Bali Beach Front Villa

A few miles northwest of Ubud in Tampak Siring in the mountains of central, Bali lies an 11th century temple complex temple of great importance. Tampak Siring is a great location to rent a Bali villa as Gunung Kawi is just one of the fascinating attractions within a short drive. The temple complex is approached from the village where there is a small parking lot, down a street lined with T-Shirt and wood carving sellers through a gate and to the top of a great number of steps which lead down to the sacred Pakerisan river. This is not a journey for those with a heart condition or who smoke too many cigarettes! More small shops present an ideal excuse to pause on the way down and gather one’s breath!

The views are spectacular and some of the island’s most impressive rice paddies present themselves for photographic opportunities as well as an opportunity, on a clear day, to take wonderful shots of Bali’s tallest mountain, Gunung Agung. The path continues down through a high-walled corridor carved out of the rock and through a small doorway, also carved from the rock. The complex is then reached by crossing a small bridge and a dozen or so buildings are directly in front of you. These range from the ancient to the fairly recent and it is here that ceremonies are performed.

The ‘main attraction’ for tourists is through these buildings and down a path to a lower level. Here stand ten rock-cut shrines (candi) carved out of the cliff face in bas-relief. Set in individual arched-roof alcoves, these tower up at 7 metres and are impressive examples of pre-Hindu Balinese stone masonry. They are thought to have been constructed by King Anak Wungsu in honour of his father who started the Udayana dynasty and his favourite queens. There is a great feeling of continuity of purpose here and a mystic atmosphere which has prevailed for a millennium.

Local Bali villa rental is the smart choice for accommodation in the area. Bali villa rental affords the guest an increased level of privacy over a typical hotel vacation, with a great level of luxury and comfort. The typical Bali villa is very well appointed with all mod cons and highly trained staff who will cater to (almost) your every whim.

Death in Bali is very much seen as a part of the great cycle of life and death. For a people who believe in reincarnation, death is just a stepping stone to the next chapter of existence. Balinese Hinduism is a unique, complex blend of Indian Hindu principles, animism, the veneration of Buddhist heroes, reverence for sacred places and ancestor worship. There are an estimated 20,000 temples in Bali and this is why it’s known as ‘The Island of the Gods’. You’ll find at least one in each of the Bali villas for rent and often two or three to mark sacred spaces.

An important part of ancestor worship is making sure they get a good send off and this is achieved by performing the cremation ceremony on an auspicious day. These usually fall once every five Balinese years; a Balinese year is a little short of seven months so this means every four years or so. Until that time, a deceased Balinese person is temporarily buried and, at the right time, exhumed for cremation. Until that time, the soul of the departed cannot begin the path to reincarnation so it is vital that the cremation takes place.

The cremation is a joyous affair, full of gaiety and pageantry. It is a time of great celebration and everyone in the deceased’s village will turn out to honour the dead. During the week before, it is customary for the neighbours of the deceased to bring gifts to the family and in return everyone is invited to partake in nasi campur (the ubiquitous mixed rice meal). The cremation procession will parade through the village to the burning grounds and often past Bali villa rentals with enchanted visitors taking multiple photographs. These processions are very impressive and frequently consist of many hundreds of people, all dressed in their finest Balinese ceremonial costumes, with the women carrying towering offerings on their heads.

When they reach the burning grounds the bodies are placed on elaborate bamboo towers and amongst lengthy prayers they will be set ablaze. Usually the bodies are placed in elaborate sarcophagi resembling buffalos or temple structures made from paper and wood. The fire is set and the Ngaben itself reaches its climax with enormous flames streaming upwards towards the heavens.

There are many Bali villas for rent in small villages and the colour of the Hindu culture will be in evidence everywhere during your stay. Many Bali villa rentals are owned by Balinese people and some of your rental money will undoubtedly be set aside to pay for their funerals. So you can take some small pride that your contribution to a Balinese family will help them attain a better life both here and after death!

In recent years, freestanding bathtubs have made a comeback as the latest must-have decorator items for the rich and the well-informed. They are found in many Bali villas for rent and represent an era when taking a bath was for more than just getting clean. The sit-up, deep shape of a typical freestanding copper bath lends itself to enjoying it with a friend – even if that friend is just a jolly good book!

Copper baths are seen as being an expensive luxury, but sourced directly from Bali they can be a feature in the bathroom of even quite a modest home. Copper bathtubs are thought to be therapeutic and several Bali spa’s feature them for that reason – and they add a certain kudos to any bathroom, spa or otherwise. They have become features in chic bathrooms from Middlesbrough to Moscow and featured in all the best lifestyle glossy magazines. The reason for this is simple – they look absolutely magnificent and it feels wonderful to relax in one at the end of the day with a glass of Syrah and a bestseller.

A top quality freestanding copper bath will set you back a little over a thousand dollars from a manufacturer in Bali and shipping to your home country might cost around three quarters of that. That’s a huge saving on an item which can easily be $5000 in a typical high street store. Most Bali villas for rent will proudly advertise a copper bath, if they have one, and many plan them into renovations.

A decent quality copper bath will be made from sixteen gauge copper and will be hand-beaten and shaped by skilled craftsmen. Most manufacturers are happy to make baths and sinks to any customer design or material variation. If a Bali villa for rent includes a copper bath, please indulge yourself as much as possible.

The copper bath harks back to an era when people bathed in front of the fire and boiled kettles to heat the water. Perhaps more than any material, copper lends an opulent quality to a bathroom; the deep lustre or antique beaten appearance creates a feeling of radiant warmth and it’s good to know that some of your Bali villa rent goes into making bath-times a lavish and self indulgent experience.

One of the things Bali is desperately in need of is a better transport system. Quite frankly, during the most crowded parts of the year, getting around the more congested roads can be a bit of a bore. We’re not talking the traffic jams of London or the gridlocks of New York but spending half an hour on what should be a tem minute journey can be somewhat annoying. This is being addressed with new road projects and schemes and a proposed round Bali rail system.

Of course for many people on holiday, time is not so much of an issue and anyway, the Balinese have a very relaxed attitude to timekeeping at the best of times and everyone will understand if you are late. For those with a schedule to keep, however, there is a viable alternative. For those with money to burn and a clock to race, Bali Helicopters will collect you from one part of the island and fly you to almost any other. They will pick you up from your incoming flight and take you directly to most Bali villa rentals, especially those in bigger villa complexes.

It’s an extravagant method of transport, especially in Bali; but let’s face it, it is an extremely amusing way to travel and for those who are on a quick break from a corporate office job in one of the large Asian cities within a few hours flight, travelling three hours each way between the airport and Bali villas for rent in North Bali can be a quarter of your visit.

Seeing Bali from the air is a fascinating experience, the island takes on a whole new persona when seen from a thousand meters or so. Bali Helicopter tours are an immensely enjoyable experience and start at around eight hundred dollars for a forty five minute trip for three or four people. Travel up the coast to Tanah Lot or fly around Mount Agung, Bali’s tallest volcanic peak, fly alongside the cliffs of Uluwatu or across to the Gili Islands.

Many Bali villa rentals and most big hotels have helicopter pads and it is the preferred method of travel for those for who money is not an issue. It makes an overnight visit a possibility – fly to Bali on Saturday, hop to one of the hundreds of Bali villas for rent in a chopper, spend the afternoon by the pool, evening partying with friends, spend the morning by the pool and chopper back to the airport for an early evening flight home. Spending several hours in traffic is not only boring but can drain one’s energy. To be able to pop into Bali and pop out again without touching the ground is some people’s idea of paradise!

One of the defining sights and smells of Bali is the delicate blossom of the Frangipani tree. It’s a compelling sight, the five petal white flowers with yellow centres, standing distinct against dark green elongated leaves – and the smell is divine. You’ll notice it most keenly in the evenings when the scent is strongest to attract the Sphinx Moths which pollinate it. It is a common tree in the villas of Bali, being very straightforward to transplant. Mature trunks can be cut into medium length sections, prepared and replanted and will resume growth within a few weeks. Each tree produces hundreds of flowers during its flowering cycle and these cover the lawns of the typical Bali villa rental and are collected each morning; the perfect flowers are used for decoration and flower arrangements.

The frangipani flower is very often seen in the ‘Banten’ offerings devout Balinese Hindus make several times every day. These are small square plates constructed from woven leaves and filled with flowers, fragments of flowers and, often, small pieces of food, small biscuits, sweets and coins. Every Balinese Hindu household (and many non-Hindu ones, truth be told) has a temple of some description. This can be as simple as a shaped piece of rock but is usually a small decorated pillar with a space at the top to place the offerings. All the villas of Bali pay tribute to the gods and you’ll regularly see frangipani used as part of the daily ritual.

Frangipani also features in many hairstyles and both women and men will be enhanced by wearing them. This is often seen at ceremonies where they are worn behind the ear or in hair ties on top of the head or in braids and other fancy hairstyles. They also feature in flower baths in your Bali villa rental or spa or salon. There is something magical about settling down for a soak in a hot bath, scented with exotic oils and the surface of the water covered in frangipani flowers.

Although the White and yellow variety is the most common, Plumeria comes in several varieties in Indonesia and if you keep your eyes open, you will spot the vibrant pink, bright red and pale pink varieties. It is a common motif in woodcarving and recent years have seen them reproduced in sponge rubber and incorporated into the hair ties which are one of the staples of the beach seller. Next time you see a frangipani flower lying on the ground, pick it up, check for absence of ants and then inhale deeply of its perfume. Long after you have forgotten the dancing at ku de ta, the diamonds in the jewellery stores and the wooden frogs in the market, you will remember the heady fragrance of Bali and its inspiration, the Frangipani.

For those people who enjoy their privacy and want to vacation, hotels aren’t what they have in mind.  Those who have the money or even just the connections can rent out villas that are one bedroom of quiet seclusion all the way to mansion size villas that can house a whole entourage.  But the most exotic locations with the best views are the ones that everyone covets. Villas can be found in the Caribbean, South Pacific Islands and the most popular are the ones in the Mediterranean namely Italy and Greece.  But what about the ones located in other places such as Bali villas rentals, as well as Fiji and Bora Bora?

You can find luxury in the lush and verdant tropical destinations around the world.  Some may not even think of getting away to these places because they aren’t popular to those people who have to stick to a budget so they don’t lose their home or car.  But for those who have the extra cash in their pockets, a luxury villa on Fiji can offer you many perks that you don’t get with city living.  There are a few villas that are on private islands that are home to only a handful of the most exclusive of people.  They are accessible by helicopter or boat in most cases, and are secluded to give residents privacy to relax and enjoy the views of endless turquoise water and private beaches.

Bora Bora is an island paradise getaway for lovers who are looking for romance and relaxation.  With its castle-like Mount Otemanu reaching to the heavens, white sand beaches with emerald waters rushing to meet the shore, and coral reef gardens that showcase colorful fish on parade, Bora Bora has villas that offer romance, privacy and a touch of gorgeous tropical island paradise for anyone to enjoy.  For the blue collared couples looking for a rekindle to the rich and famous, villas are available to rent for either a week or a month with views that would take your breath away.

But for those who are on a budget but still want to have an island getaway that won’t bankrupt them, Bali villa rentals are perfect for any budget.  They offer privacy with some amazing views of both the beach and ocean, or of tropical flower gardens teeming with exotic scents.  Bali villa rentals are close to popular tourist locations and even close to Bali’s culturally diverse nightlife featuring dancing and fine dining.  These Bali villa rentals often offer discounts for local tourist destinations and authentic Balinese cuisine.

So if you are filthy rich or dutifully scrounging and saving for a short getaway from the daily grind there are villas in every tropical destination that is right for you.  With most tropical island destination, no matter the time of year the weather is always welcoming even in off peak seasons where you may get a rain storm or two.  Just keep in mind that most villas offer discounts on off peak rates so if you visit them during their rainy season, you will get an even better deal without all of the crowds.

Vacationing of the “Island of the Gods”, also known as Bali, you can find yourself feeling like your head is spinning from all of the tourist attractions you have to choose from.  There is something for every kind of person.  For botany enthusiasts, there is the Bali Orchid Gardens, where you can purchase seeds as a gift for another flower lover, or you can take them home and plant them in your own flower garden.  There are also several amazing beaches for those looking to have some fun in the sun.  Many of the Bali villas for rent and hotels offer visitors information on all the most popular tourist spots.

There are several thousand Hindu shrines as well as many temples that are as ell known as Besakih, or the Mother Temple, but have their own religious importance and mystique about them.  The Balinese people are well known for their religious tolerance.  They are also very hospitable to visitors and offer to share their way of life for tourists to explore on their island paradise.  No matter if you are staying at a hotel or you are enjoying one of many villa rentals Bali, a thriving tourist center isn’t very far away.  Many places are located within walking distance to lazy rivers, popular beaches, shrines and shops that cater to every tourists taste.

You can find good food at a quiet family owned restaurant or you can kick it up a notch and go to one of several fine dining establishments.  There are also cultural centers where you can enjoy watching traditional Balinese dancers performing dances that are generations old which puts Balinese history into motion.  You may even be able to see some of the treasured culture and history from the views from many of the villa rentals Bali.

You can choose to go diving, snorkeling, surfing, and dancing.  Or you can go and explore the Sacred Monkey Forest or even visit the ancient Gunung Kawi Temple, which is a series of temples built from the natural caves. Each one offers a piece of Bali to bring home in the form of priceless memories.  Even with staying in one of Bali’s villas for rent, you won’t have to break the bank by seeing all that this island paradise has to offer.  Most tourist pricing varies from $700 to $2000 USD for a 4 night stay in many of the high quality hotels and villas available on the island.  Off peak tourist rates offer even more savings without the hassle.  Even during monsoon season, most storms come and go which means you can visit Bali for cheaper if you are willing to sit and enjoy a good tropical rain storm.

These prices include spa treatments, tours, and some meals.  The all inclusive Club Med has some fanatic deals available.  There are even low cost rooms available for those adventurous people who are backpacking their way across the Indonesian islands or even Asia to experience culture and history the way it is meant to be seen.  So you can come and see the splendor that Bali offers to open your eyes to without spending your retirement nest egg.

When the stress of daily life starts to intrude in your love life, maybe it is time to get away from it all for a little bit and rekindle the flame of your passion.  An exotic and private getaway in Bali is just what you need. There are dozens of places to choose from to stay while in Bali’s tropical paradise.  From the Four Seasons Hotel to the all inclusive Club Med or you can choose to stay at one of many Bali villas for rent.  Any of these options charge reasonable rates so you can choose to stay a few days or a few weeks.  whether you stay at a hotel or a villa, you are guaranteed to have views that can help you cultivate a romantic scene especially at sunrise or sunset.  There are many beaches as well on Bali.  With the choice of white and black sand beaches, you can walk along hand in hand, remembering the reasons you fell in love with each other and all of the wonderful moments you have spent together as a couple.

You can get a 3 day 4 night vacation getaway package for a 3 star or higher hotel starting at $700.  Or if you want seclusion so you feel like you are the only two on earth, a villa rental Bali runs about $1000 for a 3 day 4 night stay.  Both options usually include a romantic tour followed by a romantic dinner at an Indian restaurant as well as a 2 hour spa treatment.  If you are looking for great meals, most hotels boast 2 or more restaurants to choose from.  A few Bali villas for rent offer villa chefs, some have butler services but all offer private sitting areas and the option to have flower petals sprinkled upon the bed.

Bali is known as the “Island of the Gods” with its unique culture, and deep spiritual ties with the land.  Stand if awe of its lush and colorful landscape, all the way to the ragged cliffs overlooking some of the most visually striking beaches and ocean vistas.  You can go dancing and have a fantastic meal while enjoying Bali’s culturally inspired nightlife.  You can enjoy one of Bali’s botanical treasures, the Bali Orchid Garden.  You can also go for a stroll through a marketplace and try different foods and buy jewelry to commemorate your romantic vacation.  After a day full of adventure, you can come back to your villa rental Bali, take a long soak then go out and enjoy a quietly romantic meal.

You may also visit many of Bali’s shrines and temples or you can maybe even go for an enchanting tour through the Sacred Monkey Forest, which is a spiritual place sacred to all Hindu followers on Bali.  All of which you can share and experience with the love of your life.  So whether you go for a villa rental Bali or a hotel suite, this romantic getaway can rekindle your love for many years to come.

Are you looking for an utterly unique and memorable vacation spot for your family? Maybe some place with a rich and vibrant history as well as the lure of modern convenience and activities for every one to enjoy? How about a place that offers enough space for the whole family with a view of astounding beauty? Well then, how about the Indonesian island of Bali?  There are quite a few Bali villas for rent and hotel suites available within most family’s budgets.

Bali is a thriving island state with over 3.5 million people who have opened up their way of life and offer people from around the world a glimpse into their lives and the history of where they came from as an island people. From gorgeous ocean vistas to majestic volcanic peaks.  From spiritually enlightening Hindu shrine and temples to world class fine dining, all within driving distance from many Bali villas for rent scattered across an island half the size of Connecticut.

Bali has dancing, sculptures, leather and woodworking as well as paintings for art enthusiasts to enjoy.  There are award winning spas available for mom’s relaxation.  There are puppet shows, surfing, and beach games for the kids.  And for Dad, there are water sports such as snorkeling and waterskiing available and all of these activities are available while being budget friendly for the whole family. You can find many things to do from backpacking to hiking and viewing archeological sites around all of Bali.

You can visit the most popular tourist area in South Bali with its beaches, dancing and tastes of Balinese night life.  Or if you want to know more about Balinese culture you can visit the mountainous culture rich central Bali.  If exotic the black sand beaches is what you are looking for then Northern Bali is for you.  Not only does it have gorgeous beaches but it is also home to the old colonial capitol city of Singaraja. You can also have fun visiting West Bali with ferries that will take you to Java and is also home to the West Bali National Park.  And finally you can visit East Bali with its active volcano, quiet and relaxing coastal villages and Mount Agung, the home of Besakih, the Mother Temple.

Most Bali villas for rent offer discounts for sightseeing and tourist attractions both local and island wide.  Your hotel or villa concierge can give4 you advice on local restaurants and help you find the best places with the best deals on authentic Balinese artwork and souvenirs.  You may also find that they also include a few meals, babysitting services for when mom and dad want a night out in the thriving cultural center.  Most hotels and family villas offer DVD players but some many offer more in the form of a multimedia projection theater.  So if you are looking to spend some quality family time away from home without going with the old standbys, then plan you next family vacation in the awe inspiring and historically rich, Bali, but be sure to book your Bali villas for rent before they’re all gone.