Bali

Again thanks to AirAsia, i got to visit this mystical island down south in Indonesia for free (well free flights at least). after hearing so much praises, i went with high hopes and was not disappointed. my only grunge is that i stayed in Kuta instead of other smaller towns. Kuta, fyi, is the main town of Bali and like all major towns, it's full of tourists and traders trying to get a buck out of you. i should have opted for a quieter place like Ubud instead.

My friend who did the planning this time round did a great job. he got us a driver who was reliable and pretty honest about stuff. he's not too talkative and provided valuable information during the two-day tour with him. accommodation was pretty cosy for RM30/night. i liked the one at Ubud (narasoma homestay) better cos' it was better maintained.

Bali is blessed with many natural resources. there are the mountains (incl volcanos), forests, sea, river and lakes. for those with cultural interests, there are many temples to explore. for the creative, the art galleries are colourful and full of choices. also for the shopaholic, Bali offers many little shops with crafts and nooks for varied budget. it fits into every traveller's fancy.

I guess what i liked the most about Bali is the calmness and idyllic nature. Balinese are friendly (they are spiritual too as Hindus) and while they survive mainly on tourism, they did not strike me as those who are highly dishonest. also, food is great. a must check out place is Naughty Nuri in Ubud. they serve the best pork spare ribs in the island; and with a glass of margarita, my meal was just heaven!