On this rainy Monday in Portland, I’m writing this post, daydreaming about a vacation in Bali. I’m actually getting a pedicure right now, feet dipped in scalding (at my request) water. A 45 minute pedicure may be the only trip I can take today, but I fully intend to spend the time dwelling on the idea of getting away from the stresses of daily life and taking a mental break somewhere far, far away. A trip to Bali, Indonesia would provide me with a much needed chance to recover from the nasty autumn cold bugs, to bathe in warm sunshine and take in beautiful scenery, and to spend time with Ted.
Ayana Resort and Spa Bali, Indonesia
It’s well known that sunshine and warm weather can be a healing balm. Sickness hit our home hard this fall. We’re on week six of one (or more) of the four of us succumbing to sore throats, coughs, stomach ailments, and general weariness, and let’s be real, we’re only a handful of weeks into the long, dark rainy season of Oregon.
Ever the researcher, I hunted down Bali, Indonesia’s weather averages: eight hours of sunshine a day in November? An average high/low of 88/73?
Sign me up for that kind of medicine.
Traveling in Bali, Indonesia
I’m also a bit of a spa treatment junkie. I remember traveling to Central Oregon one year after Christmas and spending my gift money from my grandparents on a manicure. I think I must’ve been 14? The experience of picking up the phone and booking a pampering service hasn’t lost its thrill in the almost twenty years since then. (Remember that glorious couples massage on the waterfront in Cape Town?) I was looking through photos of the Ayana Resort and Spa Bali and imagining how delightful it’d be to book a week’s stay and choose several days’ worth of Balinese massage and beauty treatments. That’s probably a bit over and above the R&R that the doctor ordered, but I think it’d do the trick.
All the sunshine that coaxes the flowers out to play has the same effect on me. I’m fair skinned and freckled, and the idea of coconut scented sunblock and the promise of a hint of a healthy tan makes my cold little Pacific Northwesterner heart beat faster. I remember those summer days as a kiddo, reading books on a beach towel in the back yard, getting easy tan lines and soaking up stories of adventure and mystery while the sprinkler tossed cool drops of water into the air. I think I’m ready for the adult equivalent in Bali — a beach side cabana or a palm frond topped umbrella next to the pool.
Then, between relaxing spa treatments and midday naps, I’d be seeking out drives and hikes up and above the coastlines, to lookouts where I could use my camera to capture picturesque Indonesian landscapes. I’d love to do a photo series on the flora of Bali similar to my collection in Rainy Season Flora of the Inca Trail.
Couples Vacation in Bali
Lastly, and maybe mostly, I’m also aching for a vacation without the kids — a chance to rest and recuperate with Ted, to compare notes on life without the go-go-go of our regular schedules and lunch packing and school drops and work deadlines. Indonesia makes the list time and again as a gorgeous place for a romantic getaway. I’ve heard from so many fellow travelers just how much they’ve loved their time in Bali, and I’m hopeful that “someday” will turn into a “one day soon” when we can go together. I’m ready for traditional Balinese dancing, flavors of Indonesian cooking (one of my favorite travel/cookbooks, The Spice Merchant’s Daughter, features the story of a woman from the Indonesian Spice Islands), and glorious downtime to explore this South Pacific paradise with my true love.
So, for those of you who have spent time planning a vacation to Bali, what are your best tips? Do you think booking a beautiful vacation suite at Ayana Resort and Spa Bali (go to site) will do the trick? This blogger’s review at The Road Less Traveled has me thinking yes.
The paint will soon be dry on these toes, and I’m itching to walk barefoot on a beach!
This post is of my travel daydreams is written in partnership with Traveloka (photo credit) and is subject to my disclosure terms. Thanks for supporting our corner of the web!
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