We love Bali with our Brompton- Day 1

We were invited by Brompton Owners Bali together with Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia for a Brompton cycling event in Bali for 3 days and 2 nights. We were provided with a free 4 star hotel accommodation and food. All we need to do is just buy our flight tickets. Some of us took Malindo and it has been popular among us travelling with our folding bicycles.

There were more than 30 Brompton owners from Malaysia which formed the largest contingent among all the invited guests from the various part of the world. Some of us travelled with our favourite IKEA Dimpa bags while some with Vicinta bags. I extended my trip with extra days before and after the event making a 5 days adventure in Bali island.

For the first time I decided to use a exercise mat instead of plastic impra board to protect my bicycle. I found it suitable and more convenient to maneuver as a minimalist traveller. And here we were in Bali, after safely landed in Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar. We decided to set up our bikes and cycle to our accommodation somewhere near GWK Cultural Park.

All bicycles were in tact, took our time to set up and were ready to roll on the streets of Bali.

Let's take a group picture outside Ngurah Rai International Airport before we hit the road.

As eager as usual I love cycling on new ground, seeing new surrounding and looking out for any peculiar features.

The main road from airport out is easy to cycle basically a 2 lanes with adequate space at the side. 

One of the many Balinese cultural sculptures seen almost everywhere in the island.

Bali is reputed for its many narrow roads which we ventured into some to see the inner part of the country.

Along Jalan Kendonganan we were able to see the sandy beaches of Jimbaran, looking very happening with many bars and food outlets.

I was excited with its durian and was telling myself to try it, if not this time but soon before I leave the island.

After a roundabout at Jalan Raya Uluwatu we encountered a severe climb that was impossible to pedal up even pushing the bicycle was tough. It was just before arriving at the proximity of GWK Cultural Park.

Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Cultural Park located at the southern part of Bali island and it is on a hilltop terrain. This will be the first official meeting place for the event where we will be registered on the following day. We rode about 13km from the airport to this part of Bali.

We checked into Jolie Hostel Jimbaran for the night and it is only 1km away from GWK Cultural Park.

Our dinner at Warung Makan Campur Campur with a variety of delicious Balinese food.

 It is located at Jalan Raya Uluwatu GPS : -8.803417, 115.159867

We then proceeded after our dinner to visit GWK Cultural Park and enjoyed the night scenery. The statue of GWK is the biggest and highest in the world. Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue is the symbol of God Vishnu riding the great Garuda as his trusted companion. We rode around the limestone rock landscape and discovering the many corners of the park.

All done for the day and one more Bintang before calling a night. Good night Day 1 in Bali.

Back to Balik Pulau for a Countryside Leisure Ride

We arrived at Balik Pulau Foodcourt at about 7am from Farlim Air Itam. There were alreay a few locals taking their breakfast while some food stalls were still in the midst of opening. We has a light breakfast before we commenced our ride.

The weather was perfectly good for cycling as we have to pass by the heart of Balik Pulau town.

Within a short while we were already into the tranquility of a Malay kampong enjoying the quietness and serene atmosphere. Jo loved it so much and kept on mentioning about it.

As sun slowly rose we came back to the same route at Kampong Paya Kongsi with Sg. Kongsi running parallel with a quarry dust path.

The vegetable farm was covered with maturely grown vegetable such as sawi, kangkong, purple spinach and others.

This stretch is long and scenic with a few cows and horses stationed at the river bank. I simply love the scene.

Balik Kampong at Balik Pulau is a eatery joint which popular for its authenticity of Balik Pulau Assam Laksa and Hokkien Mee (Penang Prawn noodle). Other than these two dishes I understand that they also serve good Belacan Fried Rice and Green Curry Chicken Rice. Unfortunately we were not able to savour the food as we were too early and it only opens at 10.30am.

A couple of fishing boats moored at the river bank as we pedalled further up Jalan Kuala Jalan Baru into a small "commercial" zone. 

A coffee shop named Ah Huat was marked for another possible makan cum rest spot.

As we continued further down the road there is a small Tua Pek Kong Temple and a quiet cycling trial. After spending some time at this area we decided to reset our orientation and head towards Pulau Betung.

Cutting across a paddy field still within the vicinity of Kg. Jalan Baru and connecting to Jalan Kuala Sungai Burong. There a lots of swifts birds seen some resting on the power line while some gliding above the low sky.

After going through a shady and super serene segment along Jalan Kuala Sg. Burung we were near Pantai Malindo which we have been to this place before. This time around the massive piles of huge rocks has disappeared, they have been removed leaving a flat surface without anymore water break or protection. I guess there must be a good reason for it.

The scenery was awesome which I could not resist myself taking a lot of shots towards the sea.

And time to move out of Pantai Malindo and continued the desired loop before the sun gets fierce.

Our plan to savour our favourite noodle at a house at Kg. Pulau Betung did not materialise as it was closed, we were lucky to encounter a food stall a few metres away after the noodle house. We had Char Kuay Teow, Kuay Teow Th'ng and Lobak. The food was good and tasty, all the lobak was freshly prepared.

Penang is surely a food heaven you can find food almost anywhere in the island and most importantly the food always taste yummy and authentic.

We then headed to Kuala Pulau Betung to visit the fishing jetty and passing by its fish market. 

This small island is Pulau Betung sited just a short distance from the fishing village as we viewed it from an elevated spot (the road towards Kem Bina Negara Balik Pulau).

A little bit of uphill pedal just to have a view of the sea and the Pulau Betung. And the sun has started to get hot.

And back to Kuala Pulau Betung there was a few men net fishing at the river mouth of Sg. Pulau Bentung.

A stop at Kampung Kuala Muda to snap a shot of this mural. Hidup Malaysia Baru!

The Malay Warrior (painted by Julia Volchkova) welcoming back us to Balik Pulau Town.

Finally a stop at this famous Balik Pulau Laksa shop in the old town for its Assam Laksa noodle before we leave the town.

We were sitting at front of the shop peeping through the five foot way at another piece of Julia Volchkova's mural that is the Old Fisherman Mural.

The bowl of Balik Pulau Assam Laksa we tasted, was good and satisfying . The other popular dish is its Siamese Laksa which we will try it on our next visit.

The route we took for the lovely morning for about 28 km.

Kijal Day 3 - Time to Go Back Kuala Lumpur

Here we come Pantai Kemasik which is about 4km from Awana Kijal Resort and we were hoping to see the sun rises.

 Some scattered to get a good spot to view the sun rise (if there is any) as the sky was slight cloudy. Even the fishermen told us that it was going to be a cloudy day as they were about to go out to the sea.

Our luck were looking good as we were able to spot the salted egg yolk in the distance horizon despite a slightly cloudy weather.

One for the album at Kemasik Beach.

The cameras were clicking endlessly and the models were busy posing here and there. Everyone was happy that they came for the sunrise sighting and most importantly it was fruitful.

Gan the happy lady with the sunrise.

We found a warong for our breakfast, the roti canai was crispy and delicious especially the gulai ikan. The warong is located at the junction from the road coming out from the beach near a local mosque. Photo cedit : Gan GC

Later we went to a fisherman's house to buy ikan bilis. This family is surely a big time dry fish producer operating from his home. 

Relaxing at the front of the fisherman's house while the group was busy buying ikan bilis.

We had a chance to see the house the place they process and dry the fishes within the compound.

We were impressed with the nice local roti when we first tasted at Captain's house and on the final day our Captain arranged with the baker for some loaves to be taken back home. At the bakery shop Kedai Roti & Kueh Chip Koon. GPS : 4.222174, 103.419359 Taman Chukai Utama.

Fresh from the oven and best eaten when they are fresh.

The variety of bread found at Chip Koon Bakery and a local Pak Chik told me the best is the plain bun (Roti Kosong).

Thank you once again to Captain Wong for the time and hospitality at Kemaman, we shall meet again.

Next stop was a dried sea products shop and the shopping continued ......

Watching these ladies preparing satae while the rest was busying buying salted fish and lekok at one of the warong along the way out off Terengganu. Thank you Kim Aun (Chew) for organising this trip and the free accommodation at Awana Kijal and the wonderful company of my cycling buddies.