Singapore and Bali Honeymoon

soil_2

ptkloon wrote: »

Thanks for the detailed reply - and don't worry we'll be getting up to plenty of the other things that coupe's do on honeymoon (Thats why we've booked pool villas in Bali.
We're staying at the Dusun in Seminyak and the Komeneka Monkey Forest Road in Ubud, both bed and breakfast. Seems to be good reviews on trip advisor (Komeneka was rated number 1 in Ubud when we booked but has slipped a bit now)

Ok well those places aren't cheap, I suggest in that case you ask them about their tour options as well, something with comfortable transportation, it wouldn't be appropriate to spend $30/day on a cheapo vehicle IMO.

The zoo does sound like a plan though as she is an animal lover (I just like the taste of them)

The zoo, bird park, botanic gardens (incorporating the orchid gardens), night safari are all world-class. The theme parks are not.

That looks nice/different, maybe spen an evening here but at $100 each entry it's a bit expensive (is that just to get into the casino - can you go to the nightclubs etc without paying the casino entrance fee?)

The S$100 fee is for Singaporeans only, to enter the casino. It's designed to keep the locals from acquiring a gambling problem they can't afford. Foreigners are free. The Skypark costs S$20.

ptkloon

soil wrote: »

Ok well those places aren't cheap, I suggest in that case you ask them about their tour options as well, something with comfortable transportation, it wouldn't be appropriate to spend $30/day on a cheapo vehicle IMO.




The zoo, bird park, botanic gardens (incorporating the orchid gardens), night safari are all world-class. The theme parks are not.




The S$100 fee is for Singaporeans only, to enter the casino. It's designed to keep the locals from acquiring a gambling problem they can't afford. Foreigners are free. The Skypark costs S$20.

Thanks again guys. I'll hopefuly get a meal booked for us at that Marina Bay on the observation deck for one of the nights.

They are good hotels, but only because it's out honeymoon, our last 3 holidays in the last 4 years were a week selfcatering in Benidorm, a week self catering in Malta and a week camping on the west coast of Scotland so we have saved up for quite a while for this.

We always get ripped of despite us knowing the pitfalls. I absolutely hate haggling and all I want is a decent price 'good for you, good for me'.

Ubud is getting very busy these days courtesy of Eat Pray Love though the crowds leave after on their tour buses leaving a more peaceful Ubud. Watch out for those horrible monkeys, one bit me at Uluwatu a couple of years back... I did nothing to provoke it. I was sat down minding my own business and one jumped on my shoulder and checking my hair for something to eat, also checking my ears for ear rings. Another jumped on my lap wanting to get in my bag but it couldn't as I'd had my hand over the zip... it turned nasty because it couldn't get in so it bit me. Fortunately, the skin wasn't broken and no treatment necessary.

Lots of lovely restaurants in Seminyak and Ubud and trendy shops in Seminyak for your wife to be. Enjoy :-)

Thanks for the tips, we'll try to stay away from the monkeys as much as possible then!! Maybe take some body armour with us! What kind of treatment would be required if we did get bitten? Is it readily available in Bali? We've had our Hep A jabs etc but didn't get rabies jab.

roadatlas

Rabies is present in Bali (Monkeys and dogs) There has been a massive vaccination program and some culling of the dogs has been done. The dogs that have been vaccinated wear collars. There are Rabies injections but you still have to seek medical attention if you do get bitten.

Our GP who is a travel Dr recommends Hep A and Typhoid and to take a course of appropriate antibiotics with you... thoughts are if Imodium doesn't work, it's generally a bacterial infection. Antibiotics are readily available over the counter in pharmacies in Bali but it's good to have your own appropriate medication on hand.

Another thing to be mindful of is Dengue Fever. My husband got it last year despite my nagging to spray morning, noon and night particularly in the morning. The Dengue mozzie is a day time biter so put on a good insect repellent (at least 20% DEET) We have traveled to South East Asia twice since then and now he's paranoid lol as it's more serious the 2nd 3rd 4th time around (there are 4 strains and you can't catch the same strain twice)

Don't be put off by what I've written, it's good to know the pitfalls and to take precautions. We are back in Bali as soon as the Christmas Day washing up is done, we are on the first plane out on Boxing Day. I said I'd never go at that time of year again because of the humidity is up near 100% but hay-ho here we go again. We are only a 6 hour flight away :-)

ptkloon

roadatlas wrote: »

Rabies is present in Bali (Monkeys and dogs) There has been a massive vaccination program and some culling of the dogs has been done. The dogs that have been vaccinated wear collars. There are Rabies injections but you still have to seek medical attention if you do get bitten.

Our GP who is a travel Dr recommends Hep A and Typhoid and to take a course of appropriate antibiotics with you... thoughts are if Imodium doesn't work, it's generally a bacterial infection. Antibiotics are readily available over the counter in pharmacies in Bali but it's good to have your own appropriate medication on hand.

Another thing to be mindful of is Dengue Fever. My husband got it last year despite my nagging to spray morning, noon and night particularly in the morning. The Dengue mozzie is a day time biter so put on a good insect repellent (at least 20% DEET) We have traveled to South East Asia twice since then and now he's paranoid lol as it's more serious the 2nd 3rd 4th time around (there are 4 strains and you can't catch the same strain twice)

Don't be put off by what I've written, it's good to know the pitfalls and to take precautions. We are back in Bali as soon as the Christmas Day washing up is done, we are on the first plane out on Boxing Day. I said I'd never go at that time of year again because of the humidity is up near 100% but hay-ho here we go again. We are only a 6 hour flight away :-)

Thanks for the info

I will be buying some repel 100 and maybe repel 50 DEET spray, will that be adequate?
I was also contemplating buying some smoke cells for using at our private pool - are they any use?

Thanks again

globetraveller

The Komaneka Monkey Forest is heaven:) I love Ubud and this hotel is in the ideal spot. Close to things but set back and once in the grounds it could be in the middle of nowhere. Lovely staff and nice touches to each room.
The absolute must do are the temple dances. They are breathtaking. Often there are more dancers than audience. The Kecak is the most unusual of them IMO and one that you would never forget- for the best reasons. The Legong is probably the one that most go to see in Ubud.
The great thing about Ubud is that there is usually a festival of some kind going on- which makes it really interesting. If you are very lucky you will see a mass cremation ceremony. Sounds awful but the ceremonies leading up to them are special.
Make sure you take a driver/guide for the day- Bali is paradise. So many breathtaking views out of the built up areas.
Singapore- you have the main recommendations already. Personally I would avoid Sentosa especially if time is limited - although Fort Siloso is worth visiting. My favourite place is China Town.
The Battle Box is very interesting and also Changi museum- although I have to admit to feeling a bit faint through heat and some of the details of what prisoners went through.
Check if the Great Singapore Sale is still on. There really are bargains to be had during it.

jen_br

I love bali and when I worked in aussie I went quite a bit. Hire a driver, go to the monkey forest, Bali itself is lovely the town is awesome full of touts and great wee shops (mmmm the bread shop!!)

I did some great things I did a cooking class, I have done some great scenic tours I can give you some names of places and agents I used to book.

Let me know and I will dig up everything for you PM me

PS, take lots of pound coins with you for Bali they make wicked jewellery out of it and they enjoy the tips in pounds!

I never sprayed, took any meds etc as the WHO didn't list anything for it. I got a touch of bali belly from drinking some drinks with ice.. So order everything without ice ((most places know tourists and leave soda etc in the bottle)

Oh the food.. YUM!!! and the temples are awesome! I got some great photos if you ever wanna see

roadatlas

I have never heard of 'smoke cells' so I can't comment. Hotels often use mozzie coils, ok if you don't mind smoke, I personally can't stand it so I break the smoking tip off the coil to put it out.

I'm not up with British insect repellents so again I can't comment. Travel Drs recommend 30% DEET but I use an Australian product which is specifically for Dengue mozzies and only 20% DEET and so far has worked for me. My husband got it because he didn't spray up as often as he should.

Kecek is my favourite dance which can be seen at dusk at Uluwatu but watch them pesky monkeys lol. We have recently returned from Bali and stayed at Tegal Sari in Ubud which is near the Monkey Forest and was visited by a monkey one morning. I have a photo (taken from inside of our room) but I don't know how to attach it. Our timing was out this time in Ubud as the rice paddies in front of the hotel had been harvested. The farmers and village ladies were thrashing the rice then burning the stalks... the place was thick with smoke at times. Ah! you can't help bad luck.

Cremations are not an unhappy time in Bali as often the people have died some years before. Funerals are expensive and it takes time to save up for one. In the meantime the body is buried and the eldest son has the job of digging the bones up and wrapping them in a white cloth ready for the cremation. We were once lucky enough to be invited to a mass cremation. A very rich person had recently died and the locals joined in by digging up their loved ones and 153 'bodies' were cremated that day. It was a very long day but the most fascinating and memorable day we have ever experienced in Bali. This cremation was quite an event as the local dignitary from Jakarta were present and we estimate 5,000 Balinese and 12 caucasians including us 4. The Balinese were very kind to us and we were very sensitive and conscious of doing the right thing and not offending them in anyway. Lonely Planet guide explains it well.

totallybored

I used Repel 100 in Indonesia as it was the strongest I could find and I'm a magnet for mozzies, bought it from Amazon. I still got a few bites but they were on the bits of me I'd missed spraying (under my arms, my eyebrow and cheek!!) but I seemed to do better than the rest of the group who were using stuff from Boots. Your hotel will probably use the coils and should sort your room out before dusk for you, I never got bitten at night and they seemed to get me during the day. Be careful with the Repel 100 though, it takes nail varnish off and our hotel in Bangkok had a lovely shiny wooden floor in the bathroom until I sprayed me with the Repel.

In Singapore we did the night safari which I thought was ok (I'm not too bothered about animals and it was incredibly hot and humid the night we went) and friends did the zoo which they thought was great. I enjoyed the cable car over to Sentosa, once we got there we didn't stay though as we had other things to do. We were planning on going to the top of Marina Bay Sands but ended up in the casino, tourists are free so if you have the time you might as well go in. It's huge but not as fun as a Vegas casinos as there is no free booze (there are free soft drink machines though). We took taxis everywhere in Singapore (apart from to the night safari as there is a free bus) and they tended to cost about $4 for most short trips. Clarke Quay was fun on an evening but beware, drinks are very expensive, I'm sure we were paying nearly £10 for a pint.

Incapuppy

I thought Bali was incredible, I'm sure you will have an amazing honeymoon!

You might find these threads useful:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2609101

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2236545

roadatlas

Just to add. First thing we buy apart from my old man's Bintang and my coke for the duty free is a can of Baygon fly/mozzie spray (be careful not to buy surface spray) We spray the room as we leave for dinner... it all helps.

I've tried to buy stuff from Amazon and for some reason it won't accept my postal address. We can purchase Repel from our surgery but it lasted less than a week. Me thinks the Dr palmed a sample on us lol.