Bali, Indonesia

It is hard to describe Bali. I will either fall into the sin of understatement or commit the crime of bias. But my short stay in this small island province of Indonesia has proven it worthy to be called my own little piece of heaven. I have claimed it then and I still claim it until now.

Shortly before landing, I was staring at the waves curling from a distance. Surfers around the world flock to this island for a green room – the term used to call the inside of a barrel/tube produced by a wave. I don’t own any long boards, mine are skim boards, smaller surfboards without fins, and yet for a non-surfer gal like me, the scene was beautiful. Just being in this surfer’s haven made me smile but I didn’t know that the island’s accommodation and everything about this island will pull my heart in strings.

Rumah Bali – bedandbreakfastbali.com, a Bali Bed and Breakfast and Balinese style private villa accommodation located in Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua. Not your typical hotel but the accommodation that brings the feeling of being in a private home with spacious bedrooms, large outdoor bathrooms, a bed perfect for a princess, private pools, and the warm service of the staff.

Majority of the Bali population is Hindu and what better way to know their culture is to visit temples. Tanah Lot is a popular rock formation shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide with a temple built for worship of the Balinese gods. Arrive here on a low tide and you can walk very close to the temple. And at night, just a walking distance from this temple is a show on Kecak Fire Dance, a traditional Balinese dance and music drama.

The following morning was spent walking around Tanjung Benoa. Luxurious hotels line the coast but the beach wasn’t very impressive. The sand is not as white and as fine as I expected. I come from a beautiful island of Cebu and I have high standards for a beach!  However, the view is breathtaking and it is quiet and less crowded. It is one sunrise I will never forget.

And the rest of the day was spent country sight seeing. While on my last trip to Phuket, Thailand, I was scared to ride an elephant, Bali sure has a way to lure me!

At Kintamani, you get the best view of Mount Batur (Gunung Batur), an active volcano which last erupted in 2000. This volcano is surrounded by Lake Batur.

In Tampak Siring Village, you can find Tirta Empul, a holy spring water temple. That day happened to be a Saraswati festival in honor to the Balinese Hindu goddess of knowledge, music and the arts. Balinese bathe at the holy spring in a belief that it purifies the mind and body. Visitors are required to wear sarongs and they gave me a red one :)

Another place worth a visit is the Ubud Kingdom Palace. The palace now serves only as a family homes.

I should mention that at North Ubud town, on the way to Ubud Palace, you can drop by at Tegallalang Rice Terraces.

And a spa and a henna tattoo to complete my day!