Today, my agenda included various wonderful places to visit in Jimbaran. Although I intended to catch the sunrise at the hotel’s rooftop infinity pool upon waking up, I ended up oversleeping. Around 9 am, I made my way up there, and Helmi opted not to join me. The views were breathtaking, and the weather was perfect. The best part was the complete absence of other guests – I had the entire swimming pool to myself! I spent an hour swimming, savoring the view, and working on my tan.
From this vantage point, I enjoyed a fantastic view of Kuta Beach and the airport. Watching the airplanes take off was quite a spectacle. I had a humorous remark in mind to share with Helmi, but unfortunately, he wasn’t around to hear it. I thought of saying something like, ‘Look Helmi, there’s your office!’—a playful quip considering his profession as a flight attendant.
Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park
Following an hour at the rooftop, I returned to my room, determined to resolve the issue with the web-building software for my website. I extensively searched online, Googling my problem numerous times and attempting ten different solutions. Finally, I stumbled upon a forum post describing the exact issue I was facing. Placing all my hopes on that solution, I decided to give it a try later in the day.
Helmi quickly secured a pricy scooter at the reception, benefiting from his ability to communicate effectively in Indonesian. Taking the main road towards Kuta, we made a left turn after 200 meters. However, Helmi decided to make a right turn to show me something he had already mentioned—Garuda Wisnu Kencana. He had previously shared images of various statues at this location.
As we approached the park’s entrance and parking area, a series of statues adorned our path. From the parking lot, Kuta’s scenic views once again captivated us. However, my mood took a turn when I noticed a sign indicating separate prices for foreigners, reminiscent of my experience with temples in Yogyakarta. In response, I asked Helmi to gather details at the ticket office while I discreetly stayed about 50 meters away. Upon Helmi’s return, he informed me about the existence of tourist prices. Given the exorbitant cost for a mere glimpse of statues, I opted not to enter. Helmi, having visited the park before, understood and supported my decision.
Breakfast
Our exploration continued, with the next stop on our Jimbaran itinerary being the Pura Uluwatu temple. Reversing our path, we ascended the hill, passing by our hotel. Along the way, we decided to have breakfast at a nearby semi-western lunchroom. I opted for a vegetable omelet, while Helmi went for cheese croissants. Before departing, Helmi sought directions from the girl behind the counter. While the Pura Uluwatu temple was my primary visit in Jimbaran for the day, little did I know about the fantastic places Helmi had in store for me!
Mischievous Monkeys at the Temple
A quarter of an hour later, we reached the temple. After donning sarongs and acquiring some bananas for the monkeys, we were informed to stow away our sunglasses, as they might attract the mischievous primates. Upon entering, we were greeted by a plethora of macaque monkeys, each displaying its own antics. Some were engaged in playful fights, and a few even had their own pool, emphasizing the lively atmosphere created by these spirited creatures!
We arrived at the opportune moment when we witnessed one of the monkeys scaling the shoulder of a woman. Soon after, it began tugging at her earrings, a sight that left us astounded! The earrings were swiftly pulled out, leaving the woman with a bleeding ear. Choosing to distance ourselves from the tourist group, we forged our own path to explore the surroundings. There was much to see in the area, and I kept a wary distance from these mischievous creatures. My apprehension stemmed from a prior encounter with monkeys in Pulau Langkawi, and here, surrounded by so many, I had to exercise extra caution.
After witnessing the spectacle of an earring being removed and observing playful monkey skirmishes, we ascended the stairs situated to the left of the monkey pool. Although the temple itself was inaccessible, we were rewarded with a splendid view of the cliffs to our right. The scenery was truly breathtaking.
Secret Garden at Pulu Uluwatu
Descending the stairs, we took a left turn and strolled across the courtyard towards the cliff, discovering yet another marvelous location in Jimbaran! From this vantage point, we enjoyed the most exquisite view of the temple, creating one of those magical travel moments. While savoring the scenery, Helmi signaled for me to follow him, just a stone’s throw away. Leading me to a hidden spot further down the area, I was surprised to find another stunning place, tucked away after a short walk through the bushes.
The lush green grass, the expansive field devoid of tourists, the breathtaking view of the cliffs, and the azure blue ocean with its crashing waves—my travel heart was filled with pure bliss! We spent approximately 20 minutes capturing the beauty of the surroundings through photographs before deciding to move on. Helmi was a bit startled when I positioned myself near the edge to capture a picture.
Padang Padang Beach
We made our way back to the temple entrance and decided to cool off with a refreshing drink from one of the tourist shops. Both Helmi and I were feeling the heat from our extensive walk in this weather, and a nice cold coke was just what we needed. Afterward, we exited the parking lot, heading towards our next destination. Our next stop in Jimbaran was Padang Padang Beach, a mere 10-minute drive away. The beach gained fame from the movie “Eat Pray Love.” Although I hadn’t watched the movie yet, a colleague had shared details about the book and expressed her desire to embark on a similar journey to the protagonist’s.
Having visited this beach, my curiosity about the movie grew, especially considering its featured locations in Ubud, India, and Italy. By coincidence, the movie aired on TV that afternoon. Parking our scooter on the bridge, we took some pictures from that vantage point. Descending the stairs, we savored the beach for about 20 minutes before moving on.
Blue Point Beach
Enthused by Helmi, we headed to another captivating spot to visit in Jimbaran, often chosen by newlyweds as a picturesque backdrop for their photos. Located close to Padang Padang, just a 5-minute moped ride away, this viewpoint and Pulu Uluwatu stood out as the best among the places we had explored in Jimbaran so far.
I adored the location! It’s truly a hidden gem. Surfers in the distance attempting to catch the perfect wave, charming small restaurants, and an awe-inspiring cliff to the left. I believed I had experienced the best of Jimbaran until I beheld the breathtaking scenery of Blue Point Beach.
I couldn’t resist immersing myself in the captivating scenery and suggested to Helmi that we have lunch right there. He agreed, letting me choose the restaurant. Once seated, the woman serving us seemed visibly displeased when Helmi sought her attention. Due to her demeanor, Helmi decided not to place an order. He later explained his decision, and I encouraged him to inform me next time so we could dine elsewhere. I hadn’t initially noticed the lady’s demeanor, but when it came time to settle the bill, her apparent anger and lack of hospitality became evident.
Dreamland
Following our lunch, we opted to return to the hotel, taking a detour to Dreamland, our last destination in Jimbaran. Navigating the expansive roads surrounding the area, we encountered impressive statues and abundant palm trees, creating an ambiance reminiscent of a Formula One circuit. The sheer scale of the site was truly impressive.
Dreamland is undergoing extensive construction to transform it into a park for prominent resorts. As we traversed the area, we observed numerous locals engaged in gardening activities, enhancing the details of the boulevard. Ultimately, we didn’t reach Dreamland Beach, opting to turn back. Running low on fuel, we intended to return the moped upon reaching the hotel.
Blue Screen of Death
In the afternoon, I attempted to resolve issues with my web-building software, and while my initial solution worked, a new problem surfaced. Windows 7 refused to start up. After some investigation, I discovered that the hard drive of my laptop wasn’t properly connected, leaving me frustrated. Fixing the problem would require opening the laptop, risking voiding the warranty. Despite trying various restarts and boot setting changes, I encountered a stroke of luck, and Windows 7 eventually started up again.
While working on my laptop, I noticed “Eat Pray Love” playing on the movie channel, quite a coincidence. Unfortunately, I missed the beach part, haha. In the evening, Helmi and I returned to the same warung as yesterday, and I ordered Kang Kung again—a truly amazing dish! Once back at the hotel, I worked diligently. The program was running smoothly now, allowing me to focus on some reports. I was astonished at the speed with which I created the new pages. Around 9 pm, I decided to take a break and enjoy the view from the rooftop again, wanting to see Bali by night. Unfortunately, my camera couldn’t capture the lights.
Around 2 am, feeling completely exhausted, I decided it was time to sleep since I had completed enough work. In a short period, I had accomplished an amazing amount of tasks. I initiated the uploading process and anxiously prayed as the program began loading its tasks. After 10 minutes, it finally initiated the uploading, and relieved, I jumped into bed. Finally, time to sleep.
