The Island Explorer

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If you have been reading my blog, you would have noticed my love affair with the hotel group, W. This hotel chain fits me perfectly. I love its flair for design, its whenever, whatever service and of course, its style. I've been to the W in Bali before but I have never stayed here. So, in this trip, I decided to book one night before we head back home to Manila.

The title says it all and I am struggling to write this post as I see the pictures once again. Perched high above the dramatic cliffs of Uluwatu, the Alila Villas soars in every aspect of a resort experience.

I like staying in Seminyak because it has more sophistication than rowdy Kuta. And a host of the  best restaurants in Bali can be found in this area, particularly in the Seminyak-Kerobokan circuit. One of my favorite dining spots serves up an interesting fusion of Asian and Western food - Sardine.

I don't know how I do it, but I guess I seem to have a lucky charm with hotels and resorts. Just by looking at a picture and analyzing its review, I can really tell if it would meet my high standards. For my latest trip to Bali, I was looking for a new villa to stay in. While skimming through Agoda, I found a decent looking one priced at only USD 120 - with a private pool. 

In every trip I take, I always make sure I visit a high calibre restaurant, whether it be one of the top restaurants in the region or a Michelin starred one. For this trip to Bali, I finally secured seats to the elusive Mozaic. 

As you know, I visit Bali every year. Let's say it's a pilgrimage I make already. Bali is one of my favorite spots in the world, even though it doesn't have great beaches such as ours. And when in Bali, I always take the trip up to Ubud, that quaint highlands town known for its art and culture.

This resort made me fall in love with Lombok. And I wasn't supposed to stay here. Because I missed my flight to Bali, a lot of changes were made, and all of them, fortunately turned out for the better. This resort is probably one of the best I have stayed in. Friends, welcome to Purimas Boutique Resort in Senggigi, Lombok Island, Indonesia. I wasn't really expecting much from the resort, since I made the booking at the last minute, and I was torn between a lot of other resorts. I was supposed to stay in Quincy Villas but a report told me that the rooms were already worn out, and not as pictured in their website. So I took my chances and booked the best value room I could find. That was how I discovered Purimas. I was really in for a surprise. My room cost only P2,100 (USD 45) and I didn't expect to check in something like this: and sleep in a bed like this: and shower in a bath like this. I didn't even show you the terrace and the day bed inside the room (that makes 2 b...

I honestly had a difficult time selecting where to stay in Gili T. I was already booked in Villa Julius, when for some reason, I decided to change my mind. I tried to look for a room in the more high-end Villa Ombok and Luce D'Alma, but they were already full. I also called Scallywags, the number one choice in Tripadvisor, but that was also full. Thus, I ended up in The Beach House, which was also highly recommended by travel blogs. I was picked up in Lombok and privately transferred via speedboat in front of the resort in Gili T. The Beach House had an ambience of a upscale accommodation for a backpacker. It had that backpacker vibe, but had more luxury. There were several accommodation types in the Beach House, from villas to tree houses. I booked a deluxe bungalow for P3,000 (IDR 500,000) a night. For this type of accommodation, that's already cheap compared to those you find here in the Philippines. The room was very spacious. It even had a walk in closet that was oddly bar...

From Senggigi, I was picked up by my resort in Gili T and drove straight to a private pier for around 10 minutes. I was amazed at the lush scenery and the view of the islands of the Gilis from the dramatic coastal road that I passed though. From the pier, I took a speed boat to Gili T. All of this cost me P1,500 (IRD 180,000). A bit expensive, but I didn't want to risk losing time. And besides, my goal was to relax. The Gilis are a cluster of 3 islands off Lombok. The largest of the islands, Gili Trawangan is the busiest and has the most resorts. Gili Meno and Gili Air are smaller, but also has their share of places to stay. The Gilis boast of white sand beaches, beautiful coral reefs and of course, true island vibe. My choice of resort was The Beach House, just near the pier at central Gili T. When I arrived, I realized that it wasn't the best choice. The oldest and biggest resort, Villa Ombak, looked to have the best value. More on The Beach House in my next entry. Gili T was...

Lombok has always been an elusive destination for me. Ever since I have been visiting Bali, I try to make a trip to Lombok, but to no avail. This time, I made it happen. Getting to Lombok is tricky for a lot of reasons. If you're coming from Bali, there are several options to choose from. Taking the fast ferry is perhaps the most popular, but is the most expensive. One way to Lombok or the Boracay-like islands of the Gilis will set you back P2,800 (IDR 450,000). And that's just one-way. You get there in 2 hours, through rough waters. Hence if you're not accustomed to the sea, then you'll be in pain all the way. The fast ferry though can take you straight to the Gilis, which is usually the ultimate destination of people going to Lombok. The other option is by plane, which is faster (30 minutes) and costs P2,400 one-way (IDR 400,000). Call it weird, but it is cheaper. However, the plane lands in Mataram, the capital of Lombok island. If you're going to Gilis, then it ...

Though Kuta is where the action is, Seminyak is where the beautiful people hang out. Yes, the high society who stay in luxurious villas end up making Seminyak their home base. Thus, the neighborhood has a lot of pretty restaurants, bars and boutiques. But if you have to go to one restaurant in Seminyak, it must be institution that is KuDeTa. KuDeTa has been around for a long time, and it has been awarded several accolades for its food and dining experience. It is also a frequented spot for party goers in Bali. It's one place where celebrities lounge and pass the time with a drink of their favorite cocktail at hand. Well, KuDeTa is indeed exclusive, and thus, the prices are expensive. However, being food adventurer as well, I didn't care about the price anymore (the cheapest dish, a starter, is P500), and just hoped that the food would be at par with the dazzling ambience. We tried a watermelon smoothie with black pepper. Though the spice was unique to the taste, the watermelon ...