the aggressive form of Lord shiva and is considered to be Main deity of he city .Its a very ancient temple and has beautiful architecture. So we were advised by the locals to visit this temple as soon as we reached Varanasi because it is believed that anyone who visits Varanasi has to visit the temple first and get permission from Kaal Bhairav to stay safely in the city .He is considered the Saviour God of the city and will save you from any difficulties.It is located in Bharonath, Vishweshwarganj and opens from 05.00 am to 9.00 pm every day.
PIC: facebook
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir
One of the most visited temples in Varanasi after Kasi Vishwanath temple is This temple. The temple has more rush on Tuesdays nad Saturday being considered the day  dedicated to  Lord Hanuman.The temple premises has monkeys whivh will be roaming around and happily feeding on the offering by the devotees. It is located  in Sankatmochan Saket Nagar Road, Saket Nagar Colony and opens from 05.00 am to 10.00 pm every day.
PIC: WIKIPEDIA
Note: In all these temple photography is strictly prohibited and in Kashi Vishwanath temples mobile phone are not allowed at all so you may have to keep it in the lockers provided there. Also Leather items like wallets and belts are also not allowed
During the evening we decided to witness our first Ganga Aarti .The Ghats were getting prepared for the pooja with 6 stands for the priest to perform the pooja beautifully lit and decorated .All the buildings are also lit so colourfully. Behind the stands there was arrangement for people to watch the pooja. Also there were also arrangements to see the Aarti from front view from the boat which costs 50 per person, it’s not very expensive and if you are witnessing the Ganga Aarti for the first time you must sit here n watch it, you can see the beautiful Ganga Aarti been performed over here.
Ganga Aarti starts at the sunset and stretches up to 15 to 20 minutes. Ganga Aarti which is being performed by 6 priest all dressed in uniform of Maroon sweater and cream colour dhoti with cream colour veshti.As they perform Pooja with different procedures by lighting the lamp in all four directions. This Pooja is being offered to the Holy River Ganga and it happens every evening and every morning in the same method. It is so mesmerising to view that Ganga Aarti it is like magic the synchronisation of the priest and the bhajans which is being sung in the background everything is so magical it is a lifetime experience to see that because you go into that essence of the Pooja and you get spell bound in its whole essence, it is very beautiful.
Note: After the Ganga Aarti there is a Devi temple over there and they distribute Khichdi as the Prasad because simultaneously with the Ganga Aarti Evening Aarti in the temple also starts and finish at the same time so after attending the pooja.
Al so second day we went to watch the Ganga Aarti from dashashwamedh Ghat but from behind this time also it was as magical as it was from the front view because this pandit perform the pooja from all the four sides north south east west so whenever you are sitting you can witness the pooja as the grand as it is. The ambience when Ganga aarti is performed and everyone is involved its prayers and bhajans is mesmerising.
On the third day and last evening in Banaras to be decided to watch the Ganga Aarti from Shitala Ghat and this time we felt that dashashwamedh Ghat has much more elaborate Ganga Aarti than shitala Ghat the difference between both is Dashashwamedh ghat is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Shitala Ghat is for Goddess Parvati so all the bhajans which are sung in Shitala Ghat is regarding Devi and there will be difference in the way they perform the pooja and the number of priests performing the aarti were also less. The Ganga aarti in Dashashwamedh ghat is extravagant however in Shitala ghat is much more subtle.
Ganga aarti Varanasi
Fourth day we decided to visit the Ghat in the morning to watch the morning Pooja and so what we saw the difference is in the morning there is only one priest which performs the Ganga aarti in the dashashwamedh Ghat as compared to 6th priest in the evening This is a different experience to see Ganga aarti before the sunrise.
After visiting dashashwamedh Ghat we were really very hungry so we went to a really amazing Cafe named Niyati cafe and its a very small restaurant which serves varieties of cusines including continental, American and Indians and we definitely preffered the authentic Indian food also be ordered a rice, dal and aloo gobi ki sabzi . The food served here is very simple and very yummy,And the best part about the restaurant is there everything is cooked fresh.The owner of the restaurant is a very very sweet guy and he and his wife manages the restaurant while she prepares the food and he manages the restaurant . Maximum of 15 people could be accommodated in the restaurant and we would definitely recommend this place and everyone must go there .
In Varanasi there is a place called Lanka which is which is far away from the place where we were staying and after reading some blog recommendations in search of some amazing chat to our disappointment we did not find anything over there. But we found there was an amazing street food called the Chura matar which we saw just exploring the streets.There’s nothing so great about the place.And accidently the best part about going to Lanka was the Pahalwan dudh centre where you get a yummiest Gajar ka halva and we had the Balushahi Steaming hot flavoured milk is very famous during winters in Varanasi and we were wondering why everyone drinking the milk but to be very frank after tasting the milk we found our why!!! The milk tastes amazing with the essence of cardamom and because its being boiled for a longer time it gets that creamy texture. The boiling milk is served in kulhad which also enhances is the milk’s tastes and The longer it is boiled the better it tastes and its a must try beverages in Banaras.
Kashi chaat centre located near the godowlia chawk in Varanasi serves one of the best chaats in Varaonasi and it opens only in the evening by 6 pm and is always crowded. So we had this amazing tamatar Chaat, dahi vada , tikki chaat , paani puri and Chura matar (of course because I loved it the last time we had it) and I will recommend Kashi chat Centre to everyone who visits Varanasi just because of the amazing tamatar Chaat and also I never ever had such amazing chat ever.Also the service is very fast and every item is served steaming hot n fresh.
Sweet shops in Gowdowlia chawk
Sweets in Varanasi especially the one which made is made with milk is the totally recommendable because the the milk is very fresh and they make all the sweets with that fresh milk and the freshness of the sweets can be experienced. We had Gulab Jamun, Rasgulla, rasmalai,Cham cham and everything is very tasty and fresh. During Winters almost everyone in the town relishes the hot flavoured milk in the chilly nights of Varanasi and if you are craving for something warm and tasty definitely its the steaming hot creamy milk of Varanasi.
While walking towards the Dashashwamedh ghat the street has loads of shops which sell samosa chai and boondi, and I must say it’s really worth giving a try and I assure you the taste won’t disappoint you instead you will feel like having them more.
Litti Chokah: Rajendra Prasad Ghat
While we were strolling along the ghats we found this street vendor selling litti chokha and it was really amazing to have the authentic taste even at a local place.
Paan
Paan is soul of Varanasi and paan shop is found in every nook and corner of the city . Well to be very frank every shop serves really good paan as we had from multiple shops and cant decide which on e was best. The vendors would make it according to the taste which you like>also the size of the paan here is slightly bigger than the usual ones.
Steaming hot idlies : Godowlia Chawk
with For the morning breakfast we had steaming hot Idlies and coconut chutney with loads of mustard seeds on top from a small street vendor outside our hotel .We were a little sceptical about having idly from north India as being a South Indian we love Idli and don’t like to experiment when it comes to south Indian cuisine but this was really good and we were extremely satisfied.
Aloo parathas foms street vendors
As far as aloo paratha is considered you can happily have it from the street vendors ,its amazingly fresh and tasty
AS far as what we experienced have the local food and have it from the crowded street vendors because the crowd indicate the taste of a particular locality of city and crowd also ensure that theres something yummy food.
Poori sabzi Or kachoris
The streets shops and vendors of Varanasi serves these pooris or kachoris with aloo ( potato ) curry which is a must have and they have different variants in the recipes.
Kachori and sabzi
Malaiyo
Malaiyo is a frothy pleasant and firm dessert found only during the winters of Banaras. This is the elegant composition of milk, Saffron and several dry fruits, along with the most important ingredient, Dew. Yes this is the core reason why Malaiyo in winter is the availability of Dew.And trust me this would be a surprise for your taste buds.
Harrytinkers travelog 