INTRO
As we have read so many good reviews on the internet, made us deeply curious to discover over this place.
Before we heading off to Menjangan island, must be collecting all the sources from many references and all references were good advise. Thanks for that!!!.. Our dream to swim with all the fishes around us will come true. But, need to inform, from all the positives input, we need to admit, transportation is one obstacles, since we were departing from Ubud, none of any public transportation, well yeah, even though, need to admit, Bali is one of province in Indonesia, that minus of public transportation. I meant, I thought that there would be like shuttle at least, but NONE, mostly taxi and it cost a lot, if from Ubud, maybe because, Menjangan island position is really in the corner of West Bali. It is close to Gilimanuk port, a port that connecting from Bali and Java,
As we thought it was too much if we took taxi, further, we decided, to took scooter, YES.. Scooter. My partner said, it would be much challenging instead.
We left our place in Ubud at 9.00 am, since at that time, we realized Ubud was the wet-EST season that we've been passed it. Our ideal thinking, we must be hurry, if we don't want get wet during our trip. And we took this route
And YES, it was really challenging adventure indeed. When we arrived in Bedugul,the owner of food stall/ warung warned us about what happened in front and asked us to be more careful in driving. Soonest we were in "Kebun Raya Bedugul" it was already stuck, traffic jam-ed so long..
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| Sighting of Bedugul on February 2017, flooding |
And we trapped in flooding, landslide, for me, who never been in that situation, it was like nightmares. But, thankfully, we took scooter, then still keep moving on even though was showering by hard raining, fogging and wind, but truly magnificent experience.
Just an advise, maybe, for some of you, who love travel and discover Bali more, better not in between January and February whereas, raining almost everyday in Indonesia, including Bali.
And after more less 6 hours (off course we took some coffee as well in food stall) finally we arrive in our home stay. As we've been searching through booking.com, we took our choice in "Made Taro Menjangan Home stay" for us resting in 2 nights that located in Banyuwedang. The price is quite good for us, it is only about $14/ night with the nice services that they have been given during our stay.
This is the value from "Made Taro Menjangan Homestay" based on Trip Advisor that might be your reference in further https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g608479-d10660843-Reviews-Made_Taro_Menjangan_Homestay-Banyuwedang_Gilimanuk_Bali.html
Also, I took some photos of theirs for your further reference probably, sadly only bathroom, since, bedroom and meals I forgot it.
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| Bathtub |
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| Shower |
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| Bathroom part from Made Taro Menjangan Home stay |
Some little suggestion as well, if you not have your own transport to reach Menjangan island, best, you stay in Pemuteran area, much more choices in foods, accomodation, etc. As I can described, it is quite similar like in Candidasa area.
As for Menjangan island as well, as many information as I have read, it could be reach out, from two area (Bali and Java). As I informed earlier, Menjangan island located in between Bali and Java. From Bali, you could take boat from Pelabuhan Lalang (I have no idea, where is Pelabuhan Lalang, since, we took from Banyuwedang, my thought is from Pemuteran. As I've known it is more far than Banyuwedang) and Banyuwedang. And from Java, it is from Gilimanuk port.
The port that you choose to take you will consider the price, as I read, from Java side it is much cheaper instead.
PRICES
Here is the details from Banyuwedang, please note, we are two people, I (local/ Indonesian) and my partner (French), too bad I don't keep all the bills:
1. Room, included tax and service 2 pax, Rp. 150.000; or $13/ night
2. All supplies from our place to Menjangan island (included, entrance, rent boat, tour guide, foods) it was Rp. 350.000; or $26/ person, please be noted the price is for local person, as my partner, it was charged Rp. 450.000; or $34/ person. As we understood, there is always difference between local and westerners in prices.
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| Our boat |
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| Our luch, you could choose, fried noodle and rice noodle |
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| Menjangan Island turquoise water |
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| Snorkeling time, sadly, we don't have underwater camera to pictured underwater life, we need pay extra to rent from the guide |
And also that prices was for 4 hours start from we departed. We were depart at 1000.am then finished at 2.00 pm.
OUR EXPERIENCES
When some friends asked us, did we enjoy it? Honestly, we bit disappointed. Does not mean Menjangan island is not beautiful, it is beautiful, Indonesia ocean always amazing as the story goes behind. But some facts that we found in reality seemed far away than what people telling on many sources and I just trying to be fair and honest. Here are some facts (kindly note we across from Banyuwedang port-have no idea the experience might be different from other port):
1. As per information Menjangan island is one of ten best snorkeling in the world, fact, Padang Bai in East Bali even more fishes to surf and enjoy, maybe as many writing that mentioned that a lot of fish in Menjangan island, it is when you get deeper or we called diving instead just snorkeling, Even my partner, has opinion, Bunaken is the most beautiful place in Indonesia to do snorkeling.
2. The price is extremely unbelievable, I was reading one posting it was in November 2016, that the entrance at that time was Rp. 10.000; or less than $1/ local person. We went there on February 2017, which is according to me, if there is difference, won't be much different, but I was wrong, I was charged Rp. 50.000; or abou $3/ local person. And for westerners much more amazing Rp. 150.000; or $13/ person. It is fine, if we needed to pay, but the thing that bothered us, we were confuse, since, we did not pass any entrance at all and no ticket.
3. First time we landed in Menjangan island there will be deer who welcoming us, fact, we did not allow to enter until shoreline, only special boat who could.
4. There will be three points that we could enjoy, fact, it was only two.
5. I thought there will be snacks on the boat as per information that I read, fact, only lunch provided.
6. Price included rent camera underwater, fact, we need pay more with minimum Rp. 100.000; or $7/ tour.
7. Thought guide, will guiding us, fact, the guide only say, "just follow me, OK?"
That's the fact that we need to reveal and it is only based our experience. Some, might be different.
And as for food as well, since we were staying in Banyuwedang, which was hard to find food stall/ warung, we need to go to Pemuteran to find cheap food. Don't worry in that area, you could find meals in many food stalls/ warung for once in between Rp. 10.000; - Rp. 15.000; or less up to $1/ person (local and foreigners).
BUDGET
Thus, total for whole our vacation, 2 nights and 3 days for two person (local and foreigner) more less Rp. 1.600.000; or $123. Here are the details:
1. Room: Rp. 180.000; or $14/ night included, breakfast, tax and service.
2. Supplies to across Menjangan island, local Rp, 350.000; or $26/ person (local). Rp. 450.000; or $34/ person (foreigner).
3. Our meals (lunch and dinner), average Rp. 100.000; or $7 for two persons/ days. Means Rp. 300.000; or $23 for two persons for three days.
4. Gasoline, two times, go and come Rp. 30.000; or Rp. $2, note, we rode Honda Vario and route when we came back to Ubud (it took about 9 hours-off course with so many resting that we had took), it was more further than first time, since we avoided the hurricane that still happened in some area of Bali. It is much more cheaper instead you take taxi and also you could enjoy Bali coast during the trip.
5. Stop in many food stall/ warung, since we took long ride, need to rest some while, it took more less, Rp. 100.000; or $7 dollar for all our stop over.
CONCLUSION
For us who does love ocean much, this trip such give us much lesson and below are:
1. Nature's power is more than anything in this world.
2. It is better you disappointed instead you don't have any experiences.
3. Indonesia #cakep or #amazing as always.
For those who might be who has same experience as mine either in Menjangan island or everywhere (knowing fact is not as good as our expectation) you could share here. Or might have some questions that I haven't posted here, please do not hesitate to comment through here or my direct email.
Hopefully, what I wrote here, could give you some preferences..
Much Thank You..
Assalamualaikum
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