Kingdoms & Dragons: Singapore to Bali Review - Part 3 Sights and Activities
Day 0 - Gift of Time Day and Day 1 Up to the Meet and Greet Meeting
We headed out from the hotel towards the Singapore Flyer area with plans to walk around the ‘lagoon’ that sits in front of the Marina Bay Sands hotel and then back to the hotel. We found that the Formula 1 barricades being erected for the September race presented a bit of a challenge to our intended route. We eventually made our way across the Helix Bridge and went into the shopping center by the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. We went to the food court to hydrate and rest a bit (this was our first exposure to the Singapore heat/humidity). We continued our walk around the lagoon taking pictures along the way. The ladies posed in front of a fancy Louis Vuitton store on the shoreline. We continued our navigation of the lagoon when we reached the Merlion statue & fountain and then crossed the Jubilee Bridge. At this point we fumbled upon a route that took us via mostly underground and air conditions walkways most of the way back to the hotel (past the Raffles Metro station and through Raffles City shopping mall).
Day 1 - Meet and Greet Reception and Dinner at 6:00 PM.
The 18 tour guests met the Tour Director, Debra Grant, in the Raffles Hotel Library, got acquainted, and then had dinner in a meeting room in the hotel.
Comments
Day 2 - Walking tour of the colonial district and a bumboat ride on the Singapore River in the morning. Sights include Victoria Theater and Memorial Hall, Old Supreme Court Building, the Arts House, the Old Hill Street Police Station, and the new Supreme Court Building. These are all just walk-bys with the Local Guide providing the historical details.
On the bumboat ride you motor down the Singapore River to the little bay that the Marina Bay Sands hotel is next to and then back. The sights and history of the area are described throughout the ride.
Next up is a visit to a public housing block, a series of nearly 50 story buildings all connected at two different levels. We visited the top level for some amazing views of Singapore. The guides detail the way housing works in Singapore. Housing and owning a car is seriously expensive.
We make a short stop to walk through a couple of office buildings in downtown Singapore to view and discuss their history and architecture prior to heading to lunch and visit at the InTan Home Museum dedicated to the Paranakan culture. The lunch concludes with a bit of piano playing and singing by the host and the local tour guide. The singing was a fun way to conclude the visit/lunch.
We returned to the hotel around 3:30, in time to do the hotel history tour if desired (which we did). If so, a reservation should be obtained via the concierge in the morning or after the previous days Meet and Greet.
After the hotel tour we stopped by the Long Bar (with a time reserved via the concierge) for a Singapore Sling and some peanuts with the shells discarded onto the floor per tradition. NOTE: If you go to the Long Bar be sure to get a reservation with the concierge so you can bypass the line which is always there.
The day ended with a late dinner in the hotel.
Day 3 - A visit to Gardens by the Bay is the days included activity which concludes around 1 PM. The rest of the day is free time. Some people chose to stay at Gardens by the Bay, others chose to be dropped off at the Marina Bay Sands, and others chose to return to the hotel. Lunch and Dinner are on your own. We chose to be dropped at the Marina Bay Sands where we had lunch in the large shopping center next to the hotel and then visited the Hotel SkyPark where we had made a time-slotted reservation to go to the observation deck prior to arriving in Singapore. Afterwards we took a taxi back to the hotel.
We arranged for our complimentary Singapore Sling delivered to our room this afternoon prior to dinner in the hotel.
Day 4 - A very early, 5:20 AM, departure to the airport for the flight to Java. Upon arrival you gather luggage and board the coach for a 1.5 - 2 hour police escorted ride to the hotel, the Amanjiwa. You have lunch immediately upon arrival at the hotel. The afternoon is free with dinner and entertainment provided poolside.
Day 5 - An early 6:45 AM departure to the Borobudur complex with the return for breakfast around 8:45 AM.
Depart for the Candirejo village and horse carriage tour around 10:15, returning to the hotel for lunch.
In the afternoon there is a batik demonstration with an opportunity to make your own batik.
At 4:00 PM tea is served in the lobby followed by a lecture on the kingdoms of Java in the Library.
Day 6 - There is an optional early morning return to the Borobudur complex to visit the upper levels of the complex returning in time for lunch.
We departed for Yogyakarta about 1:00 PM, checking in to the Phoenix Hotel around 2:15 PM.
At 3:15 we depart for the Prambanan Temple Complex dedicated to three major Hindu divinities. After we visit an adjoining Buddhist temple complex before dining outside overlooking the temples.
Following dinner we watch a Ramayana Ballet, a Javanese dance performance on an outdoor stage, departing at intermission, getting back to the hotel around 9:30 PM.
Day 7 - We visited the Sultan Palace via ride on a pedicab(rickshaw) after breakfast and putting out luggage for flight to Bali.
Following the Sultan’s Palace visit we drove to the airport, had lunch, and flew to Bali (about a 90 minute flight).
Upon arrival in Bali you take a police escorted bus ride to the Four Seasons Sayan hotel in Ubud. It’s about a 90+ minute bus ride. You arrive about 6 PM. Dinner is included one of the three nights at this resort. You can select which night.
Sam, I wonder why your group had the extra police escorts? The only police escorts we had were on the ride on the ‘Things’ when they got us through red traffic lights with lots of horns blasting as we did so.
Day 8 - You wake, call for a buggy ride (the means of transportation around the resort) to take you to breakfast. Breakfast opens at 6:30 AM. It usually takes about 5 minutes for the buggy to show up and then a few minutes to take you to breakfast.
About 8:45 AM you take a police escorted Volkswagen Thing ride (weather permitting) to Subak Guiliang Village for a walking visit of the village. You learn the interworkings of the village, including a rice field. The walk concludes with lunch overlooking the rice field. The Volkswagen Thing ride was great fun.
After lunch you make you way to a nearby temple where you hear the details of the temple and are lead through a blessing (if you wish to participate).
You return to the hotel about 3 PM. There is entertainment provided in the bar each evening.
Day 9 - You have a choice of participating in a local cooking class or visiting an Art museum this morning. You depart at 8 AM for the cooking class or 9 AM for the museum visit. We chose the museum visit.
The whole group meets back up at the site of the cooking class for lunch.
Following lunch the entire group goes to the Monkey Forest for a guided walk through the facility.
You have the option to stay and visit an artisan workshop area or return to the hotel.
If you choose to return to the hotel you arrive about 2:30 PM. If you choose to visit the artisan workshop area you return between 4 - 5 PM.
Day 10 - Breakfast opens at 6:30 AM, bags (the provided duffle and the luggage to be stored) are collected at 7 AM. The duffle is used for the two days at Planarian Hotel on Flores Island. You’re reunited with you luggage when you return to Bali.
You leave for the airport about 8:30 AM. The flight departs about 11:40 AM for the one hour flight to Flores Island. Upon landing it’s a short drive to the Plataran Resort. You have lunch upon arrival.
The rest of the afternoon is free, with a dinner and entertainment on the beach provided, starting at about 6PM.
Day 11 - Your boat excursion to Rinca Island and Komodo National Park begins at about 5:45 AM. Breakfast is on board.
Upon arrival at the park, you are met and led by rangers/naturalists who will escort you on your walking tour of the park.
At completion of the walk you have some time for a gift shop visit for reboarding you boat for the return to you resort.
On the return voyage you will stop along the way for lunch and snorkeling if you desire. Things such as tides can impact the location of the lunch and snorkeling, which impacts the quality of the snorkeling.
You get back to the resort at around 4:00 PM. This arrival time could vary based on if you participate in snorkeling or not.
Day 12 - Duffels are collected at 7:15 AM for an 8:30 AM departure to the airport for a 9:50 AM flight back to Bali.
Upon arrival in Bali you board your bus and stop for lunch along the way to a Kite flying demonstration prior to your check at the Four Seasons Jimbaran at around 3:30 PM. You have the chance to participate in the Kite flying. These aren’t you normal kites.
At around 5:30 PM there drinks, appetizers, and entertainment at the Sun Downer in the the Coconut Grove area of the Beach.
Following the entertainment, dinner is on your own. As in the other Four Seasons transportation around the resort is via buggy.
Day 13 - At 9:00 AM you board the bus for a visit to Uluwato temple. The temple is located on the southern most part of Bali and is the home to some ‘aggressive monkeys’. They tend to try to pilfer anything they can from unsuspecting tourists. ‘Monkey guards’ are provided - armed with sling shots (no ammo, just the snapping sound of the rubber band is enough deterrent).
After the temple visit you ride to the GWK (Garuda Wisnu Kencana) statue. You will no doubt have spotted this large statue earlier during your time in Bali. After your visit to the statue and corresponding gift shop you return to the hotel.
The poolside farewell reception and dinner is this evening starting at 6:00 PM.
Day 14 - Fly home day. We check out at noon, no late check out was available, and spend the afternoon at the poolside bar/restaurant until our 6:30 PM pickup for transfer to the airport and the start of the long journey home.
End of Review!
Thank you, Smiling Sam. Very thorough and helpful report.
Great review, Smiling Sam. Thanks so much for your comprehensive report Whewww! This is a very active, jam packed tour.
Smiling Sam- Thanks for the great review of your trip. I can't wait to experience it!
Sam wonderful report and pictures, brought back a lot of memories. We did not have a police escort from the airport to the Four Seasons Hotel, only with the VW cars visiting the village. It's really a wonderful trip and one I would consider doing again.
Sam, thank you for taking the time to share your tour in such detail. I had to laugh reading all the local tactics to cope with the humidity. My parents retired to Tucson, so I've heard all the jokes about the glorious dry heat of AZ. I remember the skin under my eyebrows would be red and peeling when I landed at the airport.