E A S Y . E S C A P A D E S

1. Go Parasailing!
I went para sailing individually for around $10 because we managed to get a deal with our driver. We headed down to Nusa Dua which is the southern section of the Bali island. OMG it was the most exhilarating feeling and once you get up about 20m from sea level you can see a glimpse of Bali from an aerial view.


2. Try out some "poo coffee" 
Don't refrain from just the sound! Locally it is called Kopi Luwak and is made from the coffee droppings from a civet. The flavour is a lot more robust than normal coffee. Though I don't drink coffee too much myself, I think it's one way of really understanding and trying out the local delicacies


3. White water rafting! 
Really is an experience and one in which I recommend a must do when you are here. Not only is it cheaper compared to other places in the world (NZ) but seeing the really natural side of Bali while you travel along the river is truly amazing. I recommend going with these guys: Bali Adventure Tours


4. Elephant riding
You can see from my face that I was holding on the side for my dear life haha but rest assured I was safe! Also realised that elephants are super hairy! Our elephant ride was part of the tour package with the white water rafting: Bali Adventure Tours


5. Massages!
The one thing I miss about Bali the most is probably the best quality and cheap massages. A half body massage can start from $6 and if you are willing to pay a little extra (really about $20 extra which isn't much at all), you can get some pretty luxurious massages! We paid about $30 for a 4 hour full body massage including body scrub in a private villa. Also included complimentary fruits and drinks. I was in heaven!

Here is the place that we went to: Febris Spa

For cheaper quick massages I recommend going here. I am pretty sure these guys are a franchise so they can be found on the main streets of Kuta, Legian and Seminyak: Carla Spa

6. Have dinner along the beach 
There is a place called Jimbaran where you can enjoy some delicious (albeit slightly expensive) seafood while having the sand between your toes. We got a dinner set for $40 US a person which included a variety of seafood from lobster to prawns. What you are really paying for is the view and if you are going when the sun sets, you are in for a real treat!



Recommendations for drivers
I recommended this driver, Agus to at least 2 friends and they really enjoyed the quality of his service. He also organises day trips and really he is the go to guy if you are needing a whole day driver or half day tours: Komang Bali Now

Here is my review on Tripadvisor of one of the half day yours that we took up if you want to see more of the details: Trip advisor Review

1. MONA (Modern of New and Old Art)
The BF and I took an early flight to Hobart with Jetstar. We woke up at 4am to catch the 6am flight to arrive at 8am in Hobart. I would highly recommend for anyone that is going to Hobart to hire a car as it is so much easier to get around. Though I didn’t take public transport there, it looked like it was quite scarce. In terms of car hire, we went with Budget Rental. You will see the store across the road as soon as you exit the Hobart airport. The guy at the desk was super friendly and recommended us a few places to go while we waited for the paper work to process. We paid $130 for a 3 day hire which I think is a decent price in comparison to the competitors. We asked around at AVIS and even with the Jetstar discount it was about $200+. You can choose to pay a premium to reduce your excess for the insurance, but TBH if you are a good driver with no damage record then I wouldn't pay it. There's not many cars in the Tasmanian roads compared to back in Sydney.

 We left the airport soon after and headed towards MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) which was about a 30 minute drive north. The drive there was so beautiful reaching closer to the destination! It was a $20 entry (for students) – my student card has no expiry date okay! My BF and I spent almost 2-3 hours there exploring the 3 levels. The type of art is not what we are used to seeing at the modern day galleries. There was a wall dedicated to vagina wall art LOL and my favourite was taking part of the counting rice interactive exhibition. 

Participated in ‘Counting Rice’ @ MONA. My favourite exhibition! Counting rice allows you to immerse yourself in the present mind and detach yourself from the notion of time. Removing all electronics and watches and replacing it with noise cancelling headphones and a white lab coat really allows you to ‘focus on the now’ and not get distracted from any sound or visual information. There is also a section in the museum where you can see the tombs of mummies. I enjoyed most about this exhibition is the exclusiveness and secrecy. Only two people are allowed inside this dark arena and once you enter, you are surrounded by water. I waited about 10 mins in the queue before I could go inside. Once inside, you have to take small steps on small stepping stones to reach the tombs. I was only there for about 5 minutes before I felt a little creeped out and left lol. It is a little out of the ordinary and even more reason to go! There is also a little cafe inside the gallery. The view from there is bloody amazing, but the food is personally overpriced. I would probably just grab a coffee there ($4.50 for one) just to enjoy the view.




2. Salamanca Markets
These markets are on every Saturday from 8am to 3pm! They have a vast range of food (baked potatoes, homemade pizza, risotto) to local Tasmanian goodies (Truffle creme', local fresh produce and baked goods). The harbour is nearby so great to grab your breakfast or lunch at the markets and enjoy the great view. The food prices range from $2- $10 so you are bound to find something you fancy or a small gift to take back home. After you are done with the markets (I spent about 3 hours here), you can head off to your next destination.