Villa Orchid Bali Ubud

... were
relocated as a result. While going up was a workout going down was a
chore because instead of solid rock to step on we were on lots of
sand and scree (loose stones). But it was well worth the effort and
we had fun trying to communicate with our guide who didn't speak a
lot of English.


After resting for a bit we went for one
last walk in the rice paddies around Ubud. Out in the rice paddies
it is a lot more quiet ...

... This was just getting bizarre. Finally the husband reappeared and reached for his wallet. “200 000 rupiahs is $20.” He handed over the money and off they went. The sales lady looked at me and I started laughing. “70 rupiah – my final offer.” “No no no,” was her offer. Clearly she figured I was going to have to settle for the200 000 rupiahs. She was wrong. I started to take off the sarong and she cut her price to 150. No. I went up to 75.Then I ...

... one of Bali’s volcanoes, then we biked mostly downhill for 25 km finishing up with a wonderful indonesian lunch. Along the way we stopped and learnt about some of the cash crops that they grow, coffee, cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon etc. They produce a very expensive coffee here called Kopi Luwak. The coffee bean is collected from the droppings of the Luwak (like a weasel) they are washed, then roasted. The Luwak naturally selects the best and ...

... go on then take us to the mini market over the road!”
There isn’t much nightlife in Ubud, but a big party scene isn’t what people go to Ubud for. We settled down in a restaurant and had some amazing food followed by a carafe of wine over looking the football field and a theatre area where a Labong Balinese dance and music act was being performed. Now I am the first to admit that im not cultured, I like the idea of being cultured but culture and I are like ...

... 50. Not many people were there and we liked the quiet. It was a great place to see and go to, but not somewhere that we would want to hang out at all the time. When the rain started, it was our cue to leave. We wondered if we should try and wait till after the heavy rain or if we should try and go before it got heavy. We decided to just go for it, and luckily, it never got too heavy. Being on a motor bike in the heavy rain is the last thing you ...

... the beach (30 from the room), with oodles of fish and coral. Every morning from our balcony we would watch the hundreds of fishermen go out in their boats with multi-coloured sails, it was an amazing sight to wake up to. Definitely our favorite place in Bali. We couldn't believe though when the owner said it was New Year (Nippi) for them!! OMG we had to celebrate our third New Year of the year and it was only March!! But I have to say this one was quite different. The ...

... for the Internet usage in Lovina ! That night we dined in an Italian style pizza joint around the corner on Jalan Bina Ria, where the service was interminably slow and my main diversion was watching Lena (our venerable Italian lady) who fed most of her meal to the restaurant cats. On the morrow, our 2nd free day in Lovina I joined (along with most of our group) a snorkeling trip to a coral reef, which turned out to be another long minibus ride on ...

... up on the board (its so hard to jump from lying down to on your hunkers in one fluid motion!) and try and stay on till the wave brings you into the beach...lets just say i fell off a lot and swallowed a lot of sea water that day! Brilliant tho. They tell you to try keep your surf board straight to avoid injury of the wave sweeping your board into you.......tom fell off his board at one point and his board cracked me in the neck with a wave....painful ...

... are dancing on the bar. Tony happy puppy! HRC for dinner: another life band! Some more walking in the HRH and bed! 22/05: We actually go for breakfast: it rains! The buffet is impressive but without any personality or character. It is a well oiled factory. We have to check out at 14h but we only leave at 19! No worries: we have a cabana. We can change their. By the time we arrive at the pool, the sun is ...

... journey to the airport. So overall I would never stay in this hotel again nor would I recommend it. Regardless of the hotel we had a great time in the hills. I took a day out to go mountain bike riding with a group that was suggested to me from some riding buddies. www.bali-trailblazer.com is the company. Ask for Clare - she's super helpful. I rode with Ketut...fit as a fiddle and good fun to ride with. We did a 4hr ride from up in the mountains down to a ...