Our first visit to Bali was in 1974 and it was one of the most amazing experiences I have had. Coming from New Zealand it was such a different world, full of colour, beautiful people, exotic places and an amazing culture. The magic of Bali remains, and although there have been changes, on the whole I think these are for the best for us as visitors - some would say that for the Balinese many of these changes have had a detrimental effect. Today you can stay in the most beautiful, modern, and well run hotels at a fraction of the price you pay in other parts of the world; you can eat different styles of food at the most amazing restaurants, at prices most visitors can afford. The Balinese have retained their culture, it surrounds you all the time, and it is a bonus when you come across one of the many ceremonies and processions. We have travelled around the world to many places since our first visit, and Bali remains my favourite place, mainly because of the charming beautiful people and their unique culture.
Our first stop on this trip was Candi Dasa and we stayed at the Candi Beach Cottages, a few kilometers from the village. We had checked out this hotel on our visit last year, and knew which rooms we would be most happy with - they were ground floor on the hotel wing looking out through the coconut palms to the pool and the sea with the islands in view. We had our own spacious deck with loungers and umbrella, and this was just bliss. There are bungalows which I usually prefer, but they were rather close together and felt cramped. One of the great plusses with this hotel is that you can swim and snorkel in the sea beside the hotel.
We ate most of our meals outside the hotel, as there was a small restaurant next door with great food, especially the fish. Will continue this episode later, as visitors have arrived.