Outside of Thailand, Bali is one of my favorite places. I love the fact that business takes me there three or four times a year. However, Bali is not the nicest place to be all the time. From December to February it can rain heavily every day (although not all day). I suppose I should consider myself lucky that it didn’t rain the entire five days I was there last week, but to be honest, a bit of rain might have actually been welcome, because it was hot, horribly hot, the entire time. So, note to self: don’t visit Bali in March.

Other than that, it was a good time to be in Bali. It’s low season, made lower by the bombings back in October, so there aren’t that many tourists around, especially on weekdays. On weekends, places still fill up with weekenders from other parts of Indonesia, but the rest of the time, hotels and restaurants are pretty quiet as well as cheap. Sometimes and some places, things are a bit too quiet. Rumor has it they’re practically giving away hotel rooms in the Nusa Dua area. Things are so desperate that you can get five star properties for under US$50 a night.

Security has definitely been stepped up. All of the shopping centers, and even some restaurants, have security checks as you enter. It’s nothing intrusive or time consuming. They usually just ask to look in your bag, if you’re carrying one. People working on the island are obviously aware and conscientious about the dangers.
Given the uncomfortable weather, my choice of hotels was quite fortuitous, as was the upgrade I received on checking in.  For this trip, I chose to stay at the Santika Beach Hotel, located at the south end of Kuta Beach.  The hotel is a short walk from the Discovery Plaza shopping center, and all its air conditioned comfort.  Further on up is the Kuta Square area, where one of the October bombs was set off.  While the restaurant where the bombing occurred is still closed (and may well be forever) the rest of the shops along the street were open and ready to do business.

Although I only reserved a deluxe room at the Santika, they upgraded me to a “Garden Bungalow” when I arrived.  The bungalows are the closest rooms to the beach, and are indeed small thatched roofed cottages.  The room was quite spacious, with a king size bed, couch, easy chair, coffee table, desk and vanity.  The room might have been a bit dark for some, but it wasn’t too bad for me.  The bathroom was quite large, with a sunken bathtub providing a view to your own private, high-walled garden.  The garden needed high walls because the shower was in fact located outdoors, in the garden.  I know it sounds strange, but it actually was rather nice!