When Qatar Airways had a sale back in January I managed to get return tickets for ~$450 from DXB to DPS via DOH. I also decided to add a quick trip to Dili, Timor-Leste by booking a return flight on Indonesian airline, Sriwijaya Air.



Day 0.

Arriving outside Dubai Airport Terminal 1 after the catching the metro from my apartment.


About to board the 12:30am flight to Doha and my first time on a 787.


Quick photo of the front of the plane while on my way to the back.


Hot chicken sandwich and juice for the 45 minute flight.


My first trip to Doha's new Hamad International Airport. The $6.8m giant yellow teddy bear melded together with a black lamp was a very trippy!


The QR A330 for the 9+ hour flight to Bali. Like the old airport, I had to take a bus out on the tarmac to board the plane. Much better photo opportunites than using a jet bridge though.


Beef and rice for dinner shortly take-off.


At Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali just after 5pm local time with my visa on arrival after the flight from Doha.


I then caught a cab into Kuta for 100,000 rupiah (~$8).


As it was close to sunset, I asked the taxi driver to drop me off at Kuta beach so I watch the sun go down at the beach. Great way to relax after finally getting to my destination after ~12 hours of travelling.


I then walked the ~200 meters from the beach to my hotel to check in. For $27 a night including breakfast I was pleasantly surprised.


And the view of the pool and hotel restaurant from my front door.


I then went out for a walk in the evening around Kuta on the beach.


I then went to a restaurant for dinner and ordered the Indonesian set menu for a taste of local cuisine, with 11 different dishes. All very tasty and was a great first meal in Bali:

- Sambal chili sauce.
- Sambal matah onions.
- Soto ayam soup.
- Peanut satay sauce.
- Choklat cake.
- Chicken satay.
- Fish satay (sate lilit).
- Ikon pepes fish.
- Beef with sweet sauce.
- White rice.
- Yellow rice.




Day 1.

I slept in for abit then went out for a run up the road to Legian beach, and then ran back on the beack back to Kuta and had a swim in the sea to cool off. I then headed back to the hotel for breakfast.


After breakfast I went for a walk to the Bali Memorial, from the 2002 nightclub bombing when 202 people were killed.


Some Canang sari, one of the daily offerings made by Balinese Hindus to thank the Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa (the supreme Indonesian Hindu god).


Some Balinese men in traditional dress outside a temple. Apparently today was an auspicious day for weddings so saw quite a few people dressed up for them.


At Candi Bentar Pentai Kuta, or Kuta beach main gate.


A hindu statue at Kuta beach.


And the Indonesian flag flapping in the sea breeze.


Bamie Goren Jawa and ice tea at a restaurant in Kuta for lunch.


For the afternoon I had booked a private car to see some of the temples in Southern Bali. Jason (aka. ironmanjt), was flying into Bali today as well, so we organised to meet up and do some temple touring together. First stop of the tour was Taman Ayun Temple, built in the 16th century by King Mengwi.


Next stop was Alas Kedaton Monkey Temple. After paying a few rupiah I got to feed some peanuts to the monkeys, they definitely weren't shy! Unfortunately while Jason was taking this photo a monkey on his shoulder decided to do his business on him! The lady who sold us the peanuts said she could give him a good deal later on a shirt back at her shop. Was hard not to think that the monkey and the lady were in cahoots with each other.


Two ugly mugs.


Munching on some rice.


Some large fruit bats hanging out.


Jason trying out his new Balinese shirt.


Last stop was the Tanah Lot Temple. Amongst the hordes of tourists was a newly-wed couple getting wedding photo's.


The Tanah Lot Temple was right by the sea, with the high tide turning it into a small island. There was however a fresh water spring at the base of the temple, where you could get blessed with some holy water.


Me and Jason with some local Bintang beer at a clifftop bar overlooking Tanah Lot.


Was also a great place to enjoy the sunset over Tanah Lot.


With it being Diwali and a Friday night, it took us a while to drive back to Kuta.


At the Hard Rock Cafe back in Kuta where we grabbed some burgers for dinner.



Day 2.

My dive guide, Wisnu. My plan for today was to head up to the north of Bali to Tulamben to go for a dive at the shipwreck of the USAT Liberty.


Sussing out some dive gear.


The drive up to Tulamben took ~2 hours, but was great to see of the Bali countryside on the way.


The dive resort where we were based for the day in Tulamben.


The local porters unloading our gear for us.


Diver Dan. My first dive in a while, but quickly got back into the hang of it. I had a problem with my BCD inflator becoming stuck, causing me to spring up to the surface, so Wisnu had me do a gear swap with him 15 meters down. My first time doing a total gear swap underwater, but kept calm and had no problems.


A school of fish swimming amongst the wreck. I unfortunately don't have an underwater camera, but the dive company had an option for one of the guides to take their own camera with them for a few extra rupiah.


Having lunch after the end of the first dive. As it was my first dive in a while, I managed to suck through my tank in ~35 minutes. We went down to ~24 meters, so not too bad though.


Another group of divers heading out. As the wreck was quite close to shore, it was easy to access.


Wisnu with the underwater camera, a Canon G12 in an OEM enclosure. For the second dive I managed to convince him to let me take the photo's.


My first time shooting underwater, so a bit of a learning curve, but a lot of fun.


Looking through the wreck with all the coral and plant and fish life.


Some cool looking coral.


For the second dive we had a bit more time to explore the wreck. The USAT Liberty was beached at Tulamben after being torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1942.


Coral and lots of fish on the side of the wreck.


Some yellow-tail fish.


In 1963 the tremors associated with the eruption of Mount Agung caused the vessel to slip off the beach, and she now lies on a sand slope in 9 to 30 m of water, and has been rated the #3 top wreck dive in the world.


More fish down by the wreck.


A turtle looking for some lunch.


Into the blue.


A pink anemone fish peeking out.


Getting up close to check me out.


My first wreck dive and had a great time.


White-tailed damselfish hovering over some coral.


More colourful coral.


Scouring the bottom.


From a distance this looks like seaweed, but as you get closer you realise they are all eels!


A well camouflaged speckled sanddab.


Back on land after a great day diving.


Back in the car for the ~2 hour drive back to Sanur.


Topping up with a sugar and caffeine fix back in Kuta.


Enjoying one last sunset at Kuta beach.


Locals performing a Hindu beach offering.


Ladies posing outside a wedding ceremony.


Dinner at the Gabah Terrace restaurant in Kuta, tasty chicken satay.


Every Saturday night the restaurant has traditional Indonesian dancing.


And got to see this scary guy too.