Day 14: Raja Ampat to Bali

Day 14:  Raja Ampat to Bali

Sunrise in Sorong

Quote of the Day: 

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah, get down, baby

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's confusing you
Is just the nature of my game, mm yeah

Weather: same-same except sunny in Raja Ampat, it's slightly overcast and very hot and humid in Bali

5:30 group wake-up call, breakfast on the deck, take the 6:30 tender back to Sorong, a scary 15 minute cab ride to the airport, a 30+ minute check-in at the airport: in front us are 3 large guys who might be mercenaries and one couple that must be either Russian or ex-USSR citizens with three huge overweight bags (they have to pay) and one very inefficient check-in clerk. Then the clerk arbitrarily makes us check our carry-on bags…CYS and SAS check-in at the line next to us, it goes twice as fast and they get to take their roller bags on board.

Pics from Jakarta airport

Jakarta, still under water in places

 Business class van

Luggage tag

DB's in-flight meal

Easy flight to Jakarta, land 2 hours earlier than time in Raja Ampat. This airport is so immense that there are buses to meet our flight and THB and DB take the more comfortable business class bus for around a mile to the middle of the terminal, go upstairs and see that our departure gate to Bali is the exact same on we left from to go to Sorong. Connection is very easy, we wait maybe 10 minutes and board the plane. It’s getting on lunch time so DB has the quiche and THB has beef and rice. Both of us avoid the hot sauce!

Sure enough, one of the bags doesn’t make the connection. 10 minutes to do the paperwork (Garuda knew which bags missed the connecting flight) and we’re off with our guide and driver to Capella Ubud. The bag gets delivered to the hotel while we’re eating dinner, so not a problem (as we had split most of our stuff between the two bags and carried on all essentials and valuables).

Most of nice hotels and even temples and compounds have a small alley leading off a main road and then turn into a very large estate-like property

Our car for 4 of next 5 days (we are spending one whole day at 6th senses without eve leaving property)

Pics from around the grounds (near the lobby)

THB's recent history with walking sticks has not reached Bali

The pool is known as the "Cistern"

There is a short suspension bridge to our room

The Capella is a double whammy: one hell of an exotic room, complete with a private pool and a throne toilet, indoor and outdoor showers, and 125 steps down from the lobby. We’re in the Birdwatchers Tent. Note: doing research in the Officers' Tent, we realize the decorator here is the same guy who did The Siam in Bangkok where we also had a great room

Private pool

Front door to left

Sitting area, note pics of birds on wall

Bed  also has mosquito netting all around and hung above; we never use it

Behind tub is a throne. That's a euphemism for toilet. Above the toilet is curtain you can pull around you for what might be called privacy. Hmmmm...and outside is a terrific shower which THB used every time he showered

The throne is capped with a mounted deer head.

Awesome

Area behind bed, a really functional ledge, one THB's faves

The other whammy: we have an Asian omakase dinner at one of the two restaurants at the hotel, and it is easily one of the most exotic and creative meals ever. Plus we are the only two dining at the 6:30 seating and have the two chefs (from a group of 4) to ourselves.

$100 each...probably a 250-400 meal in US, plus we were the only 2 at the 6:30 seating, full attention for the chefs

river prawns

oysters

lobsters

Sambar above with unusual chips

Free drink of the day

charcoal mousse and river prawns on a cracker

Pearl ioysti muscle

Perfectly sliced radish with hamachi on top of fish

You slide out the skewers and you have a "hot dog" on brioche with paper wrapping to hold it together

Traditional egg custard with smoking rosemary surrounding the shell (yes, it's on fire)

Caviar is the topping

Chicken served espresso style over dark liquor 

Can THB have a half dozen, please? Just one!

Tuna nigiri, very traditional 

River prawn halved and grilled

Something on cabbage leaf, eaten like wrap

Waygu beef, better without the dry ice mousse around the sides

Cold bowl with smoke inside

Another of the three desserts

One of the staff gets us partway down to the stairs to our room and turns us over to our primary contact (valet? Head counselor?) who gets us the rest of the way back.

Tme for bed, it is 9pm local time, 10pm in Raja Ampat. We were so tired we skipped the soothing tea and foot bath ceremony awaiting us in the room.

pic from the road to Capella

Women heading to temple for ceremony prep