Golden Rules for Bali:
One thing I like about Bali is that it’s a Visa free country so no issues of getting all documents in place to apply for a Visa. One just has to carry flight tickets and currency but I would suggest you to carry hotel reservations as well.
For currency, I took dollars with myself from India as you get a good rate for Indonesian rupiah in exchange of dollars. Central Kuta gives the best rate. There are multiple outlets in Bali.
If you are not taking a packaged tour, it’s important to book the right transport service. I booked my car from Sanura Tours & Travels. We explored a number of places with them. The efficient drivers came on time, the cars were clean, the drivers were friendly, spoke English, and even clicked our beautiful family pictures. Not to forget, they coordinated with us on WhatsApp too and told us about local attractions as well.
Whether you are travelling with kids or as a couple, Bali Zoo is must in your itinerary. Night at the Zoo was about fun with elephants, snakes, deers, kangaroos, lions, sunbears and tigers in their nocturnal habitat- from feeding the lions, tigers, elephants and deers to touching and playing with the deers & kangaroos who loved us too. Taking a Python snake on us was another adventure and experience altogether! Breakfast with Orangutans was also once in a lifetime experience!
Bali Swing is also a must visit if you wanna be captured at a high. Bali Swing houses numerous jungle swings ranging from 10m, to 78m above the ground and everyone has ample options to choose from a total of 18 swings. A spectacular view which overlooks the river, tropical greenery and waterfalls is a given whichever swing(s) you choose along with its own thrill and adventure. So whether you are on a solo trip or are a couple, a family or are accompanied with friends, this is a must visit.
Devil’s Tear was one of the highlights of our trip. A must must visit! Waves come in force and what we see is epic. A rainbow formed in the midst of water. Wow! What a sight. One can just sit there for hours and watch the amazing sight. Me and my family were simply awestruck with the sight. Though, one must be careful going too close to the waves. This was a part of our Nusa Lembongan trip which we booked through Sunrise Fast Cruise Bali.
Once our dates were decided, we thought of checking out the flight which works well according to our itinerary. We checked tariffs and reviews of various flights and zeroed down on Malindo Air. I had taken Malindo Air to Malaysia earlier and loved my experience and had no second thoughts about this one. We were booked on Malindo flight OD 206 which had to fly out from Delhi at 10:05 PM IST and reach Bali Denpasar Airport at 12:15 PM (Indonesia time) with a three hour stop over at Kuala Lumpur. We were happy to see that the flight was on time and after a smooth check-in at the Malindo Air counter, collecting boarding pass, immigration and security check, me and my family were relaxed. With services like extra legroom, inflight entertainment, baggage allowance and meals on board, the flights are just perfect! Regional selections in entertainment section is just what an Indian traveler would love. Another highlight was the meal. I have hated having cold meals in almost every flight whether domestic or international but Malindo was a pleasant surprise. The meals were hot and yum! Such a pleasure!
Chhindwara: A city spreading its wings with developing its people and celebrating the local produce- Corn
TravelOne of my best memories while growing up is having bhutta from the street vendor. Our bhutta in the dining concept changed to corn chaat as well as corn on the cob. Little did I know that the crop ‘corn’ has 300 variations and types which are coded with numbers. ‘9126’ is grown on heavy soil and has disease resistance power, 9198 is grown on heavy/ medium soil while 9141 is grown on medium soil. What we eat as bhutta or corn on the cob is 2212…Isn’t this so interesting!
Yes, that’s what I discovered at the recently concluded Corn Festival 2019 held at Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh. Honestly, when I got an invitation from Chhindwara District Administration, CM Kamal Nath Ji & MP Government, I wasn’t sure if I should go. Chhindwara is known to be a Tier 3 city and being in a metro we have a perception of how a Tier 3 city looks like. I did my research and said yes to the invitation which I am till date glad about.
Bali is a beautiful place. While we cherished the beauty of the Indonesian island known for its forested volcanic mountains, iconic rice paddies, beaches and coral reefs, we could not resist shopping. Bali offers a unique experience for shopaholics too as there are variety of places to shop – from local to brands to designer stores to boutiques. One would find goods like handbags, jewellery, footwear, clothes, lingerie and much more. Foodies, fret not, there is a food market as well. Then you have beautiful crafts like paintings, sculptures, furniture, home décor etc. The paradise offers everything here that is why Bali is the heart of Indonesia like Delhi is the heart of India.
We shopped a lot in Bali and we are putting down a list for you all so that you can make the most when you go to Bali:
While growing up, Independence Day/Republic Day have been synonymous with Big Bazaar sale. Three days leading to the patriotic day are when most of the families would stock up groceries, dinner sets, luggage and a lot of other things. Like every year, this year too Big Bazaar hosted a mega event – August Savings Bazaar during the recently concluded Independence Day which had everything at upto 70 percent which got a great response.
Come Diwali and our wishlist would be ready. While I am looking at an upgrade of my gadget(s) – my mobile and laptop, my parents would have a different wishlist in mind. My mother who is a housewife would be looking at new elements of home – buying new consumer durables (microwave, AC, TV etc) or decor to ensure our home looks the brightest and cleanest while my father who is a businessman would be looking forward to upgrading his automobile.
Festivals are at the heart of people’s lives in India and no festival is complete without food! Food in India is a celebration in itself and when its festival time, food becomes one of the key elements. Afterall every theme is different and that’s how food is set and marketing promotions for the same start.
While in Bali, I wanted different experiences across different destinations. When we were finalizing our abode at Kuta, we chose Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel. A dreamful destination, yes, it’s so big, beautiful and splendid that I would choose to call it a destination rather than a hotel.
Aren’t we all guilty of neglecting our health because of our busy schedule? Whether you are a working professional trying to balance personal and professional life or a housewife ensuring your husband and child eat healthily, we sometimes tend to ignore our own health in the midst of making everything around us perfect.
If I look at myself, i am absolutely guilty of ignoring my health owing to my busy schedule.
I manage a full-time Corporate Communications job plus an active blog. Untimely meals, skipping breakfast, not eating a balanced diet, no exercise does have its own impact on health. In May 2019 itself, I had to travel twice, one domestic for my blog and an international vacation with family. Even work-wise, it was super hectic with a new campaign launch and a big store launch completing a milestone.
I had been feeling fatigued and that’s when my mother suggested me to get a health check-up done. I assured her that I am fit and fine but you know how mothers are, they would want the best for their kids. So I booked my appointment with SRL Diagnostics and took the Vitamin and Mineral test.
With the exciting life that Bali offers, our abode at Seminyak was not less thrilling. It didn’t only boast of plush interiors, chic comfort, stylish modern décor but even quintessential hospitality. We chose to stay at L Hotel, a Quintessential Brand amongst Bali’s top luxury hotels.
I love the vivid culture India has where one gets to learn about different religions as well as their festivities. I have enjoyed the splendour of Christmas as much as I enjoy Diwali so when I got an invitation for a Ramadan Food Walk from Novotel Hyderabad Airport we could not say ‘NO’. After a 2 hour flight we landed in Hyderabad, the City of Nizams from where in a few minutes we entered the plush and beautiful hotel. A look around and I was captivated with the serene surroundings filled with greenery and nature.