Makan Bali - Local ZhiZhar

The night before the race, we didn't want to try new food or go to far so we asked the driver cum guide for some recommendation for local food near our hotel in Sanur. He pointed us to this place.

At first we weren't sure we got the correct place. It was a local warung and very empty. It didn't look clean and the menu certainly didn't inspire us. But we didn't want to go far and after the previous night expenditure on the seafood, not keen to spend too much on food.

So we sat down and ordered what tantamount to their version of our zhizhar. And bingo, we hit jackpot. The food was great and cheap.

We had noodle, fish, kangkong of course, ayam penyet and avocado again and everything came up to less than RP100,000. And no tax!

And of course after we sat down, the crowd started coming in including these group of Kenyans and we happily posed for photos with them.

One of the best valued for money meal indeed.

Makan Bali - Coffee

One of the must try that tourist coming to this part of the world must try is coffee. Because Indonesia is one of the major grower of coffee. And also beside Coffee Bean and Starbucks, there is this.

Yes the most expensive coffee in the world. A cup in Singapore cost about S$45 - S$50. Even here in Bali, it is not cheap. A cup which we sampled at the plantation cost RP50000.

But along with the coffee Luwak, we also got to sample a range of coffee and tea. So that not a bad deal.

Many people asked me how is it? Frankly, give me normal coffee anytime. Coffee Luwak is nice but not worth the premium especially here in Singapore.

After all, whichever way you look at it, it is still normal coffee - just that it has been eaten and subsequently passed out by civet cats. There is supposed to be some sort of digestion process although I am not too sure how it enrich the aroma of the coffee. Anyway, the coffee are washed clean - no fear of any poo left behind, dried and roasted. So if there is any poo left, it probably aided in the taste!

The coffee bean

The digested and defecated coffee bean

Washed and cleaned

Roasting the coffee pan by pan

Oh beside Coffee Luwak  Bali also got these 2 coffee:

They seems rather familiar but wonder if they are any good? Too bad I didn't get a chance to sample what these outlets offer!

Beautiful Bali - Mount Batur

One afternoon, we went to view this active volcano. We were excited. We had watched on tv that we could walked up to the top of the volcano but unfortunately we didn't get to do that. Instead we had to contend ourself with staring at it from afar.

There is also a lake next to the volcano but it was too foggy for us to get a better view.

Along the way, we stopped to look at some beautifully cultured paddy field. Not too sure whether they specially did this for the tourist but it was a beautiful sight compared to the many other rice fields that we passed by throughout the trip.

Is it worth the trip up there? Not if like us can only stare from afar. It would have been better we can get to trek up the volcano or walk through the paddy field.

Makan Bali - Ibu Oka

On the 2nd day of our visit, we went to Ubud and got our wish - the world famous Babi Guling or roasted suckling pig. Our driver cum guide told us it will be crowded and to go earlier. We went in at about 12pm and it was already 90% full with tourists.

We ate sitting on the floor Japanese style. On each table was a plate of mangosteen. We followed some angmoh who were eating it freely and we followed suit only to find out later it was not free!

Anyway, we ordered the Chef's Recommendation which was the Babi Guling Spesial (Special Suckling Pig) and the Babi Guling Pisah (Different Suckling Pig). I presume the difference between the 2 is that one is just one part of the pig and the latter is meat from different part of the pig.

Babi Guling Pisah

Babi Guling Spesial

We also had a soup which had some celery, potatoes and pork.

Did the famous Ibu Oka suckling pig lives up to its reputation?

Coming from a place where we have all sort of roast meat and the equally famous Kay Lee Roast Meat or the once famous Tiong Bahru Suckling pig, I think it is overrated. Sure it is not too bad but unfortunately since we only tasted this, we cannot compare it with the countless other warungs out there serving this dish but I am pretty sure there are bound to be better version known only to the locals.