Jati 3 Bungalows & Spa Ubud 14-17 Nov 2016

When Resen drove us to the Jalan Monkey Forest, all of us were keeping our eyes on both side of the road to look for the signage of Jati 3 Bungalows & Spa Hotel.

Eventually, Resen was using a GPS and he stopped somewhere after the Ubud Monkey Forest Sanctuary.

Then, we managed to see the signage just at the roadside at a small lane. Resen told us that we have to walk in and worried whether we were able to take our luggage.

We told him that we can handle it as all of us having the backpacks. After unloading our luggage and backpacks, we said farewell to Resen.

Then, we were looking at each other and felt a bit awkward and worried as we have to walk in and through a small lane to our hotel.

The mixture feeling of worry and thoughts of will there be a surprise to us as we walked towards inner and we can only see walls and some old residential local houses.

Eventually, Jati 3 Bungalows & Spa is located at the last plot of land.

It kind of strange seeing the reception just in front of us without any main entrance or main door.

I just handed the printed Agoda booking voucher to the receptionist. Again, the receptionist is a young man! I was thinking a lady receptionist at least!

After a few days stays there, all the staffs are young men, and the only ladies are whom working in the Massage and Spa.

Then, the staff helped us carry our one and only luggage, then showed us the way to our room.

That was the time our earlier feeling was completely gone as we walked into the greenery courtyard and see the swimming pool in the garden!

We can see the swimming pool with the Balinese stone statues around, and the lazy chairs too.

We booked a Deluxe Family room which is at the 2nd Floor of one of the building. I love the overall setting of the garden and hotel rooms compound. Even we were at the 2nd Floor of the building, but the landscape and elevated setting out of the area made it really fabulous.

We stayed for 3 nights in a Deluxe Family room. Once we entered the room, we came to a small pantry first, there is complimentary coffee and tea with the kettle and drinking cups.

The room is spacious. We have 2 Double Beds in the room. There is a TV cabinet, a wardrobe, a dressing table and a writing desk which just in front of the window. And, we have a fridge too. The bathroom is come with bathtub.

The great thing is the room have a balcony which is facing the forest and the river just down under.

Once we walk out from our room, we can immediately see the swimming pool and the garden view.

The location is great as it is at the Ubud Monkey Forest Sanctuary and just 5 minutes walk to the Monkey Forest, 20-30 minutes walk to the Ubud Art Market, Royal Palace, Water Palace,etc.

We love our walk here as we walk everywhere, even to the famous Babi Guling Ibu Oka and the Bebek Bengil, a lot of shops along the streets.

The breakfast is good as well. Our room rate comes with breakfast. It do have a few choices of the breakfast for you to choose from: Nasi Goreng, Bali Banana Pancake, Omelette, Jaffle or Fruit Salad. Jaffle is the type of the sandwich that Local here normally have for breakfast.

Every breakfast comes with coffee or tea. Because our family do not drink coffee, the staff substitute with fruit juice for us. Generally we were very satisfy with our breakfast! We felt that it is tasty as comparable to the food we have outside the hotel. It worth it!

The swimming pool is great! There is mixture of kids pool and adult pool. Kids love to swim here. The view is fantastic too! We almost swim here every day.

Other than that, we were enjoying comforts as internet access – wireless, air conditioning, desk, mini bar, balcony/terrace.

The little things that we would mind may be is just the rooms and the areas need a bit more maintenance, as our room door and bathroom door are a bit sagging. Need a bit attentions in up keep the place.

Despite of the minor things, first impression, all of us were absolutely overjoyed at this hotel which we booked, fantastic value for money and great location. Overall is great and we would come back for sure.

Ubud Water Palace (Pura Saraswati) 15 Nov 2016

After the Ubud Royal Palace, we were looking for the famous Water Palace as well.

According to the map which I got from my phone, the Water Palace is across the street from Ubud’s Royal Palace (Puri Saren).

We were a bit puzzled and doubt on the map, and instead we were asking local people whom just walked by.

And, they just shook their head and showed us to the same direction as what the map indicated.

We were asking a villager whom sat in front of the Starbuck Coffee, and he just told us that we just need to walk in and that it is.

We did not notice at all the hidden palace just inside, and we thanked him for that.

Eventually, the villager was sitting there selling the tickets to the tourists for that evening cultural dance performance, and asking us whether we would like to have one.

We were really amazed as it is just behind the Café Lotus on Jalan Raya Ubud.

The Café Ubud dinners can have a really spectacular and nice view by just sitting at one of their tables only.

When we enter the grounds next to Café Lotus, we immediately notice a pathway which cuts between two large water beds. In the water are fat, large lotus blossoms.

We were so happy to walk on this path, there were stone sculptures on both sides of the path, lighten up the pathway and the lotus pond.

Then we came to a large barong stone statue in the centre. The path ends here and you must climb a large step.

Then, there is still another couple of steps to reach the next level where there is a staircase leading up to the temple.

I loved the Pura Saraswati, and It is also known as the Water Palace. The palace is very serene and aesthetically pleasing. The water garden and the statues are most impressive and interesting. We took some photographs here.

Ubud Royal Palace (Puri Saren Ubud) 15 Nov 2016

After our visit to the Ubud Art Market, we just crossed the main Jalan Raya Ubud to get to the Ubud Royal Palace or called Puri Saren Ubud.

It is strategically the focal point of Ubud, with the Ubud Art Market, various local and international restaurants just steps away along the main Jalan Raya Ubud.

The palace can also be regarded as the focal landmark of Ubud.

The Ubud palace was built during the lordship of the late Ida Tjokorda Putu Kandel (1800-1823), and is well-kept by his successive heirs. A visit to the Puri Saren is on many of the itineraries to the Ubud area.

The front section of the palace is open to the public. Walkthroughs for viewing and photos during the day are complimentary.

There were really a lot of tourists were there, the whole courtyard were full with the tourists. It made us a bit difficult to take our family photos with the signature Balinese architecture temple behind of us.

The community meeting hall or bale banjar is just across the road. There were a lot of tourists too waiting for their buses or just take a rest there.

We were walking around and trying our best to shoot the main feature in the Royal Palace, eventually we gave up due to too many tourists. And, we just took a ‘wefie’ together instead.

We did not spend much time there, as we noticed that the dark clouds above the sky and we still have to look for the Ubud Water Palace, and hunt for our lunch before the sky starting to rain!

Lemonade Restaurant Ubud 15 Nov 2016

After sometime we spent in our hotel room, we figured it was time for dinner.

We had passed by the restaurant so many times, and always the interior decorations have attracted my attentions.

It is actually located just at the corner of the small lane leading to our hotel.

We saw there are banners with great reviews from Tripadvisor, so thought we would see if it is really that nice and claimed by the restaurant.

Finally, we decided to have our dinner at this Lemonade Restaurant. It is indeed quite an interesting decoration they have.

We would prefer sitting inside, because we were afraid of the mosquitos.

It was really considerate and kind of the staff of the restaurant by offering us the mosquitos repellent first thing after we have sat down.

And, the mosquito repellent spray comes in a few flavours. There were orange, lemon, etc.

We ordered Soft Tacos which is the soft flour tortilla shell stuffed with lettuce, sautéed bell pepper and onion, cheese, jalapeno in tomato salsa, guacamole and sour cream. It tasted delicious and Issac loves it so much.

As for Annabelle, she having the Cajun Pizza. it it sautéed bell pepper, jalapeno, olive, tomato, cilantro on bed flour tortilla and pizza dough and serve with sour cream. She loves her pizza too.

I ordered a Soto Ayam, a classic Indonesian chicken soup with glass noodles. The soup is so thick, and it is really a small bowl. It was kind of very concentrate. It is just nice for me.

Daddy ordered a Tofu Curry with steamed rice, it is some sort like green curry with tofu. And, he is just ok with the food only. Well, he is a bit choosy and fussy on his food.

The restaurant is a bit wear down where the place we seated at the back of the restaurant. No doubt, the frontage of the restaurant looked impressive with the dining tables and chairs and the bar counter just next to your tables.

There is still rooms to improve especially at the back of the house and toilet areas. I can see some ladies chit-chatting and laughing when I passed by on my way out from the toilet. I think they should at least do a enclosure to separate between the back area and the guests dining area.

Overall we like the food served. After our dinner, we were wondering around Jalan Monkey Forest and see the night view of the streets. It is different when the restaurants, pubs, cafes and shops are light up, and give the vibrant of the street in the night.

Walking Around Ubud 15 Nov 2016

After our stop at Bebek Bengil, we decided to go for a bit of a walk and explore the Jalan Hanoman.

According to the map of Ubud I had from the Kura-Kura bus guide, Jalan Hanoman ran parallel to Monkey Forest and connected up at the main road – Jalan Raya Ubud.

So that was enough to motivate us to try and figure that out, because we planned to go to Ubud Art Market, Ubud Royal Palace, Ubud Water Palace, etc. After which,  we would walk back to our hotel through the upper Jalan Monkey Forest.

Jalan Hanoman is a lovely long street to wander up.  Hard to think it is only one street across from Monkey Forest Road with its shops, traffic and tourists.

This portion of shops are a bit different from Jalan Monkey Forest. The street is lined on both sides with cute little shops selling home wares, jewellery, clothing and art.

While we were wandering we dropped in at a small little boutique and I totally forgotten what is the boutique name. They have some nice and pretty Batik dress for small kids.

We were looking some nice dress for Annabelle and Issac as well. Finally we bought 1 piece for Annabelle. It is not ‘cheap’ but it worth it all, she loves that so much.

We continue to walk on. And if all of that shopping has made you work up an appetite, fear not for there are a number of cafes and restaurants to grab a healthy bite to eat or a refreshing fruit juice. We had our ice creams in the middle of the hot sun.

As Ubud is a well-known centre for Yoga, many of the clothing stores stock yoga wear, mats and all kinds of accessories. We can see a lot Yoga related items including the props are selling here.

Jalan Hanoman is also home to a variety of restaurants and cafes many of which, as you would expect in Ubud, are vegetarian. That's not to say though that there isn't something a little more sinful for those looking for a sweet treat or a classic Italian pizza.

We came to a intersection, which we choose to cut through Jalan Dewisita to Jalan Monkey Forest and go for our next destination – Ubud Art Market.

On Jalan Dewisita, find KOU Bali Shop, which sells homemade organic fruit jams and organic soap.

Ubud Art Market is a great place for shopping whether it be for yourself or gifts to take back home for friends and family.

We are expected to bargain for a good deal. Annabelle managed to get another 2 new Batik dress here, and Issac managed to find a cube puzzle for himself.

Compared to art markets in Bali’s other main tourism destinations such as Kuta, the Ubud Art Market can be considered to feature higher quality items and a larger mixture.

Although beach cloths and shirts printer with “Bali” on them, and ikat woven skirts, Balinese style paintings, woodcarvings and woven baskets can be found almost everywhere on the island, items ranging from quadruple-coloured bohemian skirts of satin, Moroccan-style oil lamps, quilt-stitched batik camisoles and brass Buddha statuettes, are somewhat the staple, typical Ubud Art Market curious.

I did not manage to snap much photos. After which, we went to the Ubud Royal Palace which is just opposite the market.

During at the Ubud Palace, the weather was starting to look a little dark so we quickly left and look for the next Water Palace and the Museum Puri Lukisan.

We did not visit the Museum as the kids were tired and we just resting at the café outside the Museum.

When the rain started to drizzle, we were thinking that we headed back towards the Ubud Palace and look for our next eating shop – Babi Guling Ibu Oka 3.

When we entered Jalan Suweta, there is a lady holding the Ibu Oka 3 leaflet and showed us the way to the restaurant. We just followed the small lane.

By now the rain had picked up so we took refuge at Babi Guling Ibu Oka 3. We reached there around 2.30pm, and the waitress told us that the crispy skin had been sold out. We were a bit disappointed.

Thus, Daddy just ordered some quick snack of some Gorengan and Meat.  Both were quite tasty.

The restaurant interior deco is quite nice, as they have court yard seating as well, and partially bar seating facing the river.

It is very cozy but a bit dim the lightings. Or may be it is due to the rain. The rain was still not stop but we decided to keep moving. We just walking in the rain!

We were so lucky that there was a stall selling the disposable rain coats. And, we managed to buy 4 pcs.

I think our family were really crazy at the rains, it was like we were so happy walking in the rain!

Along the way, we saw other cafes and restaurants were packed with the tourists and only us, were among the few still on the street, walking in the rain.

We walked back to our hotel from the Upper Jalan Monkey Forest near the Ubud Art Market and right down to the bottom of Jalan Monkey Forest.

Along Jalan Monkey Forest, there are a variety of shops, some with clear signposts and some bearing only obscure objects and curios from behind single-glass displays.

Most are art shops with selections of assorted handicrafts, antiques and alluring textiles from the archipelago and Bali.

A stroll through Jalan Monkey Forest and the adjacent side streets will demonstrate that this area is not similar to main tourism areas in the island’s south, say Kuta and Legian for instance.

Quieter footpaths, a cooler ambience and a more relaxed shopping climate make for a pleasant Ubud side-street shopping experience.

The children and their Daddy were so happily changing their wet clothing to the swimming suits and jumped into the swimming pool again! They enjoyed their good swim before took bath and changed to their dry clothes.

We had a good rest and just relaxing in our room, watching TV and waiting for our dinner time. A great walking experience in Ubud!