BALI TRAVELOG 2019 DAY 5: Nusa Penida
12:53 AM
DAY 5
26th September
This was the worst day of my whole Bali trip because I didn't get enough sleep the night before haha. Today was the day we're going to Nusa Penida which I had quite high expectation towards it because of the photos I saw on instagram.
I booked the tour from Klook.com at RM197 per person. It included pick-up and drop-off at hotel, boat transfer back and forth to Nusa Penida from Sanur Habour, private driver at Nusa Penida and lunch. Wanted to add RM77 for snorkeling with Manta rays tour but it's not suitable for my parents so I didn't go for snorkeling.
The driver picked us up from our hotel on time at 6AM. We checked out from our hotel and brought our luggage along because the driver said we could put our luggage at their office. We traveled in a van to Sanur Harbour. It was drizzling and I was worried that the weather would affect our Nusa Penida trip. We reached Sanur about after an hour.
However, the driver gave us chairs and asked us to wait outside their office because it was not opened yet. We saw other tourists arrived in groups one by one with their drivers and also waited with us outside the office.
After the office opened, we gave them our luggage and they asked us to wait again coz the boat was not departing until 8.30 AM. I was soooo sleepy and moody. I tried to rest my eyes while waiting.
Finally around 8.30 AM, we were asked to walk to the harbour to board the boat. We had to take off our shoes and put them inside a big baskets together with others' shoes because we had to cross knee-high sea water to get on the boat.
I slept during the boat ride which was around 40 minutes.
We arrived at Nusa Penida where our private driver (different from the one who pick us up from hotel) was already waiting with a board that had my name written wrongly on it. We got on his MPV car and started heading towards our first destination --- Crystal Bay.
Our driver was not a talkative one or maybe coz we had language barrier. The car ride was so bumpy because of the uneven and rocky roads in Nusa Penida. The island was underdeveloped after all. I slept every time we were in the car coz I couldn't help it and my head kept knocking on the car window hahaha. Besides, there's not much view to see along the road because Nusa Penida just looked like a deserted place.
Finally, we reached Crystal Bay after a ride that felt so long to me. The moment I saw the beach I was disappointed. It looked nothing like its name. Not pretty at all. Didn't know what to do there except people-watching. I guess if I opted for the snorkeling tour it would be better. They said it's quite easy to see Manta rays in Nusa Penida. Awww I really wanted to see Manta rays with my own eyes! It would be so cool!
We were given 1 hour to chill at Crystal Bay, then we're off to eat lunch.
Our lunch was simple and quite tasty in a restaurant called Warung D'Coconut, but the portion was pathetically small. We got to choose a dish and a drink.
After lunch, we headed to Angel's Billabong. Not as amazing as claimed by others. It was very crowded too I couldn't get a nice photo without human. And the sun was already very HOT! Luckily I brought my newly-bought sarong to cover my skin to prevent getting sunburn.
Then, we went to Broken Beach. Again, a lot of people but we managed to get some good shots under the hot sun. The driver also helped us to queue for photography spots and helped us to take photos too. However, his photography skill was not good haha.
Next, we traveled in car again to our last and the most famous destination --- Kelingking Beach (AKA T-Rex's Head). Again, SO HOT and CROWDED. We queued up to take photos and our driver climbed up a tree to help us taking photos.
We stopped by a cafe to have a coconut drink although it was pricey because it was too hot. The cafe was located at a high point so it was windy up there. I think drinking coconut juice at the cafe was the best part of the Nusa Penida tour lol. At around 3.30 PM, we traveled back to the harbour to get back to Sanur. We reached Sanur harbour around 4.30 PM.
We asked our driver (the same one who pick us up from hotel) whether he could send us to our hotel at Seminyak instead of the one he picked us up from. He agreed to it. A day before, I did send an email to the local operator of this Nusa Penida tour to ask about this and they asked me to deal directly with our driver. When we reached our hotel we gave him a little tip to thank him.
Our hotel for the night was Liberta Seminyak. It was a very modern design hotel with summer beach vibes that's very suitable for youngsters or those who's young at hearts. We enjoyed our stay here although it was just one night. The price was RM 222.85 per night. Although it's quite pricey but their facilities were good. They had a lot of foreign channels on their TV. The location was also really convenient as it's nearby good restaurants and markets.
Liberta Seminyak Hotel: https://www.agoda.com/liberta-seminyak-hotel/hotel/bali-id.html?site_id=1826364&tag=22437368-7921-4e24-839d-e8f9373002bd&device=c&network=g&adid=362031061900&rand=2571782525918965457&expid=&adpos=1t1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA89zvBRDoARIsAOIePbDDqXphfQpxPJO9Zz2EoBqnZaSevPBgfcDi2--ndVBrzFZUxFHNS78aAo3xEALw_wcB
Initially, I planned to have dinner at Hotel Mexicola, which was a very famous restaurant for its Mexican food, instagrammable interior design and the happening atmosphere. However, we were so tired so I was lazy to take a taxi to there and also I was worried that we couldn't get a table because it's so famous. So, I changed my plan last minute to Taco Casa, which was also a Mexican restaurant with good rating but within walk-able distance from our hotel!
I did not regret choosing Taco Casa. The food was good, especially the guacamole!
We ordered Crispy Chicken Tacos (IDR 69.000), Sizzling Beef Fajitas (IDR 84.000), Regular Taco Salad Bowl (IDR 61.000), Passion Fruit Juice (IDR 35.000) and Banana Juice (IDR 35.000).
It felt fresh because it was our first time eating Mexican food. The atmosphere and service there were nice too.
Taco Casa Seminyak: http://tacocasabali.com/
After our dinner, we walked back to our hotel. After showering, my sis wanted to go to the Pepito Market nearby to hunt for souvenirs coz she haven't bought any yet. So me, my mum and sis walked to Pepito Market. Too bad this Pepito Market was smaller than the one we went near Sunset Road that day and they didn't have a handicraft section which my sis was looking for. I did buy some Bali chocolates as souvenirs though.
Then, we walked back to our hotel. I booked our private driver to the airport for the next day through Klook.com. I've researched the prices and found that Klook offered the best price for airport transfer at RM43. Usually, the airport transfer provided by hotels cost IDR 250.000.
It was very easy to book airport transfer through Klook and you can even book it as late as 3 hours before pick up time. I just needed to key in a SIM card number for verification purposes so you need to have a SIM card that you can receive test messages. I paid online through my credit card without the need for verification through my home country's phone number.
I booked the tour from Klook.com at RM197 per person. It included pick-up and drop-off at hotel, boat transfer back and forth to Nusa Penida from Sanur Habour, private driver at Nusa Penida and lunch. Wanted to add RM77 for snorkeling with Manta rays tour but it's not suitable for my parents so I didn't go for snorkeling.
The driver picked us up from our hotel on time at 6AM. We checked out from our hotel and brought our luggage along because the driver said we could put our luggage at their office. We traveled in a van to Sanur Harbour. It was drizzling and I was worried that the weather would affect our Nusa Penida trip. We reached Sanur about after an hour.
However, the driver gave us chairs and asked us to wait outside their office because it was not opened yet. We saw other tourists arrived in groups one by one with their drivers and also waited with us outside the office.
 |
| Outside their office Rhonda Bali |
 |
| Kintamani dog that we met while waiting outside the office, Kintamani dogs are so gentle! |
After the office opened, we gave them our luggage and they asked us to wait again coz the boat was not departing until 8.30 AM. I was soooo sleepy and moody. I tried to rest my eyes while waiting.
Finally around 8.30 AM, we were asked to walk to the harbour to board the boat. We had to take off our shoes and put them inside a big baskets together with others' shoes because we had to cross knee-high sea water to get on the boat.
 |
| Getting on the boat |
I slept during the boat ride which was around 40 minutes.
We arrived at Nusa Penida where our private driver (different from the one who pick us up from hotel) was already waiting with a board that had my name written wrongly on it. We got on his MPV car and started heading towards our first destination --- Crystal Bay.
Our driver was not a talkative one or maybe coz we had language barrier. The car ride was so bumpy because of the uneven and rocky roads in Nusa Penida. The island was underdeveloped after all. I slept every time we were in the car coz I couldn't help it and my head kept knocking on the car window hahaha. Besides, there's not much view to see along the road because Nusa Penida just looked like a deserted place.
Finally, we reached Crystal Bay after a ride that felt so long to me. The moment I saw the beach I was disappointed. It looked nothing like its name. Not pretty at all. Didn't know what to do there except people-watching. I guess if I opted for the snorkeling tour it would be better. They said it's quite easy to see Manta rays in Nusa Penida. Awww I really wanted to see Manta rays with my own eyes! It would be so cool!
 |
| Crystal Bay |
 |
| Crystal Bay |
We were given 1 hour to chill at Crystal Bay, then we're off to eat lunch.
Our lunch was simple and quite tasty in a restaurant called Warung D'Coconut, but the portion was pathetically small. We got to choose a dish and a drink.
 |
| Warung D'Coconut |
 |
| Lunch |
After lunch, we headed to Angel's Billabong. Not as amazing as claimed by others. It was very crowded too I couldn't get a nice photo without human. And the sun was already very HOT! Luckily I brought my newly-bought sarong to cover my skin to prevent getting sunburn.
 |
| Angel's Billabong |
Then, we went to Broken Beach. Again, a lot of people but we managed to get some good shots under the hot sun. The driver also helped us to queue for photography spots and helped us to take photos too. However, his photography skill was not good haha.
 |
| Broken Beach |
 |
| Broken Beach |
 |
| Broken Beach |
 |
| Broken Beach |
 |
| Can see my mum and sis from afar |
 |
| Broken Beach |
 |
| Accidentally took a couple photo for some random strangers lol |
Next, we traveled in car again to our last and the most famous destination --- Kelingking Beach (AKA T-Rex's Head). Again, SO HOT and CROWDED. We queued up to take photos and our driver climbed up a tree to help us taking photos.
|
| Kelingking Beach |
 |
| Kelingking Beach |
 |
| Kelingking Beach |
We stopped by a cafe to have a coconut drink although it was pricey because it was too hot. The cafe was located at a high point so it was windy up there. I think drinking coconut juice at the cafe was the best part of the Nusa Penida tour lol. At around 3.30 PM, we traveled back to the harbour to get back to Sanur. We reached Sanur harbour around 4.30 PM.
We asked our driver (the same one who pick us up from hotel) whether he could send us to our hotel at Seminyak instead of the one he picked us up from. He agreed to it. A day before, I did send an email to the local operator of this Nusa Penida tour to ask about this and they asked me to deal directly with our driver. When we reached our hotel we gave him a little tip to thank him.
Our hotel for the night was Liberta Seminyak. It was a very modern design hotel with summer beach vibes that's very suitable for youngsters or those who's young at hearts. We enjoyed our stay here although it was just one night. The price was RM 222.85 per night. Although it's quite pricey but their facilities were good. They had a lot of foreign channels on their TV. The location was also really convenient as it's nearby good restaurants and markets.
Liberta Seminyak Hotel: https://www.agoda.com/liberta-seminyak-hotel/hotel/bali-id.html?site_id=1826364&tag=22437368-7921-4e24-839d-e8f9373002bd&device=c&network=g&adid=362031061900&rand=2571782525918965457&expid=&adpos=1t1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA89zvBRDoARIsAOIePbDDqXphfQpxPJO9Zz2EoBqnZaSevPBgfcDi2--ndVBrzFZUxFHNS78aAo3xEALw_wcB
Initially, I planned to have dinner at Hotel Mexicola, which was a very famous restaurant for its Mexican food, instagrammable interior design and the happening atmosphere. However, we were so tired so I was lazy to take a taxi to there and also I was worried that we couldn't get a table because it's so famous. So, I changed my plan last minute to Taco Casa, which was also a Mexican restaurant with good rating but within walk-able distance from our hotel!
I did not regret choosing Taco Casa. The food was good, especially the guacamole!
We ordered Crispy Chicken Tacos (IDR 69.000), Sizzling Beef Fajitas (IDR 84.000), Regular Taco Salad Bowl (IDR 61.000), Passion Fruit Juice (IDR 35.000) and Banana Juice (IDR 35.000).
 |
| Taco Salad Bowl |
 | ||
Sizzling Beef Fajitas
|
 |
| Crispy Chicken Tacos |
 |
| Banana Juice & Passion Fruit Juice |
It felt fresh because it was our first time eating Mexican food. The atmosphere and service there were nice too.
Taco Casa Seminyak: http://tacocasabali.com/
After our dinner, we walked back to our hotel. After showering, my sis wanted to go to the Pepito Market nearby to hunt for souvenirs coz she haven't bought any yet. So me, my mum and sis walked to Pepito Market. Too bad this Pepito Market was smaller than the one we went near Sunset Road that day and they didn't have a handicraft section which my sis was looking for. I did buy some Bali chocolates as souvenirs though.
 |
| Cau Cashew Chocolate Milk (IDR 65.000) and Cau Organic Dark Chocolate 73% (IDR 39.000) |
Then, we walked back to our hotel. I booked our private driver to the airport for the next day through Klook.com. I've researched the prices and found that Klook offered the best price for airport transfer at RM43. Usually, the airport transfer provided by hotels cost IDR 250.000.
It was very easy to book airport transfer through Klook and you can even book it as late as 3 hours before pick up time. I just needed to key in a SIM card number for verification purposes so you need to have a SIM card that you can receive test messages. I paid online through my credit card without the need for verification through my home country's phone number.
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