The ultimate weekend in paradise - in Bali!

Bali Holiday - A Weekend in Paradise | DirectAsia.com Blog
http://www.directasia.com/blog/travel/bali-a-weekend-in-paradise/[14/06/2013 20:10:25]
By Mark Carter on 12 / 01 / 2013 Comments : 2
Bali Holiday: A Weekend in Paradise
A lightning quick break in Bali for our 10th wedding anniversary turned out to be the best
holiday of my life!
We touched down at Ngurah Rai (Denpasar) airport, Bali, and descended the stairs from our
AirAsia flight (first time on AirAsia – ok for a budget airline). I looked across the runways, and
saw a flat, relatively barren landscape – not the tropical paradise I was expecting!
An hours’ queue getting out of immigration (ouch!) left us wondering if our baggage would still
be there to collect – which thankfully it was, so no need to call on our travel insurance at this
stage then! Gathering our forces we were soon in the taxi our resort had sent us heading for
Kamandalu resort and spa, which was near the arts and crafts heartland in the town of Ubud –
ducking and diving amongst the crazy traffic, which was not for the faint hearted.
Kamandalu Resort and Spa, Ubud
Our resort was really beautiful – we were greeted with garlands of sweet smelling flowers
around our necks on arrival, bringing tears to our eyes.
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Written By
Mark Carter
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We unpacked in our charming rooms, where every detail was attended to. Fragrant petals on
the bed, incense in the room, and gorgeous teak furniture throughout. That evening we just
hung out by the pool – and what a pool it was! A swim-up bar was in the centre, with bar
stools under the water of the pool, meaning you could sit immersed in the warm water, sipping
cocktails and talking in the jasmine-fragrant air.
Saturday comes after a restful sleep, and we are determined to see as much as possible of the
*real* Bali, steering well clear of night clubs and beaches – we’re ‘culture vultures’!
Temple Festival Preparations
Our guide arrives and we set off onto the scooters, bikes and cars, once again with our hearts
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in our mouths. The first stop is unscheduled – we pull up by two dozen women who are
preparing offerings for an upcoming festival at the temple next door.
We step over to get a closer look, nervous about intruding and getting our cameras out. But we
are met with the warmest, welcoming smiles, and genuinely friendly faces. It was extraordinary
the detail and effort going into the offerings – woven grasses, flowers, and baked shapes made
out of flour and colourings – so much care and attention.
The Local School
Then we arrive at a local school. We step into the playground where schoolgirls are practicing
traditional dances. Tears of joy part two, as their graceful movements and sheer joy in their
culture charmed our hearts.
Stepping into a classroom it was my turn as a school teacher, as I took an impromptu English
language class, quizzing them for answers in English, and giving out pens and stationary as
prizes. The kids were utterly charming: with none of the attitude you’d get from kids back in
London, my hometown. No-one tries to be cool or tough in front of the foreigners, just a lovely
innocence, and real happiness at receiving our little gifts as prizes.

A Local Market
A quick stop-over at the local market near the school was a crazy mixture of sights and smells
to delight, together with rubbish strewn ground with rats scurrying around! After grabbing some
Salak (snake skin) fruits we were back in the tour car.
Buddhist Temple – Vihara Shanti Bhumi
Another stop well off the tourist trail – this quiet temple overlooks a river below the gorgeously
bamboo forested hillsides, at once auspicious and peaceful. We made friends with someone at
the temple, and shared understandings on meditation and teachings, though coming from
different sides of the world.

By this stage it was becoming clear that there was something truly special about the Balinese
– everyone we met was so kind, so open, so relaxed – a world away from our frantic lives in
the city.
Mount Batur Volcano
‘Buy one – get one free’ – a stop by a recently active volcano, and a chance to sit down and
eat a sumptuous buffet style lunch! It really was amazing to be so close to a volcano that
made whole villages up and move location a mere 30 years ago. The vegetation had still to
return to the jet black volcanic lava rocks covering half the view in front of us. This was the
first time any of us had ever set eyes on a volcano, which was quite stirring, with a sense of
the awesome power of nature that lay before us.

Yet somehow the teaming hordes of tourists feverishly prowling the restaurant (yes, I know we
were tourists too!) meant it had none of the charm of our previous stops. We ate, and moved
on.
Kopi Luwak, and the Coffee Plantation
Back up along winding roads into the hills again, and we find ourselves at a small, un-
signposted gate, which leads into a lush abundance of tropical vegetation.We’re at a small local
eco-business, where they have begun to help preserve bio-diversity and grow a multitude of
fruits, spices and all manner of goodness!
Galangal, chillies, turmeric, tamarind, jackfruit, durian, pineapple, clovers, cinnamon, vanilla,
peppers, lavendar and a host of rarer spices were to be found, along with an abundance of
coffee varieties. Alongside this array of goodness were some lovely people too, including this
dear old lady who was absolutely gorgeous

A close encounter with Civet cats brought us to the heart of the venture – Kopi Luwak
production! For those that don’t know, the Civets eat the coffee beans, pass them through and
out of their digestive systems, then these ‘special’ beans are ground and brewed for a unique
taste! Sounds bizarre, and even disgusting to some … you need to try it to judge it!

Pura Tirtha Empul – Holy Bath Temple
Back on the road – that crazy road, and our next stop is one of the most sacred sites in Bali –
the Tirtha Empul holy baths.
As always we pass through the outer and middle courtyards/shrines of this Hindu temple, each
one preparing us for the inner sanctum which houses the natural baths. Whole families bathed
together in the cool waters in a ritual of purification.

At once both profoundly meaningful, yet filled with joy and laughter, we left refreshed in both
body and spirit, and set out for our last port of call on this extraordinary first day of our holiday
in Bali.
Tegallalang – Terraced Rice Paddy Fields
Bali is famous for its terraced rice paddy fields, and our last stop brought us to a roadside stop
overlooking a beautiful valley. It really was ‘picture perfect’, and like the beautiful temples
exactly as the minds’ eye imagines Bali to be.
Back to our resort for a lovely meal, with the sound of crickets and cicadas serenading us
throughout.
What a day, and what a place!
About Mark Carter
Mark is the Senior Manager Ecommerce at DirectAsia.com and is in love
with family, meditation, reading and life in general!

2 comments Post a Comment
Tags: bali, family, holiday, indonesia, resort, spa, travel, ubud,
"Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author(s) and should not be taken as
advice for purchasing insurance ..."
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Sonia on 22 January 2013 at 4:32 PM said:
Truely awesome place and description! Best Wishes to both of you for this
long bonding
Mark on 23 January 2013 at 10:50 AM said:
Thanks Sonia – hope you get a chance to go too – I’m sure you’d love it. And
a really interesting development of hindu culture there.
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