A Quick Trip to Bali, Indonesia

I am one of those travel whores who can’t sit still in one place for too long. So when I was in Malaysia celebrating Chinese New Year with my folks, I took the opportunity to visit my friend Emily in Bali for a few days. Emily was living in New York City until recently, when she decided to become a full-fledged surfer chick in Bali.

What is my overall impression of Bali? Frankly, I have been to better places. The beaches there were dirty (save for those in Nusa Dua and Jimbaran), and the food was nothing to write home about. The weather sure didn’t help. It was pouring like crazy most of the time during my stay there. But Bali had some things that appealed to me as well. I liked Bali for its super inexpensive massages (I got one everyday when I was there) and the warm and friendly Balinese people. I also got to spend some time with my friend Emily, and that was worth the trip.

In terms of where to hang out, I would recommend Ubud for the artsy and laid back folks, Kuta for those who like to party (and enjoy the risk of getting bombed by the terrorists) and Nusa Dua for those who are into all kinds of water sports. Bali is worth at least one visit, and it’s really inexpensive for those who are using U.S. Dollars.

1. Hotel (Le Meridien Nirwana Golf & Spa Resort)
For those who enjoy peace and quiet. It’s located next to the beautiful Tanah Lot temple. A great place to view the sunset with your lover but it’s quite far from everything.

2. Spa (Zen Spa, Bali)
Located in Ubud, this spa is very famous with the frequent visitors to Bali. I did a treatment consisting of a massage, scrub and a flower bath for 15 USD! Heck, you can’t even get a decent glass of wine in New York City for that price these days.

3. Specialty Food (Warung Babi Guling on Jalan Raya Teges, next to the Palace)
Located in Ubud and famous for its suckling pig (‘Babi Guling’), this place is a tad run down so don’t go there expecting the restaurant at Four Seasons. You have to sit on a floor mat to eat so don’t wear anything that can expose yourself easily in that sitting position.

4. Food & Bev (The Poppies Restaurant)
If you need to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Kuta, this place is a great oasis for you to do so. The restaurant serves a great fresh mango juice. The food there was also pretty good. They serve a mix of Indonesian and Western food.

5. Transportation (Gede Palawa, Mobile: 081-338-547-523)
Friendly and reliable taxi driver you can contact if you need to get anywhere. He speaks good English.