The Bali Travel Blog

May 14, 5 unique Bali boutique hotels in the south of the island

Mon, 14 May 2012 19:38:48 GMT

We have come across various of these unique Bali boutique hotels in almost every part of the island but here we like to introduce you to 5 of these hotels located in the south of Bali...

May 11, Relax at Tom's Garden Cafe at Balian beach

Fri, 11 May 2012 20:16:21 GMT

Many travelers coming from Java island will reach Bali island by boat arriving at Gilimanuk harbour. From here they either go to Lovina Beach or head straight to the famous and crazy Kuta beach.

Along the way from Gilimanuk to Kuta Beach there's a small and scenic beach called Balian beach where you should definitely stop for a lunch break at Tom's Garden Cafe which is part of the small scale Pondok Pisces hotel.

May 9, What is Jamu?

Wed, 09 May 2012 09:58:51 GMT

You might have seen it once or a couple of times in Bali: a lady carrying a basket filled with bottles and jars. The Balinese greet her daily for their dose of traditional medicine called Jamu. Read more on what Jamu is by clicking on the following link.

May 7, Great Bali sightseeing route from Kuta beach to Lovina beach

Mon, 07 May 2012 23:57:24 GMT

We have crisscrossed Bali island from north to south and from east to west and have taken some great routes along the way.

Among the 6 routes we highlight on our Bali sightseeing routes there’s one that’s pretty spectacular. It goes from the crazy coastal town of Kuta Beach via Tanah lot, Tabanan, Antosari, Pupuan, Seririt, Banjar and ends in Lovina, the northern tourist spot where life is a lot more relaxed than the starting point of the journey.

May 7, the Beautiful Anda Amed Resort

Mon, 07 May 2012 08:20:58 GMT

Anda Amed Resort is one big pleasant surprise: it has beautiful oceanview, classy well maintained bungalows and relaxing atmosphere...

May 5, Discover the different types of Bali courses

Sat, 05 May 2012 17:59:42 GMT

Bali courses are a great way to learn how to play the Gamalan, dance like a Balinese or carve a wooden statue. But besides these arts and crafts there are many other types of Bali courses you can join.

Read about all the possibilities and who knows you might end up being able to give a traditional Balinese full body massage by the end of your holiday...;-)

May 4, Bali Spa - Visit a great spa in Seminyak

Fri, 04 May 2012 20:32:23 GMT

Looking for a good and professional Bali spa in Seminyak? It took a while until we found one that is not only reasonably priced but is clean, has a great atmosphere, relaxing messages and last but not least experienced staff that are very friendly. Check out which one we highly recommend...

May 3, Bali Women - Their challenges in life...

Thu, 03 May 2012 15:46:23 GMT

When you are traveling around Bali you will be enchanted by the beauty of the surroundings and people. Especially the Balinese women are striking when they dress up in their best cloths and head to a temple ceremonies. However behind these colorful scenes and sparkling smiles lies a a lot of challenges for the Balinese women. Read more on the fate of the Balinese women...

May 1, The sacred waters of Tirta Empul on Bali island

Tue, 01 May 2012 17:56:41 GMT

Tirta Empul is one of the most important sights in central Bali and worth a visit if you have the time. It’s located just a 30-minute drive north from Ubud near the village of Tampaksiring...

Apr 30, Enjoy a wonderful stay at Conrad Hotel Bali

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:31:26 GMT

Conrad Hotel Bali is a large and stunning resort located in Tanjung Benoa, just a stone throw away from Nusa Dua.

Their beautiful premises, spacious pools, clean beach but most importantly their friendly staff ensures an unforgettable stay and more than likely a return visit.

Discover more on Conrad Bali Hotel here...

Apr 27, Our favorite Lovina beach restaurants

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:18:34 GMT

Lovina beach in the north of Bali island is a very laid-back beach with loads of guesthouses, hotels, tour agencies, shops and of course restaurants. We've tried several restaurants some better than others and some even of such low standards it's better not to write about them here.

Apr 26, Bali rice farming - The cycle of rice

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:53:50 GMT

Rice plays a huge role in the life of the Balinese. Not only is it their staple food and do they use it in offerings, but the whole rice cultivation process is part of their community life.

As a foreigner we use one word for rice, whether it's still a grain or cooked on your plate. The Balinese however have three words. Padi is the rice plant still located in the fields, while beras is the uncooked grain which you buy in the stores. Nasi is the cooked rice and can be either have it as nasi goreng (fried rice) or nasi putih (plain rice). A rice field is called a sawah.

To learn more on the process of rice cultivation have a look at the following link.

Apr 25, Bali Cooking Class - Discover the secrets of the Balinese cuisine...

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:06:36 GMT

What better way to share your Bali holiday experience then to prepare a couple of your favorite Balinese dishes for your friends and family once your return home. Everywhere on the island you can find restaurants, resorts and Balinese families offering hands on cooking classes. Check out what you can expect and what you will learn...

Apr 24, Honeymooner's paradise at Ubud Hanging Gardens

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:09:15 GMT

If there's one spot just outside Ubud that's extremely romantic then it's Ubud Hanging Gardens.

This villa resort is located a 25-minute ride outside Ubud village on the edge of a hamlet called Desa Buahan and has a gorgeous view on the river gorge and the Hindu temple across.

Ubud Hanging Gardens got its name from this stunning setting, the tropical rainforest and being built on steep slopes. There are 38 private luxury villas all with private swimming pools and sun decks but their main swimming pool is also worth a try as it is the most unique swimming pool on the island...

Apr 21, Discovery of one of the most beautiful Bali beaches 'Pasir Putih'

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:03:15 GMT

Just north of Candidasa in the regency of Karangasem you’ll find one of the most beautiful Bali beaches called ‘Pasir Putih’. In Indonesian ‘Pasir Putih’ means ‘white sand’ and that’s exactly what this beach is about. Bali island has several volcanoes which translates in black volcanic beaches most of the time...

Apr 20, Italian Food at Legian Beach Bali

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:13:21 GMT

We always recommend our readers to try the delicious Bali food. Despite the fact that the local food has a large choice of dishes and you can easily eat Balinese food every day of your holiday, we recommend many other types of food too.

One of them is italian food at Ristorante Italia. This restaurant is located along Legian beach and serves the best pasta's and pizza's we have tasted so far in Bali.

Read more on Ristorante Italia so you can try it out too whenever you are in Bali...

Apr 19, Do's and don'ts in a temple on Bali island

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:31:41 GMT

Bali is known for her unique blend of Hinduism and animistic beliefs packed in what the Balinese call Hindu Dharma.

You can only find this unique religion on this island and nowhere else in the Indonesian archipelago even though it comes from Java where it has now died out.

There are thousands of temples on the island and here you can find out the do's and don'ts before entering them...

Apr 17, Cruising around Bali island on a mountain bike

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:01:07 GMT

One of the things to do in Bali we highly recommend is booking yourself a cycling tour with one of the many tour companies available. Most companies can pick you up from your hotel and will bring you to the sight from where the tour starts so it doesn’t matter if you stay in Kuta, Nusa Dua, Sanur or Ubud...

Apr 16, Bali Beach Resort | Bali luxury resort

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:25:02 GMT

Looking for a Bali Beach Resort which is actually located right at the beach? This list covers all types of resorts set along famous Bali beaches.

Apr 14, Bali Climate - Rain or Sunshine...

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 07:03:19 GMT

Bali has a tropical climate which means that it is either wet or dry season. Read when it is sunny or cloudy in Bali and if it will affect your holiday...

Apr 13, Tee time on golfers's paradise Bali island

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:15:55 GMT

There are so many things to do on Bali that you will have a hard time choosing but for those into sports one of the unique things is playing a round of golf on one of the 5 golf courses Bali has available.

Most of these golf courses are set in stunning locations with the Bali Handara Kosaido Country Club being my favorite.

It's located just outside Bedugul and not far from the famous Lake Bratan. Anyway have a look here at which golf course suits you the best, is it the Nusa Dua Golf Course with views at the ocean or do you prefer the Tanah Lot golf course with views on the island's most photographed temple?

Apr 12, Bali dance - Watch the Kecak dance somewhere else...

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:18:41 GMT

The Kecak dance is a popular Bali dance witnessed by many travellers. Ubud is one of the villages where you can see this performance on different evenings of the week.

But there are many other great places where you can see the Kecak. Read more on where to go to experience this impressive Bali dance...

Apr 11, Waterfalls of Bali and where to find them

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:45:57 GMT

Bali is a volcanic island with various volcanoes leading to rugged areas with plenty of waterfalls, river gorges and steep valleys. Here you can find out where to take a dip at these scenic waterfalls of Bali...

Apr 10, Bali bird watching - The herons of Petulu

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:59:21 GMT

Every evening between 17.00 and 18.00 the little village Petulu, located north of Ubud is visited by thousands of herons who settle in the trees for the night.

The sight of all these herons are not only worth the trip to this village but the drive along the rice fields and through Balinese villages is a nice one too...

Apr 9, Villa Patal Bali | Bali Holiday Villas

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:56:38 GMT

Villa Patal Bali is a unique villa beautifully located amid the mystical landscape of East Bali with magnificent views you won't get enough of...

Apr 8, ATM on Bali island and where to find one

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:05:13 GMT

You don't have to convert money into Indonesian Rupiahs at your local bank, there are loads of ATM's on Bali island that will help you throughout your holidays. Here you can find out where to find them...

Apr 5, Kori Ubud Bali - One of our favorites in Ubud

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:18:50 GMT

The Kori Ubud Bali is one of our favorite boutique hotels on the island as they have great rooms, lovely staff and a very low-key atmosphere. The best must be their bathrooms which are huge compared to other Bali accommodations...

Apr 2, Nusa Dua Hotel - Choose from the Mega Bali Beach Resorts

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:24:22 GMT

Nusa Dua is popular for those who want to spend a relaxing beach holiday in Bali. There are a lot of international resorts to choose from all offering a range of facilities, different types of rooms, restaurants serving all sorts of cuisine and much more. Read about the advantages of staying at one of these mega Nusa Dua Hotels...

Apr 2, Flights to Bali - A New Airline will be flying to Bali Airport

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:24:22 GMT

Philippine Airlines already has a flight from Manila via Singapore to Jakarta but starting from April they will be flying directly to Bali airport too. Twice a week you can either head from Denpasar to Manila or vice versa. And if you are quick and get yourself a ticket before April 30th you can profit from a good deal. Philippine Airlines is offering discounted fares between April 28th till the September 30 2012.

Apr 2, Spend a great day at Sanur Beach Bali

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:24:22 GMT

Sanur Beach Bali is one of the villages most visited by travelers. But unlike Kuta and Seminyak, Sanur beach is pretty quiet. This is probably because 'the Sanur crowd' is a bit older than the ones at the party beach villages. That said, Sanur beach is still a wonderful place to spend some time. The beach is nice and there is a large number of great shops, restaurants and cafes. Check what we recommend doing whenever you are in Sanur Beach Bali.

Apr 2, Discover the amazing Tegallalang Ricefields near Ubud Bali

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:53:28 GMT

The area around Ubud is packed with rice fields, one even more beautiful than the other. But one of the most amazing rice fields are the rice fields of Tegallalang just north of Ubud...

Mar 27, Possible fuel rise in Bali Indonesia

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:29:00 GMT

In Indonesia people have been protesting against the planned fuel rise. Demonstrations earlier this week have led to clashes between students and police. It is said that 'Bali is safe' and measures have been taken to prevent anything from happening.

Mar 25, Stay at one of the cheap Bali hotels in Lovina under $100 USD

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:56:55 GMT

While South Bali is packed with travelers, at Lovina beach it is pretty quiet. Despite its low numbers of visitors Lovina beach has a lot of accommodations to choose from. Some nicer than others... Check out the cheap Bali hotels under $100 that we recommend staying at when you are planning to stay in Lovina.

Mar 25, Check out our latest video on Bali beaches

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:50:40 GMT

Bali beaches attract many travelers from all over the world. Each beach has its own character so whether you are into surfing, sunbathing, lounging, diving or snorkeling there is always a Bali beach for you. Watch our latest video and discover the famous Bali beaches.

Mar 21, Driving a Bali motor scooter

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:35:02 GMT

Bali's most popular mode of transport is the motor scooter and loved by many are the Honda Vario Automatic and Yamaha Mio automatic. These bikes can easily reach speeds of up to 110/120 km per hour but are difficult to reach since traffic is really slow (you're lucky if you can get 50 km/p hour).

Mar 17, Stay at a nice hotel near Bali Airport

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:27:25 GMT

If you have an early flight leaving Bali why not stay at a nice resort or hotel near the airport to avoid arriving late due to traffic. Check which three Bali beach resorts and which reasonable priced hotel we recommend staying at for the last night of your holiday in Bali...

Mar 15, Discover Campuhan at Ubud Bali

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:26:47 GMT

Just west of downtown Ubud you can find the lush green Campuhan hamlet. Despite its beauty, many travellers who come to Ubud fail to explore Campuhan.

See and read more on Campuhan so you won't skip this part of town when you are in Ubud.

Mar 13, A Beautiful Life at the Munduk Moding Plantation

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:20:36 GMT

Just outside Munduk on the hills of Gobleg is a little gem called the Munduk Moding Plantation where life is uncomplicated yet luxurious. Here we've stayed in an amazing villa with views to die for, lovely staff, great trekking routes and loads of organic produce. This is one of the places where days easily become weeks and where we will come back for sure....

Mar 8, Bali Kuta Beach getting a new walkway

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:29:08 GMT

Bali Kuta Beach is Indonesia's most famous beach and has seen a tourism boom in the last decades. Unfortunately they forget the infrastructure but this is going to be changed with the new walkway along the beach...

Mar 7, Nyepi Day 2012

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:30:21 GMT

Are you in Bali on the 23rd of March? On this special day there will be total silence on the island. Read more on what to expect...

Mar 7, Bali issues a Curfew for Party-goers

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:03:32 GMT

Nightlife in Kuta area is going to change. Read the full post by clicking on the link below.

Mar 5, Bali beaches - Discover a tropical secluded beach

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:55:59 GMT

Bali is blessed with a wide range of different beaches such as surf beaches, white beaches, black beaches, snorkeling beaches etc. We were fortunate enough to discover one that was deserted. Discover where you can find it too!

Mar 5, The New Bali Travel Blog has been launced...

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:48:05 GMT

The Bali travel blog has been an excellant way to keep you posted on the latest on Bali and to provide you with facts and tips on traveling in Bali. We really appreaciate all the positive comments we have received about our blog. To make it more easier to scroll through our new and older blog posts we have updated our site. Now you can find all the posts we have written so far. And we will ofcourse continue writing new ones almost daily. It is still in the starting phase but if you want to check it out click on the link below.

Mar 1, Ubud Bali - Our one day itinerary

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:08:16 GMT

A couple of weeks ago we already posted a one day itinerary for Ubud. But since there is so much to do in Ubud we are adding another example of a day we spent in this cultural village.

There are many tours available in Ubud such as bike tours, bird watching tours and herbal walk tours. These tours usually start early in the morning and end after lunch.

We have tried many of them and recommend trying at least one. For instance the bike tours are great to see the countryside, rice fields, local factories and villages while going downhill on the bike. On the other hand the bird watching tours are a perfect way to learn more about Bali's nature and discovering the rice fields.

During one of our stays we went with Bali Bike Baik tour who picked us up at 7.30 and after a quick visit at the organic farm we started off with breakfast in Kintamani where we had a gorgeous view over Lake Batur.

Most of the cycling is downhill but occasionally there is a hill you need to climb. But if you can't make it you can jump off and just walk. So anybody can join this tour.

After the wonderful tour and a delicious lunch offered by the bike tour company we were dropped off again at Ubud. From here we strolled to the Neka Museum, our favorite museum in Ubud.

Here you can find all kinds of Balinese and Indonesian work and you get a chance to create a understanding of the different styles of art.

After the museum we did some shopping at the many stores in Ubud. Ubud is popular for shopping and besides beautiful souvenirs they have a large selection of textile, jewelry, house-accessories, beauty products, cloths, books and paintings.

After a shower and a quick change at our hotel we finished the day with a nice candle light dinner at Cafe Wayan. Other great restaurants where we can easily spend the whole evening having dinner are for instance Ibu Rai, Tutmak and Bali Buddha Health Cafe.

Feb 28, Rent a baby in Bali

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 10:13:16 GMT

Even though Bali island is one of the most prosperous islands in the Indonesian archipelago begging still occurs in certain parts of Bali.

Especially in tourist hot spots such as Legian and Ubud you will still see woman carrying a "rent-a-baby" and asking you for money.

These woman often come from poor areas in Bali such as the northern part around Singaraja (the former capital), Amed (where land is barren) and Trunyan where life is hard too. The weird thing is that they use somebody's else baby to get the machine rolling. Sometimes even little children are thrown into the game and will come up to you with their 'how can I resist eyes".

It's hard not to give especially after flying around the world to experience what the island of the Gods is all about but by giving you will support this kind of behavior forcing more kids out of school and more beggars into the streets.

Bali is doing extremely well and is growing economically. Moreover it has free health care for every local Balinese so please think twice when you see beggars in the streets.

Feb 24, One of favorite places to stay - Puri Mesari Sanur

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:49:05 GMT

When it is almost time to leave Bali we always find it easy to spend the last night in Sanur. Here we can enjoy a wonderful dinner right at the beach plus it is just a 20 minutes drive to the airport.

One of our favorite hotels in Sanur is Puri Mesari. It is a very small scale hotel with a Balinese atmosphere.

The rooms are large and you either have a balcony or a terrace facing the pool and garden. It is located a short walk from the beach and if you rent a bike you can easily reach everything in Sanur.

This mid-range hotels is definitely worth staying if you are looking for a relaxing, low key hotel together with the Balinese smiles from the staff.

Feb 23, Candidasa East Bali- Our one day itinerary

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:21:15 GMT

Candidasa used to be a popular beach getaway but after planning went wrong they struggled with erosion and the beach slowly disappeared. Today you can find some strips of sand here and there but a stroll along the beach is a no go.

Nevertheless we love staying in Candidasa. Despite the busy road passing through the village, Candidasa has a laid back atmosphere, is covered in palm trees and its ocean is great to swim in.

On top of that it is located in a wonderful part of Bali so ideal to do day trips. So when we are there we are always pretty busy. This is what we did on one of the occasions we were in Candidasa.

After breakfast we jumped on the motorbike and drove to Tenganan which is just about 20min from Candidasa. In this unique village you can have a peek at the daily life of the original descendants of Bali who still live according to ancient traditions. Here you can also find the ikat weaving and the palm leave calendars.

From Tenganan we continued our trip to Trita Gangga, the renovated ancient royal pools. The unique thing about this site is that you can jump in one of these pools too. Ideal to cool down in the afternoon.

Just of the road of Tirta Gangga there are many nice places for lunch with a terrific view over the rice fields. Ideal to stop to have some lunch.

After lunch we continued our journey towards Amlapura and Amed. The scenery along the way is a mixture of rice- and agricultural fields. Every now and then Mount Agung pops up on the horizon too. It's a wonderful place to experience a beautiful part of the island.

We always make sure we are back in Candidasa in the late afternoon because then the tide is high and it's perfect for a swim. After this there is only one thing left to do and that is to sit back, relax and watch the colorful sunset. A terrific place to take a plunge is at Alam Asmara Dive resort where they also have a terrific restaurant right at the water.

Feb 18, Helping a hand - The importance of Ducks in the Bali rice fields.

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:51:57 GMT

The Balinese love ducks. Not only will you see it as a tasty dish (Bebek Betutu) on the menu of most Balinese restaurants but they also keep them as pets and train them for an important task.

In Bali the ducks play an prominent role in the success of the rice yield as the ducks get rid of the pests by eating them while fertilizing the soil with their droppings at the same time.

To get from the village to the rice fields the owner guides his ducks by holding a stick with a white flag and calling out 'mari, mari, mari...' (let's go, go go...) The ducks will follow their owner anywhere and it's pretty common to see them crossing a busy street together.

As soon as the owner places the stick in the ground the ducks start doing their business.

This is yet an other great example of animals helping humans a hand.

You are more than likely to see the ducks working wonders at one of the many rice fields in Bali. One of our favorite places to witness it is at the rice fields in Ubud. There is a easy-to-find-path through these rice fields that take you along the fields, rivers and palm trees. A perfect time to go is late in the afternoon, just before it gets dark.

Feb 15, Bali Picture - Offerings

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:57:46 GMT

Every day, several times a day the Balinese place offerings for their spirits. These offerings can be found at different places. On shrines, near statues, on the car dashboard, on counters of shops, on the floor etc. Each offering has a specific meaning.

For instance those ones placed on the pavements are to appease the lower spirits as they are believed to be the trouble makers while the one on tricky junctions are to ask the spirits for protection.

We love seeing these offerings when we travel through the island because this is just one of the many things what makes Bali so beautiful.

Feb 13, Lovina Beach Bali - Our one day itinerary

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:30:22 GMT

Lovina beach is located in the north of Bali. Unlike Kuta area the tourism development seems to have come to a halt a decennia ago making it a quiet beach despite the many accommodations.

Lovina might not be as attractive as the south Bali beaches because of the distance from the airport, the black beach plus the presence of a massive highway passing through making it unpleasant to go strolling around.

Nevertheless we enjoyed staying in Lovina because it isn't as crowded as other parts of Bali plus it's an ideal place place to relax and to do some day trips. Here is what we did one day in Lovina and highly recommend to others.

We were woken up early in the morning by the boatman who took us on the famous Lovina dolphin trip. The chances of seeing dolphins are high as they gather here every morning for breakfast. Not only are the animals thrilling but being on the water so early in the morning is a wonderful experience.

After breakfast back at the hotel we jumped on the motorbike and headed to the Sing Sing waterfalls located west of Lovina. The road passing Lovina is pretty busy but if you take it easy you will be safe driving around. Keep a lookout for the sign pointing to the waterfalls.

You need to take a short walk from the parking space to the waterfalls. The local people are very willing to assist you for a small fee. There are two waterfalls you can check out and take a dip.

After a chilly but refreshing dip and enjoying the scenery it's time for lunch. It's quite a drive but this little organic restaurant has a view you don't want to miss. Drive to Seririt and turn left.

From here follow the road and turn left when you see the sign to Munduk then check out for signs pointing to Mayong. Here you will find 'Bali Panorama'. Once you take a seat you know where it gets its name from.

After lunch drive the same way back and turn right when you get back to the busy road. Turn right again once you see the 'Banjar Hot springs-sign'. You will see many more signs leading you right to the springs. Here you can soak in the hot springs while relaxing every muscle in your body.

After our skin was all wrinkled from soaking too long we drove back to Lovina. We arrived just before dark so we had enough time to witness the amazing sunset. A nice place to have a drink and dinner while watching this colorful phenomenon is at The Seabreeze Restaurant, just left of the dolphin statue at Kalibukbuk.