I could not have asked for a more amazing destination for my honeymoon. Bali is the best host. Bali was just a name in the list of honeymoon destinations, before we actually zeroed in on it. And now I am glad we did.
I would share the experience first and will then share some contact details to book a similar trip for yourself.
We had a flight with a layover in Malaysia, and we reached Bali at 12 noon on 21st Nov. We had a driver cum guide waiting with our name at the airport waiting to receive us. One suggestion here, before i forget!! Its better to convert the local currency to US dollars from mumbai itself. You can then get out of the airport quickly after the not so grilling immigration at the Bali airport.
Day 1: Denpasar, Kuta, Bali
Our itinerary was a mix of economy and luxury! So we had a hotel stay for 4 days and the last couple of days in a Villa.
The hotel was not very far from the Airport. The driver took a longer route though, so that we can take a good look at the surrounding area. The clean roads and the very well maintained and decorated sculptures along the road side, was all giving me a very good vibe about the place.
We finally reached the hotel, Swiss-Belexpress in Kuta. We could sense the hot sun once we step outside the air-conditioned car, and we were in no mood to burn our skin the very first day in Bali!! So we decided to take a short nap. It was a leisure evening as there was no planned activity for that day.
We head out of the hotel for a stroll late in the evening. The well lighted up street was amusing. With Bars and pubs all the way. This was the hub for booze, dance and party.
After a couple of hours we inquired about Indian restaurant. We were lucky to find one in the vicinity. Gateway of India, Kuta.
Day 2:
Our driver came at dot 10 am to pick us up. We had a splendid breakfast in our hotel and were ready for the adventure today.
Tanah Lot Temple
Our driver came to pick us up at 3pm. The ride to temple was a scenic, lust green and eye pleasing.
We reached the temple premise in an hours time. We had to walk for about 20 mins to reach the main entrance. The spectacular view from the main gate could not be put into words. Its mesmerizing. The vast ocean, the temple at the sea shore, the huge waves dashing hard into the big rock monument hosting the temple, everything added up to the experience. We walked down and offered our prayer.
The major attraction here is the sunset. We walked uphill and selected a cafe that had a perfect view. Ordered some drinks and awaited, like thousand others for the setting sun. The changing color of the sky, the clouds hiding the view, the temple growing darker and the water coming even higher blocking the pathway to the temple, we could see all of that from up there.
We then walk back to the parking area and asked our driver to drop us at Ganesha restro for dinner. We reach the restro at 8pm due to the heavy traffic and it had started drizzling a bit as well. We had a splendid 3 course dinner, it felt like finding water in a desert!! We decided to eat atleast one meal here everyday ;)
Day 3:
We had a leisure first half. We could relax in the hotel's swimming pool after a lavish breakfast. We came to know about the famous Ganesha restaurant which is around 3 kilometers from our hotel. This place offers the best indian food that you could find in Bali. Little did we know that, we would end up having dinner everyday in this restaurant!
Tegenungan Waterfall
It was late in the evening that we reach this tourist attraction. It was already falling dark after the sun set when we reach here and say a spectacular view of the waterfall from a distance. We were sad that we could not go and enjoy the waterfall, but then we were also tired because of the day filled with activities.
We had to settle for a couple of picture of the waterfall. So one advice would be to reach this place a bit early, around 4pm would be perfect. The place is filled with cafes, so you would not be left hungry while enjoying the waterfall.
We had a romantic lunch setup with Lakeview Restaurant. The resto has a very lovely setup with tables arranged in a stylish fashion to have a wide view, overlooking the valley and the mountain. The resto has a giant swing, which is a major attraction for adventure lovers.
After spending some quality time here and not less that hundred pictures here, it was time to move on to the next destination.
Tirta Empul temple
We reached the temple premises at around 4pm. The spiritual vibe of the place could be felt even before we stepped foot into the main temple compound. This is a Hindu temple, dedicate to Lord Vishnu. The temple was very crowded with tourists from around the globe and natives alike. We inquired and found that it was an auspicious day in Bali because it was a Full Moon day.
We tied Sarong around our waist and followed all the devotees in to main temple. Though crowded this place offered a calm demeanor. We could see visitors lined up in the pool to sprinkle the holy water on them. It is after the bath one can go into the part of the temple hosting the main deity. So there are some portion of the temple restricted for tourists, mainly because most don't follow proper rituals before entering the temple.
We seeked blessing from Lord Shiva before bidding adieu. The temple compound hosts a big pool with colorful fishes,near the exit. We spent some time here, as it was soothing. We have to walk though the flee market before making our way to the parking area.
Kintamani & Ubud
Kintamani is a live volcano which is about 2 hours from Kuta. On the way we had a couple of visits planned to see the Fabric making process(Batik) and the village that is famous for its silver ornaments work.
It was not until 1 pm that we reached Kintamani. The road at this place is very narrow, has a deep valley to one side. From this very road we have a clear and amazing view of the mountain top which has the live volcano. The top of the mountain was covered with cloud. We could not see the smoke coming out of the top.
Tanjung Benoa
Day 4 was reserved for water sports activity. It was a different driver today, arranged by the water sports operators. We started for the beach, Tanjung Benoa.
The water sports was a quick affair. It was fun activity. We inquired and found that the additional activities are highly priced. The Flyboarding seemed very tempting. This is the latest activity in the list of varied water sports
It was afternoon when we finished the activities and freshened up. We saw a restro named Indian Dhaba and decided to eat at this place. The place looked good from outside, but the food was just decent, nothing great. I would not recommend this place!!
We were back in our hotel by 3pm. As there was not planned activites for the day, we had a good sleep and planned to walk out at 6pm to the nearest beach. The Kuta Beach.
Kuta Beach
We walked quite a lot to reach this beach. However I would say its all worth it, this is one of the best beaches I have been to. The setting sun was giving a much needed contrast. The beach is very clean and you could see people enjoying Surfing. We clicked a lot of pics, but believe me the flamboyance of the beach can't be captured, it has to be witnessed.
We decided to relax here and experience the sun set here. It would be a sunset i would not forget in this lifetime. Post that we decide to walk and explore the area, before heading for dinner at Ganesha.
Day 4:
We had our breakfast and checked out of the hotel. It was the day we were being transferred to our villa. Not before a full day of beach visits.
Pandawa and Nusa Dua Beach
After having seen all beaches for the last couple of days, I though there won't be any more beach that would spark an aww. But I was wrong The Nusa dua beach is a marvel. The beach has a big garden and when you reach the shore, it gives an amazing view of the water body, all blue fresh water. The only sound you could hear, is the waves. Its a soothing experience to be here. Haven't it been for the scorching sun, we could have spent an entire day here just watching the sea.
Dreamland Beach
This is a secluded beach, very clean because of the very less number of tourists here. The beach has a posh resort property covering half the beach. Dreamland beach is good to enjoy the calm, joyful surrounding. After some picture here, we decide to head out.
It was not until 1 pm that we reached Kintamani. The road at this place is very narrow, has a deep valley to one side. From this very road we have a clear and amazing view of the mountain top which has the live volcano. The top of the mountain was covered with cloud. We could not see the smoke coming out of the top.
Day 5:
The next destination was the villa, and we could not contain our excitement. We stopped for a quick lunch before heading to the villa, which was an hour away from this place.
The road leading to the villa was scenic beyond words. It was a bit of an outskirts from the hustling city life. When we reached and checked in at the reception, we could sense the luxury all along. The property was a huge luxurious villa, with a private pool. The welcome drinks and fruit plate was served. The hospitality here was really commendable.
Day 6:(Leisure day in the villa)
If you are looking for a romantic hideout, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, this is a must visit place. A 2 day stay in this villa was worth. The luxury that we experienced here was just amazing. Highly recommended.
So after 2 days stay in the villa, it was our time to say good bye to the wonderful host, Bali. The clean roads, beaches, the luxury, everything added up to make it an unforgettable honeymoon trip.
P.S: 1>When in Bali, be careful with the currency exchange outlets. Just use the authorized center to exchange money.
2> Like Uber, you have BlueBird app in Bali to book cabs.
3> Polish your bargaining skills, you can get things very cheap than the quoted price.
I booked the above trip with Funpoint Holidays(+91 9687182625), www.funpointholidays.com . The agent will help you with hassle-free booking experience. You can get a tailor made itinerary to fit in you budget and still covering all the attraction of the destination.
If you like this article, please check about my other awesome trip to Kasol:
Kasol : https://www.tripoto.com/asia/trips/mumbai-amritsar-kasol-a-budget-trip-5807711fca8f9