Caramel Apple Station For Wedding

Turtle Island - Sepilok

A trip to Sabah AC prepares it seems, I experienced backpackers travel more than that. After climbing Mount Kinabalu, I had already promised to return to concentrate this time on this aspect of wildlife second region of Malaysian Borneo. The main purpose of the trip is the island of Selingan, called Turtle Island, located one hour by boat from Sandakan, in the east of the island. The problems begin when the site appears to be limited to 60 admissions and that its management is controlled by Tour Operators. To witness the spectacle of nature, so it's five days before the start that I am performing U.S. $ 526 (double occupancy) from Borneo Adventure for a day and a half of tourism (mass) and between Selingan to Sepilok see also the rehabilitation center orangutans.

Unlike the region of Sarawak, Sabah tourism is much more organized. Everything is more or less controlled by the Tour Operators, but this does not treasure it is to explore such as Mount Kinabalu, the site of Sipadan elected as the best dive site in the world, and any wildlife that are found almost nowhere else. It is on this fauna that three-day weekend focused.

Otherwise you can directly access the photo album -> here


Saturday, May 17, 2008

- Flight Johor Bahru - Kota Kinabalu
- Bus Kota Kinabalu - Sandakan
- Visit Sandakan

Sunrise 3am and 3:40 departure from the house. The taxi arranged by Benson (Singaporean shipping company) takes us in Malaysia. The Singaporean side of the border, Customs added the fingerprinting program, causing a small traffic jam of 20 minutes. Then the side of Malaysia, I am asked to get off the taxi and it takes me to an office .. a little tanned, I am taken to the Malaysian terrorist escaped from Singapore? I will not answer. After making me wait 10 minutes I am my passport stamps and one starts to Senai Airport, Johor Bahru airport. The fact is that despite these events, here we are at 5:15 at the airport while the plane leaves at 7:25. I thank Thibaud de internally advised me to advance the departure taxi, so we can fully appreciate our waiting at the airport. We find, however, Gregory and Timothy in Singapore who spend the weekend in Bako National Park (Kuching, Sarawak) that I could show you my picture above. A weekend very nature, therefore, for the French in Singapore. Breakfast room to the cafeteria the airport before each "couple" does not begin from his side. Returning to Johor Bahru at the same time, the appointment was made Monday at 23.20 to share a taxi.

It seems that statistically, an Air Asia flight on three partners behind. Ours leaves on time, arriving even 25 minutes early to Kota Kinabalu (Tanjung Aru Airport). It was 9:25 when we take a taxi at the counter official airport. 30 ringgit to go to the bus station Innaman in the north of the city, from where the bus to Sandakan. 35 minutes later and here we are at the bus station, between us, more like a disused station Poland's 60 years that a new bus station. It is 10am, departure time of buses to Sandakan. The next is at 14h .. Apart from the Sabah Museum, situated in the extreme south of the city, so far from the bus station, nothing makes us want to stay in Kota Kinabalu a few hours. I thought before going to the Tambunan Rafflesia Reserve, but the timing was too short, keep all this activity for the last day. We're taking our tickets (33 Ringgits) Counter 8: Tung Ma Express and embark on the bus leaving immediately. We spend during the trip at the entrance of Kinabalu National Park. A tear falls from my cheek at the sight the restaurant and the front door we triumphantly crowd before climbing Mount Kinabalu. After 4h, the bus finally stops: lunch in a food court where you can exchange the ticket for bus cons a drink, the food still remains the responsibility of the passenger. After this 10-minute break, the bus starts again and we are distributing free bottles of water. Finally, note that the 6 hour trip are complemented by the dissemination of films rather recent (10,000 DC, Dragon Wars, Iron Man, ..) that would come to wonder how they did it so quickly to acquire rights dissemination.

Arrived 16h at the bus station in Sandakan, we take a taxi to travel 4-5 km to remaining downtown Sandakan. The center looks more like a station at Melun Sud resort. The streets are dark, blackened buildings, .. a transit town who wants to be faithful to its nature and does not retain tourists for too long. Fortunately, amid all this, there is the May Fair Hotel . Frankly, the hotel does not look outside, with its small entrance at the corner next to a textile shop. The interior is not exceptional either, but the rooms are clean and rather spacious, with air conditioning, LCD TV, DVD player, a bathroom, .. all for 50 ringgit per night. It is almost given. The small downside is that suddenly, thousands of backpackers go there, so it is best to book him at least 1-2 days in advance.

Once showered, we head into the hills above the city in search of a view over the bay of Sandakan. Our first destination was the Agnes Keith House, a restored house writer deported during the war. The theme of the Second World War is indeed a strong presence in the city. Old capital of Sabah, Sandakan was bombed by the allies to expel the Japanese. Since 1945, the capital Kota Kinabalu is now. As always, many people, especially Australian, were subjected to forced labor and enforced by them. To get there, take Lebuh Empat, and take steps (Tangga Seribu) concrete to the left of the Courts of Justice. The first 10 meters of the stairs are destroyed, presumably to preserve the archaeological remains of the 2nd GM, which requires a little balancing act.

Continuing the path, then we arrive at Residential Drive overlooking the Agnes Keith House. We arrived at 16:45 but, a priori, employees, conservative, had already anticipated the closing day of 17h. So we will not see outside, and a peek inside through the windows of the doors, which allows me to say that the house does not break three legs to a duck. However, if for reasons beyond your control, you have time to lose in Sandakan, I can only advise you visit the house to be a must-do tourist town.

Indeed, below the house, should be Comment Pavilion built by the Rotary Club. Lonely Planet announcing "fine views, already imagining a huge white tower, I thought I already have the photo tour brochures of Sandakan. In fact, Comment Pavilion resembles a bus station, and the sight gives ca! (I must not have the same criteria as the Lonely Planet)

With these two visits to the Mosque is the city that we are headed. Does not even deserve a picture, we start our walk along the seafront . It is far from the Croisette , but it remains the coolest by far the Sandakan that I have ever seen. Having had the chance to meet the group of Sandakan Bikers, one stops for a drink. The next destination was to be the Puu Jih Shih Temple, located 4km west of the city. I must confess that, before poverty scenic tours of the afternoon, I decided to skip this part of the program to skip dinner. We dine in an Indian restaurant recommended by Lonely Planet, the Restoran Zakaria III, whose variety of roti prata is indeed laudable. I am a chicken murtabak not bad but different those of my Indian friend from Newton Circus. 10 MYR for two courses and a drink ... Cheap. We then return to the guesthouse to watch it on TV. Besides the cable channels, the Guesthouse has also an impressive collection of VCD (over 1,000 at first glance) and the possibility to borrow free of charge (maximum 5 days). Broken Arrow and the Hulk in hand, watching TV is that we end our experience Sandakanaise.


Sunday, May 18

- Sim Sim
Water Village - Boat Sandakan-Turtle Island
- Ponte eggs and releasing hatchlings

Departure the tour operator is at Sandakan Hotel, 3 minutes walk from the May Fair Hotel. The appointment is for 9:45, we board a bus or a dozen other Caucasian face. Strangely, Vanessa and I are isolated from this group with two Chilean physicians and benefit from our own guide, Junior. I wonder if we are the ones who are doing the most "entuber" but apparently not. We managed to find two seats from Borneo Adventure remained cheaper than almost all other web sites we visited, and which offered a real website for secure payment and not sending bank details by email as Other Tour Operators have been asking.

After a short bus ride, we arrive already Sim Sim Water Village. Halved (Part Discomfort with wooden bridges with China and cement bridges), the village is a succession of houses on stilts above a heap of rubbish. Lack of education of people who pollute the sea, but 40% of garbage from other villages were also brought by the current. We cross the Chinese side to lobby the company Seagull Sea Transport . Arrived on a wooden pier (jetty), we took two of their boats.

Accompanied by both Chilean and Junior, we got into the speed boat equipped with two engines of 85 horsepower. After 45 minutes by boat, we arrive at the island already Selingan (Turtle Islands ).

Park Turtle Island is actually comprised of three islands: 2 of them are closed to tourists and are used only for conservation purposes, only one, Selingan, showcases the preservation turtles. The three islands form a triangle with the sea surface is also protected, which makes fishing prohibited. Water is turquoise, white sand, I feel that this island will please me. Just arrived, we headed to the reception that gives us the keys to the rooms cabins (4 rooms per cabin in advance). It is 11:30, lunch is served at 12:30 in the only restaurant on the island. This restaurant is strangely managed by Crystal Quest, a Tour Operator.

Near the restaurant, an enclosure where fifty rolls of wire. A dead turtle near one of these rollers do not leave any doubt, this is where the rangers enterent turtle eggs to protect them from predators and thus increase the chances of survival of hatchlings, at least until they are released into the sea

ride on the beach before joining the group (Attention David Hasselhoff will not be there all the time). The buffet, as well as the cottage, are included in the package. Only beverages are at our expense (2 Ringgit water bottle and 3 Ringgit Sprite, AC should go).

The afternoon is free. During the tour of the island, we come face to face with a Malaysian armed with a submachine gun. We remember when we had Junior explained the presence of a small force on the island because of its proximity to the Philippines, and probably also to protect the turtle eggs that find a buyer on Asian markets for aphrodisiac that gives them character. Around the island is in 10 minutes top chrono, the island being only 8 hectares.

The northern tip of the island (Coral Low Tide ) is ugly in that all corals are dead. The southern end of the island, or that it happens, is the most beautiful, but swimming is strongly discouraged due to the power of ocean currents. It is therefore the only swimming area 100 meters long that all the small group meets. The sun beats down. Everything seems to meet a good nap on the sand .. well no. For the small problem in all this, what are the sand flies. These little sand flies that dance around in ten have you as diet blood. Unprotected, it is with dozens of white spots on the body that is wake. To protect yourself, you must: be or Singaporean , or prepare a lotion to spread over the body. A preparation that appeared to be proven: baby oil, Dettol and lemongrass. Do not, it's in the water that I spent my afternoon. At 16:30, the sun wane. So the room we went back to take a nap for the restless night we were going through.

the restaurant at 18.30, the guide briefs us on the evening. Expected in or near the restaurant that we call the rangers to attend the laying of a turtle. Nobody goes to the room, nobody on the beach. As always with this kind of animal travel, we do promises not see turtles tonight. Before 1996, it seemed guaranteed to see turtles every night. Since 1996, some years have seen nights without turtles (between 3 and 17 nights per year). The day , 5 turtles had laid 190 eggs, which is low. It also meets for 10 Ringgit Camera license that gives us the right to capture that moment. It reminds us of the rules: no video and no flash. For now, we climb the second floor to watch a short documentary on turtles. We learn that:
- Turtles lay per season from 8 to 14 months. Each turtle lays a total of approximately 1500 eggs in a season. For each egg, it is usually between 40 and 190 eggs per turtle.
- After the nesting season, turtles are resting 2-3 years before trying again.
- For there to egg, there must have been fertilized for one or more males. The female turtle has 4 rooms sperm filled, producing eggs. That's why the female is larger than the male.
- The brains of turtles appear surrounded by a magnetic membrane that would return to the place of their birth after 15-20 years, age of sexual maturity.
- Eggs Turtles are 50-60 days to hatch. 2 hours after oviposition the embryo is already beginning to form, so avoid handling them after the risk of killing or irreversible sequelae.
- The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperature of the sand in which the egg rests in its first 24 hours. A sand whose temperature is above 24 degrees will give birth to a female while the male is born with temperatures below 24 degrees.
- A Selingan, three species of turtles lay their eggs. The two main species are the green turtles (green turtles) and Hawksbill.

After the video, we take a quick tour of the museum. Information on turtles, skeletons and embryos are also visible. Then it's time for dinner. Very good buffet with fish and an omelet to die for. By cooler outside, we sit on the benches until the call rangers. The day before, the first turtle had arrived on the island at 21:30 and had started to lay at 22:30. We do indeed see the turtle at the time of laying order not to scare and prevent it from laying its eggs. It takes about 30 minutes to dig a hole which is equivalent to its height. So we wait, anxiously waiting and praying that this is not a night without turtles. To add to this slight stress, we also learn that we are part of the second group to be called to see spawning. The draw is conducted by rangers sheltered from observation. I therefore doubt the inside of the impartiality and integrity of this lucky draw. He is 21h when the walkie-talkie rangers sounds. The first group went to attend the egg while the second group expects sitting like idiots. 10 minutes later, Vanessa and I perceive a slight movement about fifteen yards away. Scratching in the sand later and jumped from the bench ... a turtle begins to violently remove the sand using its fins. Everyone is silent, listening carefully scraping the sand and seeing stealth jets of sand that were emerging in the penumbra. For several minutes, everyone was standing, listening in silence .. Then we learned that turtles do not understand, so people went back to talk. In the middle group, the guides were playing the Playstation Portable, rewarding us "let's fight" somewhat discordant in the context of childbirth. At least thirty minutes pass. I stimulus check our guide in making him more or less understand that if you miss the turtle, so he will die in agony.

10 minutes later, the walkie-talkie sounded, it was the green light. It goes naturally to the turtle that is 10 yards away. "No, not the one." We share 100 meters far right on the beach. Near the wooden bridge, there is a store that is already at the spot. At his feet, a turtle is stuck in the sand. Under the turtle, a hole lit by a torch or two eggs are lying now. We thus arrive at the beginning of spawning. The rhythm about one egg every 5 seconds, will attend the laying of 68 eggs. It's dark, the light illuminates only the hole in the turtle, we see the shape of the turtle on the sand but without a tripod, it can hardly take sharp pictures. So on the hindquarters (lit, as I recall) of the turtle that we focus our attention. The store collects the eggs progressively and groups on the sand while the turtle continues to lay eggs. A spawning times over, store it spans the turtle to reference it. He measure length, width and clip him an identifier metallic fin right if she has none. Our turtle is 89 cm long by 81 cm wide .. beautiful baby. Once measurements, guide and store still gives us 5-6 minutes to take pictures. We shall then all around the turtle. The problem is that the store really does not illuminate the turtle with his torch, he has just nothing to do. I remember we did not have the right to use the flash. Fortunately, some SLR cameras illuminate the scene just before shooting. It must therefore try to take his picture at the same time as another tourist armed with his SLR. The eye of the turtle gets wet, giving the impression that the turtle cry, what makes this moment even more beautiful to see .. no I'm not a sadist! During this time, the turtle covers the hole, not knowing that there is no more eggs.

Then at the insistence of the guide, we let the tortoise and head to the paddock spotted earlier in the afternoon. The ranger digs a hole and buried all the turtle eggs. It covers the hole in soft sand to facilitate the recovery of turtles. Our scope is number 895.

Finally, The program ends with the dropping of dozens of mini-baby turtles to the sea turtles Unlike adults, babies turtles are attracted to light. The guide, feet in water and a torch in hand, illuminates the sand to attract them to the sea show is touching, but the target is in motion and brightness still not at the rendezvous, it is even more difficult to take sharp pictures. Aware of how clumsy some turtles jump into the water while others return back attracted by light cameras. One thinks attend the laying of other turtles, this is not the case so as not to disturb any turtles from laying eggs. The reason is understandable but the natural reflex is to say that price or you pay ...:) It will not happen. Back near the restaurant, we realize account that the turtle always saw earlier digs. It seems she is on her third hole, probably unimpressed by the two holes drilled previously. The group went to bed. Vanessa and I are 10 minutes, about ten feet, listening to the scraping on the sand while still trying to take pictures in night mode, hoping see the head and fins Photo. The turtle has dug too deep, it will not happen. We're going to bed, still happy to have attended the laying of a turtle, which is never guaranteed. We teach the next day that only 4 turtles laid eggs that night for a total of just over 200 eggs.


Monday, May 19

- Boat Turtle Island - Sandakan
- Sepilok, Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
- Flight Sandkan - Kota Kinabalu
- Loh Kawi Wildlife Reserve

It's 6 am when the phone alarm sounds. It is 6:01 when the guide banging at the door shouting "morning, morning, the appointment being taken outside the restaurant at 6:30. Leaving the cottage, you come face to face with a turtle limped into the branches. The day is completely lifted, excellent brightness, this one will take for others ... Twenty pictures later and we join the group. No time for breakfast to avoid swallowing the boat .. not stupid. So we take the speed boat to remake the 45 minutes separating us from Sandakan. Along the way, two turtles frolic on the surface .. it's almost Christmas so one has lucky today. Remaining distance, it is difficult to film the scene. After 10 minutes we will start again. Back on the boardwalk of the Water Village Sim Sim, we sit at the tables for breakfast. Buffet with toast, sausages, beans, eggs, orange juice, coffee, ..

Departure by bus at 8:15 for the 45-minute drive that separates us from where the Sepilok rehabilitation center for orangutans to about 25km from Sandakan. Along the way, one of two guides we briefs on orangutans and the center itself. Apart from zoos, orangutans do not live only between Indonesia and Malaysia, more precisely Sumatra and Borneo. In Sumatra, orangutans are light orange and much more like humans. In Borneo, orangutans are dark orange and the head is much flatter than their Indonesian counterparts. Having already been seen in Sumatra, the loop will soon be closed. At Sepilok, about 45 of the 300 orangutans participate in the rehabilitation program. The park has 3600 acres, which provides 4 square kilometers for each orangutan. Living alone is the minimum area they give themselves themselves, the population does not vary greatly. Some orangutans are asleep and released at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, also in eastern Sabah. The park operates on 4 programs:
- quarantine: the baby orangutans to all necessary examinations
- the inner child care (nursery indoor): to make their muscles work
- daycare external (outdoor nursery) to teach them find their own food.
- Autonomy in the jungle (free roaming Food Programme): orangutans are fed only twice a day and are doing the rest of the time.

Quarantine is now closed to the public. It is therefore possible to see baby orangutans in nappies. Guide reminds us that the orangutan sharing 96.4% of genes with humans. Diseases that we are spread very easily to babies, which explains why it has no right to approach them. The two programs are not accessible either because it is crucial for them to start learning to do without the man and return to a state of semi-liberty or completely wild THE STATE. The orangutans are gradually brought to the heart of the jungle. Some return to sleep in the cage, others leave in the wild. Rangers distribute food 2 times a day: 10am 15h. It is not the guarantee of not noticing. Victory for Rangers would be no more orangutan come and look for food from them, which is diametrically opposed to what people want tourists in search of photos.

Just arrived at the center, we are projecting a movie directed by an English journalist. The center is indeed funded by the Malaysian government and an association English (UK appeal). An English has in fact we launch an appeal for donations .. mobilize you .. Then come the movie. I must admit that the show is well established. On the giant screen, images of a baby orangutan detained illegally by villagers and handed over to the center, until the release of a large male, sequences alternate laughter and emotion ... Tourists are convinced, must sponsor a baby orangutan! Sponsor costs 150 ringgit per year, which entitles the receipt of two pictures per year as well as regular updates on the progress of his protégé (I always talk about the orangutan). In short, let us return to our sheep, after paying the camera allowed 10 Ringgit towards the platform. After 5 minutes of walking on a wooden bridge, here we are. No problems mud and leeches so .. Even before the rangers arrived, the monkeys are already at. Macaques, which pervade first for lunch, then what are the orangutans who come swinging on ropes. We'll see orangutans in total 8-10 and a little more than monkeys. The rangers give them bananas and sugar cane. Note that heat is to die on the platform and there is very little shade, especially that there are nearly 100 tourists who watch the show together with you. 4 to 7 times stronger than humans, and have arms from 1.5 to 2m long, attention personal affairs if the orangutans are not only on the platform located 10 meters from the tourists.

It is now 11am and we had a flight at 13:10 at the airport in Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu and go and have a good half day before returning to Singapore. The guide takes us into a van while the bus resumed its journey to Sandakan for lunch and a tour of the city (not that it bothered me not to miss). 13km away, 10 minutes, and we are at the airport Sandkan.

I take our time free to call the information center of the Tambunan Rafflesia Reserve. After several unsuccessful attempts, particularly in Sumatra, I am indeed still inclined to see these mythical flowers more closely. Close to Kota Kinabalu, they would be possible to see the Rafflesia or reserve or the hot springs of Poring (Poring hotsprings), a few kilometers from the Kinabalu National Park. These flowers live only a few days, it is very difficult to predict to see. The center is closed. Tambunan call the resort for information. No chance, a rafflesia is underway but it will only open in 5 days. Too bad, he'll have to find another occupation, this occupation will be the zoo Kota Kinabalu The third goal of the weekend is the big nose monkey Probiscis said Monkey.

arrived at the airport in Kota Kinabalu, we take a taxi from the counter to Loh Kawi (40 Rinngit for about 30 minutes). Called Zoological Garden by Lonely Planet, the zoo is now called Loh Kawi Wildlife. There is no public transportation from there. We give appointment to our taxi at 17:30, closing time at the zoo. The entrance is at 20 ringgit per person.

The zoo is not too bad, among the rhinos, elephants, ostriches, bears, gibbons, toucans, reptiles, we will effectively Probiscis Monkeys and orangutans including a baby really cute. It is 3:30 p.m. when we finish the tour. Posed to the only cafe at the zoo, we recall the taxi to move back to Kota Kinabalu.

45 ringgit to go to Esplanade Waterfront Kota Kinabalu, very nice beach where we had been following the ascent of Mount Kinabalu. After an hour of shopping in the adjacent shopping centers, we also return to the same Italian restaurant to end three days of local food. 75 MYR for 2 courses, 2 drinks and 2 desserts. The sunset to 6:15 p.m.-30 is still as beautiful. It is now time to return to airport. The first two taxis offer 20 ringgit to go to the airport, is the market price they tell us. Principle, and because we had time to lose, it's finally a third taxi offering 15 ringgit to go to Terminal 2 from where the Air Asia flight. Finally it is possible to negotiate in this country! It was temps car à par un verre à l’aéroport, ce sera la dernière dépense en Malaisie, n’ayant pas de taxe d’aéroport à payer. Malgré 15 minutes de retard au décollage, nous arrivons à 23h20 à Johor Bahru. Nous partageons le taxi du retour avec Gregory et Timothée, 180 Ringgit pour passer par Tuas checkpoint (160 au comptoir et 20 au chauffeur à l’arrivée).


Dépenses pour 2 personnes

- Trajet Singapour – Aéroport Johor Bahru en taxi : S$70
- Vol Air Asia Johor Bahru – Kota Kinabalu : 1,852,000 MYR (cher, billets en période de vacances achetés deux semaines avant le départ)
- avec Borneo Island Packages Adventure Turtles: 526 USD
- KK Aéroport Taxi - Inaman bus station: 30 MYR (40min-1h)
- Bus Kota Kinabalu - Sandakan (Tung Ma Express): 66 MYR (6h)
- Taxi Sandakan bus station, a May Fair Hotel: 50-10 USD
- a Nuit au May Fair Hotel: 50 MYR
- Vol Air Asia Sandakan - Kota Kinabalu: 232 MYR
- Entrées zoo de Loh Us: 40 MYR
- Johor Bahru Taxi Aéroport - Singapour: 180 MYR


Budget

La plupart des Repas

étant inclus dans le package Turtle Island, et en ayant sauté 2 Repas, les dépenses nourriture n'ont Ete only 2 square meals + drinks + appetizers for a total of 120 MYR.

Out tickets KK-JB, that's 2.470 MYR (488 euros) for 2, which is very expensive for the region.

I will explore ways of islands with turtles out of Borneo, which would probably be much cheaper. If you visit this site and you have any news, I'm interested.


Contacts

- Borneo Adventure (Tour Operator with secure website for payment): http://www.borneoadventure.com
- Crystal Quest, which manages the restaurant and housing on Turtle Island: Tel: ( +60) 089212711 Fax: 089 212 712 email: cquest@tm.net.my (Based on personal experience and opinions on forums, these people are reachable 1 in 100)
- May Fair Hotel, Sandakan Tel: (+60) 089 219 855 24 Jalan Pryer

=== =====> LINK TO PHOTO ALBUM -> HERE <===========

Congratulations My Friend For You Engagement Card

Mae (not Christopher's booooo !)... of course! Violet Hill Coldplay

I told you earlier, Mae, it's really good!

what I did can not be said is that I ordered all of their albums on the net and after 3 long weeks of waiting to watch the factor (lol) Finally! here they are! (Good to this day he still lacks one, they are trickling out, but normally it will be there tomorrow!)

So, as usual, listening loop, in the car, en bossa .. .

alala my friends! it's really beautiful!

I love the concept of their album "The Everglow" which offers a musical prologue and commented on how a book of the story: we were welcomed in this experiment what "The Everglow" and it invites us to make the experience complete, take the booklet accompanying the cd (very nicely illustrated by the way). We are told that even when we hear a sound, you can turn the page! and we wish a good trip.

and obviously at the end of the cd, the little voice comes back telling us that she hopes that the trip was pleasant and wished us good night.

I think I do you say enough but BUY THIS ALBUM is frankly stunning! (And others for that matter!)

'll stop here my long tirade, if you think that I have shares in their record company!

Elliptical Trainer Reviews Infiniti Eurosport

Racing sports

Admit you never thought to shop together. Or that you did not driven (e) s. Max Havelaar you to reconsider your way to buy ... but perhaps not as well !

Good viewing and good weekend!

Source: LCI this morning.

Kates Playground Shower Free Movies

The Komodo Dragon (April 29 to May 6, 2008)

Kingdom of the mythical dragons of Komodo Island Komodo is in the heart of Indonesia, east of Bali and Lombok. The Komodo National Park consists of 3 major islands: Komodo, Rinca and Padar. The dragons have disappeared Padar, is on the first two islands that we will focus our search for these large reptiles belonging to the family "Monitor Lizard ".

The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard on Earth, it is between 2 and 3 meters and weighs about 70kg. Dragons breed between May and August. The eggs are laid in September and give birth, 7 -8 months later, the baby dragons to 35cm in length and feed on insects. that has no predators on these islands, when they are adults, babies are increasingly being safe from predators but also Dragons adults who managent. Able to see more than 300 meters, however they have a close up view trais low and therefore serve their tongues to smell and taste.

a population of 4.000 to 5.000 individuals, there would be only 350 females. Thus, in 1980, Komodo National Park was created to ensure survival. The park, including housing on site is managed by the PHKA (Direktorat Jenderal Perlindungan Hutan Alam dan Konservasi). To get there, the fastest flight remains a Bali-Flores and the boat to Komodo and / or Rinca. Another solution is to land in Sumbawa and take a cruise to the islands.

So a stay of 8 days between Bali and Komodo / Rinca I am about to tell you below.
You can also go directly to the photo album -> HERE



Tuesday, April 29

- Singapore - Ngurah Rai Airport
- Seminyak

for Vacation after a day's work .. It's always that day that the customers you've not been heard from since 1 month, colleagues, in short everyone who chooses to manifest itself at that moment where you have all the clarity for last audit. In short, let us push this last audit, and assume office at 17:45 in disaster for the theft of 19:05. This is probably the only advantage of working close to the Changi Airport.

2:30 Valuair flight later and I set foot for the first time in Bali. As usual in Indonesia, you are greeted by the visa on arrival: $ 10 for 7 days, $ 25 for 30 days. I arrive on a Tuesday at 21h and I'm leaving on a Tuesday at 22.20, I am therefore 7 days and 1 hour. Having always remember the hospitality and generosity of Indonesia, so I decided to take a visa 7 days. Tail 30 minutes later and sent me discharge the remaining 15 USD to buy the 30-day visa ... Meanwhile another plane had arrived and it was after 1 hour of paperwork that I found my bag in a trailing empty part of the terminal.

Ignoring the first touts waiting at the airport entrance, I open my Lonely Planet to know the taxi fares for Seminyak district north of Kuta and Legian. Lonely Planet in January 2007 tells me Rp 55.000 for a day trip. The first driver offers me 200,000. Offering him to go to the kite (the expression goes better in English ..), he explained that the increase in oil prices and the fact it got dark completely justify its price. His arguments seem acceptable but I am negotiating with another Rp 100.000. I will learn a few days later he is an official taxi counter and the price of oil has not increased for over a year and a half since the government absorb the price increase. So first little scam Rp 30.000 (2 euros), no big deal.

After 20 minutes drive, here I am come to Ned's Hide-Away , small guesthouse near the Bintang Supermarket in which I had booked a room earlier in the day. I had indeed an appointment to give guidance for the next day. Only one day remaining in Bali before leaving for Komodo, hire a guide and driver allowed me to a maximum of things without worrying about transportation. It was 11:20 when I lie down in the queen size bed in my room I was very correct faith for 80,000 Rp The only problem was that cunt dog that barks all night. Given the anger of customers the next day at breakfast, this dog is probably more of this world, so go in this small guesthouse without fear.


Wednesday, April 30

- Barong Dance, Batubulan
- traditional Balinese house, Batubulan
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
- Rice of Tanganan
- Gunung Batur
- Gunung Kawi Temple, Klungkung
- Ubud Palace
- Water Palace, Lotus Cafe, Ubud

Having slept very little, is that Leo at 8:15, the French-speaking guide with my colleagues from Singapore praised me kindness and understanding, just join me for breakfast. After swallowing the big meal (eggs, beans, toast, coffee) for 20,000 Rp, we take the car, head for the dance performance of the Barong Batubulan. Along the way, Leo tells me the story of Bali occupied by the Dutch 350 years ago, Bali was under Japanese control from 1940 to 1945 before the Dutch did take back the island until 1975, when independence. Learn as it rains very little in Bali, except in the heart of the island, around Ubud, where the cloud masses are blocked by mountains. Finally, the Balinese are Hindus and 70%, 20% Muslims and 10% Other (Christians, animists, ..).

The performance of Barong (8:30 to 9:30) is one of two traditional dances of Bali with the spectacle of dancing Kechak (18h30-19h30). After I paid the entrance to 50,000 Rp, Leo'm training in backstage to meet the artists. Behind is a traditional totem. At its base, the turtle represents longevity but also the earthquake. It is thus framed by two Najas (snakes), the guards, who represent wealth. When the Indonesian flag, its motto is "the diversity in unity" and is composed of three colors:
- the white for the god Shiva (the destroyer and restorer), prayed in the temple Pura Dalem
- Red for the deity Brahma (the creator), prayed in the temple Pura Desa
- Black for the divinity Wishnu (the protector), prayed in the temple Pura Puseh
The dancers take to the track, it's time for me take their seats half-empty this open space but ventilated. I really liked the show, I think it's something to do if we want to better understand the culture and beliefs of the Balinese. In summary, the show is the struggle of good against evil. The Barong (the Good and the forces on earth) is opposed to Rangda (all-powerful witch) and can not be overcome, which explains the coexistence on Earth Good and Evil.

After an hour show, we go visit a house traditional Bali
- the door at the entrance is narrow and does not allow to pass only two at the same time
- After the door a stone wall protects the privacy of residents and blocking evil spirits
- There are four groups of buildings for four cardinal points. The North is where the volcano (the highest so many volcanoes).

It is now time to recover and Séverine Francois, Yohann and friends arrived in Bali two days earlier for them to join the tour. We start at the Shrine of Sacred Monkey Forest (Sacred Monkey Forest, 10,000 Rp, Leo included in package). U not stroll of 20 minutes in the middle of the monkeys stealing bananas and we take the car to the rice terraces Tanganan .

On the side of the road between two houses and surrounded by a horde of souvenir vendors, we do a little souvenir photo in front of these beautiful rice fields that do not apply, however, that the North of Banaue Philippines as I could tell you a few months ago.

We had lunch then one of the many restaurants overlooking Mount Batur . The view is covered, we focus on the sinking of the buffet (Rp 70.000 + 21% tax) that offer a wide variety of dishes, including black rice soup is delicious. For Mount Batur, it is advisable to arrive at 4am at the base of Mount to climb the last two hours and get up for sunrise.

the afternoon, we visit the royal tombs (Gunung Kawi Temple, Klungkung). Very pretty scenery before entering the palace inhabited by the most beautiful tombs of four concubines of the king, and the graves of the king, queen and their two children.

We then visit the Palace of Ubud, half closed on the day of our visit, and the Water Palace (Lotus coffee) in which we witness a dance of young Indonesian . We decide to book the show for the Kechak my last day, after the return of Komodo, where we visit the temple of Ulu Watu.

We take two rooms at the Hotel on Jalan Poppies Cottages Sorga 1 to Kuta. A room for 3 with fan to 210,000 Rp and a room for 3 with aircon 260.000 Rp which must of course add 20% taxes. A trip to the hotel pool and Yohann later, Marc and Benjamin join us. Four Bintang beers later and we go to bed.


Thursday 1 May

- Ngurah Rai Airport - Labuan Bajo (Flores)
- Snorkeling
- Boat Flores - Rinca

The flight to Labuan Bajo (Flores) is at 10am. Once finished breakfast (included in room), we reach the airport in 15 minutes in which we fulfill the airport tax domestic (30,000 Rp). A replay of the match Chelsea-Liverpool We will wait until boarding.

It is full week, the Merpati flight is three-quarter empty, the opportunity to walk seating seats to take pictures air. Arrived at the airport in Labuan Bajo, taxis we jump on it already. It takes a Bemo (mini-van) for Rp 20.000 so that it takes us Merpati office to confirm the return flight and take us to the pier to take a boat to Komodo. Merpati office, we realize that Frank was caught his ticket back to the airport and not the ticket .. the support of the fetlock Travel is launched!

The driver of the van also has a boat . The ferry between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores do not stop at Komodo, so we have to charter a private boat or a boat like charteriser likes to tell the Routard. You sit in a small shop to begin negotiating. In the end, instead of a single journey Flores-Komodo, we negotiate a stay of 4 days / 3 nights on the boat to Rp 570.000 per person, which is Rp 3,420,000 for 6, including food on the boat. Finally when I say we .. the negotiations is ensured by Yohann and Marc who were appointed emissaries of the group, one with origins in Indonesia and the other living in Jakarta for over 4 years. Lonely Planet Announces Rp 400.000 to 600.000 per trip. Taking into account three meals per day, option seems cheaper. Our interlocutors to make the purchase of food and gasoline, we pay everything but we will pay Rp 900.000 at the end of the stay. The departure is scheduled to ship in 18h. Yohann and Marc negotiates a Dive shop in a day's diving the next day near Komodo. To wait

we take a boat (150,000 Rp) to do some snorkeling at wide. Our boat picks us up on a small island and we leave for the island of Rinca. The Lonely Plant announces two hours of crossing, our boat seems a bit slower. Devoid of light spots, the the umières extinct, our captain navigated to, the sea was very dimly lit by the moon. We finally arrive in a small cove which prove to be Loh Buaya, PHKA camp on the island of Rinca.

dinner of rice, noodles, meat and vegetables, then parts hole-the-ass and here we are ready to spend the night on the deck. The table is pushed into a corner, mattresses are extended on the floor, pillows and sheets are provided. I let my comrades slept while I try a little bit of fishing. The word try is very important here. It provides me with an empty round which is surrounded by a fishing line whose thickness would flee a Russian submarine. At the end of the line I put pieces of the shell harvested during the snorkeling in the afternoon. Few keystrokes later I threw in the towel and I'm also looking for a well deserved rest.

Friday, May 2

- trekking on Rinca

Reveille 6:00. We jump on the dock and join the camp in three minutes Loh Buaya Rinca. We pay Rp 188.000 for entry in the Komodo National Park (which extends on Komodo, Rinca and Padar), permits valid for 3 days, and Rp 10.000 for a guide.

We do the small loop region in the center of the map , which takes about 2 hours.

From the beginning of the trek, near the kitchens of the Park, 5-6 dragons are gild the pill in the sun. The guide keeps telling us he does not promise us a glimpse of other dragons, it thus ensures the photos now, where it would do no other. Armed with his wooden stick ending in V, the guide remains on guard in case a lizard decide to put one of us on the menu for a meal of the day. Current up to 18-20 km / h over short distances, this little beast can wait 3 feet long would have little difficult to cross the 2 meters of security that we let them and us.

Buffalo, butterflies, birds will make us forget that we will not see other Komodo dragons in the following way. Back at camp, we headed to the boat appears when a new dragon . Twenty pictures later and we're back to our houseboat.

snorkeling on a small island near Rinca during which we saw dolphins, heron, and hundreds of enormous sea urchins. Then it was lunch, and we return to Loh Buaya. We take a guide to the North Loop. We leave the path taken in the morning to the water and seems to focus most of the fighting between Dragons of Komodo and Buffaloes. No attacks today .. most attacks occur very early in the morning, around 6am, before it gets too hot. July-August also seems more conducive to the attacks, probably because the heat drives buffaloes to get closer water points. Such as crocodiles, dragons lurk in the water and ambush their prey, attacking sometimes 20. The buffalo is lean bite in three days and died within 15 days of infection, and then bleed the dragon using their sharp claws. Past the point of water, we arrived in the North Loop of the trail. We descry deer, buffalo and wild horses .

Back at camp, we inquired about the possibility of a trek the next two opportunities available to us: the South Loop where it seems possible to see wild boar and then the long road to the south ( Rp 150.000 for the guide, 6 hours of walking). Yohann and Marc would leave Komodo for the morning, the boat would return in the day to pick us up and take us to Komodo. Upon reflection, in fear of seeing the same things that we saw today, we decided to leave the next day for Komodo.

back to the boat, we expressed our desire to captain at 4am from Rinca to arrive around 6am-7am to Komodo. Dinner, card games and in bed.


Saturday, May 3

- Trekking Komodo
- Trip Komodo - Labuan Bajo

woken at 6am by the noise of the engine, one realizes that the captain fucked up. So it's not that we left at 4am for Komodo. At 9 am we arrived at camp Loh Liang Komodo. The plan was that Yohann and Marc go with the boat 30 minutes Komodo make three dives and we look back on Komodo. The problem is that the captain said to have no more gasoline. He proposes to buy in a shop in the island, he refused claiming that the exchange program. He stops any discussion with our two emissaries. It was therefore decided to trek all over Komodo and all from the dive site.

A pocket guide (10,000 Rp), we make a small loop tourism Komodo. The scenery is much more arid than Komodo, the diversity of animals is also lower. Included are megapodes (chickens) and pigeons (local raptors). In turn a corner we see a dragon that runs off at full speed we saw.

Later, a dragon rests under the shade of a tree, the opportunity to do some family photos. On these heights, the views of Komodo become much more beautiful than these trails near the camp. We will also see some dragons near buildings of the camp. Only animals missing the appeal of this two-day trek: wild boars and spiders than 15 cm in diameter announced by the Lonely Planet and that neither person nor on Rinca Komodo never heard of. This two-day trek made a victim however: my faithful black shoes that had accompanied me in Northern Thailand, Lombok, Nepal, Semeru, Sumatra, everywhere ... well the last three years have passed away. So with tears in her eyes, with a pair of puma feet, I have to finish the trip.

In conclusion of these two days on Komodo and Rinca, I say:
- Rinca is much better than Komodo. While important to go on the two islands, Rinca prefer for its scenery and wildlife.
- Begin the trek as early as possible, to 6am to multiply the chances of hunting dragons.
- July-August is more prone to attacks of dragons, but also more conducive to meet in the middle of a large group of German tourists .. leave early and take long walks can probably reduce this risk.

We take the boat to the dive site located 30-45 minutes by boat from the east coast of Komodo. There a big dive boat awaits us. On board, a French and a Dutch who have already dived twice. The Dive Master is too tired to do 4 dives in the day, Yohan and Marc can not do that. While they are preparing, we see two turtles of sea surface. The water is clear, we can guess already huge fish from the boat. It seems that this is the best corner diving Komodo, Flores and Rinca. They will see the Napoleons, sharks, sea turtles, and many other fish. The ship them back to Labuan Bajo, the rest of the group share thus its side.

The boat takes us to Kawalan Island. Having made an appointment with our divers 19h port of Flores, and being only 45 minutes by boat, the captain leaves us free time to 18h. Kawalan is prima facie a dozen local chickens, domesticated deer and thousands of flies. We ask ourselves 45 minutes to drink a glass when one of the sailors of the boat picks us up. He shows us a boat on the horizon telling us that it is the Yohann. No time to snorkel. The dive boat is much faster than ours, we set out to Flores. Arrives Flores, no sign of Yohann and Marc. It has been done .. it was not their boat. 30 minutes of waiting and they join us, time to negotiate the remaining Rp 900.000.

Having done that 3 days instead of 4, we do not intend to pay the remaining Rp 900.000. The problem is that these 900.00 Rp is the owner of the boat we must and not to the intermediary with whom we negotiated the trip. We therefore return Rastaman and Toufik (pet names given to our two speakers). 1:30 discussion later, everyone admits that we are in our right but we do not make us the 900.000 Rp so far. We understand that there was miscommunication between them and the captain, he thought that we left three days and did not understand when talking about spending 4 days at sea It gives us the opportunity to sleep a free night on the boat. Offer rejected by a majority of the group, after 3 days without shower or toilet worthy of the name one night in a guesthouse we will do the most good. It negotiates a day trip for tomorrow. Our preference was to visit the Istana Cave, cave full of pythons. But the cave is sacred to the premises, it would have come at night to sleep and even sympathize with the tribe to accept the visit. It was therefore decided to go see the waterfall Cunca Wulang. Renting a car and driver seems to cost Rp 350.000 for the day, we made for 100,000 Rp So after 2 hours for 250,000 Rp discount that we put our bags at Chez Felix guesthouse situated 1km from the port. Rp 150.000 per room for two with breakfast, however we can stay there that night. The evening ends and over again by playing cards.

Sunday, May 4

- Cunca Wulang Waterfall village of Warsaw

It is 8am morning when the guide Vikko, picks us up. We take our bags to leave them in for the day Wisata Hotel (Rp 150.000 per room for three). There are approximately 1 hour drive to go to the waterfall Cunca Wulang. After 45 minutes of very twisty mountain roads, here we are stuck. A truck, strangely called "The Best Truck, blocks a corner. It is overloaded and lack of adherence to restart. For nearly forty-five minutes, three people are working hard to remove the mud in front of the truck and break the asphalt to crumble under its wheels. Around, a crowd of 60 people watch the three people work .. al'indonésienne is work. We drive back to finish the last 15 minutes drive. The driver drops us off in the woods, he leaves a few things and we started with the guide.

After 40 minutes of walking we reach the village of Warsaw. The guide takes us to meet the head of the tribe to accept the visit of the waterfall. So we moved in his house. I do not know if the chef can really prevent us to go there or if the guide knows that the chief pleasure of being seen with white. Still, that little by little, the house fills people Village , amused to see 6 white among them. After paying the 40,000 Rp for the whole group, so naturally that the village head decides to take us in person at the waterfall. His machete tied behind its back, we proudly above without even a glance for people who are watching us from their doorsteps. A group photo later and we descend into the jungle . Muddy slopes, climbing tree trunks uprooted .. this small fitness trail by 40 minutes because of the sole of my Cougars. The awkwardness that we demonstrate when crossing steep amuses the ten local youth who follow us. Some goats hopping on rocks above a river and find ourselves on an elevated plane. On the left you can guess the cascade, below, at 8-10 feet below, a river ... you have to jump if you want to swim to the waterfall. I'm usually not the first to risk my skin. So I jumped to fourth that those 2-3 seconds of free fall flat ... no .. I'm improving. Small swimming up the waterfall and it's time for lunch. Mie Goreng cold in polystyrene trays that we requested at our first guesthouse to prepare. Having always bellyache and whereas I already had my dose of mie-goreng in 6 days I spent my tour to the delight of local children. After they have also given packets of biscuits, our small stream ecology began to explain that throw all the trash on the ground was not good ... it is not understood.

We continued our journey to the village. Having more shoes, I asked her to lend me Yohann thongs. The rain began to descend, a real flood. After 10 minutes of muddy slope, I realize that I'll manage better barefoot. Exposing myself to all the thorns, sharp stones, but thankfully not totally absent leeches of the jungle, and I agree with the chief's house. We take the tea and leave on for the car. Wishing you the details, I must tell you that my stomach ache forced me to find a quiet spot by the roadside. Marc, Ben, Séverine and guide arrived first at the car. Exasperated to have us wait 3 hours (what he expected?), The driver makes their business and their departed in a squeal of tires, despite their angry protests. So 2 minutes after Yohann Francois and I find we have more car. We're in the middle of nowhere, the night falls, it was cold and I'm sick. A few carloads of local spend, a bus whose place is also more economic. We need to ready an hour to stop a motorcycle that agrees to take one of us at the hotel. Due to my state of health, "I go first. Without a helmet, wearing shorts, barefoot, at night, I bells on the bike, but the prospect of finding the toilet room comforts me. After 1 hour drive I arrived at the hotel. Instead of the promised Rp 20.000 driver I leave him and run to Rp 50.000 chamber. 5 minutes later I am joined by my comrades. They waited half an hour more than me but at the back of a tractor trailer traveling at great speed, they took nearly half the time than me on the small motorbike. I decided to take a room alone. I go to bed in the middle of the meal to end a day which is really part wrong.


Monday, May 5

- Batu Cave
- Flight Labuan Bajo - Denpasar
- Shopping and Dining at Sanur near the Intercontinental

The plane being only 12.30 we keep our guide Vikko for a final tour. Putting the bags in the car, we start at 8am, the direction Batu Cave located 15 minutes drive from the hotel. Entry to 15,000 Rp per person. This cave is really nothing special, the only interest was for us to take pictures of bats. Around noon, it would appear that the light reflects off the walls of the cellar, but the Lonely Plant describes this game hardly spectacular light .. What not to miss our flight to Bali so.

Back at the hotel we take the luggage to find the splendid airport in Labuan Bajo. Game cards in the cafeteria outside the airport before building a game table with bins of non-conditioned waiting room of the airport. Domestic airport tax is ridiculous: 3,000 Rp per person. We find our airline Merpati this time almost completely filled.

arrived at Ngurah Rai airport in Bali, Marc, Yohann, Ben Francis and go buy furniture in Ubud as Séverine and I start to check in the hotel. Official airport taxis: 80,000 Rp to go to Sanur. We put our bags at Hotel Persraman Sanur, hotel recommended by our guide Vikko. This new hotel is really beautiful from the outside, in the pure Balinese style with a nice pool. The rooms (300,000 Rp for 3) are spacious but the decor minimalist. As a service apartment, there are TV, fridge, stove. After a quick shower, we go shopping in Sanur. Having exhausted my own batch of cases, I have to find 1 or 2 t-shirts. Near the beach, a popular tourist area with many Caucasians and a horde of taxis. I found my "happiness" tee-shirt to 50,000 Bintang Rp and t-shirt addidas has 40,000 Rp It is probably possible to get them cheaper, but I like well-paid T-shirts to tourists at tourist prices. After a small glass next to the huge Hyatt Sanur beach overlooking the Badung Selati, we join the others at the hotel. No furniture purchased, but chess sets stone (Rp 340.000), stone bowls, ...

We then dinner on the beach near the Hotel Intercontinental Jimbaran. To reach the restaurant seafood, we crossed the lobby of the hotel's largest and most beautiful I had never seen. The buildings are great, the garden is even more but it is mostly the whole architecture, the arrangement of the many restaurants ... everything is beautifully designed, impressive without being extravagant. On the beach, left the hotel, we settle in second restaurant seafood . For 6, we order 12 tiger prawns, 12 clams, fried calamari 2 dishes, 1 white and 1 red snapper snapper. The tiger prawns and red snapper are delicious, the rest is good no more.

During the dinner, call Leo to confirm the next excursion, Having lost her uncle a few days before I arrived in Bali, he was not sure he could take care of us. In the worst case, however, was finding someone to take us: his father or his friends. He told me not to and now calls his friends to check. They can not either. He apologized at length on the phone .. we have no guide to take us to the cultivation of algae that are not marked in guidebooks. Well we'll see tomorrow what we do. Yohann, Ben Marc and let us finish dinner while they go take their flight to Jakarta. Séverine, François and I start going to bed After a short tour to the internet from the hotel (in a souvenir shop).


Tuesday, May 6

- Culture of algae of the Bukit Peninsula
- Beaches Surf the Bukit Peninsula
- Dance Kechak the temple of Ulu Watu
- Flights Denpasar - Singapore
Having not yet
set alarm, we were all standing at 8.30. Séverine from running while Francis and myself attack the breakfast included with the room (toast and tea) before arranging transport for the afternoon. We resolve to continue the program we had with Leo: The Peninsula Bukit, culture of algae, its surf beaches and the temple of Ulu Watu. We

information counter at the hotel: Rp 550.000 for a car with driver for 12 hours is the minimum. It was then decided to return to the tourist area of Sanur in speaking with taxi drivers that we had alpagués yesterday. We discuss a first driver, Wayan. Finding it looked nice and spoke good English, we negotiate with him: Rp 350.000 for a start at 12am from the hotel, a full afternoon, a ride to the airport to drop me off and return Seminyak on for Francois and Severine. Without really negotiate, the deal is concluded. A

12h check-out of the hotel is done and we put our bags into the car of our new friend for the day. The goal is to find these famous algal cultures. The solution is emergency call Leo for him to explain to the driver how to get there. On its own initiative, the driver took us first into a tourist spot that seems-it offers magnificent views of Bali. Besides two huge statues of Garuda Wishnu and , this park offers very little interest. We will start again, hoping that the driver will have no other initiatives. Clothing, he said that our only aim now is to find algae. Arrived at the village of Kutur, called Leo. I pass the phone to the driver, he seems to understand. 50 meters he stops to ask directions, then 100 yards away, then 1km later .. then we say we will not be just find these algal cultures. And yet, we come to a dirt road that resembles described by Leo. Then after many small roads surrounded by trees, you come to a mini-wasteland. Séverine has the good sense to provide to see the view and then appears the famous cultures of algae.
Basically, to find the algal cultures without a guide must: go to the village of Kutuh, take the turning left just before the Bali Cliff Hotel (towards the center of paintball), continue straight through the dirt road, turn right towards paintball, turn right a bit later. You will reach a crossroads with a dead àgauche a wasteland straight and the road continues to the right.

The driver decided to wait for us near the taxi, presumably to watch the bags while we down to the beach. The trail is pretty well worn. After 5 minutes you get near chairs and a bench with views over the sea . Then we cross a small village before reaching the beach. A dozen people are busy in the water. On the left, the beach is continuous and dozens of people who work. All Merta Sari village (desa Kutah) seems to live the exploitation of seaweed. Having no guide, and who do not speak English, I must admit that the process we got some relief. Some collect algae and put them on large wooden barges, some sort of algae, other take them to dry near the houses, others bring them back to the water's edge .... Time passes and almost half past two we remain to observe them. We go back to the car. We then realized that it is low tide, which highlights even more the black squares in the sea, the best of the best! The driver is not exceeded .. he is just worried that we did not have enough time to do everything before I resume my flight to Singapore.

The driver decides to drive faster on roads to join the Balangan Northern the west coast of South Bali. He now knows the road well, we had tried a little hastily, so that the place we were seeking was little known and difficult to find. From the cliffs we see surfers taking the clothing very huge rollers in this part of the island famous for surfing. Then we went to Padang-Padang. As it was 17h and we had no breakfast, we'll have the first stall on the right to enjoy a delicious ham and cheese sandwich toasted tomato-fire (20,000 Rp), how to climb Mount Rinjani (Lombok) . With no time to go to the place recommended by the driver to the sunset, we went directly to the temple of Ulu Watu to attend the dance.

Like all the temples, he is asked tourists not to wear shorts and then put a sarang around the waist. Rp 3.000 to the entrance to the temple, and Rp 50.000 for admission to the show. Just time to take a picture of the temple at the top of the cliff and we sit in the stands.

Unlike my first dance show in the morning (Barong dance), the spectacle of Ulu Watu Kechak is crowded, it factory tourists. Once filled the stands, organizers install plastic chairs around the stage. It becomes difficult to take pictures without seeing tourists in the background. Being at the forefront, the only solution is to make the dancers face with the sky in the background. Basically, the story is that of the heir to the throne, Rama, freeing his wife from the clutches of Rawana, the king of demons, with the help of the army of monkeys.

To the delight of the female audience, a thirty men barechested sing for 1 hour while people dance costumes in the middle.

Once the show finished (19h), we return to Padang-Padang for dinner in the restaurant Yeye's Pizza that we had spotted earlier in the afternoon. After a week of local food, a pizza made me feel great. I took the Neapolitan pizza, good but not exceptional. Not without putting pressure on the waitresses, we get our pizzas after 30-40 minutes, which left us 7 minutes to swallow (160,000 Rp for three courses and drinks) before joining the driver who was waiting in his taxi. It is 8:30 p.m. ET we must go back the entire peninsula to the airport. Always attentive, the driver will switch to rally 30 minutes and here we are at the airport. Wishing good luck to my two traveling companions, I rush through the airport. In the queue I change my t-shirt and flip-flops I barter for my Cougars Yohann which I glued the soles yesterday. Can I perform the International airport tax (100,000 Rp) and take my flight to Singapore ValueAir.


Budget

It is difficult for once to give you a budget to stay in the position where we do not have accounts, more or less everyone taking charge of the overall expenditure of the group. However:
Budget: Rp 3,000,000 (200 euros) (excluding airfare)
What for 8 days, 2 and a half in Bali seems rather cheap.

Spending main

- Airfare ValueAir Singapore-Denpasar: S $ 577 (ticket purchased in hard for a great weekend departure)


BALI - Visa 30 days of arrival : U.S. $ 25
- Taxi Ngurah Rai Airport - Seminyak: 60.000 to 100.000 Rp
- Room Ned's Hide-Away, Seminyak: 80,000 Rp
- Leo guide: between 1 day and Batubulan Ubud: 50 euros three
- Dance of the Barong, Batubulan: 50,000 Rp
- Sorga House Hotel, Kuta: Rp 210.000 for three (fan)
- Tax local airport : Rp 30.000
- Merpati Flight Bali-Flores roundtrip: Rp 1,833,000 / person

FLORES / KOMODO / RINSE
- Boat 4 days / 3 nights Komodo-Flores-Rinca: Rp 570.000 per person or Rp 4,420,000 for 6.
- boat for an afternoon of snorkeling: 150,000 Rp
- Komodo Park: Rp 188.000 per person (3 days)
- Komodo and Rinca Guide: 10,000 Rp for the tourist trails, up to 150,000 Rp when you leave the beaten track.
- Car and Driver in Flores for a day: 350,000 Rp
- Guesthouse Chez Felix, Labuan Bajo: 150,000 Rp for 2
- Wisata Hotel Labuan Bajo: 150,000 Rp for 3
- Cunca Wulang Waterfall: 40,000 Rp for 6
- Batu cave: Rp 15.000 per person
- Domestic Airport Tax Flores: 3,000 Rp per person


BALI - Airport Taxi - Sanur: 80,000 Rp
- Pesraman Hotel, Sanur: 300,000 Rp for three
- Taxi 1 day Bali: 350,000 Rp
- Ulu Watu: 3,000 Rp input, 50,000 Rp for the show's dance Kechak
- International Airport Tax de Denpasar: 100,000 USD


Contacts


BALI - Leo (guide francophone): leobalivoyage@yahoo.com
- Wayan Sudirga (chauffeur taxi Anglophone), Ngurah Rai Taxi number 296: 081 9162 2053 3
- Pesraman Hotel & Residence, Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai N 500, Sanur: (62-361) 281 717, 286 253

FLORES
- Vikko, Anglophone guide: +6238541029 (Home)

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