Bali Budget Holiday 2007 : Nikko Beach Sawangan

Beyond Travel Book : Nikko Beach Sawangan If you are wondering where this place is…. It’s a disguised piece of beauty, located south of Benoa, about 45 minutes drive from Kuta or Denpasar. White sandy beach, strong waves paradise for surfing and the cool wind breeze is just perfect for contemplating.


Caption: sweet escape…. This shore line ends in a high cliff with old temple on top of it, seems have been long time abandoned. If I happen to visit Bali again, this place is on top of my must visit spot, for sure! I would stay a lil longer, spend another minute.... and again.

Bali Budget Holiday 2007 : Where to Stay in Kuta

As part of budget travel, I chose The Oasis Hotel located just a few hundred meters from Kuta Beach. The Oasis is located at Jalan Bakung Sari, right ahead the Kuta Art Market, Kuta Square and Discovery Shopping Mall (Centro Beach). Along Bakung Sari Street, you can find souvenir shops and cafes, also Joger t-shirt counter.

The hotel has 70 rooms. The first floor has a direct access to the pool and private terrace. Make sure you got this part of the Oasis.

About the price, it has an affordable rate of its class. For a US$33 net per room/night it includes daily breakfast and welcome drinks. Airport transfer is available at additional US$10.


Most of the guests are coming from Japan, Taiwan and Australia, some Netherlands and some locals. Youngsters from Japan are very noisy at night, as they like to swim in the mid of the night! But the swimming pool is really cozy. It span across the length of the hotel, so every room in the first floor can access it.


The restaurant could accommodate like 100 or so people having breakfast at the same time. Right above the restaurant there is an open hall for an occasional performance.


One lack of this hotel may be its small parking lot and very narrow entrance access. It was just exactly fit to a minivan or SUV that you need to bend the mirrors inside to keep it unscratched when entering the hotel area.

After a long day tour, I like to spend my time sitting outside the Starbucks at Hardrock Megastore area. It’s just 300 meters away from the hotel, crossing the Kuta Square road.

Bali Budget Holiday 2007: Departing Jakarta

The journey starts from here, Terminal 1C of Domestic Departure where I lined up with hundreds of holiday makers. I can see how their faces expressing fed up-ness to this bustling metropolitan life. And it is time to break it free.


I use electronic ticket of Adam Air with a special check-in counter so I don’t have to waste any time queuing. I left home early 9:00AM and got no chance to take any bites. A ‘nasi goreng’ would satisfy my stomach, but look at the price: it’s Rp.33,000. There’s not much choice of place to eat at domestic terminal. The one I took was right in front of security check before entering the boarding lounge.


My flight is KI-332 CGK-DPS of Adam Air B737-300, which scheduled to board at 11:00AM. Half an hour before boarding time, I entered Gate C7 where my plane was scheduled to take-off on time. Exactly at 11:00AM boarding call was aired and passenger walks to the aircraft. I saw some Adam’s orange birds line up at 1C terminal.


At 31,000 feet I saw Mount Bromo on the right hand side of my window, where the plane took sharp turn to the right ready to cross Bali Straits just 30 minutes before landing.



At 12:54AM Bali Time, the Captain announced that we are preparing for landing. We are right above the Bali Straits while descending. Everyone’s face suddenly brightens up and some people shouted “Bali…. I’m coming”. 13.12AM Bali Time, the plane touched down at Ngurah Rai International Airport. It’s a unique landing strip where some parts of it is extended towards the ocean.