Traveler in a Suitcase!: Cheappy

Dapoer Bunda (Pulau Natuna): Cheap Pork Ribs, Plecing Kangkung, and Wi-Fi for When You Pretend to Study

Found this spot on Instagram, got bullied by the reviews, and my brain whispered: “kangkung now.” So we pointed ourselves to Jl. Pulau Natuna (near Jl. Diponegoro, before Toko Puri Jam), walked into a place that looked quiet and turned out secretly crowded.

Bonus: free Wi-Fi for people who “do assignments” (open twelve tabs, write two sentences).

Menu snapshot (Balinese greatest hits)

Rujak kuah pindang, tipat plecing, tipat kuah lawar ayam, and more.

Not in a Balinese mood?

They also do Pork Ribs and Chicken BBQ.

Price range: ~Rp5k - Rp40k.

Teen budget and adult appetite can finally shake hands.

What we ordered (prices I paid)

🍖 Pork Ribs IDR 35.000

Not life-changing, but for the price? I’m not complaining.

Sticky, satisfying, and keeps you from texting your ex.

🍗 Chicken BBQ IDR 25.000

Also fine, sauce leans sweet-savory.

If you’re ribs-curious, just get the ribs.

🥤 Es Gula IDR 5.000

Sugar syrup + lime + ice = budget lemonade with local lore.
Works.

🌶️ Plecing Kangkung IDR 7.000

Kangkung = water spinach (aka kang kong / Ipomoea aquatica).

Blanched greens with fiery sambal on top.

My childhood favorite and still the vegetable I’d fight for. I’m spice-weaker now, but I still cried happily.

(I was already full, so I’ll come back for the tipat and lawar like a responsible adult with unresolved cravings.)

Vibe & comfort

Fan-cooled (no AC) but surprisingly not panas when I went.
Tables turn quickly; still comfy enough to park with a laptop and pretend to be productive.

Pros & cons (speed run)

Pros

💸 Cheap eats (Rp5k - Rp40k)
📶 Wi-Fi for study cosplay
🌶️ Solid Balinese staples (plecing kangkung, rujak, tipat)
🍖 Ribs at wallet-friendly pricing

Cons

🔥 Sambal can humble you. Ask for less pedas if needed
🪑 Simple setup; come for food, not ambience auditions
👥 Can get busy despite looking low-key from outside

How to win lunch

Order plecing kangkung (non-negotiable).
If curious, pair with pork ribs, value play.
Say “sambal sedikit” if you’re spice-shy, “terpisah” if you want control.
Bring cash or small change; your stomach and the queue will thank you.

I’ll be back for tipat and lawar.

ikkeru

Dapoer Bunda

Jl. Pulau Natuna no 08
Denpasar, Bali

Indonesia

Monday-Saturday : 11:00 AM - 06:00 PM

Phone : +62 361 4723 793

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, by travelerinasuitcase

Bali

Helo Cafe by Bapak Bakery (Jl. Sudirman): Tiny Door, Homey Core, Black Burger for 25k, and Donuts That Don’t Pose

Diet lasted 1.5 episodes; friendship and fried things staged a coup. We ducked into Helo Cafe by Bapak Bakery. Outside looks mini, parking looks optimistic, but inside it’s homey, air-conned, with music, books, Wi-Fi, and the kind of lighting that forgives nothing but you stay anyway.

PS: “Bapak Bakery” = the Kerobokan bakery from the same owner (hence the name).

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, by travelerinasuitcase

Bali

A tiny Bali to Surabaya escape (+cream puff pit stop) Spotted beard Papa!

After months away I finally squeezed in a 3-day dash to Surabaya.

Short? Yes.

Worth it? Absolutely.

I missed my friends (and the food) too much.

Quick love letter for DPS Domestic

Bali’s domestic terminal is still shiny-clean and surprisingly well stocked. More like an international terminal: Kopi O, POD, GoGo Franks, Beard Papa’s, and even a Pizza Hut on the way. I just hope we all keep it that way. 🙏

Snack mission: Beard Papa’s

Spotted the yellow sign and bee-lined. If you haven’t tried them: Beard Papa’s is a Japanese chain (born in Osaka, 1999) known for filling each puff to order so the shell stays crisp and the custard tastes fresh.

Flavors I saw: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, matcha (green tea), plus eclair/coronet options.

My pick: Matcha cream puff.

Shell: a little crispy, not greasy.

Filling: cool, creamy, fragrant matcha. (Their site says “serve warm,” but I loved it cold.)

Price: IDR 18k at DPS (Jakarta outlets are ~IDR 12k).

Service was cheerful and fast. Exactly what you want before boarding. Only bummer: it’s airside, so no access unless you’re flying.

If you go

Where: Domestic terminal, Bali (DPS), after security.

When: Grab one if your flight isn’t delayed—you’ll still have time for a snack.

Tip: Eat right away for max crunch. Bring wipes; custard finds a way.

Jakarta folks: There are ~14 outlets and no plane ticket required. :(

Three days, one city, and a very good cream puff later, I was already planning my next trip.

Happy traveling!

ikkel

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, by travelerinasuitcase

Bali

A Little Japan on a Rainy Bali Night: Meet mr. taiyaki in bali!

Even with the K-food wave, Japanese street snacks aren’t going anywhere in Bali. Lately I keep spotting little carts selling sushi, takoyaki… and my soft spot: taiyaki!

What’s taiyaki?

A fish-shaped waffle (the “tai” fish) cooked in a metal mold, then stuffed. Traditionally with sweet red bean (azuki), but many carts now offer custard, chocolate, cheese, even nangka. (indonesian version)

What I got

Azuki and cream cheese (IDR 8 each).

Not too sweet (bless), crispy edges, soft middle. I’m a “bite-the-head-first” person...

Judge me later 😂

Diet math (very approximate): one piece feels ~220-250 kcal.

Delicious? Yes.

Two pieces = basically a meal.

Price & tips

Most fillings sit around IDR 8K; some add-ons may cost a bit more.

Best eaten hot while the outside is still crisp. If you like extra filling, ask...

Some vendors are generous, some… artistic with the center only 😉

Where to find this cart

Pertokoan Kartika Plaza, Jl. Diponegoro (across Toko Sakura; near BCA KCP Maluku). I first found it years ago, went back on a rainy night, and the nostalgia hit like anime background music.

Wishlist

Still hunting for taiyaki parfait (crushed azuki + matcha ice cream + a warm taiyaki). If Jakarta has it, Bali. and Surabaya, please catch up!

Do you go tail-first or head-first? 😋

ikkel

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, by travelerinasuitcase

Bali

Serabi Hunt in Bali: Waroeng Soerabi Bandoeng 101 (Jl. Dewi Sri)

Selamat bulan Februari! Time is sprinting and my cravings are too, so… serabi time. After ages without it (and a friend begging to try), we went to my go-to spot: Waroeng Soerabi Bandoeng 101 on Jl. Dewi Sri. It’s my fave because the servers are ridiculously kind, even when I attack them with dad jokes.

(They still smile. Bandung hospitality supremacy.)

First, what is serabi?

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, by travelerinasuitcase

Bali

Nasi Pedas "Ibu Anik"

First Time Nasi Pedas (finally!)

What do people eat the minute they land in Bali? Babi guling, ayam betutu, lawar…and, apparently, nasi pedas. My friends swear by it. Me? I’d never tried it. So last week they dragged me to fix that gap in my Balinese resume.

Where we went

Nasi Pedas Ibu Anik: Pasar Kuta (near Joger).

Famous cousin: Nasi Pedas Bu Andika (also in Kuta): people say it’s pricier and always packed.

I chose Ibu Anik this round.

How it works (so you don’t panic at the counter)

Join the line. Trays move fast; breathe.

Point at lauk (side dishes).

There’s no printed price list; each item has its own price.

They plate rice + what you chose. You pay at the end, add bottled drink if you want.

Sambal = the “pedas.” Add at your own risk. 🌶️

What I picked & how much

Tempe kecap, mie goreng, ayam suwir, kangkung, perkedel + rice
1 bottled water

Total: IDR 20k (IDR 16k food + IDR 4k water)

I thought everything would be flaming; turns out the spice lives in the sambal. Without it, it’s basically nasi campur; with it, your soul time-travels.

Crowd & vibe

Always crowdead: lots of Java accents, a mix of locals and holiday stomachs.
Turnover is quick; tables are basic; nobody’s here to linger, just to inhale joy on a plate.

Order smart (aka how not to blow your budget)

Veggies + tofu/tempeh = budget-friendly.
Multiple meats = price climbs fast.
Ask the staff roughly how much that combo will be if you’re unsure. They’re used to it.

Summary:

Taste: Homey, punchy, sambal-forward.
Heat: Customizable: start small, add more.
Price: Can be cheap if you go veggie-heavy.

Will I go again? Yes, next time I’m hunting the legendary kulit ayam

(sold out… my villain origin story).

Go explore other nasi pedas spots too (including Bu Andika) and tell me your fave. Just… respect the sambal. 🌶️

xxx

ikkel

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, by travelerinasuitcase

Bali

Warung Kecil Sanur, Big Happy (Budget bites in Sanur)

Bali has a new café every time I blink.

Cute? yes.

Affordable? …not always.

I’m Team Under-70K: I want food that fills my tummy and my feelings without sending my wallet to the ER. So I went hunting for somewhere cozy, tasty, and kind to student budgets.

Enter: Warung Kecil (literally “small eatery”), Sanur

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, by travelerinasuitcase

Bali

Broke, Bandaged, and Craving Sushi: Arkenzi Review (Cheap Sushi Bali, Menu & Prices)

It’s been a looong month.....

No one missed me (soooo rude)
Meanwhile, my thumb did...

Thumb Drama (NSFW alert)

“Thumb vs. Knife, Episode 12: Disney/Pixar presents ‘Finding Band-Aid.’”

(NSFW = Not Safe For Whisks) lol

Forensic report (completely unhelpful)
Weapon: knife that moonlights as a villain.
Motive: I attempted “chef’s kiss,” achieved “chef’s hiss.”
Scene: cutting board that skates like it’s in the Winter Olympics.
Witness: a daisy sticker who refuses to testify.

Because the thumb is the bodyguard...

Front row, no hazard pay.

Forget the claw grip for one second and it volunteers as tribute. Add a slippery board, dull knife, wet hands, or the classic cutting-toward-your-own-DNA, and… yeah.

Arkenzi, Because Cooking Betrayed Me

I went to Arkenzi because: craving sushi, zero desire to cook, and I’m broke (bought a bathroom scale to check my weight every morning, turns out I could’ve just used my friend’s, wow).

Also March = family birthday boss rush, so hello, penniless arc.

Where

Beside Circle K Marlboro, Denpasar. Red lanterns everywhere; rain ruined my photo ambitions.

Vibe & service

Mostly locals + uni kids doing calculus on calories vs. cash. Staff are ridiculously friendly~

The kind of goodbye that makes you promise to fix your life (tomorrow).

Note: Indonesian-palate tweaks; no raw options = newbie-friendly.