Monday, December 28, 2009

Bali babysitter agency





If you have the local knowledge you should be able to find the employee you need no problem. For holiday makers it is not so easy. The hotel or holiday resort you stay with can recommend you staff but often the hotel will apply there own charges and do not offer any guarantees.There are advertisements in magazines and posters put on trees for independent babysitters and Bali housemaids – these independent workers tend to be the cheapest option but often you find these people do not have any training, have no support structures if things go wrong or offer any guarantees.

We did locate an agency called Bali Krisna Service which provides holiday makers and expatriateswith babysitters, nannies, security fo Bali real estate organization. The service is a small company owned and managed by a Balinese family. You can go to the office and interview the employee before you decide to choose one. It costs a littlemore then the independents but employees come with replacement guarantees and if something goes wrong you have somewhere to go. Choosing someone to care for your child and or home is an important issue.

The best thing about the agencies is that they understand customers havedifferent needs languages, cooking abilities etc. and they cater for these differences. The agencies need to apply extra charges to cover their costs but in the case of Bali Krisna Service they are a friendly easy to use company making the extra charge worthwhile. The Bali babysitter provided to us was fantastic with the children and seemed to have a natural ability at child care - this might be due to relaxed nature of Bali and the Balinese people that attracts so many visitors each year.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Ubud Villas for Rent




As a guest of Prestige Bali luxury villas resort and the owner , I was lucky enough to spend two nights at the Purist Villas in Ubud, a newly opened sister property to Purist Villas in Ibiza and Marrakech in Marocc.


The three highlights of the property, from my perspective are:
A superb built environment – a really meticulous and unique eye to architecture, interior design and landscaping, especially in the pure featuring of contemporary and ancient art and artefacts from the region.

A wonderful gorge-side setting – a peaceful and secluded oasis away from the Balinese Ubud village bustle
Friendly and attentive service .



Scale

The Purist Villas have an excellent sense of scale. At 16 private villas, it’s an intimate complex, but generous in both the private and common areas given over to guests. We felt private and self-contained in our suite, but also liked the vibe of the pool area and the aspect over the river. With the opening of the spa, the Villas compound will feel even more expansive.This Tropical luxury villa resort is an example of Balinese Style and modern villas decoration test.






Style

Purist Villas & Spa has invested heavily in a distinctive and sophisticated style. We loved the Ubud stone artefacts, the huge, single-piece wooden benches, the mix of natural sands, greys, and browns. The open-air bathrooms and shower areas are very successful, and the irregularly shaped stone sink a genuine novelty. The dining and lounge area of our Villa suite was stylish and spacious, as were common areas of all the Villas I saw. The bedroom, on the other hand, was a little small by comparison and while we liked the strong design statement of the wooden feature wall it did seem slightly out of keeping with the other stonewash walls and traditional roof structure. I was interested to see that the earlier Villas had opted for a simpler, monochrome paint finish.

Suggestion: give guests more information about the artisans responsible for some of the amazing pieces in the villas, pull back the stonewash features for a simpler, more minimalist look, per the outside areas and other areas.





Villas Setting

Purist villas has done a great job with landscaping. The gardens are a really nice mix of architectural features, regimented planting and natural jungle exuberance. We liked the quiet ‘backstreet’ location and found the lush creek gorge views very soothing. Given Ubud’s increasing development, they are probably more impressive now than rice paddies with half-built condos!
Suggestion: possibly impractical, but I would have loved to be able to cross over the little gorge on a private rope bridge or some such, to have special access to the fields on the other side.






Service

Ubud staff at Purist villas were incredibly friendly and keen to help. They were discreet but also made good suggestions about what we might consider doing with our time in Ubud location. Clearly some of the service elements of Purist villas are yet to be completed – we would have loved a more extensive mini-bar and kitchen offer and if the spa employs high-quality local practitioners it will be wonderful to have these facilities on site.
Suggestion - encourage the staff to be more confident and relaxed – I’m not sure if it was opening ‘nerves’, but service was occasionally a little nervous and reticent.



The Smith-factor

At Smith, we like to identify the ‘S-factor’ – the thing that makes a property truly special, beyond an impeccable delivery of service, style and scale, which we consider fundamentals of any good hotel stay. With Purist villas incomplete and empty apart from us, it was hard to put our finger on a single stand-out element, and in some ways, I’m sure you will want it to emerge from the first few months of guest stays and service. My hunch is that it will be the mix of really interesting design and artefacts – the unique Ubud environment -and personal and attentive service across both the villa butlering and spa. In other words, it will be like staying at the generous home of a rather wealthy friend – all in an extraordinary setting and only a stone’s throw from one of the world’s most interesting Bali island cultural centres.






Ubud Private Villa

Many of the really basic aspects of facilities and amenities were well executed – comfortable beds, great pillows, generous pool, nice food. But there were some rougher edges here which disproportionately distracted from the otherwise very opulent and unique surrounds, namely the recycled (restickered) bathroom products and rather thin bathroom towels and the rather intermittent satellite TV reception and weak wireless internet signal in the room.
  1. Suggestion Invest in top-end bathroom amenities and some nice white fluffy towels
  2. Suggestion If satellite reception can’t improve, perhaps replace with a really fantastic DVD library?




Thursday, August 13, 2009

Jimbaran Guide




A great place to go is the GWK (Garuda Wisnu Kencana) Cultural Park. There is a fantastic view across Jimbaran, Tuban, and Nusa Dua so a good place, especially at sunset.

Have a wonder around the huge park, which is a disused limestone quarry and see some incredible statues which are all to be incorporated into one much larger statue when all of it is finished. There is a small amphitheatre which has traditional Balinese dances and a great restaurant called Jendela ‘Window’

Another, well worth a visit, place to see sunset is Jimbaran beach where you can sit at one of the numerous seafood restaurants and enjoy great food in a relaxed atmosphere. The seafood is priced by weight so make sure you remember to check how much your food will be before they cook it, as once it’s eaten it’s then hard to argue over the price.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Bali villa rental service






My new experience in Bali villa rental:


Hi my name is Jessie and I am a true blue Sydney boy who has just returned from his first trip in Bail and his first engagement. Previous to my departure I only known Bali as a small island located in Indonesia or affectionately known by my friends as the Island of the Gods. Renowned for it's rich culture, exotic scenery, great surfing, and friendly people I was soon excited to see the world famous island of Bali.

Friends who have visited to Bali notified me that I should experience the beauties that Bali has to offer whilst enjoying the comforts of a paradise Bali villa rental. A villa? I first thought. Why would I stay in a villa rather then a hotel. To tell you the truth I never stayed in a villa and it seemed that hotels was the only choice of accommodation whilst you are travelling. However my girlfriend insisted that we experience this new accommodation forus.

We started searching for Bali villa rental service in Bali on the net and stumbled upon to paradise villa rental. We simply sent them an email asking for availability in villas in the Seminyak area for a few days followed by Ubud for a few days and a villa in the Bukit in our price range. I later wasprovided with a shortlist of villas with a description& images and
information of the location of the villa which was really helpful. Soon after choosing our villas, we were ready to enjoy Bali without the stress of thinking of finding accommodation in a Bali when we were there.

Upon my arrival to Bali to the moment I went back to Sydney I was treated like a Rock star. A VIP service pick-up was arranged where we given VIP treatment as we skipped the que and which was over 50 meters long and had someone get our bags which took us to paradise villa rental luxury car.

We then went to experience our first villa in Seminyak at Annex villas. From the moment we entered the villa, I felt I knew why villas were the rage of Bali. Simple things such as instead of swimming at the hotel swimming pool, you now can enjoy your own private pool. Our villa featured a private tranquil tropical garden, our own kitchen & dining area (saved costs with snacks and meals), a luxury master bedroom with an en-suite open design bathroom. Paradise Villa Rental provided me with the perfect villa in meeting my needs in providing a stress free holiday while the temptation of shopping and spas on Jalan Oberoi only several minutes away. Very highly recommended for visitors to Bali to experience staying in a villa and may get you hitched.


Jason Leonard-Artha

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Italian Restaurant Bali




Italian cuisine is the most popular dishes in the world. If you head down to Kuta come to Tobia’s Restaurant at Benesari where you can enjoy Italian dishes like mama used to cooked at home.

Tobia’s restaurant is located at Benesari Kuta, is easy to find from any direction. If you come from Padma St. Tobia’s is just in the left hand side on the way to Poppies 2. With green bamboo as a main colored is very eye catching from the street.

With a casual ambience in the middle of surfer paradise at Benesari, Tobia’s is open for lunch and dinner with TV sport channel and open bar. How cool is that? Also Tobia’s is fine dining with affordable price, if you haven’t yet eaten at Tobias restaurant you will be surprised with the great taste of the food, and if you already have, you will most certainly want to back again.

We began from Insalata Di Rucola, fresh rucola with parmesan flakes or Insalata Mista with tomatoes, carrot, and mixed salad was also amazing. Perhaps the secret of this dish is in the fact of Tobias obtain most of the ingredients from carefully selected from fresh local market.

Without any doubt my main course consisting of Spaghetti Al Tonno with fresh tuna, oil, and garlic. The taste of freshly caught tuna combined with home-made pasta and Italian herbs and extra virgin olive oil is seriously magnificent. The secret of the sauce certainly want me to eating there everyday. Also Scaloppini Di Manzo Ai Funghi is beef escalope with mushroom and white wine sauce served with vegetables and potatoes is one of the most favorite eateries who come to Tobia’s. Whilst I enjoy my food, I saw the waitress served Entrecote Al Pepe Nero, beef steak (sirloin) with black pepper and cream sauce served with vegetables and potatoes. Hmm….smells so good, I thought that I should order the same menu for the next my visit.
Ah, I nearly forgot to tell you that the oven pizza also magnificent to miss it, 4 Formaggi is the one of the favorite surfer who regularly come to Tobias. Cotto E Funghi is pizza with tomato, mozzarella cheese, mushroom and ham is melted in the mouth. Most of the surfer they come in the afternoon, whilst they enjoy their hotdog or hamburger there is big TV screen with sport programmed is perfect for them after all day surfing in the Kuta Beach.

After all my heavy food, I feel like something smooth and sweet, Chocolate Mousse is the perfect choice to complete my lunch with a cup of espresso.

Well, one you have lunch or dinner at Tobia’s is very difficult to go anywhere else. The great Italian dish with reasonable price is hard to find in Bali.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Traditional Bali video tour



The traditional culture in Bali island Video Guide:

The Balinese peoples belive on Hindus religion , the Balinese put out offerings each days resembling works of art.Bali destinations are an oasis of peace fruit and flowers beautifully arranged in palm leaves displayed in front of their business or shops with rich incense burning to bring good luck and to appease the spirits. Great care is taken top-reserve their tradition and young and old alike continue to practice these beliefs. Everyday you will see a ceremony occur. Whether it be a wedding a birthday or an elaborate cremation, the Balinese enjoy a life full of festivities.Bali history, religious and spiritual teachings is very special in the world.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Bali restaurant Guide Oberoi street




Everyone likes to spoil their tongue with good quality food at affordable price. When you come to Bali as a tourist you will get really confuse to decide where you going for eat. Here we go the solution for your precious stomach and to spoiling your taste with Italian recipe from the Italian chef, how perfect is that? While you enjoying your food you will forget that you are in Bali not in Italy. When you start to taste the food at Sasà Restaurant then you will speechless don’t know what to say…..fascinating so delicious. Wait…I know you are start to drawling imagine this food but you have to go to the right restaurant to eat pasta. Many Italian restaurant around and you have to know where you have to go and enjoy your pasta or other Italian dishes.

Take your map and find street name Seminyak, I will bring you to Restaurant Italy which own by Italian man and his chef from Italy also. Now from Seminyak you go further up to the north and you will find junction then you turn left follow the street and you will find junction again then turn right then you will enter to Oberoi St. it’s about 500M on the right side you will see Sasa’ Restaurant. This restaurant has good ambience with green color as a background and the most important is the owner really aware about the hygiene of his restaurant, you can see from his kitchen until the toilet is very clean.

There is few choices of Italian Restaurant at Oberoi Street and most of Spanish and Argentina people come for lunch or dinner at Sasà Restaurant usually they will request for Tagliata Con Rucola as their favorite dishes. If you didn’t like meat then you can try Chef Suggestion like Alici (ikan teri) Marinate, Alici Fritte or Vongole and fresh from market fish also for vegetables. Sasa’s Restaurant serve fresh food and home made pasta or gnocchi and they use good product. For mozzarella and ricotta cheese they buy fresh from Italian Farm at Singaraja and these cheese made from cows.

Anyway, lets start from appetizer menu if you like raw food there is some variety menu of carpaccio you can order for tuna, octopus or beef but if you are big fans of salad you can order for Caesar Salad I recommended for that. For main course you can start from home made pasta, gnocchi or import beef steak. Most favorite’s customer is Spaghetti Vongole or Gnocchi Sorrentina and you can order for fettuccini with your favorite sauce. We not finished yet, we have to order for home made dessert, Cannoli Pastiera Napoletana or the famous coffee for espresso or macchiato. Sasa’ Restaurant not only good for a cup of coffee they sale blended coffee so you can bring it home and having coffee at anytime you want.

For eateries you don’t have to worry with your pocket Sasa’ Restaurant serves delicious food with affordable prices so while you waiting for your order you can enjoy Sasa’ wine collections, they got wide choices of wine from Italy, Australia, Chile and also French or you can have a glass of beer or fresh juices.

You should start your day from Sasa’ Restaurant as my suggestion cause they open from eight o’clock in the morning until midnight. Sasa’ Restaurant serves for breakfast, you can order for healthy breakfast, American, Continental, Italian, or eggs any styles and for the price is worth it. When you start coming for breakfast I bet you then you will never go to the other place. Take your motorbike or stop a taxi asking for Oberoi Street then stop at Sasa’ Restaurant believe you will never regrets. Don’t forget to bring your friends or arranges your birthday party at Sasà Restaurant. Enjoy….

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Travel Guide to Lovina




Lovina Beach, located about 9 km from the City of Singaraja, the Bali region in the north, precisely in Kalibukbuk Village, Buleleng District. Domestic and foreign tourists who visit Lovina no objection to the morning wake up blind. In the cold morning freshness, the tourists to the sandy beaches of black ago anchored the boat motor with a maximum of five people that sometimes they do not know each other. Not infrequently the boat passengers are encouraged from the first edge of the beach by the boat owner. A work in the morning it was already able to offer a warm and intimate atmosphere between the passenger and owner of the boat motor service. Tourist boat in the end come and talk along the way more than one kilometer toward the sea.

In the blue waters of the tourist attractions akan disuguhi tens natural tails dolphin. Despite the tens of appearing in number, it is trusted that the water in the Sea of Bali is more than 100 live dolphins tail. They appear only around 06.00 to 08.00 Wita.

The boat owner who acts as tour guide in the morning that will lead perahunya toward the sea to search for dolphins. At the time dolphins have been hectic pop voice screaming tourists berbaur impressed with the sound berisiknya thruster motor boat.

When the boat is close to the dolphins, perahupun motor is turned off. In the quiet atmosphere, tourists can witness the action with the dolphins more comfortable. Herd dolphins akan disband if there is a boat near the motor is still on.

Scenes like this, already in progress since 1976. When was the first time fishermen, fishing in open waters Lovina boat rental service to see the agility dolphins use a sailboat for the first time. Then as technology sophistication sailing is replaced with the boat motor for the time and energy efficiency.

The average boat owner carry 4-5 people in each passenger turnya. Price Rp 60,000 to the fishermen already fit, may not be less or more. To avoid unhealthy competition among the boat owners, boat owners are not allowed to offer price outside the agreement. The agreement is binding on all fishing boats motor bidder services in Lovina.

For a tourist area, the facilities available can be said is quite complete. Start from the lodging of the inn, cottage, villa-star hotels to 5, shops, pubs, places to eat are open until late at night. However, the area this tour looks quiet compared to the tourist area of Pulau Dewata in the south. Say, Kuta, Sanur, which is now developing to Seminyak and Kuta. Campaign may be less or less or entertainment facilities as well as from the less incentive peemerintahnya promote Bali to the north of the world?

However, Lovina offers distinctive charm, even in the silence that is the power pikatnya appears. Without having to jam or interfere with the noise, tourists can enjoy the beautiful beach. Walking or jogging in the morning while enjoying the beach and the life of the living biota, that is the activities of many people during a visit to Lovina. So renting snorkeling and diving equipment is the flare on the beach. Fish with a variety of colors and corals with the various forms can be enjoyed in Lovina. While in the boat had seen some ornamental fish are below the surface through the water.

For souvenirs, tourists who visit Lovina can craft an ornament with pearls. Ranging from earrings, rings, bracelets, necklaces and pearls can be easily found there. Decoration of the clamshell to the gift of materials, recycling is also available.

The beauty and tranquility Lovina indeed deserve to enjoy. This region can be a reference for the purpose of tourism in Bali. For the area that is very easy, asphalted road facilities are available. There are several ways to Lovina area, if the first port of Gilimanuk come through, we can direct toward the north through Grogak, Seririt, and then enter the area or if Lovina come through Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar go through, and then ascend to the cold area for Bedugul next to Singaraja. If you or love adventure and have a long time, it is recommended through the first Klungkung area. Region that is located in the east of Denpasar, offers tranquility akan blue sea along the journey. Log In Karangasem region, we can enjoy the beauty of Candidasa Beach, about 65 kilometers from Denpasar.

Accompanied and presented after the blue of the sea north of Bali.
We enter the cool mountainous regions, namely the distance to the Kintamani Lovina lived about 50 kilometers. From Kintamani, through our area with the mountain road and turn beautiful scenery. Throughout the journey from Klungkung - Karangasem - Kintamani Lovina end up in many places of attractions that we always visit. So the trip will not be boring to sit in the car.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Guide to Bali Island




Bali such a beautiful and tranquil Island is blessed with some of the most beautiful landscapes you will see anywhere in the world. Bali known as the island of the gods is one the most extraordinary experiences you can embark upon.

Many visitors arriving for the first time talk of a moment when stepping off the plan where a warmth in the heart slowly creeps upon you. Of course the temperature stays a constant 30 Degrees most of the year; however this feeling is almost as if the spiritual and cultural gods of the island have come to meet you off the plane.

Local Balinese people are rich with tradition and steeped in culture, throughout the island hundreds of temples showcase the powerful spiritual belief that makes visiting Bali, such a fascinating holiday. Any guest visiting the island for the first time should not miss taking time out to visit some of these quite often life changing exhibits and experiences.

The Balinese people themselves are extremely friendly and welcoming and have a great love for flowers, so don’t be surprise if you receive a Flower Galan, (Ring of Flowers) as you arrive in the airport, this a symbol of Bali tourism which represents a warm and accepting welcome and the start of a very special holiday.


Key Areas:
The Island of Bali has several key areas where guests wanting to holiday here will enjoy different types of experiences.

Ubud at the heart of Bali, and famous for its culture, handicrafts and paintings is typically a quieter and less buoyant location to stay. Famous for its market and art & craft shops and every type of knick-knack you can think of, attracts literati and glitterati from all walks of life. Anyone who is anybody, and perhaps anyone that is no-one has some time or another experience the splendors of Ubud.

Nusa Dua, in the most southern point of the Island, has purpose built resorts dotted along perfect white sandy beaches which play host to some of the best water sports to be found. Whether you’re a budding Water-skier or enjoy parasailing and snorkeling, this action and sports packed location is ideal for families.

Kuta and Seminyak, as well as having its own selection of beautiful beaches, are the two main area for the island Bars, Clubs and Restaurants. Famous bars such as Hypnotique, Living Room, Embargo, Bacio and Dejavu as well as Club 66, tends to attract younger and more party-centric holiday makers.

Things to Do:
Any holiday wouldn’t be the same without a quality selection of Adventure and Island Tours. Famous adventure sports such as SOBEK Rafting & Cycling together with sightseeing day tours such as Bali Hai Island Cruise and of course the much loved Waka Land Cruise, not only treat you to day out that is simply breathtaking but, quite often leaves you will memories of a lifetime.

Places to Eat:
As you would expect from an Island that offers something for every tourist, Bali also has restaurants and warungs that cater for every taste and every budget. In Ubud you have 2 of the more famous restaurants on the Island with Moziac and Bebek Bengil or Dirty Duck as it’s fondly known. In Seminyak the world famous Kudeta and Made’s Warung, together with more fast food establishments such as Trattoria, Rumors and Ultimo. Not forgetting the Jimbaran Fish markets as a must for everyone in search of somewhere to eat.

Whether it’s a touch of class and elegance at Kudeta you want, or a dash of tropical spice at Made’s Warung, or its even to sit and eat fresh fish whilst enjoying ocean views of Jimbaran, there are simply too many quality eateries to name them all, and all too mouth watering to describe.

Bali is a special place in the heart of many international tourists. From Japan to Korea, Russia, Italia to England and not forgetting the crazy Australians, the Island has been a haven of tourism for over 15 years, with many tourists returning time and time again to continue to discover and enjoy this Island of beauty and peace.

Guide to Bali Island




Bali such a beautiful and tranquil Island is blessed with some of the most beautiful landscapes you will see anywhere in the world. Bali known as the island of the gods is one the most extraordinary experiences you can embark upon.

Many visitors arriving for the first time talk of a moment when stepping off the plan where a warmth in the heart slowly creeps upon you. Of course the temperature stays a constant 30 Degrees most of the year; however this feeling is almost as if the spiritual and cultural gods of the island have come to meet you off the plane.

Local Balinese people are rich with tradition and steeped in culture, throughout the island hundreds of temples showcase the powerful spiritual belief that makes visiting Bali, such a fascinating holiday. Any guest visiting the island for the first time should not miss taking time out to visit some of these quite often life changing exhibits and experiences.

The Balinese people themselves are extremely friendly and welcoming and have a great love for flowers, so don’t be surprise if you receive a Flower Galan, (Ring of Flowers) as you arrive in the airport, this a symbol of Bali tourism which represents a warm and accepting welcome and the start of a very special holiday.


Key Areas:
The Island of Bali has several key areas where guests wanting to holiday here will enjoy different types of experiences.

Ubud at the heart of Bali, and famous for its culture, handicrafts and paintings is typically a quieter and less buoyant location to stay. Famous for its market and art & craft shops and every type of knick-knack you can think of, attracts literati and glitterati from all walks of life. Anyone who is anybody, and perhaps anyone that is no-one has some time or another experience the splendors of Ubud.

Nusa Dua, in the most southern point of the Island, has purpose built resorts dotted along perfect white sandy beaches which play host to some of the best water sports to be found. Whether you’re a budding Water-skier or enjoy parasailing and snorkeling, this action and sports packed location is ideal for families.

Kuta and Seminyak, as well as having its own selection of beautiful beaches, are the two main area for the island Bars, Clubs and Restaurants. Famous bars such as Hypnotique, Living Room, Embargo, Bacio and Dejavu as well as Club 66, tends to attract younger and more party-centric holiday makers.

Things to Do:
Any holiday wouldn’t be the same without a quality selection of Adventure and Island Tours. Famous adventure sports such as SOBEK Rafting & Cycling together with sightseeing day tours such as Bali Hai Island Cruise and of course the much loved Waka Land Cruise, not only treat you to day out that is simply breathtaking but, quite often leaves you will memories of a lifetime.

Places to Eat:
As you would expect from an Island that offers something for every tourist, Bali also has restaurants and warungs that cater for every taste and every budget. In Ubud you have 2 of the more famous restaurants on the Island with Moziac and Bebek Bengil or Dirty Duck as it’s fondly known. In Seminyak the world famous Kudeta and Made’s Warung, together with more fast food establishments such as Trattoria, Rumors and Ultimo. Not forgetting the Jimbaran Fish markets as a must for everyone in search of somewhere to eat.

Whether it’s a touch of class and elegance at Kudeta you want, or a dash of tropical spice at Made’s Warung, or its even to sit and eat fresh fish whilst enjoying ocean views of Jimbaran, there are simply too many quality eateries to name them all, and all too mouth watering to describe.

Bali is a special place in the heart of many international tourists. From Japan to Korea, Russia, Italia to England and not forgetting the crazy Australians, the Island has been a haven of tourism for over 15 years, with many tourists returning time and time again to continue to discover and enjoy this Island of beauty and peace.

Saturday, March 14, 2009