Beautiful Bali

CEBU, Philippines —  It’s where beauty and serenity meet – Bali, Indonesia takes my breath away! I was smitten by its rustic charm.

I’ve always wanted to visit Bali. From the moment I saw the TV series entitled “Memories of Bali” many years ago, I knew this was a place I had to see for myself one day.

It was a wonderful opportunity to join The Visayas Mindanao Media Familiarization Trip of Cebu Pacific/ JG Summit Holdings. From Manila, it only took three hours and 45 minutes on a Cebu Pacific flight to NguraRai International Airport, in Bali.

Bali offers majestic views, delicious foods, all in rustic ambience overall! There are a lot to do and enjoy there. Either you go around sightseeing or food-tripping or just hanging around on the gorgeous beach – the possibilities for fun are virtually limitless.

On our first day, together with Aneka Kartika Tours & Travel Services, the Visayas-Mindanao media group visited to Ubod Village. It was surrounded by nice places like Puri Saren Royal Palcem Pura Taman Saraswati Temple and Ubod Art Market. A good number of shops sold wood carvings, antiques, crafts, textiles, paintings and jewelry. We had lunch at the refreshing Visesa Ubod Resort.

We also visited the Tegalalang rice terraces, a famous spot in the Ubud area. It looked like a “stairway to the sky” because of the marvelous work of the farmers. The manmade wonder exemplified perfect harmony with the environment.

We stayed at Mason Elephant Park and Lodge on our first night. The surrounding landscapes were breathtaking, all the more made dramatic with the presence of rescued elephants. The next day was filled with so much to do in the area. The park crew presented us with many activities and attractions – including jungle buggy, spa treatment and swimming with elephants.

By the way, the food at Mason Elephant Park and Lodge was excellent and prepared with utmost care for quality.

Then we went to Koko Bambu and Mason Gourmet Chocolate Factory for our lunch on our second day. The chocolate factory and restaurant was situated in a lovely landscape with an amazing view of surrounding rice fields. The place generally espouses an eco-friendly concept – and the service is warm and attentive.

As night fell, we checked in at the popular Nusa Dua Beach Hotel and Spa. We had the place to ourselves and it was an experience never to be forgotten. The night was accented with a stunning sound-and-light show; and the walk through the fine sand afterwards warranted a restful sleep.

We visited the Tanah Lot Temple the next day. This impressive temple by the sea is one of the important directional temples in Bali. From here, we proceeded to the nearby market to shop for souvenir items. As in any street market, haggling prices was common, and vendors would almost always be willing to drop a fair bit from their asking price.

That night we headed to the serene Anvaya Beach Resort Bali. The resort’s elegant welcome lounge also served a sumptuous meal. Then we were given a short cooking lesson, perhaps so that we might try cooking back home the delectable dishes we just relished.

A short distance from the hotel was the St. Fransiskus Xaverius Catholic Church, close enough for attending the anticipated mass (it was Saturday night).

Overall, Bali is clearly tourism-conscious. Its tourist facilities and services are all geared towards the satisfaction of visitors. And visiting the place is now made easy – one may choose a convenient schedule at www.cebupacificair.com.