summer – Occasional Drifter

Bali in Indonesia is one great southeast asian island to visit while vacationing in the Philippines . It is only a 4 hour flight from Manila to Denpasar. A week in Bali spent with my husband’s family is definitely one for the books. Traveling with kids, elderly and extended family is not without some challenges; but it was special and unforgettable.

My sister in law did most of the arrangements: transportation, accommodation and activities. It is amazing how transportation can be pre-arranged via Whatsapp or Viber. It was easy. We rented a van/coaster for at least 10-12 people. The drivers were recommended by friends and family who have previously availed of their services. It was nice to not worry at all about navigation and driving. We would message ahead of time if we needed it for the day. Taxi service like Grab is also a nice option for those short trips.

I love Bali. The people, most specially. Despite the traffic and the “busy-ness” , the Balinese people seem like calm and peace loving people; as if they are not easily affected by the chaos around them and I mean that in a good way; not apathetic, but patient and tolerant. I also love how religious they are, offering food and prayers every day to their gods. Their dishes are tasty and the availability of tropical fruits reminded me so much of my province in the southern part of the Philippines.

Visiting Bali mid- June is not a bad idea. Weather was great and it was not as humid as Manila this time of year.The occasional rain showers served to cool us down even more.

So here’s what we did in Bali for a week.

*First two days were spent in Kuppu Kuppu Jimbaran, a Hotel, Beach Club and Spa by L’ Occitane.

Natural elements like bamboo and rattan were used to decorate some parts of the hotel. The pool is gorgeous. It was close to the beach and a golf cart was always available to take us to and from the Jimbaran beach, for free! The free breakfast buffet had decent selections. I just wish coffee was unlimited.