Good times in Bali

The beautiful Conrad resort, nestled on the Indian Ocean.
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We arrived at the Denpasar airport and the first thing that struck us was the intense heat, it was incredibly hot (30 degrees) and very humid!  It was perfect - just what we were looking for after leaving Canada in the middle of winter.  Our luggage however didn't make the connection from Hong Kong and would be delivered the next day.  Didn't matter though,we were just excited to be in the tropics!

Driving through Bali was a bit of a ride.  Tons of mopeds everywhere, and the cars would drive right up to their behind, and yet, they managed not to make contact.  I thought for sure there would be an accident, but I guess that's how they drive around here!  Mopeds seem to be the choice of transportation - we even saw a family of four riding on one.  Driving through Bali, it seemed to me that it was a lot like the Philippines - the traffic (though not as bad), the people, hot weather, the simple-looking stores lining the simple streets, palm trees and vegetation, etc.

It was perfect - just what we were looking for after leaving Canada in the middle of winter.

A gorgeous sight to see every morning
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My friends and I were in Bali for a wedding.  They originally considered Hawaii or Mexico for the wedding, but decided on Bali after some research and hearing from people who've been there.  It was everyone's first time to that area, and after being there for a week, we came to understand why they chose Bali and how they really couldn't have chosen a more beautiful and romantic spot.

The wedding party was booked at the Conrad Resort - part of the Hilton hotel family.  It was located in the southern part of Bali called Tanjung Benoa.  It was AMAZING!  You can see from the photos how beautiful it was.  When you first arrive in the lobby, there is a stunning view of two swimming pools and the Indian Ocean.  While touring the resort on our first day there, I think our jaws were dropped to the floor the entire time.  Silly Canadians!  And then there was my room.  For a few extra bucks, I got a room that opened up right into the lagoon, so every morning I could jump right from my bed and into the pool - pretty sweet!

That's me, prancing around the resort
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Because our luggage hadn't arrived yet, we got some Rupiah to buy clothes and stuff, about 250,000 rupiah!....which amounts to about $30 Canadian dollars.  We all had to get used to converting hundreds of thousands of rupiah into Canadian money, as one dollar roughly equals 7700 rupiah.  (Common exchange with my friends - OMG, that meal cost me hundreds of thousands of rupiah!...oh yeah, that's like 5 bucks).  What I learned quickly here is that you can bargain for everything.  We quickly got into it.  After a while, I wondered if it was even worth haggeling, because it was SO CHEAP anyways!  But hey, 50 cents is 50 cents.  When we were shopping at all the shops in Kuta though, most merchants will go down on their original asking price, especially if you buy multiple items, but they will only go so low, because they have to make money too.  So, I would suggest agreeing on a reasonable, middle-of-the-road price, instead of trying to get something for pennies!  Like I said, it is so cheap in Bali which makes it a paradise for budget travellers.  The most expensive thing is the airfare to get there.  Across from our luxurious resort were a few small street shops selling nice summer shirts and dresses, so I bought a pair for $12 CDN.  I bought a $4 pair of sandals too.  Guess I didn't need all that rupiah from my lost luggage - I had all the clothes I needed!

One of the many cabanas on the Tanjung Benoa beach
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Getting around in English was not a problem at all.  I wasn't quite sure at first how we'd manage, but all resort staff minimally spoke Balinese and English, and I even overheard some staff speaking Japanese as well!  Pretty impressive. Even around town, everyone could speak English pretty well.  We didn't bump into any Americans or Canadians around Bali, mostly European, Australian and Japanese tourists.  And the people of Bali are so warm, friendly and accomodating.  Most of our taxi cab drivers were happy to get into a conversation with you.  One in particular said that it was too bad that people are scared to come to Bali because they think it's dangerous.  We agreed that it is too bad because we all felt safe, the people are gracious, and tourists would be missing out on such a beautiful area to explore if they don't give it a try.  (just don't fly any cheap budget airlines or take any overcrowded ferries, and you're all good!)

Private beach right on the Indian ocean
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If you're planning a wedding , the resort is an ideal place too.  Check out the picture of the beautifully-set chapel in front of the Indian Ocean.  Surrounding the chapel is an amazing Infinity pool that appears to run on and on.  It has a breathtaking view from the inside, overlooking the ocean, which results in fabulous wedding photos.  (just ignore the men rippin' it up on their jet skis though).

If you're a spa or massage lover, then you'll love Bali.  Everywhere you go, there is a cheap spa or massage to be had!  The quality of the spa is not cheap though, the local Balinese ladies are pretty skillful in this area and offer good manicures, pedicures, massage, body scrubs, etc.  On the beach of my resort, I had a one-hour massage for only $10 CDN!  And 3 Balinese ladies gave me my massage, so triple the effort!  No wonder I had a massage almost every day I was there!  Check out the Sicilia Spa in Kuta, Bali.  It's bright, clean with a selection of private rooms and spa services.  Very reasonable prices.

A typical shopping street in Kuta, Bali
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Definitely try all the water sports if you visit the Tanjung Benoa beach.  You can jet ski, fly fish, parasail, banana boat, kayak, etc. all day long.  Everything is up for bargaining!  In all, Bali has lots to offer - beach, hot weather, nice resorts, cheap shopping, spas, water sports, delicious food, cultural sights, etc.  I hope to come back one day and explore more of this beautiful island.