EXPERIENCE • BALI • Bali Zoo (PART 2. The zoo) GIANYAR





So we started our zoo experience off a little backwards as we had breakfast with the orang-utans, so started our adventures on the other side of the zoo.



But generally you would walk through the front gate through all the deer and feed them by hand with feed you can buy from the cart for 25,000 ($2.50aud). We did this at the end obviously, as this is where you need to come to also exit the zoo.  We all loved having deer climb all over us trying to get food, Matt even had one climbing right up onto him to get an apple- quite a laugh.




Following breakfast, we decided to see what else was on Kampung Sumatra. Our first stop was to the tiger enclosure. I was surprised at how much space these two tigers had and then they had their own big tunnel/bridge they could cross to sleep in private and peace.


So when we got there, there was only one tiger out as the other was in her den sleeping. There were to sections to the glassed enclosure and the tiger we were watching was pacing from one enclosure to the other and didn’t want food, so put itself to sleep near a manmade mini waterfall and under a palm.



After watching the tiger we went on back to the mainland part of the zoo where all the animals were, as there wasn’t too much more to see on this “island”.

(one of the weird species we found roaming the footpaths of the zoo)


We had a map in hand, but this family has never stuck to the maps and like to creature their own adventures. So we put the map in the backpack and set off down a path that was shaded and turned out to be the tigers. It was certainly the right place at the right time, as the girls all got the chance to hand feed a tiger using the rod.



For a piece of red meat you pay 60,000rp ($6) and the lady puts it on this 1mt long metal rod that you hold up to the fence. 


Our girl was down crouched in the lagoon of water and as soon as Erin held the meat up she pounced up and gracefully and ever so gently grabbed the meat and took it to a rock to eat it in private. Hails and Madi got a piece each to share and do the same thing, they loved this experience and couldn’t stop talking about it.


Throughout the day around Bali Zoo there are loads and loads of animal encounter experiences, a lot of them you don't need to pay for (unless you want to have the professional photo printed of course). 




There are so many different species of primates in the Zoo (including the 4 that is our family). Jacky the orang-utan is a real highlight of the zoo and we spent almost half an hour near his enclosure just watching the 40 year old pick knocking on his big metal door demanding food, until of course the keeper came and brought him his lunch (no wonder he's single and unable to have a mate brought in successfully, boys set in his ways).


One of our favourite were the little monkey’s. Their enclosures much like those at Melbourne Zoo, but these guys were super friendly. We want up to the cage and the monkey put out it’s hand making little squeaking noises. So we picked up a fruit that was on the ground and passed it to the monkey and off she climbed to the tallest branch in her enclosure to eat it.  We spent ages with these little guys and gals.

MADA-WHO-HA??? MADAGASCAR!!! The bird aviary screams the movie Madagascar and instantly I felt like King Julian was sitting on his throne before us- in HIS sanctuary. Except he was a she in this scenario as the boss lady lemur runs the aviary.


The bird aviary was also a stand out for us, it was big with a whole range of animals inside. You walk through double doors with plastic chains so none of the inside can come wandering out. Inside there were all types of exotics birds, bats, other tropical species and the cutest little family of lemurs.


 And unlike Melbourne Zoo if you sit there they are allowed to climb over you and the keeper even gave us some fruit to feed them. We spent a decent amount of our time in the aviary, before it got to hot and we needed shade and a drink.



Erin even made best friends with a bearded goat, one of the funniest animals we have ever seen. Maybe one day we’ll get one on our little patch of land :P

All in all we were quite surprised at the zoo animals living conditions and habitats, most had it better then the local Balinese. 


After our legs couldn't take walking anymore and the heat was starting to get overwhelming again, we decided to head to the mini waterpark within the zoo so the girls could cool off and we could have ice cold drinks. 


We decided with our experiences and overall expectations Bali Zoo wins with us hands down our favourite zoo in Bali. We will be back!









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ACCOMMODATION • BALI • Grand Mirage NUSA DUA



As soon as we walked into this main foyer of this hotel we knew instantly we had found 
our Bali winner.  

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EATS • BALI • Wacko SEMINYAK




Wack was certainly another one of our golden discoveries via Instagram that we absolutely loved.  The reason we stumbled across them via Instagram was actually because of a photo of their Unicorn milkshake and with two unicorn obsessed little girls we knew we had to pay a visit.

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EXPERIENCE • BALI • Monkey Forest UBUD



We had visited Monkey Forest the first time we came to Bali, but it was very short lived, as Matt was still very sick with Bali Belly. So we decided to embark on the sacred grounds again and explore all the forest had to offer.



Entrance to the Monkey Forest for adults it is 50,000RP ($5aud) and children it is 40,000RP ($4).

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EXPERIENCE •BALI• Gianyar Night Market GIANYAR (babi guling review)


We arrived at around 9:30pm after a big day for a feast of local food (our feasts aren’t massive feasts either). The market runs from 5pm until 2am and you find the later in the night you come the more and more locals you'll see eating at the local Warung's.


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EATS • BALI • Nostimo SEMINYAK/UBUD



One thing we craved while in Bali was souvlaki’s so with a little researched we found a place in Seminyak called Nostimo’s. We came to learn later on after dining in their Ubud restaurant that there was more then one in Bali as well.

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ACCOMMODATION REVIEW • BALI• Premier Best Western UBUD



Not going to lie, we booked this place because we found an extremely cheap deal on Scoopon.com.au. We paid $299 for 3 nights + an extra $35AUD per night for the extra bed, but this included-  Daily breakfast, Daily Lunch or Dinner, 1x 60min massage for us bigger kids, 1x cocktail or beer per day for us big kids and 1 way airport transfers. As we weren’t coming from the airport the hotel was happy to pick us up from another hotel in Seminyak, rather then the airport- handy.


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EATS • BALI • Frankenstein’s Laboratory SEMINYAK


We had seen Frankenstein Laboratory on every “Things to do in Bali with Kids” List there was online. So decided we would add this to our bucket list for our 2018 Familymoon (pre-honeymoon vacation).


I got the hotel to call and book a table for 4, they told us to be there at 5:30pm so we didn’t miss out. When we got there, only 2 other tables were occupied. But by 6pm these were all full.



SFX FACE PAINTING

Hails and Madi were one of the first kids to have their face painted with SFX. Hayley chose to be a day of the dead mask, which was quite pretty. And Madi of course went in Madi style, going with a three bullets to the head zombie look.  


They both looked awesome and added to our overall experience, seeing them so happy made us happy.



FOOD

For dinner we ordered an Indonesia tasting plate for two, which had all local delicacies and little pieces on it. The girls ordered cheeseburgers with chippies on the side.



The food was delicious but I am not big on a heavy dinner every night so only had a couple of bits and pieces. We ate everything



The best novelty I loved at Frankenstein’s Restaurant was the themed drinks menu. Everything had a Frankstein type name to it, we decided to order the zombie drink ($12). When it arrived to our table it arrived in a IV drip bag, with tubes and taps as well. Such a simple yet cool idea that made you feel like you were in a laboratory. The girls also got little syringes with soft drink in them for ($3).



Frankenstein’s has 2 shows every night, an earlier session for families and a second one for adults.  We were of course at the family friendly show.


There were 2 acts through the night the first one:



FIRST SHOW

Disney Bad Guys. Celebrating all those bad guys in our favourite Disney shows. There was Scar, Captain Hook, Elsa, Ursula and Maleficent. We are not exactly sure how Elsa is a bad guy, but we can kinda see why.  
The girls were invited to sit on the floor in front of the stage for the show and were right in the middle of the action.

They danced around the room and stage as their songs each came on. Mummy had multiple scares of her life as Scar had it out for her. He sat behind her close enough that when she turned he was in her face.



At the end of this show, the members have a break and a band starts playing. This band played all Top 40 songs and both the girls got up for Karaoke and sang their little hearts out- it was super cute. 


SECOND SHOW

Ghostbusters show – we all know ghostbusters, but this was Bali style. The ghost looked like she was dressed in a white sheet from afar, but it was a onsie sheet up close hah. The Ghostbuster crew were sporting plastic machine guns, it was quite entertaining for a show that is completely free.

Our favourite part of this show would have to of been the skeleton people dressed in onesies dancing to Michael Jackson, hilarious.



We left Frankenstein’s with both full stomachs and a night full of fun memories.



The Wanderlust Family highly recommends heading to Frankenstein’s for an entertaining and spooky night of fun. You can spend a lot of money in here, but if you do it more budget you can easily spend less then $50 for two.



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