TRIP INDEX

After making the long, humid walk to the terminal, I was eager to get through security, check in, and head to the air conditioned lounge… but we hit a snag.

To pass through security at DPS, you must show a paper ticket. I felt like a bonehead not knowing this ahead of time. I didn’t exactly have our e-ticket printed out, but I think I had a TripIt printout of our itinerary so I showed it to the guard and he let us through. Whew, problem solved.

There was a bit of a queue at the Thai Airways counters, but at least Business Class was less busy than Economy.

Thai Airways Royal Silk & Star Alliance Gold Counters

After getting our boarding passes, Joann and I followed the signs to the lounge that Thai Airways uses. The Premier Lounge is actually an independent lounge contracted by, what looks like, every airline that flies in and out of Bali.

We didn’t take many photos inside as it was very packed, but this site has a good review of the lounge. It was a far cry from the Cathay Pacific lounges we experienced in Hong Kong, but it would suffice for a comfortable seat and some grub.

Premier Lounge food options

About the food… it was mediocre at best, and I suppose I’m being generous. In hindsight, we should have found some food in the airport or asked our driver to stop by somewhere before the airport. The lounge did have plenty of soft drinks and coffee so that helped. I’d make it to lunch service on the flight 😉

There is no free WiFi in the lounge – big time downer. The nice thing about the Premier Lounge is that it has an outdoor smoking area that is spacious and has great views of the tarmac.

Premier Lounge Terrace / Smoking Area

TRIP INDEX

For our last day in Bali, we decided to have breakfast delivered to our room and set up for us on our day bed. Nothing like a fresh cup of Indonesian coffee (my favorite) with a beautiful view.

American breakfast above the valley

After breakfast and quick dip in our plunge pool, we decided to finally visit the infinity pool. Hard to believe we waited until the day we left to hang out at this gem.

Untouched lounge chairs and pool

Infinity Pool all to ourselves

We lounged at the pool for about an hour. It was so peaceful because absolutely no one was there. Presumably, they were out enjoying Ubud, but I wouldn’t blame anyone for just staying at Komaneka all day and relaxing.

After a short while, it was now time to pack up and go 🙁

Most of the staff were at the front desk to see us off. They actually presented us with gifts which was very nice. It’s always the little things!

Then, we were off for our 45 minute car ride to busy Denpasar. We arranged the car through the resort which, while an expensive option in Bali at $35, was still a decent price.

As we pulled up to the drop-off section of DPS airport, we felt the humid breeze and saw the long walkway full of people. Paradise no more!

The hot & humid walk to the terminal

Selamat tinggal (goodbye) and terima kasih (thank you), Komaneka!

TRIP INDEX

With a week in Bali, we had our hands full with things to do and see. From temples to beaches to city markets to small villages, Bali has a wealth of culture just waiting to be discovered.

Beaches

Bali has several well known beach areas – Kuta, Seminyak, Jimbaran Bay. Those are also the very touristy areas that we decided to stay away from.

We enjoyed the beaches at Sanur during the first part of our stay. It’s a much quieter town and they are just as beautiful.

Cooking Class

This was a fun idea for half a day. Joann and I took a cooking class taught by a local married to an expat. This started with a visit to the food market in the morning to pick up the fresh ingredients.

After that, we went back to the instructor’s ‘resort’ and she taught us how to make some very tasty Balinese favorites in an outdoor kitchen.

It was a fun experience and if you’re into fresh and local food, you’ll enjoy it.

Jackfruit – yum!

Ubud 

Ubud is the cultural center of Bali; it’s also the most crowded area because of this.

Ubud Market is a must-hit. It is the heart and soul of what Ubud is about – people trying to make a living. Here you’ll find every little trinket that will remind you of Bali. Prices are ALWAYS negotiable at the market so haggle your butt off. If the price isn’t right, just walk away. Guaranteed they’ll come running after you with a great “final offer”.

Overall, just wandering through Ubud can easily take up the better part of a day. It’s great for people watching, both locals and tourists alike. There are plenty of things to do in Ubud like see traditional dances, art museums, etc. but Joann and I were really content just meandering through Ubud city center and absorbing our surroundings.

Monkey Forest

No trip to Ubud is complete without a visit to the famed Monkey Forest, a nature reserve full of beautiful temples. There are just throngs of monkeys as soon as you step foot into the forest.

Pro Tip: Don’t be that guy who buys bananas from a hawker at the front gate and then gets attacked by the monkeys before he’s 5 steps in. I guess you could be but I didn’t want to give the monkeys an excuse to bite me. Apparently, many people are bitten by monkeys here. Just be smart and you’ll be fine; we were.

The Monkey Whisperer

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