Art – Maldo Travels

Bali – A Full Day Tour Around Ubud

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 23:07:49 +0000

A couple of my friends who had been to Bali said that Ubud was one of their favorite places to stay. Since we didn’t have time to stay there, we took a private transportation tour which went to some of the sites around Ubud which cost 700,000 IDR¹ each. We were picked up from our hotel in Kuta at around 8.30 AM. Our first stop was at Tari Barong Jambe for a traditional dance show and we got there just in time for the 9.30 AM show. It’s an outdoor stage and tickets cost 100,000 IDR. Upon entrance, they hand out a program with the stories of the scenes for you to follow. The show lasts about an hour and it was interesting but it was a little too long and I don’t think it was worth it. Next, we continue another 10 minutes to Celuk Swing & Luwak Coffee. At this site, they sell the famous Luwak coffee. The entrance is free and one of the attendants takes you around the site on a guided tour. She stopped at several photo spots and talks about the procurement process of Luwak coffee. She then leaves us at a bench with a tea and coffee menu for us to get free samples of. We get a choice of 13 but the Luwak Coffee sample costs 50,000 IDR. There is also a swing next to the benches over the terraces and she tells us it costs 300,000 IDR. After the samples, she takes us to the shop if we’d like to buy any of the samples we tried. Overall, this was site was an interesting experience and well worth the visit. The drinks were very good and we ended up buying some, but the swing was a little too pricy.

We then get back to the car and continue another 5 minutes to the traditional Balinese Batuan Temple. Our driver dropped us off near the entrance and told us we first need to pick up some Sarongs opposite the temple. This was to cover up our bare legs since we were wearing shorts. Entrance to the temple is free but there is a donation box when you pick up the Sarong. There are several shrines at the temple and the detailed carvings throughout are very impressive. We spent about 20 minutes here walking around and taking some pictures before continuing.

Our next stop is a 10-minute drive away to Tegenungan Waterfall and we got there at 12.30 PM. Our driver dropped us off near the entrance and tickets cost 40,000 IDR each. It’s about a 15-20 minute walk down to the waterfall and on the way, there are several photo spots at some viewpoints. Once at the stream, you can get in to go for a swim. The water is quite shallow but it gets deeper closer to the waterfall. There are some buoys and rope to cordon off access to the waterfall so you can’t get too close to it for safety. A short walk down the stream, there is a small spring water pool you can get into. There are also some benches and toilets just outside the pool. There’s also a bridge to cross to the other side of the stream. You can then climb up the other side to a restaurant where there is a swing over the waterfall. We didn’t have time to check it out since we had to be back up at the parking lot by 1.45 PM.

The final stop is at the Tegallalang Rice Terrace which was a 35-minute drive away. This spot is very busy with lots of traffic on its 2-lane road so the driver dropped us off a short walk away. There was a guard helping people cross the road and he asked for a donation. We thought this was for entering the rice fields but after going down some steps, there was another official asking for donations to the rice terrace. We gave the guard 20,000 IDR and the 30,000 to enter the rice terrace. The views of the terraces are amazing. There are several swings but they cost around 300,000 IDR which is quite pricy. There were also locals with their tools offering photo opportunities but we didn’t ask how much. You can walk down to the stream and then climb up to the other side of the terraces. On the way up to the other side, there is another official asking for donations. We gave 20,000 IDR and continued to the top. It’s a nice place to visit but there are lots of tourists and the locals charging ‘donations’ everywhere. We finished our visit at around 3 PM and met our driver in a nearby parking lot. We then headed back to Kuta which took almost 2 hours with horrendous traffic.

Rio de Janeiro – Vibrant Megacity

Jean Maldonado — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 22:07:37 +0000

From Iguazu Falls to Rio de Janeiro, the bus journey takes around 20 hours an it wasn’t recommended when I was looking online, so we decided to take a flight which is only 2 hours. We left at around 10.05 AM and arrived at the Rio Galeao International Airport at around noon. We then connected to the airport WiFi to get an Uber² to our hotel in Copacabana. The airport is in the north of the city and Copacabana is at the south end of the city. It took us about 45 minutes with some light traffic to get there and it cost 57.73 BRL³.

The City

Rio is huge and I had about 5 days to explore. For the first 2 days, I stayed in Copacabana since I read up it was a little safer than some other areas. Walking around Copacabana felt safe as long as you stick to the main roads and tourist spots. If you wander off into side roads, it starts to get sketchy. The beachside walk is also great at night with several bars and restaurants along the beach with live music. The other 3 days, I stayed in a hotel in Centro which is the city center. This area didn’t feel as safe as Copacabana so make sure you stay on the main roads and tourist spots here. One of the interesting things I noticed is that Rio is very nocturnal. During the day, most of the shops are shut and the streets are deserted. But then in the evenings, the streets are filled with people and the shops, bars and restaurants open well into the night.

I had a free day where I went for a walk around Centro. Having been out early to find deserted streets a couple of days before, I left closer to noon at around 11.45 AM. I first headed to the Municipal Theatre which was a 15-minute walk away. Once I got to the Municipal Theatre, there were a couple of other tourists there. I took a couple of pictures and then walked another 10 minutes to the Arcos da Lapa. Again there were several tourists here, so it felt fairly safe going at this time and sticking to main roads. Next, I headed to Bossa Nova mall which was a 20-minute walk away.

I got some lunch and then walked up the riverside to the Museo do Amanha (Museum of Tomorrow). This was a longer 40-minute walk but I made a couple stops on the way. I would have checked out the museum but it was my last day in Rio and I was running out of money. The area I was in was called Boulevard Olimpico, and there were a couple of street vendors here selling food as well as arts and crafts. I read up that there were painted murals in the area so I continued walking further. I found the painted murals walking to the AquaRio aquarium on a pedestrian road parallel to Avenida Rodrigues Alves. After taking a couple of pictures here I went to get some food and then back to rest at the hotel.

Maracana Tour

The day we arrived, we headed to the Maracana Stadium soon after we checked into our hotel. We took an Uber from Copacabana to the stadium which cost 32.29 BRL and took about 25 minutes. The driver told us to be careful walking around the stadium as the area can be dangerous. He dropped us off in front of the Bellini Statue. We took a picture there and then headed to the entrance which was at the other end. It took us about 10 minutes to walk to the other side but we managed to make it in time for the last tour at 4.00 PM. Tickets cost 60 BRL and you can browse around the museum before the tour begins.

The guide then calls the group and first takes us to some key parts of the museum talking about its history. We are then taken to the locker room where there are several Brazilian club shirts. We’re given some time there for pictures before heading into a viewing room where they play a short video. Next, we walk down the tunnel and out to the sideline. We have about 10-15 minutes here before heading back in and into the media room where they hold press interviews. That’s then the end of the tour and we’re directed back to the museum.

Full-Day City Tour

Initially, we had planned to check out the city ourselves via public transport. However, whilst walking around Copacabana Beach we came across a full day city tour for 200 BRL each. The tour included entrance tickets to the Corcovado and Pao de Acucar, other quick stops, transportation, and a guide. It was a good deal since we’d cover more sites than by attempting to go via public transport so we went for it. The tour bus picked us up from our hotel at around 8.30 AM. After picking up other groups, we headed to the Corcovado mountain which is where the Christ the Redeemer statue is. We arrived at the car park at around 10 AM and the guide took us to the ticket office for him to buy the tickets. Once we had our tickets, everyone boarded an official bus which took us further up the mountain. We then have to walk up the rest of the way but there are also escalators. We got to the top at around 10.30 AM and it was already quite busy. There are viewpoints all around with amazing panoramic views of the city. Towering over the city, you can see just how massive Rio is from up here. We were given about 30 minutes for pictures before meeting to get the official bus back down to the car park.

Next, we were taken to the Maracana Stadium which was about a 50-minute drive away. It’s only a quick 10-minute stop here for pictures with the Bellini Statue. We were happy to have visited earlier to go on the tour of the stadium. From here, it’s then a quick 10-minute drive to the Sambadrome. This is uniquely for the famous Rio de Janeiro Carnaval. There are some costumes on display if you want to try them on for pictures starting from 10 BRL or there are also dancers dressed in Carnaval outfits. This was also a quick 10-minute stop before continuing another 15-minutes to the Catedral Metropolitana. This cathedral has an interesting circular pyramid shape and is beautifully decorated with colored stain glass. Again it’s another 10-minutes for pictures before getting on the tour bus for another 10-minutes to get to Escadaria Selaron. This is the iconic colorful stairway that is decorated with mosaic tiles. We were given 10 minutes here as well and the guide told us not to go to the top of the stairs since there are thieves there.

By now it was around 1.20 PM so we were taken to a tourist buffet restaurant for lunch in the area. The 20 BRL buffet plus a soft drink was included with the tour and it was a great buffet that included Picanha (Brazilian steak). After lunch, it was about a 30-minute drive to the Pao do Acucar (Sugarloaf Mountain). After the guide got our tickets, we got on the cable car which takes you up to the first smaller mountain. There is a viewpoint here and some cafes/restaurants. Then there’s another cable car which takes you up to the peak of the Sugarloaf Mountain. From here you get great panoramic views of the city. We had about an hour to explore the site before meeting back at the cable car station. This was the end of the tour and we were then taken back to our hotels.

Valparaiso – Colorful Coastal City

Jean Maldonado — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 22:17:33 +0000

We began our journey to Valparaíso in Santiago and first went to Estacion Central (Central Station) to look for bus tickets to Valparaíso. We got there at 11 AM and there was a bus leaving in 15 minutes, so we quickly bought tickets (3,000 CLP⁴ each) and rushed to the platform to board the bus. Once we got on, we realized it was possible to buy a ticket directly from the bus driver. It’s a fairly short bus ride and we arrived in Valparaíso bus terminal at around 1.30 PM. Our hostel was around Cerro Alegre which was a 30-minute walk. Rather than hike up the hill, we opted for an Uber⁵ which cost 1,996 CLP and took 10 minutes.

The City and Viña del Mar

After quickly checking in and dropping off our bags, we set out to explore, starting at the lift Reina Victoria which is a funicular that takes you up to a viewpoint. The ticket costs 100 CLP each and it’s a short 1-minute ride up. From the top, you get a good panoramic view of Valparaíso. Next, we walked towards Plaza Sotomayor passing through Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepcion. We came across some great viewpoints on the way and also several painted murals. There were also lots of cafes and restaurants in these areas. When we got to Plaza Sotomayor, there was a pop-up arts and crafts market so we bought some souvenirs there. It was around 4 PM now so we had to choose between checking out a local beach or trying to get to Viña del Mar. We opted for the latter and asked the locals how to get to Viña del Mar from there. A kind lady walked us to the bus stop and waited for the bus we needed which simplified everything for us. The bus stop was at the corner of the main street Cochrane and the ticket cost 500 CLP each.

It was a quick 20-minute ride on the bus and we got off at the Flower Clock of Viña del Mar. There were a couple of tourists here queuing up to take pictures with the famous flower clock. From the flower clock, we then walked up a small hill and the view from up there had a great panoramic view of the seaside. We then continued walking to get to the shore and passed by Castle Wulff and the casino. Continuing further we arrived at the beach to relax for a while. We tried dipping our feet in the water and found it to be freezing. So we decided to continue walking along the beach stopping every so often. We then checked out Mall Marina just before sunset. At around 8 PM we took a bus back to Valparaíso which also cost 500 CLP. Having only snacked throughout the day, we were pretty hungry by the end of the day and found an open restaurant. We ordered a Chilean dish called La Chorillana which is a mountain of chips and meats, perfect to share between two people. Once we finished eating, we headed back to the hostel to get some rest before heading to Mendoza in Argentina the following day.

Cuenca – Beautiful Colonial City

Jean Maldonado — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 15:25:33 +0000

The capital city of the Azuay province is approximately an 8-hour bus ride south of Quito. A 50-minute flight is also an option, however, the Cuenca airport is notorious for being in a windy location causing many delays and cancellations due to weather. We made our way down to Cuenca from the ruins of Ingapirca which is about 1-hour 30-miunutes away. If you take a bus or drive there, you’ll likely arrive before dusk so it’s a good idea to catch the sunset at a viewpoint. The Mirador de Turi is a great viewpoint for this with a panoramic view of the red-topped buildings of Cuenca. There are also a few bars and restaurants at the viewpoint to get something to eat.

Throughout the day, Cuenca has many plazas, churches, and museums to explore in its historic city center. The city is also well known for the arts and has produced many famous Ecuadorian writers, poets, and artists. The new cathedral, Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepcion, was completed in 1975 and replaced the old cathedral which is now a museum. Both are located in the main plaza of Parque Calderon. The new cathedral has a neo-gothic style with a marble interior and three iconic white and blue domes.

Around the corner from the new cathedral is the popular Plaza de las Flores. This flower market is located outside another smaller colonial church, La Iglesia El Carmen de la Asuncion or El Santuario Mariano which is also worth a quick visit to. This small church is over 100 years old and is so well preserved that walking into it feels like going back in time.

Walking away from the colonial cobblestoned historic city center of Cuenca, you can see painted murals and eventually reach the modern Museum of Pumapungo. This museum not only exhibits the history and culture of Cuenca but is also located next to an archaeological site of Incan ruins. The museum is very well organized to showcase different periods of Cuenca’s people and history. One of my favorite sections was the numismatic room in the basement. Here you can travel through history by observing the currencies that Ecuador had used before the US Dollar.

Pululahua & Museo Templo del Sol

Jean Maldonado — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 22:38:07 +0000

To the north of the capital city of Quito on the road leading up to Calacali, you can find a beautiful inhabited extinct volcanic crater. The clouds gather around the crater adding a mysterious effect for great pictures. It’s a peaceful enchanting place completely contrasting the hectic capital city which is less than an hour away. Being so close to the city, it is possible to get to Pululahua by bus. Any bus with the sign ‘Mitad del Mundo’ will take you here and its the last stop so you can’t miss it. Uber¹ will get you there quicker and the service is relatively cheap in Quito. There is no entry fee for this national park, you simply present the guards with your ID and sign in. At the entrance, there are several shops where you can buy some souvenirs and snacks. There is a viewpoint at the end of the road where most people gather to take pictures. Most people just take a couple pictures and then leave, however, it is possible to hike down to the small town and there are lodging options to stay a night down there.

After leaving the national park, there is an interesting museum as you make your way back to the main road. The museum Templo del Sol is a private complex built by a famed Ecuadorian artist. Entry is only 3 USD⁵ and worth checking out while your there. The tours start every 20-30 minutes and they guide talks about the effects of lat 0 long 0. They get tourists involved in some experiments and also talk about the indigenous people of the region. Part of the tour also consists of sampling some natural oils and essences which serve different purposes. You’ll also learn about the effects of some stones which continue to be used by the indigenous people. The guide then takes you throughout the museum pointing out some of the artist’s most popular pieces before finishing the tour with a canelazo at the cafe. Overall it was an interesting and enlightening experience.