It’s already our last day in the Hanging Gardens of Bali. So we got up early once more to do some more things at the hotel before we had to check out again. Right after our breakfast we changed to our swimming togs and went to the common pools which of course were a popular motif for the most hilarious photos we’ve ever seen. So it was not even strange if you saw someone dancing around in the pool without anyone else and without any music.

Nevertheless, on this sunny morning we were quite lucky and there were almost no other guests yet.

Svenja in the higher one of the two common pools right in front of the main building.

The wall above which the higher pool is situated. The first floor of the main building can be seen containing the restaurant. One floor below one can find a bar serving many different wines. One floor higher and right behind the roof is the gift shop as well as a library and next to it a small terrace where our afternoon tea was served.

After checking out (during which they almost started laughing as we remembered them that they forgot to put a Coke from our minibar onto the bill) we got a pick up by the driver of our next hotel, the Ubud Bungalow. Although it was clear for us that we will come back to what we actually were used to some days before, we had a small culture shock after arriving at the 2 star hotel. The rooms were clean (but it really smelled like urine from the toilet) and we chose the hotel due to its good location. While we did only spend time on the east of Ubud, the accommodation was situated very close the to monkey forest in the south-west of Ubud. And anyway we did only plan to stay for one night.

For the evening, Nino successfully made a reservation (which he even had to move once due to our confusion with the hotels) at the Swept Away Restaurant in the Samaya Resort. Luckily we were able to find a driver which new the way after the reception forgot to ask their own. We were used to luxury from our days at the Hanging Gardens of Bali but the Samaya showed it at a totally different level (almost a new culture shock). E.g. although Bali is a very save and peaceful place, this was the first time our car was checked for bomb before we were allowed to enter the resort. After our registration at the front desk, a buggy was called to guide us to the restaurant located right at a very romantic river. The staff was very friendly and helpful and we were able to share one vegetarian 8 course degustation menu (they even had an own menu card just for vegetarian) where we took one additional main course. The food was just amazing and we were happy that we were able to share without any problems, since non of us would have been able to finish those delicacies.