Marph goes to Bali

Marph is back! 

After Marph's 2015 sabbatical and a crazy few months of international relocation it was time for a tropical Summer holiday! 

Bali you didn't disappoint. 

Getting ready to board the plane!

View from breakfast at the hotel in Kuta.

The first few days were spent in the Kuta area exploring the Southern region.

Our first Balinese Hindu temple near the beach in Kuta. 

There are loads of temples everywhere; each village has at least 1 for each of the 3 main deities, most families have one, and almost every house has a shrine. By the end of the holiday they all started to look the same! 

Offerings like these are also everywhere. 

There are many in the street in front of shops, be careful not to stand on any! 

Views from the Rock Bar

From Kuta we enjoyed a tour of the Southern Burkit Peninsula with a private driver. The day out included the beaches of Nusa Dua, Uluwatu temple, Padang Padang beach, sundowners at the Rock Bar and choosing our own seafood for dinner in Jimbaran Bay. 

Temple exploring continued at Pura Tanah Lot,

and Pura Taman Ayun in Mengwi which became our favourite temple of the whole holiday. 

A chilled day of water rides at Waterbom Bali was in order after 3 full days of exploring! 

The rooftop bar of our hotel was our favourite place to chill with happy hour cocktails and watch the sun slip below the horizon after a full day on our feet.

Other Kuta favourites were Made's Warung for authentic Indonesian food, 

Bintang, the favourite local brew, 

And Ice Lab for the best ice cream. 

And of course there were red cup Starbucks dates! 

With Mister Justin. 

From Bali we caught a fast boat to Lombok,

via Gili Trawangan. 

Look at that wide white sand beach and turquoise ocean!

Lombok was the slow part of the holiday and the days were largely spent at the poolside,

enjoying long walks on the beach, 

and swimming in the ocean. 

We did manage to drag ourselves away from the pool for a day exploring the northern part of Lombok around the majestic Mount Rinjani, 

and for a fantastic day of snorkelling around the 3 Gili islands from our own private slow boat. 

Back at the hotel, dinner on the deck enjoying magical sunsets and happy hour cocktails was the order of the day. 

After a relaxing week in Lombok we took a fast boat back to Bali and joined the crazy pre-New Year's traffic to Ubud in the central part of the island. Our days in Ubud were jam packed with all this cultural town has to offer.

A beautiful lotus pond with Pura Taman Saraswati in the background,

and the Sacred Monkey Forrest set among temples in central Ubud.

The traditional Barong dance started a day of exploring the area just South of Ubud. 

We also visited the Bali Bird Park where we saw our first Komodo Dragon, 

Goa Gajah or the Elephant Cave, 

and carvings in a large wall of rock at Yeh Pulu. 

A day exploring just to the north of Ubud started at Tegenungan waterfall, 

and then moved onto Pura Gunung Kawi, 

and Pura Tirta Empul, the sacred spring temple.

It was very busy that day! Many people come to bathe in the Holy Waters.

We continued to Kintamani for views of the holy volcano Mount Batur, 

and stopped at the famous rice tarraces of Tegallalang on the return journey to Ubud. 

We also enjoyed a self-guided walk along the Campuhan ridge starting from our hotel one morning,

and a smoothie break by this beautiful Lotus pond along the way.

We tried to find a view point of the beautiful Ayung River Gorge but eventually had to settle for a minimal view but a much needed cold drink and snack at the flash Four Seasons Hotel instead. 

The shrine at Murni's, our favourite Warung in Ubud. 

All counted it was a wonderful holiday and a much needed break. 

See you next time for more of our Bali adventures! 

x