In Reply to: has anyone been to candi dasa posted by ona on Sunday, 2. January 2005 at 09:37 Bali Time:
I was there for 9 days last August and almost a month the year before. You can just turn up and negotiate accomodation. Check out hotels on the net and print their internet prices. You don't need to pay more than that.
The most amazing place I have stayed at in Candi Dasa is Kubu Bali. This is a number of cottages built into a steep hillside just off the main street approximately central to CD. We had the cottage highest up the hill. Beautiful views over the top of CD to the ocean. In the mornings the wild monkeys would come down off the mountain to entertain us.
The closest good white sand beach to Candi Dasa [to my knowledge] is a ten minute walk past Legends Cafe at the Amlapura end of town. This beach also has low key coral reef snorkeling. The beach is behind Resor Prima, which is a small budget hotel. I've stayed there twice and like it. For a very inexpensive meal in pleasant informal surroundings, the only warung in that little area is Warung Pini, owned by a delightful lady named Wayan.
You can get to a very good beach [known as White Sand Beach] by car, motorbike or boat. This is off the Amlapura road. Before you get to the beach, the road deteriorates into dirt with a very steep downhill bit, but the local drivers know what they are doing.
A day trip to Amed is worthwhile. Go on the coast road past the Ujung Water Palace and return on the inland road past Tirtagganga and some very scenic mountains, valleys and rice terraces. Good snorkeling at Amed in front of Vienna Beach Hotel.
In the other direction is Padang Bai, the ferry port for Lombok. On one side of town is Blue Lagoon, good for snorkeling as long as you get there before the waves get up, on the other side is [yet another] White Sand Beach.
The Bali Aga village of Tenganan is close to CD. If you would like to go there with a man of the village contact my friend Komang at Catra New Beach Restaurant where he works as a waiter.
http://www.dimahkota.com/catra%20restaurant.htm
Komang's mother is a weaver of the traditional double ikat material, not cheap but very special.
I can recommend a driver for this area, with an airconditioned Kijang. Wayan Manek [Nick] ph 081 8353501.
Rock groups [reasonably quiet and versatile] some nights at Legends Cafe and Iguana. Usual generally low key Balinese dancers in some restaurants.
Adequate supermarket and a number of honest moneychangers. Usual souvenir type shops. Inexpensive wood carving shop just going towards edge of town on Padang Bai side. The lady's husband is a wood carver in Amlapura. Limited range, but cheap and negotiable.
Anything you can think of, just ask.