Day 1 in Bali:
Travelling to Bali from India was pretty smooth. I think it's one of the cheapest holidays that's totally worth it for anyone who really wants a break. Long strips of pretty beaches with white sands, beautiful painted sunsets, Balinese culture and Hindu temples at every corner.. Bali welcomes you in the moment you arrive at Denpasar airport.
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| Seen near Denpasar Airport. |
The people are all ready to do anything for you, the country being one that's still developing, everyone is ready to work in order to make money some way or the other and since tourism is currently booming, everyone is into the hospitality business. Tour guides, drivers and other welcoming people greet you with a smile.
Somehow the feeling that I have arrived in this beautiful faraway land which I'd always dreamt of visiting didn't hit me immediately. At first I felt like nothing was different. Like I was in an Asian version of Kerala.
Our holiday package included a pick and drop service to the Hotel, but since our flight was delayed by over an hour we missed out on our guide who waited for us and then left. So we were helped by Ketut, who we met at the airport and offered us his phone to make calls to our tour guide. Our calls didn't go through so we decided to take up Ketut's offer, who drove us to an Indian restaurant, waited for us while we had our first meal after a long day and then dropped us to the hotel.
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| The Garden at Grand Mirage Resort |
Grand Mirage Resort and Thalasso, Bali was a beautiful and extravagant sight to take in. lush greenery all around and within the resort, cascading water falls, organically shaped swimming pools that were integrated into the landscapes.. I fell in love.
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| View from the Balcony of Garden View room in Grand Mirage Resort |
We were gracefully escorted and shown to our rooms along with our luggage by the friendly staff.
The only thing perhaps that I found lacking in all the countries that I visited in August and September (namely Indonesia, Singapore and China) were hand faucets in the bathrooms, but other than that everything was top notch. We took a stroll in the neighborhood and explored the hotel premises that evening. The beaches have white beds placed in cosy areas, as though to make one feel like they are in the midst of heaven. We took a break for a while, chatting, while the cool breeze and the spray of the ocean waves kissed our cheeks.
We walked back to the hotel and saw souvenir kiosks selling exquisite handmade wooden masks and other artifacts. The dining area had a buffet with Traditional Balinese dancers performing for the guests. The scent of barbecue and other delicious food floating in the air and the Balinese music playing in the background really made me realize I am indeed in another exotic country.
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| In the Lobby of Grand Mirage Resort |
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| Grand Mirage Resort Swimming pools at night. |
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| Yummylicious dinner from Padma's. |
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| Super tasty and super affordable. |
We retired for the night after a sumptuous meal of Homely Indonesian food at a restaurant owned by a nice lady called Padma. They had complimentary Salad and the ambiance was congenial. The people in Bali are mostly simple and unpretentious and they do their best to make you feel at home.
