We arrive in Bali's Depansar International Airport via a 1h 40min Tiger Airways flight and check into Aria Exclusive Villas in Seminyak. The stay cost SGD 256 (USD 205) per night where you get to peace out in one of the 18 exclusive villas in total luxury.
Walk along the lush tropical greenery to the villa
Each villa comes with a private pool, a well equipped kitchenette and a dining area
reception area
from the bed
Outdoor shower area
Aria Exclusive Villas and Spa
Jl. Cendrawasih Petitenget, Seminyak
Kuta, Seminyak, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Kuta, Seminyak, Bali 80361, Indonesia
We then head towards Kintamani to have lunch at a Grand Puncak Sari, a restaurant where you can dine while enjoying the magnificent view of Lake Batur. and Mount Batur, an active volcano that has erupted 24 times since 1800. There are 6 ancient villages around its cauldron where people still live the ancient Balinese way of life. The drive from Bali to Grand Puncak Sari is about 2 hours, so you will need to schedule your time accordingly.
front view of Grand Puncak Sari Restaurant
the very humble side view of Grand Puncak Sari Restaurant overlooking the mountain
Inside the Restaurant, diners help themselves to a delightful buffet spread of about 18 - 20 items. Dishes that were especially delicious: lemongrass satay, tuna satay, spinach tempura, chicken curry. The price of 75,000 Rupiah (USD 6.8) excludes drinks, so we ordered freshly squeezed juices at 20,000 Rupiah (USD 1.8).
Sari Restaurant has a humble exterior but the view of Mount Batur from the inside is absolutely breathtaking
Lunch Buffet with delicious Balinese fare for 100,000 Rupiah (SGD 10.6 or USD 8.5). Clockwise from top: fried noodles, fried chicken (ayam goreng), steamed tofu, spring roll, fried spinach, tuna satay & chicken with lemongrass satay
a view of Lake Batur
another view of Lake Batur, Kintamani
Mount Batur, Kintamani
Grand Puncak Sari Restaurant
Jl Raya Penelokan, Kintamani, Bali 80652, Indonesia
62 366 51073
After lunch ,we head towards Oka Agriculture known for its Coffee Luwak. The musang, or civet cat, looks really like a mongoose. It feeds on only the best coffee beans which comes out undamaged in their poop (yes poop). Farmers collect the poop and remove the raw beans, which are then roasted to produce the famous Coffee Luwak. Because the musang eats all species of coffee beans, Coffee Luwak unknown to many is not a type of coffee bean itself, but comprises a mixture of various coffee beans.
Entering the Plantation
Coffee Beans growing at the Plantation
The Plantation grows crops other than coffee, shown here is a cocoa plant.
Left: Roasted Coffee Luwak Beans; Right: Raw Coffee Luwak Beans
Enjoy Coffee Luwak @ 50,000 Rupiah per cup made using the drip brew method to bring out its unique flavor
You can get to taste all these other infusions for free (you will only need to pay for Coffee Luwak). Clockwise from top: Hibiscus Tea, Lemongrass Tea, Bali Coffee, Coconut Coffee, Ginger Tea & Hot Cocoa. The staff are very friendly and will urge you to refill your cups, even if you do not purchase anything from the plantation.
Musang, or Civet Cat. They are really hyperactive animals so it is a challenge getting a clear picture
a coffee roaster stirring coffee luwak over hot charcoal
Others spice crops also grown at the plantation
At about 4pm, we head back towards Jimbaran Beach for a BBQ seafood dinner by the beach. We made some stops along the way and so missed the sunset, but you should try to arrive by 5.15pm to catch the setting sun, which begins to set around 5.30pm. There are many restaurants along Jimbaran Beach with comparable standards, so you can just pick any one to dine at. A dinner with grilled prawns, scallops, squid and drinks will cost about SGD 13 (USD 16) per person, all amidst such a beautiful setting. If you are lucky, you can catch traditional Balinese dancers showing off their art form on Saturday evenings.
Enjoy the seabreeze while dining al fresco at Jimbaran Beach
Clockwise from top: Grilled Clams, Grilled King Prawn, Spinach, Grilled Sambal Squid @ 130,000 Rupiah (SGD14 or USD12) per which included a glass of freshly squeezed juice
Traditional Balinese Dancers perform on Saturday evenings. Get a seat in front of the stage if you can, as not all the seats have a view of the stage
Balinese Dancers will pose for photos with guests after their performance
