April | 2013 | Peggy Chow

The night before Silence Day I had one of the best meals at Bebek Bengil, also happens to be one of the most expensive meals.
Bebek stands for duck in Indonesia and as for their English name ‘Dirty Duck Diner’, it was inspired by a flock of dirty ducks that flew into the restaurant from the paddy fields across the street.
Dirty duck is not dirty at all.

#1 Bebek Bengil is just 5 minutes walk from where we stayed, Jati 3 Bungalow.

#2 Bebek Bengil is a VERY SPACIOUS restaurant, so you might not need to worry about making a booking but if you’re prone to being a paranoid you may do so too.

#4 Huts for guests to enjoy their dirty duck.

#5 This is the view right in front of me, a paddy field! It was beautiful but the sky turned dark very quickly and soon enough I was attacked by mosquitoes. :(

TIPS: MUST BRING MOSQUITO REPELLENT TO BALI OR YOU’LL DIE OF ITCHINESS OR DIE OF ANGER.

#6 Haha, my brother suggested that my mom take a picture with ze duck.

#7 Bebek Bengil, half a duck steamed in Indonesian spices then deep fried for a crispy finish for IDR87,000.

The duck’s skin was very crispy without doubt and before I took a bite I was worried that it might be lack of taste but it was the complete opposite.
The duck was very flavorful with spices and the meat was tender.
To compare it with our Chinese Peking Duck, I actually fancy Crispy Duck a little bit more for the flavor and crispiness from the skin.
It was so good that I wanted my mom to give it a try. Not trying to eat, but trying to cook it for us.

#8 Crispy chicken, IDR67,000 tasted far from Crispy duck and I recommend that you do not try it not for the reason that it tasted bad but for the reason that ducks just taste much better.

#9 Bebek Bakar Sambal, IDR89,000 is grilled duck in green chilli served with sweet potato rice. Although the duck’s skin isn’t crispy but the duck was moist, tender, and very flavorful too. The spices used tasted different from the crispy duck but both was equally good.

#10 I AM SO HUNGRY RIGHT NOW!

The dinner was so good and we went back to our hotel with a satisfied tummies and empty wallets.
The bill came up to IDR300,300 (RM90++) including a pot of tea (only one time refill) and taxes.

As we walked back to our hotel, everywhere was pitch black and we had to use lights from our phones to guide our way back because Balinese were already prepared for Silence Day.
At some point it was quite scary to me, fearing apocalypse might happen. Too much Walking Dead.

As for the next day, we were all quarantined in the hotel and all I did was nothing.

#11 So I chill like a boss.

BEBEK BENGIL
Jalan Hanoman, Padang Tegal,
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Tel: (62-361) 975-489

Oh wait before I forgot, I must show you my mom’s weird habit.

This was what my mom did in that 10 days at Bali, washing bajus and showcasing it around in our room. Mom is a mom.

After dolphin watching we rushed back to our hotel to have breakfast before we leave to Ubud.

The most decent hotel breakfast, I’d say. Danish and sausages, I couldn’t be happier.

Another Nasi Babi Guling while on our way to Ubud. Nasi Babi Guling is really easy to find, but for a really good one it’s best to do some research.

On the way to Ubud, I was sleeping the entire time so I missed out quite a lot of scenery.

I have this habit of sleeping a lot in the car during road trips but I try not to if boyfriend is the one who drives cause I want to accompany him. I’m a good girlfriend like that. LOL!

The narrow walkway to our hotel, Jati 3 Bungalows.

Just bricks and light bulb but I love.

We were greeted by this cute statue at the entrance. It was Nyepi Day the next day which is Balinese new year, so they dress up these statue with hibiscus. How cute.

We stayed at Jati 3 for 2 nights in Ubud. And having a swimming pool is a must because on the 6th day we were all stranded. More on that later.

Our room with everything bamboo. Quite a decent place except there’s quite a lot of ants and lizards around because they planted a lot of plants around them.

Our balcony where I chill and play with my phone.

I do think it’s quite a nice period to visit Bali during March before their Nyepi day because we get to see and experience their culture that happens only once a year.

Balinese practice Hinduism and a fact that cant be deny is that they are very devoted to their God.
They give their offerings everyday and along the street, you’ll spot them in front of shops, stores, and houses.
Some of them even put their offerings on their car.

Canangsari, Balinese offerings. I try not to step on it while I walk but sometimes especially during the night, I cant see that well. I have to look in front, left, right, and at the floor to watch out for offerings.

Nyepi Day or Balinese new year is very much different from our Chinese New Year or our Calendar’s 1st day of the year.
Instead of celebrating it with fireworks, visiting houses and making lots of noises, it is their Silent Day.
No one is allow on the street on Nyepi Day to the extend where even the airport is close down on that particular day.
Only Pecalangs or the security man is allow on the street to make sure that no one else will be on the street.
Light and noise needs to be keep minimum.
Some of the Balinese fast, and some do not talk at all for the whole day. It is also some sort of like a day for them to reflect.

Which is also why picking a hotel with a pool is very much needed, to keep us from being bored to death.
Thank God for wifi and my brother’s Ipad too, we get to watch PPS.

There were a lot of Ogoh-ogohs on the street.

Ogoh-ogoh are statues built for the Ngrupuk parade, which takes place on the eve of Nyepi day in Bali, Indonesia. Ogoh-ogoh normally have form of mythological beings, mostly demons. As with many creative endeavours based on Balinese Hinduism, the creation of Ogoh-ogoh represents spiritual aims inspired by Hindu philosophy.

No joke, some of the Ogoh-ogohs really look scary and creative.