Barberkyu: More than Just a Barbecue!
Posted by admin on Aug 15, 2007
Food: International - Price: cheap
Bali has many restaurants that offer what I call a ?Tourist Menu?. By that I mean one that covers many different cuisines, obviously trying to find ?something for everyone?. Sadly, most fail and all the offerings finish up as a local version of everything, almost unrecognizable from what was originally attempted, at least in taste. Read the rest of this entry »
Ary’s Warung: Ary’s Grows Up!
Posted by admin on Aug 14, 2007
Food: International - Price: moderate
Ary’s Warung, in Ubud, has always been an above average restaurant. Now, since a major redesign and menu upgrade, it has become an exceptional one. The lower level is dominated by a very stylish bar setting, with minimal dining areas and what there is mainly used for luncheons. Upstairs is a spacious room, an open tree-lined veranda, which seems to catch whatever cooling breezes are present at the time. Read the rest of this entry »
Vienna Beach: A Seaside Haven!
Posted by admin on Aug 11, 2007
Food: International - Price: cheap
A discreet driveway takes you off the seaside road, Jln. Raya Lipah, from Amed, to a rather nondescript parking area. In fact, at first sight, there is nothing very impressive at all about the Vienna Beach Hotel, except perhaps it’s tranquility. But there is a feeling of total relaxation that seems to slowly encompass you the longer you are at this haven by the sea. Read the rest of this entry »
Tugu: The Perfect Lunch!
Posted by admin on Aug 11, 2007
Food: Indonesian - Price: moderate
The Hotel Tugu is on the small road that runs down to the unimposing black sand beach of Canggu. In fact it is almost at the beach. The exterior of the hotel is so nondescript, that I had always assumed it was just another budget to medium range hotel; one of Bali’s thousands. A recent photo visit to the area that lured me inside, also shocked me with just how wrong I had been. Read the rest of this entry »
Kwizien: A Surprise in Lovina!
Posted by admin on Aug 8, 2007
Food: Belgian, International - Price: moderate
The first time I ever visited Lovina I could not understand why people went there. Hotels that had not seen any maintenance for years, staff universally underpaid working at illegal slave rates, and very boring restaurants all with those universal tourist menus, the resulting food completely lacking in taste. Remnants of the above are still far too prevalent but the winds of change are blowing with an ever-increasing velocity. Those sprawling hotels, many with amazing sea-frontages, are being bought by new players, the places renovated, faulty bathrooms and swimming pools being repaired or updated, and professional staff hired at legal rates. Even the once dirty beach is being swept every morning. And the prices are still very low, compared to Bali’s southern areas. Great value! Read the rest of this entry »