Bali After Dark

BALI AFTER DARK

Night life in Bali starts late, which
means around midnight. Many visitors wonder where crowds of expats suddenly
come from around 1:00 in the morning – even when all of Kuta has been
very quiet during the whole evening, the IN-places often become crowded after
midnight.

There's a simple explanation: during
the early evenings many of Bali's night owls either still work, visit friends
at home, or simply sleep. Most of them visit pubs, bars, or discos only in the
early morning hours. Therefore, if you plan a night out don't start your dinner
too early. Between 9:00 p.m. and midnight there are not many places we can recommend.

Visitors looking for company don't
need to worry. Wherever you go in Sanur and the Kuta area, there are many other
single travellers with the same problem around – day and night. In Bali's
discos you'll meet also many "kupu kupu malams" ("night butterflies"
or working girls) and young boys who compete with the females and service all
sexes. All taxi drivers know the more popular karaoke bars and massage parlours
in Kuta and Denpasar, and the various "Houses of ill Repute" in Sanur's
narrow back lanes.

As reported in the BALI travel FORUM:
"Prostitution is illegal in Bali. However, like in many countries, everyone
turns a blind eye. Many girls can be found in nightclubs and bars in most areas.
They look usually just like the girl next door, albeit with a bit more make
up on, and they usually dress to please the eye. For the most part, they are
gentle, easy to be with, and a lot of fun if you want to dance, drink and have
a little fun with. Most will be yours for the whole night for about 300,000
Rupiah although prices range from 100,000 Rupiah to 1,000,000 Rupiah and more
– depending on the season, the time of night, the situation and the quality
of service".

SANUR & NUSA DUA

Some quite popular places in Sanur are the BORNEO PUB on Jalan Danau Tamblingan
and the TROPHY PUB in front of the Sanur Beach Hotel. Both, however, close around
1:00 a.m.

The JAZZ GRILLE, located at the Komplek
Pertokoan Sanur Raya No. 15/16 at the By-Pass opposite the Radisson hotel, was
opened in February 1999 and attracts tourists and locals alike with live bands
(from 9:30 to 12:00 p.m.), a smallish menu, and a billiard table upstairs. KAFE
WAYANG in the same building has life music with a good local band and jam sessions
with foreign guests every Friday – no wonder it's very popular with many
residents. JANGER is currently the only disco in Sanur. Most tourists and even
the expats living in Sanur prefer to go to "Kuta" if they look for
some fun.

The discos and pubs in Nusa Dua's
5-star hotels are often rather empty. They are mostly frequented by those visitors
who stay in-house and are too tired to make the 30 minutes drive to Kuta.

THE "KUTA" AREA

Everybody looking for some action and fun in the evening goes to "Kuta"
which nowadays means the area extending about 4 miles or 7 kilometers North
from the original village of Kuta and includes now Legian, Seminyak and even
Basangkasa. Here are most of the better entertainment places offering EVERYTHING
single male or female visitors as well as couples might be looking for.

There are several places such as
CASABLANCA etc. – down-market open-air pubs and very noisy discos full
of stoned Aussies courting Javanese "Kupu Kupu Malams". PEANUTS Discotheque
on Jalan Raya Legian at the Jalan Melasti corner (about the border between Kuta
and Legian) has been re-opened very soon after it was gutted by a fire. The
huge (air-conditioned) dance floor is often crowded, guests are a mix of locals
and younger foreign visitors.

Closer to the center of Kuta you
find the BOUNTY SHIP with a noisy, over-air-conditioned disco in the basement
and the re-built PADDY'S RELOADED not far from the original PADDY'S. When most
places close around 2.00 or 3.00 in the morning, night owls of all kinds continue
drinking at nearby MAMA'S until sunrise.

For a somewhat more civilized evening
out, you can have dinner and a couple of drinks at the bar at either TJ's or
KORI in Kuta, at POCO LOCO in Legian, at the open street side bar at NERO Bali
right opposite AROMAS Restaurant in Kuta, at the re-built MACCARONI CLUB in
Kuta, at MADE'S WARUNG in Basangkasa (see BALI - Restaurants to Enjoy), or at
the trendy HU'U Bar & Lounge near the Petitenget temple, LA LUCIOLA and
THE LIVING ROOM.

Something more outrageous and only
for open-minded people is HULU CAFE between Jalan Padma and Jalan Melasti in
Kuta/Legian, a place which calls itself the "only real gay bar in all of
Bali" with drag shows starting at 11:00 p.m. three times per week. The
performances are actually kind of funny!

You'll find a large and quite popular
HARD ROCK CAFE right at the beginning of Kuta's beach road with live music from
11 p.m. to 2 a.m. Expect to find many singles of all kinds here looking for
company. If you think this is too noisy, too crowded, or the air-conditioning
too cold for you, try the CENTER STAGE at the HARD ROCK RESORT located in the
back of the CAFE. As the name implies, the band performs on a raised stage in
the middle of the huge round lobby bar until 11:00 p.m. Both HARD ROCK outlets
are expensive by Bali standards.

The JAYA PUB on the main road in
Seminyak features also live music and attracts many Indonesian customers who
don't mind the chilling air-conditioning and the sometimes horrible bands and
singers.

Seminyak's best place to have a drink
and some fun at night is nowadays probably SANTA FEE Bar & Grill, Jalan
Abimanyu No. 11 (also known as Gado Gado Road or Jalan Dhyana Pura). Life music,
reasonably priced cocktails, a surprisingly good wine list (you have to ask
for it, but the prices are very low for Bali standards), and a menu offering
local, Mexican, and Japanese dishes as well as a choice of pizzas around the
clock and the friendly service attract many visitors until the early hours.
If you feel too hot downstairs, you can move to the small air-conditioned "Wine
Lounge" upstairs where you find also a rather good choice of wines to take
home.

Other popular night spots nearby
in the same street are SPY BAR, LIQUID, Q Bar ("for the alternative lifestyle"),
Antique Bar, SPACE, THE GLOBE and "A" BAR. New bars and "Chill-Out
Lounges" are opening all the time, and most of them feature DJ's and/or
live music on certain nights. Just walk down the road and check them out !

Later, from 2:00 a.m., it's party
time at the PAPARAZZI LOUNGE and DOUBLE SIX, a large open-air disco with several
bars, big dance floor, and many tables. Both are located next to each other
on the beach in Seminyak and charge an entrance fee of 30,000 to 100,000 Rupiah
(depending on the day) for which you get a voucher for a free drink. Here you'll
find most of Bali's night owls drinking and dancing the night away until 4:30
a.m. or so. (The legendary GADO GADO Disco has been re-converted into a restaurant.)

Also, watch out for notices and small
posters in Kuta and Seminyak announcing special events such as Full Moon Parties,
House Warming Parties, Body Painting Parties, etc, etc. If these "parties"
are announced to the public (even if only by word-of-mouth), they are open for
everybody. You'll have to pay for your drinks, therefore, don't be shy.

UBUD

Don't expect too much here. We are not Ubud nightlife experts, but names frequently
mentioned include PUTRA BAR, Jl. Monkey Forest (every night live music ranging
from Reggae to rock), MAGIC BAR, Jl. Monkey Forest (live music and sometimes
great atmosphere), JAZZ CAFE, Jl. Tebesaya (live music and jam sessions on different
nights), EXILE BAR (Saturday nights only, great music), and FUNKY MONKEY (early
hours cafe).

INTRODUCTION TO BALI, INDONESIA

INTRODUCTION TO BALI, INDONESIA

WHERE IS BALI?

The island of Bali is part of the Republic of Indonesia and is located 8 to
9 degrees south of the equator between Java in the West and Lombok and the rest
of the Lesser Sunda Islands (Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba and Timor) in the East.
Flying time to Jakarta is about 1.5 hours, to Singapore and Perth (Australia)
2.5 and 3 hours, to Hong Kong about 4.5 hours, and to Sydney/Melbourne about
5.5 to 6 hours.

GEOGRAPHY:

The island of Bali has an area of only 5,632 square kilometers (2,175 square
miles) and measures just 55 miles (90 kilometers) along the north-south axis
and less than about 90 miles (140 kilometers) from East to West. Because of
this it's no problem to explore the island on day tours. You can go wherever
you want on the island and return to your hotel or villa in the evening.

Located only two kilometers east
of Jawa, Bali's climate, flora and fauna are quite similar to its much larger
neighbour. The island is famous for its beautiful landscape. A chain of six
volcanoes, between 1,350 meters and 3,014 meters high, stretches from west to
east. There are lush tropical forests, pristine crater lakes, fast flowing rivers
and deep ravines, picturesque rice terraces, and fertile vegetable and fruit
gardens. The beaches in the South consist of white sand, beaches in other parts
of the island are covered with gray or black volcanic sand.

FLORA:

The wide variety of tropical plants is surprising. You'll see huge banyan trees
in villages and temple grounds, tamarind trees in the North, clove trees in
the highlands, acacia trees, flame trees, and mangroves in the South. In Bali
grow a dozen species of coconut palms and even more varieties of bamboo.

And there are flowers, flowers everywhere.
You'll see (and smell the fragrance of) hibiscus, bougainvillea, jasmine, and
water lilies. Magnolia, frangipani, and a variety of orchids are found in many
front yards and gardens, along roads, and in temple grounds. Flowers are also
used as decorations in temples, on statues, as offerings for the gods, and during
prayers. Dancers wear blossoms in their crowns, and even the flower behind the
ear of your waitress seems natural in Bali.

FAUNA:

Elephants and tigers don't exist any more in Bali since early this century.
Wildlife, however, includes various species of monkeys, civets, barking deer
and mouse deer, and 300 species of birds including wild fowl, dollar birds,
blue kingfishers, sea eagles, sandpipers, white herons and egrets, cuckoos,
wood swallows, sparrows, and starlings. You can watch schools of dolphins near
Lovina, Candi Dasa, and Padangbai. Divers will see many colorful coral fish
and small reef fish, moray eels, and plankton eating whale sharks as well as
crustaceans, sponges, and colorful coral along the east coast and around Menjangan
Island near Gilimanuk.

CLIMATE:

You can expect pleasant day temperatures between 20 to 33 degrees Celsius or
68 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. From December to March, the West monsoon
can bring heavy showers and high humidity, but usually days are sunny and the
rains start during the night and pass quickly. From June to September the humidity
is low, and it can be quite cool in the evenings. During this time of the year,
you'll have hardly any rain in the coastal areas.

Even when it rains in most parts
of Bali you can often enjoy sunny days on the "Bukit", the hill south
of Jimbaran Beach. On the other hand, in Ubud and the mountains you must expect
cloudy skies and showers throughout the year (this is why the international
weather reports for "Denpasar" or "Bali" mention showers
and rain storms during all times of the year). In higher regions such as in
Bedugul or Kintamani you'll also need either a sweater or jacket after the sun
sets.

POPULATION:

Bali's population has grown to over 3 million people the overwhelming majority
of which are Hindus. However, the number of Muslims is steadily increasing through
immigration of people from Java, Lombok and other areas of Indonesia who seek
work in Bali.

Most people live in the coastal areas
in the South, and the island's largest town and administrative center is fast
growing Denpasar with a population of now over 370,000. The villages between
the town of Ubud and Denpasar, Kuta (including Jimbaran, Tuban, and Legian,
Seminyak, Basangkasa, etc), Sanur, and Nusa Dua are spreading rapidly in all
directions, and before long the whole area from Ubud in the North to Sanur in
the East, Berawa/Canggu in the West, and Nusa Dua in the South will be urbanized.

ECONOMY:

This southern part of Bali is where most jobs are to be found, either in the
hotel and tourist industry, the textile and garment industry, and in many small
scale and home industries producing handicrafts and souvenirs. Textiles, garments,
and handicrafts have become the backbone of Bali's economy providing 300,000
jobs, and exports have been increasing by around 15% per year to over US$400
million. Textiles and garments contribute about 45%, and wood products including
statues, furniture and other handicrafts 22% to the province's total income
from exports. Silver work is ranked third (4.65%) with 5,000 workers employed.
Main buyers are the US and Europe with 38% each, and Japan with 9%.

Important agricultural products besides
rice are tea, coffee, tobacco, cacao, copra, vanilla, soy beans, chilies, fruit,
and vegetable (there are now even vineyards near the northwest coast). Bali's
fishing industry and seaweed farming provide other products which are important
exports.

The new free-trade regulations will
create some problems for Bali's exporters as they do not allow to employ children.
Most children here work for their parents, and this is part of the process of
acquiring professional skills and kind of an informal education which has been
very important in the Balinese society for centuries.

WHAT MAKES BALI SO SPECIAL:

There is the combination of the friendly people, the natural attractions, the
great variety of things to see and do, the year-round pleasant climate, and
the absence of security problems. And then there is Bali's special "magic",
which is difficult to explain.

As soon as you step off the plane
you might sense the difference. In the villages you'll notice the quietness
and wisdom in old people's faces, and the interest and respect in the young's.
Old men sit at the road side caressing their fighting cocks. Beautifully dressed
women walk proudly through rice fields and forests carrying offerings on their
heads to the next temple. There is the smell of flowers, and in the distance
you hear the sound of gamelan music.

Gods and spirits have been an important
part of Bali's daily life for hundreds of years. Gunung Agung – Bali's
holy mountain – is internationally regarded as one of the eight "Chakra"
points of the world. This may be more than an coincident. Watch out, the moment
you feel the magic of this island, you're addicted for the rest of your life.

To quote the "BALI travel FORUM"
contributor "Si Badak" who posted the following message on September
4th, 2000:

"The intricate patterns of Batik.
A walk on the beach at low tide,near where a stream flows into the ocean at,
for instance, the bottom of Jl. 66 in Seminyak, will show you where some ideas
originate. Because of different coloured minerals in the sand, swirling patterns
are intermingled by the action of the tide meeting the out-flowing stream very
reminiscent of Batik design. For many years it was forbidden to depict human
or animal forms so that people had to look to other natural forms for ideas.
It would be good to hear on this from the real experts.

Shining delight upon the faces of
newly arrived visitors, "baru datang" to local people, as they forge
ahead into the great unknown that is Bali. Confronted by a sea of golden faces,
the visiting children are the first to smile and reap emotional profit as they
are cosseted and cuddled by every Balinese woman or man they meet : sale or
no sale, children are all adored as spirits newly returned from the after-life.
Giving a happy smile in the direction of Balinese children is a very rewarding
pass-time also ; the proud Mum or Dad are only too willing to stop for a chat,
even without a language in common !

Boys and girls who are there to Party,
Party, Party ! These are no different to the Party Animals to be met on the
Costa Brava, in Baja California, at Blackpool, Bondi or anywhere people go for
a good time. Doesn't matter which nationality, although loud they are seldom
obnoxious unless you attempt to impose your ides of decorum upon them. A smile
and a snippet of badinage works well. Even WE were young ! Do you remember ?

An erect old lady on her 1940s bicycle,
pedalling through traffic while carrying 1000 eggs, in cartons 60cm square,
balanced precariously we think, upon her head of old, honorable grey. Thoughts
of very large omelets pass through tourists' minds but seldom has one of these
ladies of remarkable poise been seen to provide entertainment by falling over.
Carrying heavy buckets of water on their heads, from an early age, has given
them a balance and strength to be envied by olympic gymnasts.

Pairs of men on motor-bikes who deliver
newly made, wooden beds on their heads and shoulders from town to country. Sometimes
they can be seen carrying as many as three mattresses in the same way, or even
a bundle of pillows larger than themselves, buffeted by the slip-stream of passing
trucks : the man on the pillion is responsible for load security while the driver
controls the bike and attempts to keep them both steady. One wonders if this
merchandise gets tested along the way, maybe at about 2pm ?

The "8 Ps" are not often
in evidence ON this blessed isle, i.e. "proper prior planning & preparation
prevents pathetically poor performance". How many more time are we to see
the streets of Kuta being excavated for the installation of yet another public
utility ? To date we have had : drains at roadside dug and covered up, asphalted
a week or two later : footpaths to be paved and raised above drains : excavations
for telephone lines followed 6 months later by excavations for more cabling
and each time asphalting carried out when the pot-holes have been allowed to
mature to their full, axle-shattering width and depth : oops ! Then ? "The
drains are not deep / wide enough, let's do it all again !" Town planning
?

Early morning on the beach at Legian
towards Seminyak. A light breeze wafts aromas of the morning's rice to the fisherman,
sarung and basket tucked up near his waist, casting his net into the surf in
the hope of some extra food for his family. Old ladies and gentlemen appear
for a bath, cautiously dipping into the water, fully clothed, at its shallowest.
Tourist joggers and power-walkers come thundering sweatily along, ( to the amusement
of locals from a less punishing lifestyle), to be joined by a few enthusiastic
dogs, barking happily, who add to the fun by companionably running between their
legs.

Gunung Agung can be seen raising
his mighty head above his vassal clouds to see what his subjects are up to.
Having made his ritual inspection he draws his court around him and, usually,
hides for the rest of the day: he doesn't go away, the Balinese people know
he is still there, unseen but all-seeing as he ponders upon the doings of everybody,
even the stupid tourists!"

BALI MAP

Find complete information of map of Bali Island

Why i am still Going to Bali

Why I am Still Going to Bali

My friend Dian, an Indonesian journalist who works for ABC Radio, calls me
on my mobile. I’m standing on the corner of Hoddle and Victoria Streets
in Melbourne waiting for the lights to change. Dian tells me her phone has been
ringing all night with calls from Indonesia about the Bali bombings. I don’t
understand. I assume she’s talking about the anniversary.

She knows I am leaving for Bali in three days. “Aren’t you worried,”
she asks. I haven’t read the paper yet or heard the news and reply, stupidly,
that the bombings were a long time ago.

I hear her suck in her breath and then she tells me; there has been a second
round of attacks in and around Kuta. I have friends in Bali and I go there often
for yoga retreats, to rest and to write. All I can think about now are the lives
lost and how the Balinese will suffer economically as tourism plummets.

The pedestrian sign turns green and I step into the street. A khaki-green Mercedes
hurtles around the corner. The driver, a young kid, sees me at the last second.
He attempts to stop but is moving too fast. Brakes screech. I jump back out
of harm’s way. The boy throws his left arm up and I hear him yell “Sorreeeee”
as he accelerates away.

Having been knocked down twice at intersections by drivers who seem to confuse
pedestrians with the zebra lines on the road, Melbourne drivers scare me more
than Jemaah Islamiah. As I walk to work every day, I decide to research my survival
odds: In 2004, 49 pedestrians were killed in the state of Victoria. That means
the same number of Australians die every month here on the streets as died in
Bali II. Even more frightening is the fact that 30 percent of drivers surveyed
by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) admitted they had almost hit a pedestrian
or cyclist at least once. I am 12 times more likely to become a traffic statistic
this year than die in a bomb attack. I won’t lose sleep worrying about
terrorists; it’s Melbourne drivers that give me nightmares.

In the cruellest of ironies, the Ubud Writer’s Festival takes place the
week after Bali II. The Festival is an annual event started by Janet de Neefe,
an Australian living in Ubud, as a way to encourage tourists back to Bali after
the first bombing in October 2002. When I interviewed Janet last year, she told
me the Festival was organized to “draw the people and the community back
together.” Janet e-mails on Monday to say, “We hope you will support
us at a time when we need your help more than ever before.”

Besides attending the Writer’s Festival, I am going to Bali to finish
a story about the unemployed young men who idle along the sidewalks of Hanoman
Street, where I stay, and how they struggle to find work in an uncertain economy
that is overly reliant on tourism. Before, many of them worked in shops or as
artisans, but now, they tell me, tourists aren’t buying handicrafts, the
result of an oversupply of crafts and tourist numbers that never recovered after
the first bombings. The men have gone onto the streets. They work as drivers,
couriers, guides, anything. Sony, one of my contacts, tells me that he is happy
to have one job a day. “As long as we can eat and drink, we are happy,”
he says, “It has been a good day.” I have a sinking feeling that
when I go back to visit Jalan Hanoman, there won’t be many good days now.

For me, going to Bali has been a calculated risk since 2002. Several Indonesians
warned me Bali would be a target again. I have been taking precautions since
the last bombing—staying in small hotels, avoiding tourist restaurants,
steering clear of markets and crowds—but the odds are still greater that
I’ll be struck down right here at home. I am nervous about going but I
also feel a sense of responsibility to the Balinese and to the tourism culture
that Australians have helped to build. Eighty percent of Balinese rely on tourism
for their livelihoods and there is a lot of hidden poverty on this island. I
am more worried about the latest bombs blowing a hole in the Balinese economy.
Ketut, another of my Jalan Hanoman contacts, e-mails me that he “has much
fear Australians not come” to Bali now. The fatalistic Balinese urge tourists
to return to their island; bombings, they tell me, are just one of those unfortunate
things that now happen everywhere in the world that we must all learn to live
with. The only way I know to help the Balinese is to go there and spend my money
in their country. I’m not a medical professional; I’m not trained
in disaster relief or forensics. All I can give is my presence, my money and
my stories. I can assure them that I will still come back.

As a travel writer, I’ve learned that fear is largely a matter of perception
and of not understanding the community in which you find yourself. Ubud, where
I am headed, is a tightly-knit community; outsiders stand out. Dian, who has
a house in Jakarta, where she never ventures out of doors without a bodyguard,
tells me she is afraid to walk alone in the early morning hours in Melbourne,
a city I consider the safest I’ve lived in. Peter Semone of the Asia Pacific
Travel Association, quoted in the news, says that Australians may inevitably
face terrorism anywhere we go; he calls it the “new normal.” We
may no longer be safe from terrorism even inside Australia.

On Monday afternoon, I call Australian Airlines to confirm my flight to Denpasar.

“Do you still want to go after what’s happened?” asks the
agent.

“Of course I’m still going,” I reply.

I’m told that I will get a full refund if I choose to cancel my ticket.

“I won’t let the bastards win,” I say.

“Good onya, love,” says the agent.

Bali Renaisance

Bali Renaissance

Tanya joslin rediscovers the beauty of bali.

IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG for any underlying concerns to disappear. In fact,
I can pinpoint the exact moment when I felt 110% convinced that going back to
Bali was something I had left too long: the second I walked out of Ngurah Rai
International Airport in Denpasar. As the familiar smell of teak and incense
– heightened by the humidity – hit me, and a flood of memories poured
back, I knew I was falling under Bali’s spell again.

Like many Australians, Bali had been one of my favourite and most visited destinations
for years, and as we made our way from the airport, I tried to quell my excitement
at being back so I could absorb the ever-changing scenery. We passed through
the hustle and bustle of Kuta, eventually finding ourselves looking out at buffaloes
grazing by the roadside. Behind them, farmers toiled in emerald green rice paddies,
while towering mountains dominated distant perspectives, looking as if they’d
been hand-painted on to this glorious scene.

So many parts of Bali are so visually arresting that they alone lure travellers
back, time and time again. The island enjoys an incredibly diverse and beautiful
topography, including mountains and rivers, volcanoes, beaches, and dense jungle.
Sunsets are incredible here; the sun seems bigger, redder, and certainly more
brilliant than anywhere else. Witnessing a sunset from Tanah Lot – a temple
that is hundreds of years old and sits perched on a rock formation in the ocean
– is an experience everyone must enjoy at least once. As this temple and
the thousands of others on the island attest, the Balinese are a deeply religious
people. Their beliefs are called “Hindu Dharma”, which, although
based on Hinduism, is far removed from that practised in India. Hindu Dharma
is believed to have arrived on the island in the 11th century A.D and today,
religion still dominates all areas of life – from family and community
customs, to the arts and culture. You will see temples and shrines everywhere
- on mountains, by the seaside, and in the ever-present terraced rice fields.
It’s as if the spirituality of the Balinese people thrives on the beauty
of the island itself.

Besides all of the natural glories, there are also enticing man-made attractions
that set the island apart, in particular the huge range of luxury accommodation.
All the big names are here: Le Meridien, Sheraton, The Hilton, Conrad (the new
luxury sister-brand of the Hilton), The Grand Hyatt, Intercontinental and Ritz
Carlton, just to name a few. Incredible accommodation, unsurpassed service,
international fine dining at its best ... a holiday in one of the premier hotel
brands in Bali has to be experienced to be believed. The island is also a spa
afficionado’s dream destination, with magnificent settings and to-die-for
treatments proving worthy of a range of coveted awards.

The term “boutique resort” seems to have been created especially
for Bali. Highly regarded names, such as AmanResorts, Oberoi, GHM and Alila
(a relatively new brand, boasting the expertise of directors previously associated
with Aman and GHM), have all made their mark here, but don’t discount
or underestimate the many lesser-known, “one-off” boutique resorts
that also abound. Either way, these resorts are always smaller (never more than
50 rooms or villas; many with much less) and often exclusive, providing a holiday
experience in which traditional Balinese architecture and attentive staff –
experts in the art of satisfying even the most discerning guests – are
just some of the appealing trademarks. Then there are the private luxury villas.
Bali has set the pace when it comes to this style of accommodation, and the
rest of the world can only aspire to the standards set by villas found virtually
everywhere – amidst rice fields, on the beach, behind shopping precincts.
With private pools or lap pools seemingly a prerequisite, many villas also come
with their own staff who, if not staying in their own compound within your villa,
are usually only a phone call away, ready to attend to your every whim. Feel
like a massage? Most villas are able to arrange for a masseuse to visit your
room, or direct you to a high quality outside establishment. Feel like making
the most of the grand surrounds of your private luxury villa for the night,
rather than venturing out for dinner? No problem - staff are often able to visit
local restaurants on behalf of their guests, and deliver an affordable restaurant
meal to the villa (I’ve even stayed at villas that send staff in to clean
up after your meal! ).

You’ll also be struck by Bali’s unique take on hospitality if you’re
holidaying on a budget. Establishments of four stars or less are so often in
a different league to similarly-rated establishments in other parts of the world,
thanks in no small part to the genuine warmth of the Balinese people, who seem
to do everything from the heart.

Just as all of the accommodation options in Bali possess their own unique charm,
so too do the different regions of the island ...

Ubud is where the heart of Bali’s artistic culture lies. Ever since early
last century, when this highland region first caught the attention of Dutch
painter, Ruldoph Bonnet, lovers of art and culture have made their pilgrimage
to beautiful Ubud, with the awe-inspiring Mt Ayung towering in the background.
Today, the artistic personality of the area is still very evident, with quaint
art galleries and shops featuring artworks ranging from paintings and carvings,
to textiles and sculptures. Ubud is also well positioned for day trips to Mt.
Batur and Lake Batur, as well as the botanical garden in Bedugul.

Seminyak is approximately ten minutes’ drive from Kuta (depending on
traffic), but much more sophisticated. While Kuta is often associated with loud
tourists enjoying a pub crawl, Seminyak has developed a reputation for being
quite “hip”. Much of the shopping and dining here is of an international
standard, and there are establishments in Seminyak that will make you think
you’re sitting at a chic bar or restaurant in the trendiest part of any
major Australian city ... with a different view, of course! A restaurant and
bar revolution is taking place in Bali, and with its incredible plethora of
great dining experiences, Seminyak seems to be leading the way.

Legian, just south of Seminyak, also offers great shopping and dining, as well
as a beautiful surf beach.

Nusa Dua is thought by many to be the most glamorous beach area of Bali, and
certainly this seems to be the opinion of high class hotel developers, with
an impressive range of sumptuous hotels located here. The beaches are wide,
great for snorkelling, and most are reserved for the guests of the enviable
mix of luxury brands. Jimbaran was once a sleepy fishing village and today,
one of the delights of staying or visiting the area is the freshly caught seafood,
barbequed on the beach and offered for a fraction of the price you would pay
at home.

Sanur is a top spot to watch the sun rise, and is a favourite destination for
families because of the sheltered swimming it affords.

Candi Dasa, located on the other side of the island, was a relatively unknown
area as recently as a decade ago. It has managed to retain much of its “village”
atmosphere, and is somewhat quieter than the southern areas of Bali. Located
on the “black sand coast” of Bali, many visitors to this part of
the island come for the snorkelling and scuba diving.

I’d love to tell you that I was up early every morning on my long-awaited
holiday, ready to step out and see and do as much as possible. But as this had
been my modus operandi on numerous other trips to Bali, I felt comfortably free
from the need to explore from dusk ‘til dawn – it had been too long
since I had had enjoyed a holiday, and some serious “down time”
was in order. As such, we did nothing more than bask in the luxurious surrounds
of a five-star hotel out at peaceful Tanah Lot for four nights, before moving
into a luxurious private villa in the busier area of Seminyak. Heaven!

Splitting our time this way was a great way to enjoy two very different holidays
in one. We had the full service and facilities of the hotel, where days were
spent relaxing around the resort and the stunning pool areas, with quick trips
out to the small village at nearby Tanah Lot, before enjoying cocktail hour
by the pool, beautiful sunsets and memorable evening meals.

Once ensconced in our private villa, it was tempting to simply hide away there
and enjoy our luxury surroundings, but the hip and happening Seminyak proved
irresistible, and we spent much of our time dining at Ku de Ta and The Living
Room, with plenty of shopping in between.

And what shopping it was – truly better than ever! If it’s homewares
you’re after, Bali has an endless array of shops offering decorator items
for at least half the price they’d sell for at home, while the quality
of shoes and clothing has improved tenfold, both in style and durability: gorgeous
sandals for less than $10 a pair that would easily sell for $50 at home; intricately
beaded wraps for around $5 (their Aussie twins would cost at least $40); and
fun little beaded silk handbags for $5-$10 that would easily retail for $30
or more, all made their way into our suitcases.

For children’s clothes (think Christmas presents for nieces and nephews
if you don’t have any children of your own), Matahari Department Store
was great, with Disney sneakers costing around $10, and other brands of shoes
as little as $5. Matahari also stocks the famous Osh Kosh brand, and a two piece
velvet outfit that would have cost a small fortune at home was less than $35.
The ultimate proof of their durability? Regularly putting them on my two year
old daughter ... six months later, they are still going strong!

The two questions I have been asked most since returning from Bali are: “Did
you feel safe?” and, “Has Bali changed much?”. The answer
is a resounding yes on both counts. For me, safety concerns in Bali were on
a par with catching the train to work at home, or attending any event in the
world that draws large numbers. And as for change, I am happy to report that
Bali has changed, but definitely for the better. It’s always offered luxury
accommodation, exquisite scenery, quality shopping and great dining options
– not to mention a fascinating and vastly different culture so close to
Australia – but now there’s also a noticeable change in the “vibe”,
and an infrastructure in the midst of major upgrades to ensure it keeps abreast
of this buzz.

Bali has grown up and grown into her beauty, and she is undeniably more confident
and more sophisticated than ever before.

A Honeymoon in a Luxury Villa in Bali

A Honeymoon in a Luxury Villa
in Bali

A honeymoon in a luxury villa in Bali is guaranteed to be one of the most important
times that a newly wed couple will ever spent together. It marks the beginning
of a life journey of two people who have committed themselves to love and unity.

There are two very special villa properties in Bali, Kayumanis and the Gangsa,
which have been designed especially for honeymooners seeking that extra touch
of privacy and romance.

There are three Kayumanis villa properties on the spiritual isle of Bali in
distinct locations where honeymooners can choose to experience the refreshing
countryside of Ubud, tranquility of a beachside coconut grove at Jimbaran Bay
and an exclusive resort enclave at Nusa Dua.

Alternatively, any honeymoon couple will appreciate time at the Gangsa, an
intimate compound of 11 stylish villas that emulates the harmony of Balinese
living, tucked down a back lane in the revered priestly village of Sanur.

Both Kayumanis and the Gangsa villa properties offer honeymooners the opportunity
to spend precious time alone together without any unnecessary disturbances to
their privacy. A discreet personal Butler service is available to serve breakfast
and any other meals if desired. Each villa features a swimming pool, gourmet
kitchen and many other luxury conveniences that will anticipate every possible
honeymoon need.

Honeymoon couples choosing to stay at either of these exclusive villa properties
in Bali will take pleasure in the array of unique services and facilities available.
Kaymanis and the Gangsa have recognized that weary honeymooners often need to
wind down and replenish themselves following a hectic wedding schedule; therefore
both villa properties feature spa facilities. Treatments based on Bali’s
ancient healing and beauty rituals have been created especially for couples
to nurture the body, mind and spirit. In a double spa villa honeymooners can
indulge with a choice of stimulating massage, body scrubs and flower baths.

A delightful treat for every honeymoon couple is a romantic candlelight dinner
set up after dark in the privacy of their own villa garden. Under a tropical
Balinese sky filled with twinkling stars, honeymooners can savour the ambience
of wining and dining with a backdrop of whispering candles and fragrant flower
petals decorating the pool. This is a once in a lifetime moment.

Kayumanis and the Gangsa villa properties have gone to great lengths to ensure
that every newly wed couple will experience the ultimate honeymoon experience
in Bali – one that is filled with joyous memories of love and romance
that they can treasure forever.

A Wedding in a Private Villa in Bali

A Wedding in a Private Villa
in Bali

A wedding is a milestone in every adult couple’s life and this very special
occasion should be just perfect. A less formal alternative to a church ceremony
is holding an intimate wedding celebration for close family and friends in a
luxurious villa in Bali. Kayumanis and the Gangsa are properties that provide
exclusive private villa settings where couples can spent their precious day
in natural tropical garden surroundings.

A wedding in a private villa in Bali eliminates much of the stress and anxiety
that is invariably associated with this day. Both Kayumanis and the Gangsa villa
properties can assist with most of the time consuming details leaving the bride
and groom to relax and enjoy the lead up to the big day. The professional teams
at these private villa properties have extensive experience in catering, decoration,
photography, flowers, entertainment and all the other necessary arrangement
that need to be made.

Kayumanis and the Gangsa villa properties in Bali provide an array of services
and facilities to ensure that every bridal couple is completely indulged before
and after their wedding. Pampering spa treatments especially for him/her include
massage, body scrubs and facials based on ancient Balinese healing and beauty
principles. Optimal wellness and a sense of inner enlightenment are attained
through specific treatments designed to nurture the body and soothe the soul.

The three Kayumanis villa properties located in Ubud, Nusa Dua and Jimbaran
as well as the Gangsa in the revered priestly village of Sanur were purposely
designed as private contemporary Balinese retreats with each providing an uncompromising
level of personal service. Each unique villa environment is an idyllic wedding
setting and couples can choose whether they want to marry against a backdrop
of tropical hinterland, under a grove of dancing coconut palms, in a stylish
resort enclave or in a harmonious Balinese compound.

If a couple decides to keep their wedding ceremony small and intimate, Kayumanis
and the Gangsa properties can accommodate members of the bridal party in their
own private villa. This eliminates organizing transport and there are ample
sightseeing tours and in-house activities to keep everyone occupied while the
bride and groom prepare themselves.

There is no better destination for couples to celebrate their wedding and the
spirit of love than the island of Bali. Private accommodation such as Kayumanis
and the Gangsa villas anticipate and cater to every possible need for that special
day which symbolizes a new beginning that is filled with romance, commitment
and sharing all aspects of life together.