Wedding anniversary in Bali

Old Oct 30th, 2014, 10:45 AM
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Wedding anniversary in Bali

As part of a trip from Scotland to Australia to visit our daughter and family we're stopping off in Bali to celebrate a wedding anniversary on the 25th January, 2015. We arrive on Saturday 24th January, staying at the Sudamala Suites and Villas, Sanur, and leave for Brisbane late on the following Tuesday evening.
I'm wondering what would be a good way to spend the anniversary day, e.g. an island tour followed by a nice dinner. Any suggestions would be appreciated along with ideas for the other days. Lying on a beach is not really our thing.
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Old Oct 30th, 2014, 11:00 AM
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You could certainly do a driving tour one day. Be aware that the driving is not "restful" as there is a lot of traffic on narrow roads. Spending all day in a car wouldn't be my first choice for an anniversary, but if you've never been to Bali, seeing the rice terraces and a few of the temples and villages would be nice. One of the nice things about Sanur is that it is a small town, so you can stroll in the town, pop into little shops and restaurants. I always enjoy a dawn stroll on the beach.
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Old Oct 30th, 2014, 12:37 PM
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Sanur isn't really a town.
It's basically a beach strip running North to South for about 6kms, with a shopping road running parallel to it.
Lots of shops, bars, and places to eat along the way.
The beach strip, and hotels are 100% relaxation. The beach is fairly shallow and protected by a reef, and breakwater every 400 or so metres.
We had our first week of four very recently in Sanur and really enjoyed the place. But because it's so long and narrow, the closer to the centre you stay the better.
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Old Oct 30th, 2014, 12:42 PM
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Be careful of money changers too, paricularly those close to Hardy's.
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Old Oct 30th, 2014, 08:45 PM
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It really depends on what you like to do and how active you are. Bali offers a lot in the way of culture and arts; health and wellness; nature and adventure. Plus shopping and eating. I like driving around Bali, but I agree that long hours in a car can be numbing. You need to get out and walk around to really experience Bali. If you hire a guide for the day, be sure to express your preferences before you set out. Wherever you go, try to include a little walk through the rice paddies.

These are a few of my favorites that you can do on your own without a guide (but with a car and driver).

Arts and culture
Dance performances:
Daytime -- Barong in Batubulan
Evening -- Ubud Palace, Peliatan, Jungungan, Ulu Watu
Temple festivals (your hotel/resort will tell you what's on)
Workshops -- stone carving, wood carving, mask carving, jewelry making, batik and weaving
The Green School gives tours of its fantastical bamboo architecture
Museums and workshops
Setia Darma House of Masks & Puppets (outside Ubud)
ARMA museum has a menu cultural workshops
http://www.armabali.com/museum/cultural-workshops/

Spa and wellness
Como Shambhala (outside of Ubud) has an extraordinary spa. You can book a whole day of treatments.
There are many yoga and healing centers. Desa Seni and Five Elements offer a range of programs.

Nature and adventure
Bali bird walk with Victor Mason's organization: http://www.balibirdwalk.com/
Rafting on the Ayung River (I like Sobek)
Bali Butterfly Park http://littlebalilove.com/play/bali-...man-kupu-kupu/
Campuhan Ridge Walk in Ubud http://www.liveloveraw.com/campuhan-...ike-ubud-bali/
A sunset walk on Seminyak Beach -- from Double 6 to Batu Belig is about 3 km. Best at low tide.
The very casual Warung Batu Belig is a great place to watch the sun drop into the sea.

Shopping
Both Seminyak and Ubud have many, many shops for all kinds of stuff
John Hardy jewelry has a beautiful showroom and offers tours of the factory by appointment

Food
You can take cooking courses all over Bali, both Balinese food and specialties like desserts and raw foods
Village food markets are fascinating. Best in the morning.
The Bali Chocolate factory offers tours by appointment

Restaurants
There are excellent restaurants all over Bali and it's hard to single out a few, but these are some of my favorites.
Seminyak:
La Lucciola, on the beach, beautiful sunsets
Sardine, seafood, rice paddy view, stunning bamboo structure
Bambu, upscale Indonesian food in a lovely setting
Sarong, Pan-Asian in a pretty garden
Biku, wonderful tea-time in an old Javanese house

Sanur Three Monkeys, stylish setting, good food

Ubud: Locavore, sophisticated inventive cuisine
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Old Oct 30th, 2014, 11:49 PM
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Thanks very much for your all your suggestions. I don't know if I should mention the chocolate factory tour to my wife.
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Old Oct 31st, 2014, 12:28 AM
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I'd read about the Chocolate Factory in LP, and mentioned it to a couple while we were staying in Ubud. They were hiring motor bikes, and went there for a look. Alas, it was Sunday, and closed.

Our favourite pastime in Ubud was simply to walk and walk every day through the rice fields. No two walks are the same, nor is covering the same ground twice, and it's wonderfully relaxing. But you do need to load up with lots of water.

Our favourite restaurant/bar for looking out onto the rice fields was Tropical View, on the southern end of Monkey Forest Road...

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaur...Ubud_Bali.html

For people watching, and catching sights of local ceremonies then Kopi Bali House opposite the market at the very northern edge of Monkey Forest Road opposite Ubud Palace is a great place.
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Old Oct 31st, 2014, 04:57 AM
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If your wife is in to John Hardy jewelry (Google if you are not sure of what it is), the tour and free lunch with the executive team is a lot of fun. Good place to buy something for her to celebrate the occasion. Needs to be booked ahead of time. This could be combined with a nice drive thru the Unesco protected Rice terraces and back to.Sanur for a nice dinner. That way you would not be in the car all day. Putu , the driver we used last month, and on our 3 previous trips, could help organism this or any other day trip you wanted to arrange. He can reached at Putuarnawa@ aol.com. In Sanur we liked the restaurant called The Village for a nice dinner.
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Old Oct 31st, 2014, 04:59 AM
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Forgot to say, any of the suggestions above from Marmot are good ones as she has been living there for several years and knows the area.
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Old Oct 31st, 2014, 08:52 AM
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We LOVED Sardine and La Lucciola restaurants in Seminyak Sardine especially so. Gorgeous setting, with great food to match.
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Old Oct 31st, 2014, 11:48 PM
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I've just had a month in Bali (and Java).

The traffic in the south of Bali is horrendous.

If I was staying in Sanur, then travelling to and from a dinner reservation by road to Kuta, Legian or Seminyak wouldn't appeal at all.

Come nightfall I'd want to be safe and sound back in Sanur, and enjoy a meal at one of the many options there.
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Old Nov 19th, 2014, 07:47 PM
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A good place in Ubud and Nusa Dua area to celebrate your wedding anniversary. you can do a half day tour to the temple of Uluwatu. and in the evening you can be a romantic dinner on the seaside in the area of Jimbaran bay. You can rent a car or through from travel agency such as mba bali tours or other agency to do the tour. hopefully can help you
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Old Dec 6th, 2014, 03:51 AM
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Thanks for all of the above suggestions. One last question. As far as I understand it I will need to purchase a 30 day Visa On Arrival costing 35 US$ at the airport before going through immigration.
Am I correct in thinking this only lasts for my first visit and I would have to purchase a second visa on my return journey even though I'm only stopping over for one night. Is this correct? If so, what a rip off.
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Old Dec 6th, 2014, 06:30 AM
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Are you leaving Indonesia, going to another country, then returning to Indonesia? If so, then you need a second visa or a multi-entry visa. This is completely standard and would be true no matter which country you are transiting.
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Old Dec 7th, 2014, 01:48 AM
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International Departure Taxi from Bali Airport is 200,000 rupiah(about £10), so make sure you've got it handy. You pay it after you've checked-in.
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Old Dec 9th, 2014, 12:24 AM
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<This is completely standard and would be true no matter which country you are transiting.>

This is a lesson for anyone planning a stopover in Bali on route to Australia and back from the UK. It is now going to cost me around £130 for visa and tax fees. I just renewed my Australian e-tourist visa at no cost, is valid for a year and can be used multiple times.
My fault for failing to spot in this in my research on Bali before booking flights. Be warned!
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Old Dec 9th, 2014, 11:46 AM
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Big Man. Once you've got there and got the unavoidable expenses out of the way,then you'll soon chill a bit.

Bali really is vfm. Just do your homework, be careful in places like Kuta and Legian, which are both in your face and have a few dodgy characters knocking about.
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