Mt Batur, BALI

IT'S TIME FOR DA HIKING POST WEW!!!

Mt Batur's view

Usually everyone goes to Bali for the beaches, but this time we decided to slot trekking into our itinerary during our stay there :>
If you actually look around, there are many tourist shops and agencies which have packages to climb up to Mt Batur, with transport and food all covered. However, you'll find out that the prices are est. 1 500 000 IDR/pax (around S$150) without bargaining.
So we decided to just take the leap of faith and go ourselves.

We booked a GrabCar at 2am from our hotel, J4 Hotels in Legian (usually you'll need to book it earlier as the traffic conditions are not very good) which took us 2h to reach the base of Mt Batur. The driver was really nice to wait for us to finish trekking and drive us back to our hotel. So technically we booked a one way ride but luckily he could wait for us. Especially when we don't have an internet connection and we were wondering how were we going to get a cab back if there were no metered cabs in the area.

Total Transport price: 800 000 IDR (S$80) round trip

Still trekking but the sun was starting to rise

ANYWAY, we thought we could go up without a guide but NO we actually need a guide haha. At the base of Mt Batur, there is a 'guide house' where they explained to us the few possible routes to reach the summit of Mt Batur. We took the shortest one cause we needed to get back to the hotel in time to check out HAHA. Since the trips all start at 4am, the shortest one was supposed to end at 8am, a total of 2h trek up and 2h trek down.

In the end we got a guide and they actually lent us torchlights (YES you definitely need it because it's so damn dark; your phone will probably not last)

Guide: 350 000 IDR/pax (S$35)

Throughout the whole way up there were no lamp posts or anything and it was pitch black, so the only light sources were our own torchlight. The road is really uneven so you must be vigilant when walking!

It would be advisable to wear long track pants and a jacket as it is REALLY COLD at the base at 4am. However as you start trekking, the temperature would start to increase but it would still not be TOO HOT. The roads were really rocky and dangerous, so be careful not to lose your footing. There were also many trekkers trekking with us together which made trekking feel much safer tho HAHA like everyone is in this together. So no matter how tired you are, you just keep going!

it looked like people but it was actually trees HAHA

There's an area with volcanic ash WHICH IS CRAZY HARD TO CLIMB UP but after climbing up is WORTH IT!!! The sunrise was at 6.20am and we BARELY MADE IT HAHA. We actually speed trek at the end to catch it.

We BARELY made it but it was BEAUTIFUL

 

The skies were purple and pink!

 

Our guide!

above the clouds

Actually we sat for really long, like around 1h, just taking in the scenery :> and the sun came up HAHA so we left the summit at around 8am! It was REALLLYYYY COLD at the summit cause of the wind and all but I really liked the cold :> but ya do bring a jacket along!

Actually they also provided us with hot drinks and food :> 

The wind was in our direction so the area started becoming really cloudy but WE TOUCHED THE CLOUDS :>

Going down was really tough tho HAHAHA cause the volcanic ash was quite slippery but Dong kept falling so it was really funny HAHAHAH

There were a family of monkeys too!

Do you see the little plot of land within the whole volcanic ash? Its called lucky island, cause the volcanic ash didn't cover that area LOL.

And while we were coming down we were playing music from our speakers which was really loud but made going down even more fun!

 Saw these steps and WE HAD TO DO THIS.

We also met this guy called Tom (right) from Germany cause he saw us with our NUS drawstring bag and he came to us asking if we were from NUS!! Apparently he's going to NUS the next sem for graduate studies SO IT WAS RLY COOL!!!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDEDDDD!!! HAHA The sunrise is really really amazing is you'll definitely not regret!!

But to save money I would totally just recommend you to take a cab there yourself then get a guide there HAHA.

Est. total cost/pax: 510 000 IDR (S$51)

Luv, 

Tingz

Hiking in Southern Ridges

hey guys!

SO I've written down a list of what I wanted to do this summer and the first thing I did on the next day after my last paper was to go HIKING. I've been a real slob for the past few weeks mugging for finals that I haven't even got the time to exercise/gym at all :< And now I'm going to get back to my fit lifestyle and finish up my SUMMER PLANZ  \ ^^ /

It was actually an adventure for me and I took around 3h to hike the area (not even the whole southern ridges)

Reached Habourfront MRT at around 8am and started on Marang Trail -- the very first trail to walk up to Henderson Waves Bridge.

Marang Trail

Entrance to Marang Trail

Marang Trail is basically full of steps and it's a vertical climb.

View when you have finished walking the Marang Trail towards Henderson Waves

I took my time to climb up since I had the whole morning and just enjoyed the greenery around me. Plus I went on a Wednesday morning so there weren't many people there!

You'll walk past the cable car station and if you continue walking you will reach Henderson Waves through the Faber Walk.

Faber Walk

These are binoculars but it seems like there were extras ; don't they look like ETs?

Henderson Waves

Met this lil' cutie at Henderson Waves

It's actually really cool how there's food for the cat and even a slice of fish for it :> Faith in Humanity <3 Going to Henderson Waves is definitely worth it as the place is really quiet and beautiful. (but if you go during the peak periods there would definitely be more people) The Henderson Waves is also lighted up at night and it's supposedly really pretty but I haven't seen it personally before so I'll prolly go once in the evening next time!

View from Henderson Waves

After crossing the bridge, you will reach Hilltop Walk. Basically, you can just go around and turn back to Henderson waves and walk back down to Habourfront MRT, but if you're feeling adventurous, you can always continue down to Forest Walk.

LOL look at this grumpy cat HAHA

Forest Walk

Actually IMO, going on the Forest Walk makes me feel like I'm crossing a long bridge over many trees and it's pretty cool actually. 

There're signages on what kinds of birds you'll see, what kinds of trees there are etc. However it's definitely not for those who have a fear of heights as the 'bridge' is actually q high from the ground, and the floor has holes HAHA.

It's actually a really long walk so do bring some light snacks to eat while walking! :>
(I forgot to bring so I was really hungry during the walk LOL)

Forest Walk

Apparently there is a Singing forest along this walk but I didn't really hear anything so ya :<

And I saw many squirrels!!!:>

                                      

                                      

Alexandra Arch

After that, you will reach Alexandra Arch which is an amazing infrastructure and it its an '80m long bridge with a curved deck and tilted arch like an opened leaf' -- as found in Wiki. Apparently it lights up at night too so maybe you should try visiting it at night :>

Alexandra Arch

By this time I was really really really tired but I wanted to continue since I'm already there, so I went on, and walked to HortPark.

HortPark

I was actually a lil' lost when I reached HortPark as it looked so new, not like the trail I've been looking at all these while but it was a really beautiful place since it was still new. 

Truth is, I didn't know where to go next and I was really tired (and hungry). SO I paced around for a while then realised that the only way to continue the trail was to enter HortPark and walk through the 'gardens'. 

Nevertheless, the garden was BEAUTIFUL and it felt really calming to see the whole place being decorated really well. 

got a really nice shot :>

After that, the only way you can go is towards Canopy Walk. It's a really long stretch so make sure you are prepared for it!!! For people like me who haven't exercised in AGES please consider carefully because after I finished walking my legs died.

Kent Ridge Park

Basically, I walked the wrong way and I went all the way into Kent Ridge Park before exiting at Science Park I. LOL. If you exit correctly, you should be able to exit to get bus 92 to an MRT nearby but I felt so lost I just walked around in circles inside although I was really tired. 

But really, once you get on the bus, it's the BEST FEELING EVER to be able to sit down in an air-conditioned area and rest. Next time I'm definitely gonna go on a hiking trip prepared.

AFTERMATH

lol. My legs really died after HAHA. My calves were so achy I felt like they were going to cramp everytime I exert energy on them, like trying to stand up and walking. Even so, it was really fun going on this random impromptu adventure to Southern Ridges and yeap do try out this route! 

Luv, Tingz

1st part of The Southern Ridges // Sushi Tei // Childhood memories

hey ;)

Today was really really entertaining. I'll be sharing my experience on the first part of The Southern Ridges (you'll know why later HAHA) which is really really quite interesting ;)

Woke up early to meet Yv at Harbourfront MRT so that we can go Mount Faber on a hike, and the road to Mt Faber was TOUGH.

SO GONNA CONQUER THE DAY

Actually I was kidding myself cause I was so sleepy my eyebags were quite bad (it's always bad but exceptionally bad today) but I am ready to be fit! So basically we climbed up the trail to the Cable Car entrance: Faber Peak, and the scenery was B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. I won't spam this post with ALL my photos but I'll just show a few kay ;))

irdk what is this it looked like it's half built but actually it's done

Continued on at Faber Walk which was just mostly uphill and basically TIRING and my stamina is just so bad ._. And we were quite slow HAHAHA.

But after Faber Walk, IT'S HENDERSON WAVES BRIDGEEEEE!!!!

The Instagram worthy place; The couple's hideout; the step photos place; basically the everything place la. But I was actually abit disappointed at what the Bridge looked like in a whole. Like it's actually quite cool it's midair and connecting 2 trails, but from the outside it looks ugly HAHA. Ok my definition of pretty bridge is either newly constructed or very very very old--those wooden kind LOL. Aiya but here's a photo to show you how it actually looks!!!

cannot really see though

HAHA since it was a weekday late morning, there weren't many visitors there and it was virturally empty teehee!! But the inside of the Bridge is really chio no kidding. SO rustic!! No wonder it's a place for couples and couples-to-be ;) ;) ahemahem HAHAHAHAHA. (if you know what I mean) There were also newlyweds taking photos for their wedding album AHHHHHH SO SO SO CUTE HAHAHAHA <3 Happy Marriage!!!!

Anyway, we stayed there for quite a while to rest and take photos without getting judged ;) Actually we were probably judged by the few people walking past but who cares!!! x) The sun wasn't really hot from 10am-1pm and it was really cloudy (not the rainy cloudy) so I didn't get the tan I expected but it feels really comfortable :>

Then we continued on into Hilltop Walk which is a very very very crucial place cause we got lost and went back to the starting point HAHAHAHA So basically we walked a round :( And we didn't know there were more trails until we turned back across the Bridge and looked at the map :( But it was late and we were hungry and tired so we just went back Vivo to eat LOL

OHOH ONE LAST THING!! There's this Easter Egg Hunt from now till 5th April which is quite cool and we took a few pictures with a few of the eggs we saw! ;))

cute squirrel!!!

I think the lady v funny

Sushi Tei

Hungry and fickle minded people decided to eat at Sushi Tei (first time there!!) but clearly we could not afford the overpriced sushi so we just got a bowl of rice each!! Got the Negitoro Don (tuna + raw egg + rice + veggie) which was really really interesting and cheap for the price LOL. And it doesn't feel as sinful cause japanese food's quite healthy actually (minus tempura but whatever)

Yv's beef!

Negitoro Don--$10.90++ (I think)

Filled our bellies with yummy food before going on a dessert hunt -- Rive Gauche and Tai Partait and hobo-ed at Vivo rooftop.

Tai-Parfait has a 20% disc promotion for students! :>:>

Banana flavour with soft serve ice-cream

Rive Gauche has really really good omelette (actually it's a banana crepe with cream), and Crunchy Cheese Crumbs. Best to share them though cause I'll defo get gelat from eating all the cheese HAHAAH. But still so so so so so so so GOOOOOD.

omelette crepe (doesn't look good but it is!) -- $3

Crunchy Cheese Crumbs -- $6

TimeZone was basically one of my childhood memories and I don't go there anymore cause of inflation and it's around $2 for each game which is totally not worth it?!?! Remember the times when each game was $1??? It's LONGGGG gone now. But there's bumper cars in TimeZone!! Really really cool but $6 per person per ride for a small area; no thanks.

Had such a fun day with Yv at Harbourfront but we'll defo be back for Part 2 of The Southern Ridges cause we haven't finished the whole area yet ;)))

cute poodle's fur-cut

Hope youall had a wonderful day!! :>

Luv, Olliee