Parigata Spa Villas Bali

We traveled around the Island of Bali for 2 weeks. We ended up renting a Susuki Kantna Jeep for 10days for $9 USD/day. We drove all the way around Bali. What a beautiful island!

We spent the last 2 weeks in Lombok and Gili Air which is 1 of 3 Gili Islands off of the north west coast of Lombok.

Sept 29th we flew back to Bangkok to spend a couple of days before heading to India Oct 1st.

... Resort, yoga classes on the beach – the early beginnings of an movement which may make it the Koh Samui of Bali – let's see what happens.
One evening we met a friendly fisherman on the beach who invited us to come and watch the local banjar gamelan practice the next morning at 9.00am. Arriving just a little after nine I was astonished to discover that the session was well under way – no rubber ...

... In the end, we agreed to have some local kids in the pictures but they were wearing bathing suits. They were very cute and fun to work with and by the gleam in their eyes and their outstanding patience; I could tell that they really look forward to the day when the photographer comes out as they get to be the star of the show.

Unfortunately, we had to leave Bali and move on to Thailand. We loved our time in Bali but it was bittersweet leaving. Even ...

... way) to work each day, and he works 6 days a week from about 9 in the morning to 6 or 7 at night, which leaves him roughly 4 hours to eat and sleep.  Somehow, I kind of doubt it. And our guide today was telling us that he's even gone horseback riding at a tourist outfit. From some of our guide's stories, it's clear he's not hurting for cash.  It really makes you wonder how much of the poverty is a show to try to get more tip money out of the tourists.  Or maybe I'm just a skeptic :)

05/03/09 Arriver tres tard a Kuta, le voyage c'est bien passer mais je suis arriver bruler et je suis tomber sur une chambre poche. Je vais magasiner pour une autre chambre demain. Ici on peut avoir une belle chambre (fan) avec salle de bain privee et piscine pour 10$ can. On peut meme trouver des trous pour 4$ can. C'est un peu comme les philipines, il y a des McDo, Hard rock Cafe etc. Il y a de l'action 24 sur 24. Il fait tres beau aujourdhui et c'est la place ...

... stopped by their house. It didn't take long before I was being recognized when I went through Not Ubud. One of the best things I learned from Ketut and Nyoman: santai saja. It is the essence of Balinese life. And what I needed most in coming to Bali: rest. Every day rest. The focus on Balinese life is about procedure, not results. A refreshing balance from my western mentality.

... else they may need. They each keep notebooks recording income and expenses. Most of us aren't even that responsible! And then the older children teach the younger ones. I was really impressed at the way it was run- from the heart, with genuine love and care for the children. I'm staying at a really cute little place. It's part of a family's housing compound, and is quiet and overlooks the rice paddies. Each morning after ...

... even the estimated 17000 feral dogs running around Bali and in particular Ubud where they yowl and bark and fight all night long - probably the only annoying thing besides the ever present transportation touts in Ubud) but to us the monkeys seemed more greedy and menacing than sacred. However the forest was beautiful and so was the walk which proceeded to wind trough all kinds of cute villages with friendly villagers greating you with "pagi" (morning in Indo). I'd say though the ...

... 6'6" each. We spent three memorable days travelling up the centre of the island, to the far north, then back down via a different route, in order to try and see the majority of the sights. We hired a van and driver and off we set. For me it was an experience to really get to see the beauty of Bali as previously all I had seen was the Club Med at Kuta and the surrounding sights. For the first time I saw, and wondered at every turn, at the ...