After an enjoyable visit to Singapore, it was soon time to head out to another world-famous location, the beautiful island of Bali, the jewel of Indonesia. I was fortunate to redeem some #United miles for a roundtrip business class ticket on #SingaporeAir to Bali’s capital city and main hub of Denpasar, located on the southern part of the island. Singapore Air is a member of #staralliance and is often ranked as one of the best airlines in the world. They operate 4 flights per day on the roughly 1,000 mile, 2 hour and 40 minute flight. I selected one departing in the early evening and made sure I allowed myself plenty of time to check out their SilverKris Lounge at #ChangiAirport’s Terminal Two.
This lounge is located on Level 3 in the North Wing closest to the E Gates. A very smart and sophisticated entryway then splits into 2 corridors, to the left for Business Class flyers and to the right for First Class ticket holders. The business lounge is open 24 hours per day and showers are made available to visitors. Although there are no windows in this lounge, the lack of which would normally bother me, the dimmed lighting and quiet atmosphere seemed perfect for my evening departure and helped to put me in a relaxed mood. The buffet choices were varied and included both hot and cold western and regional dishes. They were often replenished and seemed to be quite popular. The cold dishes included a selection of meats, cheeses, salads, sandwiches, fruits, desserts and snacks. I learned that hot options varied depending upon the time of day but the evening choices I saw included some western stews and pasta dishes as well as local options such as noodles, curries, sauced fish, and chicken dishes. They had a New Zealand Mud House Sauvignon Blanc on offer as well as 2 reds - Castello di Nipozzano, a Chianti Rufina Riserva from Italy and a Chateau Siaurac Lalonde-De-Pomerol from France. A wide selection of beers and soft drinks were made available to guests as well as a good selection of premium spirits for self-service cocktail making. A large business center is located near the entrance for those who must catch up on work and free Wi-fi is available throughout the lounge. I enjoyed my visit here and made my way to the gate just prior to boarding.
My SQ flight to Bali was on an A330-300 which was divided into 2 classes. The Business Class cabin featured 30 angle-flat seats arranged in 5 rows with a standard 2-2-2 configuration. All seats face forward and, while certainly not as spacious and luxurious as their international offerings, proved to be more than adequate for me on this relatively short flight. I was lucky to have the 2 seats in the second row on the port side all to myself so I had plenty of space to get comfortable and enjoy the view without having to worry about climbing over my neighbor if I needed to get up and reach the aisle. Dinner was served on a single tray as opposed to the multiple courses you’d normally get on long-haul flights but that was in keeping with the scheduled time en route. I selected the chicken dish which was served in a turmeric coconut gravy with mixed vegetables and rice. It was pretty tasty and I wouldn’t hesitate to order it again. The service onboard this particular flight was pleasant and efficient as one would expect from Singapore Airlines and we touched down in Denpasar’s Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) on time at 8:50pm.
I was staying at the #RitzCarlton Bali. It's set on a cliff along the beachfront and I'd arranged an airport pickup for the short, 18-minute drive to the resort, located in Nusa Dua. This resort area was built in the 70s in the southern part of the island and is known as the enclave for large, 5-star properties. The Ritz Carlton is right at home here offering a number of clifftop rooms, suites and out-of-this world private villas; all combining a modern, luxury experience blended with Balinese traditions. The resort sits on over 31 acres of smartly landscaped tropical gardens and great views of the Indian Ocean. At check-in I was pleased to learn I’d been given an upgrade to a one-bedroom Junior Suite with Club Level access. At roughly 1,000 square feet in size, my suite included a spacious living area for in-room relaxation, a marble bathroom with an abundance of Asprey bath amenities, double-vanity sinks and an oversized bathtub (with a built-in 22-inch TV) and a separate rain shower. There was also a private closet and dressing area off the bath with plush robes and comfortable slippers. I must also mention how much I loved the comfortable bed with soft linens and great pillows. What a way to spend a few days!
The Club Lounge offered 5 food and beverage presentations on a daily basis. These included a full breakfast served from 6:30 to 11am, a light, buffet lunch from 12 to 2pm, afternoon tea with all the trimmings offered from 2:30 to 4:30pm and evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from 5 to 8pm. As if that wasn’t enough, the bountiful service was capped off by cordials and desserts served from 8:30 to 10:30pm! Club guests are also entitled to 2 pieces of complimentary laundry and garment pressing per day and exclusive access to the Club swimming pool. I was very grateful for my upgrade and was a frequent visitor to this wonderful lounge.
Bali is known as the “Island of the Gods" as it’s been blessed with magnificent topography, from majestic mountains and volcanic hillsides to black sandy beaches. It boasts a rich and diverse culture that’s in a class by itself. The predominantly Hindu culture of the island is in striking contrast to the Muslim-dominated country of Indonesia of which it’s a part. Balinese architecture is also well regarded as the island is home to thousands of very beautiful Hindu temples to be found nearly everywhere. They make extensive use of natural materials such as thatch roofing, bamboo poles, woven bamboo, coconut and teak woods as well as brick and stone. My first stop was the Ubud Palace. Originally built in the 1800s, the palace is a “must see” destination when visiting Bali. During its construction, many island artists were sent to the area to assist in building the castle. A good many of them chose to stay in the area once it was completed and others later flocked to the region. Now it’s considered a hub for painting, sculpture, woodworking, music and dance, many of the arts for which the island itself is synonymous.
Tanah Lot is another popular place to visit on the island. It’s a very impressive rock formation and home to the ancient Hindu pilgrimage temple Pura Tanah Lot. Located about 20 miles northwest of Denpasar, the temple sits on a large, offshore rock which has been carved and shaped over the years by the forces of the Indian Ocean tides. The temple has been part of Balinese mythology for centuries and was constructed to honor the Gods of the Sea. At the base of the rocky island, venomous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. While entrance fees are 3 x higher for foreigners at 60,000 Indonesian Rupiahs, that’s only a little over $4.00 so the increased cost is negligible. To reach the temple, visitors walk through a small series of Balinese market souvenir shops and a few restaurants are also open on the clifftops. They showcase really outstanding views and traditional fare like satay, roasted pork and Betutu, an island dish consisting of a whole chicken or duck stuffed with a tasty mixture of intricate Indonesian spices that takes at least 8 hours to properly prepare.
Long-tailed monkeys are ubiquitous in Bali, even at the Ritz Carlton. During my stay I noticed any number just lounging about the resort, and even spotted one enjoying my balcony on a sunny afternoon. The monkeys in Bali are not known to have rabies but no-one wants to be on the receiving end of an animal bite so these creatures are best left alone and to themselves. They piqued my curiosity however and so one day I went to visit the Mandala Suci Wenara Wana, otherwise known as the Ubud Monkey Forest. It’s a sanctuary and natural habitat for more than 1,000 of these long-tailed monkeys. The forest also has more than 180 species of plants and trees within its 30 acre-site as well as 3 Hindu temples. It lies within the village of Padangtegal which owns it. The village residents view the Monkey Forest as a conservation, education, and economic center as well as an important spiritual site. Its philosophical goal is to foster peace and harmony for its global visitors. I spent the better part of an afternoon watching them dartIng about, sunbathing, eating and caring for their young.
Before departing the island I visited the Ubud Art Market. It’s in the center of town and open every day from about 6 in the morning to around 6 in the evening. Many of the goods to be found here are made in the neighboring villages and consist of different handcrafts, including stackable storage boxes, baskets, Batik-patterned fabrics,gold and silver jewelry, custom sarongs and straw hats. A word to the wise: be sure to negotiate. Ask the seller for his or her price and then start offering about 30% of what’s quoted. Work your way up in increments until you both meet at the same figure, hopefully somewhere in the middle. Be sure to do it with a smile and pleasant demeanor and you’ll most likely end up a good bit below the initial asking price. It’s a fun way to spend some time and get an appreciation for how your tourist dollars can help the local economy. I also made sure to get a good view of some of the rice terraces on this remarkable island. The paddies are part of the people’s heritage. One of the top examples is Jatiluwith, recognized by UNESCO in its world cultural landscapes list. The centuries-old traditions of irrigation create artistry in nature and I was amazed at how striking they appeared.
Pundits say “time flies when you’re having fun” and I suppose that’s true as before too long my visit to Bali came to an end. I’ll tell you all about my very long return trip home in a future post.
Until next time…safe travels.
Wow another great trip. I felt like I was along for the ride. Loved the monkeys!!