Category: News
Among the joys of planning trips is breathing in air so heavy with possibilities; stretching out an arm, and picking the sweetest, shiniest one of the all a-twinkling lot. I suppose I am unstoppably, non-stoppedly chuffed about putting together getaways, because that arm is often mine. Bully.
We've been researching Bali a fair bit for a fair while and really, one is spoilt for choices. Bali is as thrifty as you can manage and as spendthrifty as you would allow.
Weather-wise, Bali in August is just about perfect. Wallet-wise, the deluge of Ozzies eager to escape the winter cold means that hotels charge peak rates. Ah, what can you do? Happily, a bonus pay packet (and an embarrassing number of emails) meant The edge and "Book Now". Joy!
The edge is located in the southernmost part of Bali, cosseted in the heights of the Bukit Peninsula, resting splendidly on its very fringes. The property is built atop a cliff some eighty meters above ground, and offers sweeping views of the Indian Ocean and the stark relief of the south's chalk cliffs.
We were met by the GM, Melida, who was quite the engaging lady and sent on our way in some style. A quick buggy ride... And in seconds we were delivered to our pocket of paradise. Bestest of the bests: We were the only guests!
Keys to unlock the doors of heaven...
I don't claim to be an expert but I will say that if you plan your trip long enough, fuss and fret about it as you would over a newborn (I wouldn't know but I am told...), pore over hotels, motels, B&B's, special lodgings, vacation rentals, etc. for hundreds upon zillions of hours, send out countless email inquiries, harass-beg for early bird rates and extra extras, your obsessive laboring will bear fruit and will gift you a trip that shall henceforth, be your benchmark for bliss.
At last...
I knew Bali was big but I did not know that it was big to the litany of Amed, Candidasa, Canggu, Denpasar, Gianyar, Gilimanuk, Jimbaran, Karangasem, Kerobokan, Kintamani, Kuta, Legian, Lovina, Negara, Nusa Dua, Nusa Lembongan, Padangbai, Pecatu, Pemuteran, Sanur, Seminyak, Singaraja, Tabanan, Tanjung Benoa, Tanah Lot, Tuban, Ubud, Uluwatu, Umalas, Ungasan big. (Gasps. Now there's a mouthful.)
Initially, it was Ubud for the arts, Jimbaran for the seafood fiesta, and Nusa Dua for the seascape escape. Easy peasy.
Before long, it was Umalas for the ricefield vistas, Uluwatu for its towering chalk cliffs, and Sanur for its sunrise views. Not so lemon squeezy...
I changed my mind again and decided on a Gianyar forest retreat, Candidasa for its underwater wonders, and Lovina for cavorting with the dolphins. But...
As happenstance would make happen, as luck would have it, as good fortune would bestow, we ended up dividing our time between Canggu, Seminyak, and Pecatu. That is how you do bliss.
Ametis Villa in Canggu was selected almost solely on the strength of these two statements on their website:
1. Canggu is a place that most surfers will know about, apart from that, it is quite (sic), very local and offers lovely views of rice fields as opposed to cement in Seminyak.
2. Ametis is located in the sleepy coastal village of Canggu. It is now the preferred destination for savvy travellers seeking an alternative to the urban sprawl of neighbouring Seminyak. The serenity of Canggu is a refreshing change to the hustle and bustle of Seminyak with its crowded streets and limited parking.
Well, I am an odd girl and found it good for a laugh.
Since the commonly-held view of Seminyak is a locale with some of the best lodgings, restos, and beaches in Bali; I came to the conclusion (convoluted, to be sure) that any place that feels itself worthy to be derisive of Seminyak must offer something special.
Canggu does! Although, I should confess... the word "surfers" sealed the deal.
The hard-core tourists in us had originally penciled in a trip to the Tanah Lot Temple, Alas Kedaton, and the Mengwi Royal Palace on our day of arrival. But we were well and truly knackered by our Singapore exploits (Tut tut, self. It is a sad day when you say "exploits" the same time you recall "museums", "cereal prawns", "endless walking"; god, what a marmishly middle-age thing to say.) and found indoors too great a force to resist...
How to even entertain the outside world when...
The title is so original it will earn me writing accolades. But I have the supporting photos, I would have you know.
My little family hols started with as little an incident as would be expected with my mom around-- which is to say that she had a completely unwarranted response to NAIA security personnel; she misunderstood what was said by the hapless man and infliicted on him quite an earful.
Our beloved metropolis, right after taking off, was a picture of... uncontrolled particulate pollution. Lovely, nonetheless.
This reminded me of my favorite football player, i.e.; skies and sole star (squint and there's one smack dab in the top center) and splendor and all that.
And then Incheon International Airport, which is an accomplishment in megalomania and airport planning for dummies. I have no, absolutely no head for directions but I skipped from drop-off point to a walkalator and down flights of escalators, waltzed through immigration, boarded a train to the exit, and hopped on a bus to the hotel. The airport awards are smashingly deserved.
Coat and scarf (and flip flops) weather,
A warm welcome from my home away from home,
And midnight dinner, although the acronym for the resto, Fried Chicken Baengi, called to mind a football club which drubbed (in convincing fashion, yes) Arsenal FC in the Champions League...
Starters were popcorn and pickled radish, which is a blinkingly odd combination, if ever there was one...
Instead, FCB came up with two... One of the chicken platters was as head-scratching... kimchi (surprisingly amazing), a blob of boiled noodles (cold, unseasoned, made me ask "why?"), canned peaches (fancily called "Imperial Peach"), and fried chicken. In the odd pairings charts, that's a combo that can't be beat.
It's hard to go wrong with chicken, almost impossible to go wrong when the same is fried; but FCB got everything right.
We wanted a steaming soup bowl to counter the cold, so the most exotic one on the menu, the gigglingly intriguing "A Fish A Cake" it was. It had sea cucumber, fishcake and rice cake (aaahh, that's why), and shrimp.
The blur of hands only prove the hunger.
Seeing as I get carried away with pretty much everything I write, I have decided to narrow this post down to my Fave Five in Seoul (I was striving for alliteration but unless I change the name of the city...)