Bali - this April, ...help! suggestions????

Hey Guys,

One quick question so I keep on target. Definitely lean toward Tulamben versus staying in Sanur and diving Nusa Penida instead right? Just want to remain on point.

Thanks!

I go to Tulamben - excellent diving. Look at Tulamben Wreck Divers or Liberty Resort (just Google them). From there it is a 10 min car ride to Seraya which you can do as a 2nd and 3rd dive of the day (first dive is usually on the wreck).

Lots of dive sites to choose from.

Karl

I am traveling from Alaska to Bali in April as well. The original plan was to go via Perth in order to see Whale Sharks before heading to Bali. It just became too expensive. So I am heading to Tulamben then to Gilli Trawangan. I will meet an Aussie that has been there many times and she states that it is the off season and we should have no troubles getting prime places to stay for reduced rates.

 

I am pretty excited too!

That's excellent. We will be flying over your house on the way over through Norita. Have a fantastic trip!

You are right on the best track- I recommend a few days getting out on the Liberty wreck at dawn with wide-angle gear, later doing the Seraya sites with macro, then up to Mimpi in the north west for a day on Menjangan island and a day at Secret Bay. Mimpi is pricey but lovely with hot springs, at Talumben I enjoyed staying and diving with Tulamben Wreck Divers, eating at the Warung (restaurant) opposite, and drinking at the German resort bar called Tauch Terminal a short walk down the road. My experience staying at the more expensive Scuba Seraya resort up the road was... erm... 'variable' but I've heard when the owner is staying there too it is fantastic.

You are right on the best track- I recommend a few days getting out on the Liberty wreck at dawn with wide-angle gear, later doing the Seraya sites with macro, then up to Mimpi in the north west for a day on Menjangan island and a day at Secret Bay. Mimpi is pricey but lovely with hot springs, at Talumben I enjoyed staying and diving with Tulamben Wreck Divers, eating at the Warung (restaurant) opposite, and drinking at the German resort bar called Tauch Terminal a short walk down the road. My experience staying at the more expensive Scuba Seraya resort up the road was... erm... 'variable' but I've heard when the owner is staying there too it is fantastic.

Thanks Will, I appreciate the encouragement.

Its Nyepi there now and so all is silent, but should have more updates soon.

Cheers!

Hey All,

We figured going all the way around the island was a bit much for the short time we have.

So we booked for Scuba Sereya and then headed to Ubud afterward. Looking at the maps, it looks like I can avoid most of the altitude. We would like to dive the morning before checkout and then work our way to Ubud in the afternoon. Transfers are not a problem but having made the trip before, do you guys see any issue with diving that am and then heading to Ubud? Thoughts?

Our plan is to dive a bunch days there and check out areas near Tulamben, then work our way back south to Ubud for 2 nights where we plan to hike in the rice fields hikes, get pawed by monkeys, do the north Ubud biking, and local home cooking class and maybe a spa to top it off. The last day after leaving Ubud, we will likely head for Ulu Watu to check it out and any other interests along the way. And then its back to reality for the 8pm flight out.

Additional feedback so far:

I have to say the communication with Sereya has been fantastic.

In-between, other resorts in Tulamben were communicative but did take quite a long time to reply - I guess we are learning about the Bali way of time

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Paradise never did respond even after numerous attempts.

We are greatly enthsiastic for our trip.

Thanks for the help and suggestions you guys!

Wow 6 PMs on this thread when I am away. Peeps, we're all here to share info, so please ask ur questions in the thread. This helps everyone who chooses Bali as a destination and also aids in answering questions answered already when theu search the archives.

So to answer some of the questions:

The wreck is the Liberty wreck... There is another wreck which isn't nearly as good.

I've said this many times in various Bali threads; I don't stay in Tulamben proper becos I like to dive the area by boat. It's much easier to deal with the camera rigs and also maximizes dive time. I dislike the rocky shores as an entry/exit as well.

Paquito, ubud and the surrounds are very nice but watch out for the aedes mossies during the day. The last day in Jimbaran side is probably a smart idea since u'll be ooposite of rush hour when u need to get to DPS. However, Uluwatu is known for the kechak dance and sunset, which you'll miss anyhow. I suggest u go to a spa ( the Ayana's Thalasso spa is pretty good but not cheap by Bali standards) and then hit Rock Bar in Ayana (a bit chic) or PJ's @ 4seasons to eat. If u want very simple meal, hit the tourist trap W. Ramayana. Then jump on ur plane. Save Uluwatu for when u have more time.

Thanks Drew,

I figured the mosses were going to be a bit of a bite being in the river valley area. Between them and the monkeys, were like moving targets. Should we come 'packin' gangster style? I can sling some poo at those buggers with the best of them.

Better start loadin' for bear at some of those great restaurants.

We could always swing a down for a sunset trip to Ulu Watu one evening from Ubud and head back versus trying to fit it in the last day, but who wants to kill the whole evening in essentially of transport. You are right, and dont get me wrong, temples are cool, but as you said, I think there will be plenty of opportunities to check a few out cultural sites along the way and we have to save some of the prospects for the next go-around. It will be nice to soak in some areas versus rushing to do it all at once.

Mmmmm, Spaaaaaa......

Cheers!

Aedes aEgypti females carry dengue and ubud is a dengue area.

Hearing Bali are having problems with rabies also.

Have a friend who just returned from Bali last week, will check with him on any recent news from a week ago also.

Hearing Bali are having problems with rabies also.

Have a friend who just returned from Bali last week, will check with him on any recent news from a week ago also.

Would love to hear any info your friend has to offer.

Have you found any suggestions on prophylactic medicines you should take? I guess I should check CDC.

Thanks

Would love to hear any info your friend has to offer.

 

Have you found any suggestions on prophylactic medicines you should take? I guess I should check CDC.

 

Thanks

Hi Bob,

Please read up on the CDC's website for your own determination. There is a lot of good information there, as well as you will be comforted to know that Dengue is very previlant in the Caribbean, Mexico, and there are cases of it in Texas and Hawaii. Not that that seems to be bothering anyone going there

Here's the links if you need them http://www.cdc.gov/dengue/travelOutbreaks/index.html and http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/outbre...onesia2008.aspx

And to answer you, my friend replied with this:

"we are aware of the Dengue Fever issue. Our travel doctor discussed this issue in detail. Our decision was we treated our clothes with Permethrin in our washing machine and used the 3M Ultrathon insect repellent when we hiked. We decided not to bother at all with any Malaria drugs since after 10 years of going to Indonesia we have never had a problem or known anyone that has. " (They also visited Raja Ampat on the trip) The worst for wear they came back with was jet-lag.

and from a friend of theirs that lives there that I contacted.

"good to hear from you. .....

Dengue fever is a minor problem here; bring a good anti-mosquito lotion and liberally apply from about 5pm onwards. (which is incorrect as you need to protect yourself during the day (dawn to dusk) with dengue risk, whereas malaria is from dusk to dawn) There is rabies on Bali too; steer well clear of village dogs. It's not hard, they usually steer clear of you too.

..Hope this is useful. Have a wonderful time in Bali :-) Let us know how you find everything."

I only edited personal correspondence and nothing to do with the issue. Hope that helps?

We remain every part excited for our trip, we hope you are too Bob.

Hi Bob,

 

I only edited personal correspondence and nothing to do with the issue. Hope that helps?

 

We remain every part excited for our trip, we hope you are too Bob.

Thanks so much for sharing that info Paquito. Looks like a great trip is to be had! Enjoy yourself and be sure to post some pics and stories upon your return.

Bob

Dengue (and rabies) are relatively minor issues. However, in 1 outbreak, a hotel had 4-5 cases in a week.

Paquito, ur friend is wrong. The aedes aegypti bites in the day, more prevalent from dawn till about 2 hrs before dusk. The anopheles ( which carries malaria) is the dusk/night biter.

The number of dengue cases was over 5k last year. With 4 million locals and the1.5+ million tourists means it's approx 1 in 1k chance of getting it on a simplistic scale. Still there's no reason no to take basic precautions to avoid getting a disease that makes u feel horrible, especially when u enter their domain. Permethrin is toxic to fish whereas oil of lemon eucalyptus has lower toxicity and u smell nicer. I use a mixture of neem and eucalyptus.

We were in Bali back in September, A week in Sanur for beach and relaxation, and a week at Scuba Seraya. All i can say is it was heaven. My fiance is usually a mossie magnet and only managed 2 bites the entire trip, and i think those were sandfly's

If you go to Sereya, see if you can get Alit as your guide, the guys a star. Nyoman was excellent in planning our trips and making sure everything is A OK, hopefully hes back in the water again by now.

Either way, Bali was excellent

Moose

We were in Bali back in September, A week in Sanur for beach and relaxation, and a week at Scuba Seraya. All i can say is it was heaven. My fiance is usually a mossie magnet and only managed 2 bites the entire trip, and i think those were sandfly's

If you go to Sereya, see if you can get Alit as your guide, the guys a star. Nyoman was excellent in planning our trips and making sure everything is A OK, hopefully hes back in the water again by now.

Either way, Bali was excellent

Moose

Hi Moose, I completely agree and recommend Scuba Sereya. Their office in Sanur has been amazingly helpful and have provided the best communication of any contact in Bali. With the service I've received from them, it makes me want to stay the entire time there.

Hey Drew, we've never used Permethrin, we used eucalyptus solutions and DEET in our travels. I still have minor scarring on my legs from inspect bites from our off-the map excursions in Peru and while I'm not a huge fan of what impact DEET has either, but it is a useful defense. The best thing we've found for defense though is plenty of neoprene and hours and hours spent underwater.

I want to thank everyone for their help and suggestions, wetpixel is an amazing community and we are very excited for our trip. paquito