Bali - Part 1

If you are looking for a place with lots of beautiful beaches, breathtaking scenery (think green paddy fields, blue sky beaches and majestic volcanoes), cliff-side temples and a relaxed vibe, look no further than Bali. An island in Indonesia, Bali also offers affordable yet luxurious accommodations (think private pools & outdoor showers), a thriving cafe scene and comparatively cheap water sport activities like surfing, paragliding and white water-rafting.

I have visited Bali twice (once in 2014 and the other in 2015). Although it is summer all year round in Bali, try to avoid the rainy season: October to March. Anytime from April-September is a good time to visit. Personally, I visited Bali in September for both my trips.

Where to stay

Bedroom overlooking garden & pool (Photo credits: Hermione Goh)

Private pool

Pool view from tree house

Paddy field view from tree house

What I like best about Bali are the relatively cheap accommodations. You can practically live like a king with a modest budget. I stayed in Villa Madera which had a pool, nice unobstructed view of green paddy fields and a tree house! It was so much fun as every night, I could climb up the tree house and just stare at the starry sky. The villa even comes with a fully equipped kitchen where you can cook up a simple breakfast and have it by the poolside.

I booked my accommodation through Airbnb which has a ton of choices at relatively lower prices compared to staying in hotels. The price for 3 nights was around RM330 per person when i booked in June 2015 for my trip on Sept 2015.

What to eat

The food in Bali is generally good..flavorful, meat-laden and filling. Rice is a staple food in Bali...my driver/tour guide even told me that most Balinese have rice 3 times a day! Among the well-known dishes in Bali are crispy duck (Bebek Bengil, roasted pork (Babi Guling) and Fried Rice with accompanying chicken/pork skewers (Nasi Goreng & Satay).

Nasi Goreng with Satay

I'm in love with Balinese style Satay...which is a grilled skewered meat of your choice (pork, lamb, chicken, etc) served with a slightly sweet peanut sauce. The peanuts are finely grounded with a thicker texture compared to the Malaysian version. Yummy! In my experience, delicious Satay can be found at most restaurants in Bali..I tried the Satay at 4 different locations and they were all good. Add fried rice to the mix and you've a satisfying dish right there.

Babi Guling (doesn't look appealing but boy was this good!)

I'm also a big fan of their Babi Guling which is basically a suckling pig marinated with spices and roasted over fire for about 6-8 hours or more. The dish is generally served with rice, crispy pork crackers and some raw vegetables. Here are some recommended places where you can get Babi Guling: http://bit.ly/29EPj3n

Dancing Fish (crispy fried fish)

The view from the restaurant

The view from the restaurant (sorry i forgot the name of the restaurant but these restaurants with paddy field views are quite common in Bali). One of the more popular ones is called Bebek Bengil which is famous for their crispy duck dish. You can check out reviews of Bebek Bengil here: http://bit.ly/29yTbhF

Besides local food, there are also many cafes in Bali serving coffee & Western fare. The more popular one is Naughty Nuri's which serve awesome pork ribs and cocktails.

Pork ribs at Naughty Nuri's

Flying pig (kitschy decor at Nuri's)

Potent Martini at Nuri's

Freshly baked bread at Livingstone Cafe

Breakfast at Livingstone

Besides Naughty Nuri's, Livingstone is also a popular cafe featuring freshly baked goods, Western fare, coffee & desserts. They also serve a variety of healthy smoothies.

Gelato at Gaya Gelato

The last "western" place I visited was Gaya Gelato which serves the Italian dessert, gelato. They use fresh local produce to make their gelato so expect exotic flavors like lemon grass, passion fruit, Balinese durian, and tamarillo alongside traditional ones like chocolate and vanilla.

That's it for Part 1 of Bali. The final part will be posted soon where I share:

a) What to do

b) Cost

c) Websites to visit for further info

d) How to get around Bali

Till then,

Stay happy & kind :)

#Bali