I visit Bali frequently on business, so I’ve been on most of the standard tours – been there, done that. So, I thought I would try something different: A bicycle tour. We set off in a van in the morning for a drive of little more than an hour up-hill to a small village, were we met the van with our bikes and gear for the trip. Once I was fitted up, we started down a small country lane, through rice fields and more villages. As promised, the trip was mostly downhill. It only lasted an hour or so, with a break in the middle, which made it an easy trip. We ended at a sort of country house, where lunch was receded by a sort of cooking lesson on traditional Balinese dishes.

You can book the Bali Eco Cycling Tour through our partner, Viator.

The Seminyak area of Bali is one of the best places to stay for those that want to be close to a beach, don’t want to be in the middle of the party scene of Kuta, but still want some nice shops and restaurants to poke around in the evening. The trouble is, for those of us on a bit of a budget, there are very few places that don’t cost more than $100 a night. Last year I checked out one option, Resor Seminyak. Now I’m staying at Putu Bali Villas.

The garden path to Putu Bali Villas

The Putu Bali Villas were quite a surprise. I had selected this place based largely on the price and the location. Many of the accommodations along the north end of Seminyak tend to be a bit pricey, but Putu Bali seemed to be quite a reasonable price. Putu Bali offers a total of 15 villas, arranged in a long narrow lot on Jalan Petitenget about 10 minutes’ walk from the beach.

The room was a bit of an unfolding surprise. Even though marketed as a ‘villa’ I didn’t expect much for the price. Firstly, the villas really are stand-alone structures. A roomy porch fronts each villa, providing a pleasant space to sit outside - which many guests took advantage of. Inside my room was a king bed which proved quite comfortable. The bed took up much of the room, although it wasn’t cramped. A flat-screen TV was mounted high on the wall over the desk, facing the bed. There was also a DVD player in the room, as well as wi-fi access.

A pair of French doors to one side of the entrance leads to an semi-outdoor area where you’ll find a small kitchenette, compete with a full size refrigerator, gas stove, kitchen sink, and most of the utensils necessary for self-catering. Next to the kitchen is a bathroom sink set in a generously sized counter. Then there’s the bathtub - one of the biggest I’ve ever seen in a standard hotel room. It was big enough for at least two people to recline in comfortably. Next to the tub is a rain shower.

The villas are arranged along a garden path behind the lobby building. There’s a good-sized pool in the middle. Breakfast is served in an open-air coffee shop on top of the lobby. The breakfast selection was quite small, but given the size of the property, it was quite reasonable. The pool has a small bar, and there’s also a spa. View the Putu Bali Villas detail page for pricing and reservations.

I just received news that the dates for this year’s Bali Arts Festival have been finalized. The festival will run from June 14 through to July 12. The festival celebrates 30 years this year, with eight countries sending troupes of performers, along with 22 provinces of Indonesia. You can find more information, and the full schedule, at the Bali Paradise web site.

I dropped by the National Gallery here in Bangkok today. I hadn’t been there in a while, but was pleased to see that the annual weekend art market is still going. The market takes place every Saturday and Sunday from February until June. Each month has a different theme, so the artists and works vary from month to month. If you’re in Bangkok during this time, drop by the museum while you’re in the Grand Palace area. It’s at the opposite end of Sanam Luang from the Palace.