Bambu Indah Villas in Ubud, Bali
I went to Bali last month and took a lot of photos, which I have posted on Flickr. I love Bali. It’s one of the most atmospheric places on earth. I stayed mostly in Ubud, which is away from the coast. I did spend 2 days in Seminyak which is down the coast from the truly ghastly Kuta. You must never go to Kuta. Seminyak wasn’t terribly beautiful or exciting. The beaches are good for surfing but too rough for swimming. The only good think about Seminyak was the Ku De Ta bar on the beach where you can watch the sunset – great music, good crowd, fabulous (but expensive) drinks and small plates.
The Balinese have a complex culture and religion. They are Hindu and have many rites and festivals that even young people – with all their cell phones, Facebook accounts and Wi-Fi — still observe. The food is truly divine: very spicy and savoury with a lot of vegetables and fruit.
I went to Bali on EVA Air, which goes from SF to Taipei, and then onto Denpasar in Bali. EVA Air has cheap air fares and the service is excellent. They also have Economy Plus that gives you more leg room and doesn’t cost that much more than Economy. Taipei’s international airport has the most amazing duty free shopping I’ve ever seen. Anyway, it’s a pleasant way to travel.
I stayed at Bambu Indah in Ubud. You can read my review on Mapplr.
See my Bali photos on Flickr.
I also visited the impressive Buddhist temple of Borobodur in Jogjakarta which is on the island of Java. It’s a short flight from Bali and well worth it.
