Tag: Bali Travel

View All Tags

/ / / / / /

What Everyone's Buying in Bali: Kopi Luwak Coffee Packets

Where: Bali, Indonesia
May 13, 2013 at 12:26 PM | by | Comments (0)

Welcome to "What Everyone's Buying," a new series on souvenirs, wherein we investigate what tourist trinkets are the hottest selling in hotspots around the world.

Kopi Luwak. In the movie "The Bucket List," it's the favorite drink of Jack Nicholson's character; he calls it "the rarest beverage in the world." We wouldn't exactly say that, but it is pretty rare and not to mention expensive, with a reputation as being only for connoisseurs.

Of course all this makes it a terribly in-demand souvenir purchase for tourists to Bali, though purchasers may not always realize how it's made: an Indonesian civet (like a possum) eats a certain type of coffee berry. Its digestive system digests the meat of the berry, adds enzymes to the bean inside, and then poops out the bean. These beans are then collected, cleaned and sterilized, roasted and ground into coffee powder.

more ›

/ / / / / / / / /

A Lion Air 737 Goes for an Accidental Swim in Bali (Crash Photos and Details)

April 13, 2013 at 5:52 AM | by | Comments (0)

Just before 5:10am EST this morning, it was reported that an aircraft had gone into the water off the runway at Bali's Airport at 15:10pm local time. That was a simple newsflash, but additional details have emerged in the minutes since, and here is what we know:*

· Update (12pm EST): It is now confirmed that the plane didn't overshoot the runway, but landed short of it. This would mean that the 737 landed too early (versus too late, with an overshoot) and thus hit the water just before the runway. The number of passengers has also been solidified; there were 101 passengers and 7 crew, all surviving.

· The aircraft, a Lion Air Boeing 737-800 (registration PK-LKS), was operating a flight from Bandung, Indonesia to Denpasar/Bali, Indonesia when it landed in the ocean.

· Both ends of the runway at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) are bordered by the ocean. The 737 was unable to stop before continuing off the edge and into the water on the runway's western end [See Update above]. The force of the landing caused the rear area of the fuselage to break, just behind the trailing edge of the wing.

more ›

/ / / /

Where To Go With Your Tax Refund: Bali

Where: Bali, Indonesia
March 7, 2013 at 11:02 AM | by | Comments (0)

Tax day is coming, and you're probably excited...but not because you look forward to sifting through receipts and credit card statements. You're excited because you're getting a fat refund. Probably. The economy may be on its way back up, but you should try to stretch that tax refund as far as you can...like with a little "you did a great job last year" trip—a Tax Refund Vacation.

With what we can only hope is winter's final squeeze on the majority of the 'Lower 48', this blizzard is one of the best reasons to escape the blustery weather is to plan a vacation to a tropical location which gets you way far away, albeit with a few sleepless flights. While many come to mind, one in particular we would recommend highly: Bali.

more ›

/ / / / / /

Oh Boy. Bali Considers Banning Bintang and All Booze

Where: Indonesia
January 7, 2013 at 2:31 PM | by | Comments (0)

...And not just the Balinese beer, but wine, vodka and any other adult libation. A new piece of legislation has been brought to the parliament of Indonesia asking for the potential ban of alcoholic beverages on the tropical vacation island and across the rest of the Muslim country.

If you have ever been to Bali, you know how ridiculous this whole topic sounds. The island is a tourist mecca attracting travelers with daydreams of sitting poolside sipping on a fruity cocktail made from fresh squeezed fruit juice. If relaxing is not part of your itinerary, there are storefronts and cafe-fronts full of sunburned Westerners enjoying a cocktail or beer. Even our own trip last year was dotted with some interesting cocktails and other beverages, both alcoholic and kiddie-safe.

more ›

/ / / /

The Adventures of Travel Cat: Indonesia's Gili Islands

November 7, 2012 at 2:03 PM | by | Comments (0)

Kitty cats. They rule the internet and, whether we realize it or not, pretty much the world too. Ever noticed how cats sometimes stake out the coolest spots in a city? This new feature—Travel Cat—focuses on exactly that. Submit a photo to be featured by tweeting or Instagramming it to us (details below).

Travel Cat spotted in: the Gili Islands off Lombok, near Bali, Indonesia

This week's Travel Cat comes from Jaunted reader and Twitter friend Natalie Cola (@nataliecola), who says of this kitty island variety:

more ›

/ / / / / / /

Inside Garuda Indonesia's Executive Lounge at Bali-Denpasar Airport

October 3, 2012 at 10:57 AM | by | Comments (0)

Saying good-bye to a tropical island like Bali is not easy, but if you are flying on Garuda Indonesia the trip to the airport can be a bit more bearable if you have access to the airline's Executive Lounge.

The Executive Lounge is reserved for travelers flying in business class (Executive Class) on a Garuda flight or those flyers holding gold and platinum status. As we'd bought our own Executive Class tickets, we escaped the chaos of the airport and bid fond adieu to our Bali island getaway. And believe us, the airport is pretty chaotic with limited places to sit and very few food outlets.

more ›

/ / / / / /

Wanna Go to Bali? Bring Your English Skills and School Supplies.

Where: Bali, Indonesia
June 6, 2012 at 2:31 PM | by | Comment (1)

Bali residents may live in paradise, but that doesn't guarantee them a lifetime free from poverty. Families that struggle to provide also struggle to educate their children, which is where you can help.

Some volunteer organizations have been working towards giving children in Bali the education they deserve, including i-to-i Volunteering.

more ›

/ / / / / / / / / / / / /

Swim, Surf, Lunch, Tan, Plane Spot, Repeat. That's the Bali Formula.

May 23, 2012 at 10:08 AM | by | Comments (0)

We have a little secret, and it involved airplanes, seafood, blue waters and, if you've got 'em, binoculars. It's the secret to what is probably the best place to plane spot on the exotic Indonesia island of Bali: the south seafood warungs of Jimbaran Bay.

Finding it was a total fluke. We weren't even trying to plane spot, we swear! We were hungry. We heard the Jimbaran seafood warungs (super casual, mostly outdoor cafes) were good. We heard the ones on the southern end of the big beach were great. Now what makes them excellent: a perfect viewing angle for watching all variety of airplanes take off from Bali-Denpasar Airport's runway that juts out in the ocean.

more ›

/ / / / / /

Air Asia Takes Their Ads to the Beaches of Bali

May 11, 2012 at 2:17 PM | by | Comments (0)

Let's say you've just flown to...ohhh....Bali, Indonesia. The beach, the sunset, the tropical fruits, the warm temperatures and the laidback atmosphere already have you thinking of your next vacation. Whether you know it or not, you're making decisions and being influenced by the leisure branding around you, and doesn't Air Asia know it.

Air Asia, the Malaysia-based low-cost carrier, flies into Denpasar-Bali (DPS) from Darwin, Perth, Bangkok, Phuket, Jakarta, Bandung, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. In Bali, you'll find them advertising on roadside billboards of course, but also all along Seminyak and Kuta beaches, thanks to their plastering their logo atop umbrellas of some beach chair vendors.

more ›

/ / / / /

Foreign Grocery Friday: The Cheese Tim Tams of Indonesia

Where: Bali, Indonesia
May 4, 2012 at 1:50 PM | by | Comments (0)

When we travel, one of our favorite things to do is to pop into a local grocery store and check out the food products and candies we'd never find anywhere else. So we're trying out this new feature, Foreign Grocery Friday, where each week we'll feature some of our (and your) favorite overseas treats. Got a recommendation? Let us know!

You may remember when we told you about Tim Tams, the favorite Australian cookie. Sweet layers of chocolate cookie, with a creamy chocolate center all covered in what else but chocolate. Along with most Australians and visitors, Tim Tams are something of an addiction for us. That's why we were not only excited to find a new flavor, but super intrigued by the unique taste. Cheese!?

We always had the idea that Tim Tams were for an after-dinner treat or something a bit more sinful when we are feeling naughty. While shopping at a grocery store in Seminyak, Bali, this unique flavor offering threw us off and we just had to get them for a little nibble.

more ›

/ / / / / / / /

An Awesome Day on Bali: Sinking to a Cliffside Sunset

April 27, 2012 at 9:51 PM | by | Comments (0)

BALI. For some, the word conjures up images of infinity pools, surfing beaches and tropical temples. For others, it's a nightmare of topless tourists and sweaty sightseeing. Well, we just got back ourselves and we, with the help of tips from friends and locals, did something in between...something that turned out to be awesome. Put on the SPF, hire a car* and join us this week as we reveal an An Awesome Day on Bali (Jaunted-style).

Our awesome day on Bali comes to a close with the sunset. It's not just any sunset, you see; it's a Bali sunset and Bali sunsets are legendary. Therefore, to see a Bali sunset you should have somewhere completely fabulous to sit. We found that place in The Rock Bar at The Ayana Hotel, just south of Jimbaran Bay.

It actually came as a recommendation to us from @Asia_Surf, who's making a nomadic, surf-and-party living on Bali just fine. In other words, he's a reliable source for these things.

more ›

/ / / / / / / / / / / /

Flying Garuda Indonesia's Executive Class Actually Has...Class

April 27, 2012 at 3:32 PM | by | Comments (0)

Since an important part of traveling includes how you get there, it's always nice to sit up front in an airplane. While it makes more sense to experience first or business class on long-haul flights, doing so requires a lot more digging into pockets than most people can manage. The most economical way to fly in the premium cabin is to use miles for an upgrade.

We recently flew an airline that isn't part of our favorite airline alliance (yet). This means no opportunity to use those frequent flyer miles to stretch our legs. While planning a Bali trip, we needed to fly to Denpasar/Bali from Jakarta, and found one of our options to be Garuda Indonesia. Knowing little about them beyond that they're the national airline, we were curious.

more ›