The Paradise
The first time I went to Bali, was to have loved the film Eat, Pray, Love and have devoured the book with the same title of author Elizabeth Gilbert . The purpose of travel; curiosity by the Asian culture and also the pursuit of something different, simple and peaceful, a bit like in the movie.
It was love at first visit.
In Bali, most habitants are Hindu, cultivating the spirit of nature and daily thanks for everything that surrounds them.
It caught my attention the fact that every day, early in the morning, people get to a specific place with a small board with several items on it. Make a small banana leaf box called Canang Saris and put inside a coin, a lot of food, flowers and incense. When these offerings are placed on the ground, they are to ward off all evil spirits, when placed on top of rocks or temples are to thank the spirits of good.
That's why when I speak in Bali, the smell of incense is one of the most important features to get describe the streets, there is no corner where there is a small box of these.
The beaches are mostly a postcard blue water and rocks covered with various shades of green.
If you ask me which is what I like best , though the picture is in Uluwatu , the favorite is Bingin . Not only the beach itself but throughout the environment that we live in it. A young, relaxed and happy spirit in which all problems are left in the top of the stairs and life is viewed with a certain lightness.
The first time I visited Bali and met Bingin , swore I would return and would set me there.
So it was, I could not resist to come back and stay a few nights in this wonderful beach to enjoy each special moment that you live in it.
I was able to convey the same love of A. nowadays talks to return soon.
I can somehow stop talking in Kelly's Warung , a wonderful place right opposite the sea, on the sand, where you eat the best bowls of Pitaya and acai.
Bali exudes all color, joy of life and peace.
The traditional food is delicious and very healthy. There are lots of dishes with rice, pasta, egg, chicken, kebabs soy sauce with meat dishes with peanut sauce, pancakes made of banana ... A huge list of delicious dishes where I can (and should) highlight the Nasi or the Mie Goreng , a plate of rice or pasta, vegetables and chicken with spicy sauce and fried egg, the Gado-Gado , a spicy salad of eggs, vegetables, tofu and peanut sauce, chicken Satay, small grilled chicken satay with peanut sauce , and finally the delicious Banana pancakes , which are no more than pancakes made with bananas and chocolate.
Needless to say I like ALL of the most famous dishes and served in Bali.
It is impossible not to mention one of the things I like most (probably you too) to see when I'm on vacation, the sunset. Here the sun sets in the sea in warm shades of red and orange.
If you are more lively, I like to see the sunset in a beach bar such as Single Fin in Uluwatu , the Ku-De-Ta in Seminyak or El KABRON in Bingin . If the idea is to relax and enjoy a Zen moment, the ideal is to see in the sand of any beach accompanied a Bintang. If the objective is dinner with the romantic light of this time of day, then it is in Jimbaran which are the best restaurants, walk in the sand, with a multitude of fish and shellfish finished fishing.
To end the tours, I strongly recommend Ubud where I always like to spend the days leading up to the homecoming. Green landscapes, extensive rice fields and wonderful places to visit. Since the monkey forest to Ketut , the healer of the film Eat, Pray, Love .
I was me forget another of my favorite places, only discovered in the second trip to Bali, Canggu . It is the most beautiful beaches of Bali, is probably on the list of the ugliest, the sand is black and the sea is not as intense blue as in others, but the environment is more than wonderful, exudes calm and tranquility.
Most people that walk around here is adept of a healthy lifestyle, practice Yoga, Surf or some other type of physical exercise. The shops are relaxed, colorful and restaurant area on the seafront, is reminiscent of a beach party where the lights are small colored balls hanging on wires, similar to those of the Christmas tree.
It has two of my favorite restaurants, Bowls Nalu and DEUS EX MACHINA , and two of the favorite stores of A., Insight and optical with all models of Les Specs .
I could stay here for a few more hours, trying to describe the trips to Bali and how these can change in as individuals but the ideal is to go live this experience.
It is one of the sites that I will never care to repeat, because whenever there come back, bring something that adds me and makes me happy.