CHAPTER FOUR: Bali, Indonesia

Cheapest route to Bali

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From DAvao or Cebu:
A.www. cebupaficair.com:
Davao to Singapore --- 3,000pesos to 5,000pesos, depending on the season
B. Bus from Singapore to Kuala lumpur(Malaysia), 5 hours---25 Rinngit (350 pesos)
C. www.Airasia.com
Kuala lumpur to Bali --1,000 to 3,000pesos, depending on the season.
I bought my ticket 1,200pesos. booked on January 17, 2007 for travel on May 2, 2007

*there are several flights from S'pore direct to Bali , but the cheapest fare is 10,000 pesos at any given time.
*If you are from Manila. Fly airasia.com from Clark to Kuala Lumpur
* If you really want to go to Bali with the least expenses, checkout www.Airasia.com weekly. sometimes free tickets are given in this route.

Arriving in Bali

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Picture: Bali Airport

Unfortunately, no bus is going to kuta beach from the airport. Taxis costs from 30,000rupiah (120 pesos)

Buget accomodation

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1. book through the internet. I booked at
http://www.indo.com

Istayed at :
http://www.indo.com/hotels/sayang/

2. There are hundreds of hotels in Bali. Some are offering basement prices. When you arrive at the Bali airport, there are booths for hotel booking. Stay one night at your hotel then look for the cheaper alternatives the next day. Plenty of hotels ofering 12usdollar per night along Kuta beach and Legian road.

Budget eating in Bali

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Breakfast- usually included in the hotel accomodation
Lunch- try Mcdonald's near Kota Beach. Chicken/rice/coke starts at 10,000 rupiah ( 53pesos)
Dinner- plenty of restaurants in bali offers rice meal at 10,000 to 40,000 rupiah (53 to 200 pesos)

The bombing Memorial

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This memorial was constructed for the memory of those who died in the bombing in Bali in 2002. There were about 200++ tourists, mostly Australians who unfortunately was the casualty in the said untoward event. The site recieves hundreds of touris everyday that it is virtually impossible to take your picture alone.

When I was at the site, I feel sad for the victims and their families. I may have not known anyone on the list of names but it is so depressing knowing those who died were innocent of whatever the issues the perpetrators may have .

Personally, my stand is that no one has the right to take one's life, whatever the reason is. "Thou shalt not Kill" and "First, Do No Harm"-might be cliches to some people-are adages that are always guiding my decision making everyday.

Beach Bali

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I cannot say which is better, Boracay or Bali... I have never been to Boracay. All i know is that users of www.islands.com voted Bali as thier best Island in the world

Culture Bali

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Picture: Balinese Barong Dance and theater show.

Balinese Dance moves are very similar to Cambodia's and Thailand's traditional dances-probably i am simply not an expert on dances, that i miss the difference. I suppose, because during the Cambodian Angkor Era, Hinduism and Buddism was the dominant faiths (and hindu religion and dance were inseparable, I guess).

The Balinese theater was nice, although i did not understand their lines uttered. There is english translation of the program but poorly done.

Picture: Balinese theater

Balinese Hinduism

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Balinese Hinduism differ from Indian Hinduism
1. Balinese hindus are not vegetarians
2. Other than the hindu god Shiva, Balinese have their own supreme god.
3. Balinese temples are without statues of Shiva. my balinese driver told me that when they prayed at the temples, they just imagine as having god Shiva in front of them.
4.Balinese hindus every morning place offerings in fron of their doors, everyday for goodluck.