A Trip to Bali
According to Wikipedia, Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east. It is one of the country’s 33 provinces with the provincial capital at Denpasar towards the south of the island.
I was looking forward to this holiday just to relax, have fun time and eat to my heart’s content and mainly to experience the pleasure of spa treatment for the first time in my life. I was accompanied by my aunt (mausi). We planned the trip together and during those “planning” days the trip seemed to be exciting and I couldn’t wait to reach there. I took the cheapest airline (Airasia which operates from Malaysia) to reach Denpasar Ngurah Rai International Airport. But as soon as I checked into the resort (Aston Bali), I became extremely lazy and got spoilt by the traditional Balinese hospitality, luxury and the cosy atmosphere of the resort.
the resort lobby.
I arrived at 2am on DAY 1 and had a full day to wait for my aunt to arrive from Beijing. The resort had a Spa, Reflexology centre, swimming pool, private beach and many more. My anut’s friend had come from Pune to spend her vacation. We woke up very late the next morning, both had a stomach filling or rather heart filling breakfast at their cafe and just lazed around exploring the resort. The resort offers many activities such as village tour, yoga class, aqua aerobics, ping pong tournament(not the one Farha and Jomol chichi does ) fruit carving demonstration, Balinese dance lesson etc and many water sports.
DAY 2 started off very early. We had arranged for a guided tour to explore Bali. We went straight to Tohpati a place famous for Batik Art. They showed us different batik paintings and the way they do it. We purchased a lot of paintings, art work and dresses. Next destination was Celuk, to see silver and gold jewelleries being made. My aunt’s friend and I found it quite boring but my aunt had a fantastic time interacting with the blacksmith and goldsmith. After having a quick lunch we headed to Ubud to see the famous Monkey Forest. Ubud market is really a place worth a visit for its intricate wood carving shops and mask makers. The Monkey forest was really a scary place. I could hardly manage to walk along the slippery mud pathway leading to a temple inside the forest. The forest is a home for approximately 340 Balinese long-tailed macaques. Read about them here : http://www.monkeyforestubud.com/
We reached back the resort by evening and went for foot reflexology massage at the resort owned spa.
Day 3 – First destination was Batubulan to see barong dance, a traditional Balinese dance form that tells the story of the eternal fight between good (barong) and the evil (Rangda).
Next destination was Kintamani to see Mount Batur, the active volcano, where you can witness a huge caldera with the black cone of the active volcano smoldering behind. You can drive all the way down to the old crater passing areas covered by the lava flows to reach Lake Batur. But we chose to move on so that we reach Tanah Lot Temple on time to see sunset.
Tanah Lot Temple is one of the seven sea temples built on a single rock in the sea. You can see many other small temples around Tanah Lot. The sunset at this temple was an awe-inspiring scene.
We did lots of street shopping. You will get wood carvings and paintings at very cheap rates at Tanah lot street shops.
Day 4 was quite a lazy day because we three chose to stay at the resort. We booked for a Spa treatment at the resort’s Spa. That was a heavenly experience with the traditional Balinese massage and body scrub. We chose Mandi Lulur scrub which is a mixture of rice flour, turmeric and sea salts.
By afternoon Aunt and her friend chose to go for deep sea diving and snorkelling while I chose to have a pedicure and manicure done, because I’m hydrophobic .
Day 5 we decided to go to Pura Gunung Kawi a temple dedicated to holy Pakersian River. It occupies two rows of ancient tombs on the banks of the river.
Next location was Singapadu to see ordinary Balinese living.
On our way back we stopped at Tegalalang to see rice terraces.
Day 6, Aunt’s friend had to leave for Pune. Aunt and I had another 6 days to explore Malaysia before winding up our trip. Our flight was scheduled to leave Bali at 10pm, so we had a full day and did not know what to do. We checked out of our resort and went to Kuta, a place famous for beaches, surfing, tattooing, piercing and hair braiding.
Kuta is the place where 2 Bali Bombings took place in 2002 and 2005. They have constructed a memorial for the Bali Bombing victims.
I could not walk till there because I sprained my leg while walking on the beach. So we just chose to spend the day sitting at the beach and McDonalds.
PS: Bali is perfect for a honeymoon getaway. If you are not planning your trip with “him”, the exotic resort will be quite boring and you will definitely start missing ‘him”. I did. I have promised myself to spend a few days with him on this paradise island.
:methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks: :methinks:
sighhhhh……. :methinks: :methinks:
meiko bhi jaaanaaaa hai bali :scream: :scream: :scream: :scream: :scream: :scream: :scream:
chal Noopur….holiday par jaate hai…. :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
chlooooooooo :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1:
but sirf all girls trip… no boys n no boi fireendddssssssss allowed….. :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin:
ok pakkaaaaa………only girls…will have nice spa treatments too :makeup: :makeup: :makeup: :manicure: :manicure: :manicure: :manicure:
haan Nupurrrrr :teddy: …only girls palty bhi chal sakte hain..me in for that!! 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
:jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1:
yeaaayyyeyyayyayaya……. we ll post pics of IMBB bali meet next … :jiggy1: :happydance:
:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
Chalo Nupur..we’ll go..All IMBB ppl together :))
wowww Sruthi………this is such a beautiful place.
I love the culture and art. And the pics have come out superb.
This must be a nice relaxing trip with the spa and reflexology centers. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
That was the highlight Jini..the massages and reflexology centre..and the pics **sigh** I dint knw the beauty of the pics before seeing it on IMBB..they are all taken with sony digi cam :-* :doh: :doh:
oh from whr did that :doh: smiley come from..sowwiiieeeee
very niceeeeeee article shruthi….. :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: u took awesom pics.. thnks for sharing it wid us :puchhi: :puchhi:
Aww.. :puchhi: ,thank u Nupur :thanks: :thanks:
Wowwwwwwwwwwww.. :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: Such an awessome writeup Shruthi….. Seems absolutely amazing place…Want to go there now..for proper honeymoon!! 😛 😛 😛
hume bhi le chlo didiiidiidididi 😀 😀 😀
:puchhi: :puchhi: haan mein bhi aaooogi….hum aapko taaang nahi kareenge..kyo nuuuufuurrrr
haww..haan zaroor..but I’ll book the air tickets… I guess you’ve seen “Singh is King” he he he he…. “Jaana tha japan pahunch gaye cheen, samajh lena” :whistle: 😛 😛 😛
haaaan peeereya…. hum dono ko bas saath le chlo kimi didi… we will not stay in ur room.. alg room le lenge… 😀 😀
:daayan: :daayan: :daayan: :daayan: :daayan: :violinbash: :violinbash: :violinbash: :violinbash: :violinbash: :violinbash: :violinbash: :violinbash:
iska matlab haan hai na didi 😀 😀 yahoooooooooooo
kitna mzaaaa aayegaaa…bali chale hum….
kimi didi….jiju…peeereeyaa…jinal aur mai.. :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1: :jiggy1:
Dont blame me if your aeroplane lands you in some alien land full with forests and aadivaasis!! :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:
aaaap aur jiju saath hogey to darrrr nhi lagega 😀 😀 😀
wowwwiiieeeeeeee……….maza aayega…..humare aeroplane mein aap dono bhi honge na Kimi didi :vampire: :vampire: :vampire:
hum airport mein sath sath and aeroplane mein bhi sath sath :tongue:
:haanji: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:
:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
ahaan..aur kahaan kahaan saath saath rehne ke plans hain?? 😛
jahan jahan aaappp aur jijuji jaayenge faar hornymoon wahan wahan 😀 😀 😀
oh sheeeet.. honeymoon… not horny moon…. :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue:
:hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:
OMGGGGGGGG noooopurrrrrrrrr :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho:
priyaaaa…. e & r saath saath hi hai na keyboard pe 😛 :stars: :stars: :stars:
😆 😆 😆 😆
Book your tickets fast fast Kimi..U’ll just love this place, me guarantee :thumbsup:
Woww am loving it !! Soo nice and serene place ! Please take me there. :))
Chalo chalte hai.. :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
Wow!!! :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: This seems to be a perfect destination for Vaccations….awesomely Beautiful….. :pompom: :pompom: :pompom: :pompom: Nice Post Shruti…. :thanks: :thanks: :thanks: :thanks:
:thanks: Tina..
wowww this place is heaven …… so much of nature and culture to soak up . . . wud b lovely to go there for a nice cozy honeymoon
wow a perfect destination for holidays… how much did the trip cost you?
The trip costed me approx $2300, inclusive of hotel booking and sight seeing. Flight tickets would come around INR 36000 to and fro. :)) Do visit Bali, u will love the place Amel :thumbsup:
Lovely vacation getaway…. 🙂
Wow, just at looking at the pics i am relaxed and calmed. Wonder how nature comes to cure always. You must have had a great time Sruthi!
I did have a fantastic time Riya.. :))
its just wwwwwwwwwaaaaaaawwwwwwwww…………..beautiful place………..and Tanah Lot Temple………….i wanna go there……….. :chewnails :chewnails :drool:
Wowwww I :heart: :heart: :heart: Bali … It was my best vacation ever …super duper relaxinggg 🙂 N the best part is that u feel RICH there…. paying in Lakhs :toothygrin:
True..for the first 2 days I got so confused, I used to open my mobile calculator before bargaining :toothygrin:
i loved the temple…would love to wade thru the water….and reach there…………….but doob na jaao…..kitna deep hai????? :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes:
U can just walk over the water..The maximum depth would be till the knees.. :))
baliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot:
and the picturess
badhiya kaam sundari :waytogo: :waytogo: :waytogo: :waytogo: :waytogo: :waytogo:
:thanks: :thanks: Raunaq..
W-O-W!!!!!! I’m SOOOOOOOOOOOO jealous of you :green: :green: :green: :green: :green: :green: You get to go to awwwwwllll pwetty pwetty places :(( :(( :(( :(( :(( :(( :(( :waaa: :waaa: :waaa: :waaa:
Dont be Bhagya,u also plan a trip to Bali..u’ll love the place :thumbsup: and I’m not in a pretty place rite now..Reached Muscat early morning today,its soooo hottt here :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:
oooooo isnt that where you get pwetty pwetty rings???????
WOW!! Awesome pics Shruthi..it looks blissfully relaxing and very rich in culture too 🙂 I’m feeling relaxed just after looking at these pics!
The trip itself was so relaxing Ankita..I just dint feel like coming back :))
Shruthi such beautiful photos and you have made it sounds so beautiful… :))
Around how much did the trip cost you?
rati will bug sanjeev ji now. :pompom: :pompom: :pompom:
i knw imbb is gona shut down for ew days now. :stars: :stars:
someones planning a holidayyyy ?:) ?:) ?:)
:woot: :woot: :woot: :woot: wowwwww soooperrr i have no words..!!! :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: