Beautiful Bali

To describe my very first impression of Bali, purely magical. I immediately felt the 'festive' atmosphere in the aircraft once we boarded the Singapore airlines flight at Changi airport for my second trip to Denpasar, as all the other passengers seemingly shared the feeling of excitement for the trip.

Bali is known worldwide for its beautiful beaches, picturesque tropical vistas, and their unique culture, most especially the kindness of Balinese people. Wherever you go, they will greet you with a smile. The tropical island is full of beautiful natural scenery and hosts cultural events based on strong Hindu beliefs, beckoning tourists from different countries and cultures to visit, enjoy the celebrations, or leisurely bask on the shoreline with the warm breezes and palm trees along the beaches. 

A morning flight on Bouraq Airlines Avro HS-748 was to fly my architect friend P and I for our first time to Bali. The flight to Denpasar was via Manado (a volcanic island popular for scuba diving), Ujung Pandang, Surabaya (capital of East Java, second biggest city in Indonesia) and finally onto the island of Denpasar.

The trip was an exposure experience related to our jobs with the real estate arm of the group of companies.

 Understandably, interior designers like me will love the architecture and interior design of Balinese structures wherein natural elements are essentially incorporated in building their structures, both residential and commercial.

Me with friends J, D and P-V in Ubud

Located on the island of Denpasar, Bali has been known to be a world-renowned tourist destination for over 60 years. Predominantly Hindu, the natives of this wonderful island are mostly artists as seen in various media. From the sculptors in Ubud to the stoneware artisans of Kuta, one shall see numerous works of art in jewelry, tapestry, and other unique creations. Balinese art isn't just for decoration; it has a practical purpose in everyday life and is deeply rooted in the island's spiritual traditions. 

Aside from the many beaches this tourist mecca has to offer, we see picturesque rice paddies and mountain sceneries in the countryside that offer hours of respite and relaxation from the stress of the hustle and bustle of city life. 

Party-goers alike will discover that the nightlife here is comparable with nightspots in other cosmopolitan asian destinations. Dance the night away at Hard Rock Bali, the Sari Club, Poco Loco, and the list goes on.

Bali has other attractions that cater to adventure seekers & so called "adrenalin junkies". There's wild water rafting at Ayung river, bungee jumping in Seminyak & mountain trekking in Ubud, to name a few.

The first working trip I had to Bali was with my architect-friend Pinky for exposure to the different levels of hotels and resorts accomodations essential for all tourist destinations. 

Upon arrival in Denpasar, we stayed for two nights in Bali style cottages at Poppie's Boutique Hotel.

Located in the center of Kuta, Poppie's is ideal for it's proximity to restaurants, shopping sites and nightspots. Kuta is an area that is mainly known for its sandy beaches with gentle waves and is very close to the Bali International Airport (DPS) at Tuban. Since it is the most popular choice among tourists, expect much from Kuta’s food choices: everything from Japanese 'izakayas' or Indian restaurants, to epic Pizza joints, Mexican bistros and quaint Cafes.

The most popular beach is Kuta Beach, known for its surf schools and as a sunset beach where you can enjoy cocktails while watching the other beach-goers bathing in the Indian Ocean. Kuta is likewise an ideal place for leisurely walks and exploration, especially if you prefer the inexpensive sort of nightlife. There are definitely fancy and high-end establishments around, but it's less costlier than Seminyak and Canggu. One of the good things about Bali is that it can be a cheap place for dining and drinking.

On our next venture for accomodations, we headed for the mountains of Ubud, a town in the uplands and famous as a center for traditional crafts and dance. The surrounding Ubud district’s rainforest and terraced rice paddies, dotted with Hindu temples and shrines, are among Bali’s most scenic landscapes.

For shopping here in the hills, the Ubud market is the most popular destination for shoes, clothes, souvenirs and many other wonderful bargains. 

slippers from the Ubud market

The next stop a couple of days after was the Oberoi Beach Resort on Seminyak, a seaside resort amidst fifteen acres of lush gardens. 

Oberoi is a luxurious facility where all the rooms and villas interiors are of natural colour coordinates with beautiful ocean or garden views, traditional Balinese design and modern amenities.

We were on our last night in Bali when we checked in Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay. A luxurious resort where each spacious villa has a private outdoor pool. Included in our air-conditioned unit are were flat-screen satellite TVs, a DVD player and a refrigerated mini-bar. All villas have private bathrooms that are fitted with a large bathtub, cotton bathrobes and free toiletries.

Our group did the wild water rafting twice, I enjoyed the rafting through the rapids and seeing wildlife as we drifted through some cliffside forests.

If you want to see a little more Bali, catch the movie "Ticket to Paradise" with George Clooney & Julia Roberts. Catch the scene where Julia mentions her daughter's plans. It goes something like 'She's marrying a handsome man in the most beautiful place on Earth's..

Experience Bali, it's purely magical!

I remember the very first time I traveled to Bali, the trip was a working observation assignment with a very good friend and workmate. She and I were to take the "back door" flight of Boraq Airlines from Davao City to Bali. The flight was on a small turboprop HS-748 and the route was to take us to Bali via several islands in Indonesia. Our first stop was Manado, next was Surabaya via Ujung Pandang, and finally to the island of Denpasar. We had a few hours stopover at our initial destination Manado where Pinky and I had time for lunch, ending up at KFC. Funny experience cause the outlet didn't have utensils so we ended up eating the chicken and rice with our hands!