01 April 2019

For me, skiing is all about the mix of enjoying nature, taking in the beautiful surroundings, the adrenaline of a great run and socialising with fantastic people (old friends and new) when you stop for a break, in the evenings or even on the lifts. The release of energy and the mountain air always creates high spirits and lots of laughter! My trip to D’isere this year did not disappoint, the combination of brilliant ski conditions, quiet queues (we were outside of school holidays) and a brilliant bunch of people made another memorable trip to the mountains. I am lucky enough to love my job and I always have my customers in mind when I travel, here’s some feedback on my latest trip. Val D’isere is one of my favourite ski destinations. I have friends based there and have visited many times over the last 10 years, it never fails to disappoint. Val is one of the most well-known resorts, along with nearby Tigne it forms the Espace Killy ski area of 300km of pistes and 78 lifts, so you’ll never get bored. There are a number of great restaurants up the mountain and the village is easily accessible for a mid-day break or lunch back at your chalet. Although there are beginner runs, it is a high-class ski area and so I’d recommend it to those with some experience. Travel You can either fly direct from Jersey to Geneva or via an easy transit in Gatwick. The transfer was around 3 hours so a little longer then some of the other resorts, however with Ski Lifts it was more than a comfortable drive, with Wi-Fi in the car for added convenience. The transfer service was very friendly and accommodating, allowing us to do a supermarket shop in Bourg St Maurice, (where the food and drink is much cheaper and worth stocking up on before heading up the mountains). Accommodation We stayed at the wonderful Chalet Sylvie, the only self-catering chalet under the Ski World collection. The value for money here was incredible. Boot warmers, under floor heating, all but one en suite room, log burners, good couches and floor to ceiling windows in the lounge. Every morning I watched as the red hues from the sun rise hit the mountains tops, with a cup of tea, magical! Clean, comfortable and an amazing location just a few minutes’ walk from the slopes and 5 minutes from the village centre, the bus stop is also just outside so incredibly convenient. I would highly recommend it! Activities If you are looking at getting more out of your skiing holiday Val D’isere offers ice-skating, night skiing, dog sledding, ice driving, spa’s, a fitness centre, plenty of great shops and restaurants for every taste, there is so much to do here if you fancy a day off the slopes. One of our standout nights was at the Wilderness Camp with ‘Evolution 2’ for a yurt, fondue and sledding evening. We gathered at the main bus stop in Val and were driven the 30 minutes by minibus to Tigne where we were met with an incredible setting of Yurts, a large bonfire and a glass of wine on arrival. It was a majestic evening and felt quite a surreal under a beautiful night’s ski. Once everyone had arrived, we had soup round the bonfire before heading into our designated Yurt for unlimited cheese fondue with a selection of charcuterie, potatoes, gherkins and bread along with a bottle of red and white wine per table. Once a little liquored up and to wake us up from our inevitable cheese coma it was time for the sledding. I haven’t laughed that much for a long time. Evolution 2 do a great job, but it is worth mentioning that the sledding takes place in the dark down quite a bit of the run and there are some slightly worrying drop offs, so not recommended for everyone (you can get the car down if you wish). Bars and Restaurants. The Apres Ski is also especially good in Val, a huge selection of bars and the notorious Folie Douce; the most famous mountain clubbing hotspot in the Alps with its live music, DJ’s and dancers from around 3 you’ll hear it before you see it and the music reaches the board park for some ambience while you try out the jumps. A few of my favourite places: The Corner, Tigne – Newly opened, this little café at the bottom of Tuff’s lift has the best coffee I’ve had up the mountains and is a great quick stop off on the days you don’t want to leave the slopes. You can pick up a quick sausage roll, bacon butty or chips and cheese, it has a very English menu and great service. You know you’ve found a hidden gem when it’s filled with all the seasonaires from Val D’isere and Tigne. Pignatta, Tigne – This was our spot for our last lunch, basked in beautiful sun and some incredible food at a reasonable price (for the mountains) this was a great restaurant. It also had little fire pits in the table to warm your hands up for a little apres as the temperatures drop, a lovely touch. La Cascade, Mountain Restaurant Val D’isere - There are so many mountain restaurants but this one is worth a visit for the fabulous salad bar on offer. Even I need a break from the cheese and pasta/pizza at times and this provided a nice healthy alternative high up the mountains. Le Lodge – A favourite amongst the Val D’isere locals makes this one of the most popular restaurants in town and needs reservations. The menu includes Savoyard classics such as cheese fondue, as well as a variety of meat dishes, pizzas and pastas, the steaks are especially good. Le Petit Danois – Be careful when visiting for apres ski, there is a 2 for 1 happy hour from 4-5 pm and then a shot with every drink from 5pm – 7pm. One of Val’s most reputed drinking establishments it comes alive in the evenings with live bands but then kindly provides the full English breakfast the next day if you haven’t been able to make it up the mountain. Blue Note Bar – Last but very much not least is one of my favourites for providing a lot of happy if not hazy memories over the years is the Blue Note Bar. A great place to mix with the local ski instructors, chalet staff and residents of Val D’isere. It’s a laid-back bar with table football, darts, pool and sporting events showing so you can relax for the evening and If you’re really nice, the owner Matt might even let you order pizza to the bar if you just don’t want to leave. Friendly, relaxed and enough to keep you busy for a while, this was a regular stop off for us after dinner or a day skiing. Already planning my next trip back.

07 December 2017

I was so fortunate to gain a place on the Californian SuperFam 10th Anniversary! A collaboration between Visit California, Visit Oakland and British Airways, in order to educate us as Travel Counsellors, which was bound to be a fantastic week. Day 1 Our first treat was to be fast tracked through the BA check in and upgraded to Business Class for the 11-hour flight from Gatwick! After landing, our first stop was the Four Points by Sheraton in Pleasanton (Tri Valley). As soon as we arrived at the hotel we were greeted by the Livermore Wine Tram and a lovely drop of Chardonnay as we explored the local vineyards. We ended the tour at Wente Vineyard. 80% of all California Chardonnay comes from a Wente clone. We had an incredible meal at the Wente Restaurant with many of the ingredient’s grown on the estate. Day 2 We were up bright, early and heading to the Blackhawk Museum, home to a collection of historically significant cars as well as an exhibit on the Spirit of the Old West. It was then on to the stunningly beautiful South Lake Tahoe. We quickly checked in to the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel and headed across the road (and state line) to the Hard Rock Café, Nevada! From the beautiful lodges on one side to the massive hotels with casinos on the Nevada side there was certainly a contrast. Day 3 After a sunrise run we headed to a local airstrip where three of the group were being stunt pilots for the morning and trying a range of tricks from loops and rolls to tail slide and stalling mid-air! For those of us unable to go up in the stunt plane we weren’t going to be missing the stunning aerial views of the lake and were fortunate enough to experience a breath-taking helicopter ride. There was no better way to wash down the adrenaline but a ‘pour your own’ beer at the Lake Tahoe AleWorX with a rotating selection of 30 taps and delicious pizzas! The afternoon was spent on a beautiful walk down along the lake, spotting salmon swimming upstream and taking a dip in the ice cold, but crystal-clear waters. We were also lucky enough to stumble upon the Camp Richardson’s Oktoberfest, with a variety of Bavarian beers, food and the live Gruber Family Band! After a quick rest, we were back up at yet another fantastic Italian themed restaurant, The Loft which hosts award winning live performance theatre. Day 4 The next morning, we donned our hiking shoes and headed to Emerald Bay with a sandy beach, Vinkingsholm Castle from 1860's and for us a surprise champagne picnic. Just to see the stunning lake from every angle there was one more adventure to be had in Tahoe on board the MS Dixie II from Zephyr Cove, which comes equipped with a bar, restaurant and plenty of seating in doors or on the open sundeck, offering views of the surrounding mountains. Now it was finally time to head to Sacramento and check into the beautiful Westin Hotel. We wondered down the historic R Street, admiring the brick buildings, trendy bars and many restaurants. Stopping off for a local cocktail at the Shady Lady – try the White Linen. Day 5 A trip down the Gold Bug Mine gave us a hands-on feel of an actual dark and damp mine! Our guide, Duffy the gold miner, delivered all the information with such passion and humour you really felt the spirit of that time. From mining gold to liquid gold, of the red or white variety at Boegers Winery for some wine tasting. We then went to probably my favourite restaurant of the trip The Rind. Serving cheese, beer and wine (what else is needed), this cheese-centric bar has unique and inspiring artisanal cheeses which can be paired for you by the amazing staff. Day 6 We started the day seeing the inside of one of the state’s most important buildings – the State Capitol Building. Serving as both a museum as well as a current working seat of government for the state of California, you can visit various offices and the assembly room. Not wanting to miss out on a portrait opportunity, we ventured in to ‘Old Sac’ or Old Sacramento. This feels like walking back in time as the 28-acre National Historic landmark district is host to all sorts of shops and attractions themed in the gold rush era. Check out the pubs with saloon doors and get your old-time photo taken at McGee’s! No time for hanging around, we were off again and on our way back to Oakland where we were joining the other nine groups who had been experiencing their own set of itineraries. Our evening was spent at a beautiful restaurant at Lakeside Park overlooking Lake Merritt. We were even treated to serenaded gondola rides! Day 7 Our final full day and another early morning to be able to cram in some of the highlights of Oakland. Our first stop was the interactive and fascinating Oakland museum where their mission is to inspire all Californians to create a more vibrant future for themselves and their communities. The museum interweaves art, history and education throughout with lots of hand on activities to keep children and adults entertained. It was then onto one of my favourite activities of the trip as we met up with the guys from Dragon School to do a huge paint by number street art piece in the middle of Chinatown. This super talented group provide youth and artists a unique place to experiment with street-art and develop community ownership. They did have to do quite a bit of “final touches” to make it suitable for display for a year but all the same we were very proud of our work and I loved doing something so different. It was our final night and the Visit California super organisers had arranged quite the finale with an 80’s themed evening at Oakland Zoo with video presentations on all the groups trips. Day 8 As we thought the trip was slowing down and we were going to be allowed to rest there was one more surprise in store for us as we were again up early for a surprise trip across the water to San Francisco! In true style we were whisked across on the RocketBoat with high speed turns and great photo’s views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge almost to the door of the San Fran Aquarium on the well-known Pier 39. With a few moans and groans from the less keen walkers in our group who were slightly conned by our promise to find Mrs Doubtfire’s house, we made it to the top of the famous Lombard Street and the great views of the legendary San Francisco roads. What a way to end one of the busiest but most incredible trips to the world famous State of California.

24 August 2017

Kenya, like many African countries, doesn’t have the best first impressions, the airport is basic, the passport queues generally long and slow moving and then when you’ve finally found your luggage and think you’re free…you have the medley of traffic to get out of the airport. However, once you’ve made it out of the airport barriers, the rewards are indescribable. To me, there is no other continent that is so intoxicating. You really can’t describe the feeling of sitting up around the fire, listening to lions roaring and hyena’s calling with a gin and tonic in hand, meeting people from all over the world and sharing the day’s experiences that will be in your memories forever. The first pit stop as always was to catch up with friends at my favourite restaurant in Nairobi, the Talisman. Fantastic food, beautiful outdoor dining area, good atmosphere at the bar and on occasions live music. Where it’s never too early for a Mimosa and the locals have been known to make it through the night to enjoy a hearty breakfast before heading home to bed. I had arranged to head straight to Amboseli area that afternoon and to my first Kenyan home, the stunning Satao Elerai Camp. Situated on the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro, if you’ve ever seen pictures of elephants in front of a snow-capped mountain, this is the area. The Amboseli National Park is not only known for the beautiful mountain back drop but also its swamps where you can find an incredible array of bird life, buffalo’s, hippo’s and elephants wallowing and lions and cheetah hunting. Being so open it’s a very satisfying park as you see a herd of animals easily, all different species mixed in with one another. In front of my tent was a very small watering hole which when dry attracts some of the larger male elephants who want a quiet bathe and drink away from the herds. I had a couple of times where I sat and watch them for half an hour from the comfort and peace of the loungers outside my room. The main waterhole in front of the main lounge/dining area had constant visitors of elephants, giraffe, waterbuck, zebra and warthogs. Satao Elerai is on its own conservancy (an area where a group of landowners have joined their land and decided to protect it for the benefit of the wildlife and earn through tourism). Staying on a conservancy rather than a National Park means you are directly benefiting the local landowners, helping support land which buffers the National Parks and helps increase the animal’s safe zones, as well as having fewer cars then the national parks and you are usually able to night drive and do walks as well. I was here to visit a Maasai community who I worked with for over a year and never fail to humble and remind me of the beauties of the simple life. They are a fascinating tribe who are so proud of their culture, they are always keen to meet new people, invite them into their homes for a cup of chai and answer any questions about their culture. It’s always an honour to spend time with them and the people of this village are lifelong friends where my self-proclaimed Maasai Mama always has the tea ready. From here it was time to do some climbing and I headed back to Nairobi to meet up with friends who I was joining for a charity trek up Mount Kenya, raising money for the Mount Kenya trust who patrol the foothills on horseback to protect the area and wildlife. Starting from the town of Nanyuki, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Nairobi and reminiscent of the English countryside with its rolling hills. It was here that we started our 5 days climb up the mountain (4 days up and 1 day down!). An experience that I can’t do justice by summing up in words here. It’s an ever-changing landscape from the forested foothills, bamboo belt, timberline forest to the heathland and the afro-alpine zone. Lenana is the lowest of the 3 peaks at 4,985m (Mt Kilimanjaro is 5,895m) and the other two peaks can only be summited by technical rock climbing, so not for the faint hearted! We had snow fall on the afternoon of our 3rd day which we made the most of with snow men and snow ball fights. Many of the group did feel the effects of mountain sickness at some point but we took it easy, had long rested after lunch and afternoons acclimatising in camp. There is also fantastic fishing up the mountain which can be accessed through private helicopter rides for those not so keen on the climb. For those who like a challenge, this is one for the bucket list and I will be back to do it next year, hopefully, to summit the Bation and Nelion peaks this time! The feeling of accomplishment stays with you for weeks, the team spirit, guides and food fantastic and the peacefulness you could find watching the sunrise from a secluded spot just away from our campsites rare in our busy, modern day lives. And the best bit.. the amazing porters stormed ahead and had our tents, tea a fire waiting for us when we arrived each day. Pure heaven after a long walk. My last stop and to rest my weary legs was the beautiful Diani Beach on the southern Kenyan coast, with beautiful white sand beaches, gorgeous sea food and for me a chance to catch up with friends at a wonderful wedding. Dolphin watching from the dhow boats to snorkelling with turtles and incredible crab lunches on private islands, quad bike riding and elephant spotting in Shimba Hill’s National Reserve there is so much to see and do but if you just want to relax there are great restaurant/bars for lazy lunches with your feet in the sand and cocktail in hand. After being up to the mountain, the warmth, water and luxury were such a treat. And no one knows how to do a beach wedding like they do in Kenya. However, I’m out of practice and didn’t quite make it up dancing till sunrise this time..

06 April 2017

Morocco is an exotic gateway to Africa; its mountains, desert and coast are populated by Berbers and nomads, and its ancient medina lanes lead to souqs and riads. The trick to travelling in Morocco is to leave enough time to watch the world go by with the locals when there’s so much else to fit in; hiking up North Africa’s highest peak, camel trekking in the desert, shopping in the souqs, getting lost in the medina and sweating in a hammam and I certainly am not very good at sitting still! When I was offered a 3-day educational trip with other Travel Counsellor colleagues I was intrigued to find out more about this country which was only a 3-hour flight from the UK but rich in culture, distinctive cuisine and stunning landscapes plus with my love for all things African I couldn’t resist seeing this side of the continent. However, the trip was only 3 days exploring Marrakesh and I’m not a city girl so I immediately extended my flights and worked on an adventurous extra 5-day itinerary to explore more of the country from the city to the desert to the mountains. On our first evening after settling into our hotel we were taken for a tour of Jamaa el fna Square and the surrounding souks before a beautiful dinner at Riad Kniza. My first impressions were very pleasantly surprising, the city seemed very clean, we felt very safe walking around even amongst the hustle and bustle of the narrow lanes and there was no hassle from the sellers to enter the shops or purchase items. The souqs were a treasure trove and had I not been in a large group I could have happily spent hours exploring the market places. The after-dinner entertainment is also excellent with many venues providing live music from bands, to cover artists and even operatic Queen songs we ended up dancing the night away more than one evening. The following two days were spent visiting the various hotels in and around the city, there is such a variety from traditional riad’s to boutique hotels and resort style hotels, there really is something for everyone. We were blown away by the service, food and absolutely stunning views of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. A couple of the stand-out hotels were the La Mamounia hotel, once a favourite of Winston Churchill (you can even stay in his room) and the Beachcomber Royal Palm with its own golf course and one of the best kids' clubs I’ve come across. We were also taken to the Terre D Amanare hotel/adventure park for ziplining and electric bike mountain biking! Great to have a break from the city for some outdoor adventures. It was then time for my colleagues to return home and for my solo adventures to begin with a trip to the Sahara Desert and a camel ride to a nomad camp for the night. Although it was a long drive, there are very few things more beautiful than watching the sun set over the desert from the back of the camel, with the stars then coming out in all their glory and the silence that descends. It was a magical night which took my breath away especially when watching the sun rise on top of one of the dunes in the morning. From here, it was time for the Atlas Mountains and trekking through the Berber villages (I told you, I can’t stay still!). On the way back from the desert I visited an underground village and library stuffed full with books collected from around the world made out of animal skins and written in saffron and indigo ink! I love a hike and although it wasn’t particularly difficult it was lovely to stretch the legs, the villages were fascinating with their earth-toned mud brick houses and painted doors. The people were so welcoming, helped by the fact my local guide and manager of Riad Africa knew everyone in the area. The highlight of our day was visiting a family who lived in a village built high up on the hills and which I named the village in the sky, for a traditional Moroccan lunch in their home. They genuinely enjoyed having us there and to just be welcomed into their home is an absolute privilege and experience I won’t easily forget. On my way back down from the Atlas Mountain I stopped off for lunch at the stunning Kasbah Tamadot, part of the Richard Branson portfolio of hotels and one I’d been eagerly anticipating seeing since working for his Kenyan property a few years before. It was not a disappointment and the setting, rooms, food, were all 5* with beautiful extra touches such as an outdoor cinema on certain nights in the summer, a petting zoo, tennis courts and community projects which Richard’s mother Eve is still heavily involved in. It’s easy to see why he picked this spot for one of his exclusive properties. For my last night I had to have one more evening under canvas and the stars at the Scarebo Camp in the 'faux' desert 20 minutes outside of Marrakesh and just half an hour away from the airport. More rocky than sand but beautiful nonetheless and with the Mountains as a back drop, I met new friends around the camp fire and joined them for dinner discussing our time in this slice of North Africa. This is such a snap shot of my trip to Morocco, it was a fun-filled, adventure-packed experience. In Marrakesh, it was so much fun to enjoy the restaurants, bars and markets with a group and yet travelling solo had given me an opportunity to speak to the locals, take in more of the beauty of the country and really appreciate the land and it’s people. For more information or to start planning your Moroccan escape please e-mail me on kim.pierce@travelcounsellors.com

14 June 2016

The lesser known of the two, Lombok is roughly the same size as Bali but with a predominantly Muslim culture, forest that reaches down to the undisturbed white sand beaches and the famous Mt Rinjani, the 2nd highest volcano in Indonesia. The whole experience is completely different to Bali, which is surprising considering it’s only a 1-hour speed boat ride away. After dropping travellers and holiday makers off at each of the 3 Gili Islands, I was the last one on the speedboat and the only person heading over to Lombok, which got me excited, this was obviously a lot less travelled then Bali. My driver from Exo travel met me off the boat and drove me the 20 minutes up the coast to the Tanjung area and my accommodation at the Rinjani Beach Eco Retreat where I was meeting my sister who had flown over from Melbourne to join me. The charming bungalows and spacious villas are made from local bamboo and use traditional construction techniques such as bamboo stilts and alang alang (woven coconut leaves) roofs. The gardens are well maintained but natural and the beautiful beach is clean and idyllically quiet. The Rinjani beach has snorkel & masks, paddle boats and kayaks to use free of charge and there’s some lovely reefs close by to explore. We watched the staff bring in the catch up the day for the evenings dinner. Food was excellent and quite a varied menu for such a small place. After a couple of days relaxing we were ready to start our main adventure, the Mt Rinjani Climb. On route to our overnight accommodation at the foothills of the mountain we stopped off at the Sendan Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls. Around an hours visit, it was a nice break from the drive and a chance for a quick dip, although not a very relaxing one with the waterfall pounding down. The spray from the waterfall drenches those not looking to get in, so it was worth having a guide with us to look after our belongings, which we had to hide under rocks to keep dry. Our trekking guide, Pearman came to meet us in the evening and discuss the plan for the following morning and the trek in general. We had chosen the 3 day, 2-night trek to fully make the most of the mountain and come down a different route and side of the mountain to that in which we would ascend. The first mornings walk was through the rolling foot hills of the mountain, past chili fields and grazing Jersey (!) cows, there was a slightly dubious looking bridge but luckily not too high and we made it across in one piece. We started to join the other hikers, all with their own guides who we would become well acquainted with over the following days with everyone encouraging each other when the hike became a struggling, catching up on the day’s events at sunset and eyeing up what everyone else’s porters had brought. We were definitely amongst the most spoilt with tea and coffee, chairs and banana fritters for sundowner snacks. We had a porter each, carrying all the camping & cooking equipment, food, water and essentials who also doubled up as our chefs. These men were incredibly strong and nimble carrying these heavy baskets attached together by a beam across one of their shoulders as they scrambled up the at times, almost vertical routes. They then cooked us the most incredible meals, some of the best food I had during my time in Indonesia, and you certainly didn’t have to worry about going hungry. We reached our camp for the evening at the top of the crater edge after a tough afternoons 3-hour steep hike up the side of the mountain in the cloud, we couldn’t see more than a few metres in front of us but our guide and porters set to work quickly bagging us a good spot and getting some dinner on. We attempted to help but after realising that we were really just getting in the way, we sat back and watched as the clouds started to part, the sun began to set and the most beautiful view of the crater lake appeared. It had to be one of the most stunning dinner spots I’d had. After another surprisingly delicious breakfast of banana pancakes and a cheese and tomato omelette we headed down to the crater. After a 3 hour hike we arrived at the crater lake for yet more food and while the porters were preparing lunch we headed down to the hot springs. The lake had been quite busy with people camping and fishing but the hot springs were almost empty and such a welcomed treat after a day and a half of hiking. Again we had another tough hike up to the crater rim for our 2nd nights stop and another stunning view, now with a clear view of the small volcano in the middle of the lake. The clouds were below us on the outer edge of the mountain and the sun set produced beautiful colours across the clouds. On our final day we were ready for a good scrub in the shower and looking forward to getting a few of life’s luxuries back (namely a toilet). After a 5-hour hike, all downhill starting with very sandy terrain, then through the forests and out through farming areas this time with cocoa plants and coffee trees we were whisked away to join our boat for the third and final leg of the trip in the Gili Islands.

30 May 2016

Impossibly green rice terraces, pounding surf, enchanting Hindu temples, mesmerising dance performances, ribbons of beaches and charming people; there is so much to explore in Bali. On arrival in Bali I was collected by Exo travel, it’s a bit of a scrum in the airport and lots of people offering taxi rides so it was lovely to have someone to meet me in an air-conditioned car with a cold bottle of water and a warm, friendly smile. My first stop was Seminyak on the south coast where I was meeting a friend, we stayed at Grandma’s hotel a simple accommodation with comfortable clean rooms, a 5-minute walk from Seminyak beach and a great spa with massages for £4.50! Seminyak has a good beach, with sun loungers hireable at around £5 for the whole day and strict lifeguards as the waves can get quite large. There’s also great shopping with hundreds of boutiques lining the streets and my favourite, an excellent flea market where I was picking up dresses for £6. Great for quickly stocking up on your holiday clothes. After our afternoon swim on the beach we were enticed by the hundreds of multi-coloured beanbags on the beach and ended up staying there long after sun-set, enjoying the live music with feet in sand and beer in hand. Our next stop was Uluwatu, famous for its surfing. We stayed at the Bali Green Hills, a lovely room based over two floors with a sitting room down stairs and a lovely large bedroom with two bathrooms and good air conditioning. As there’s only 5 units’ we never saw another person and had the pool to ourselves almost the entire time. It is however a little far away from the main areas so a scooter is highly recommended. We spent the days exploring the beaches and visited the Uluwatu Temple, a Balinese sea temple which has a traditional dancers show at sunset, which is a beautiful time to visit although expect crowds and be aware of the monkey’s. I saw one gnawing on someone’s sunglasses. Uluwatu is quieter and more laid back then other areas of Bali with lots of great health food restaurants and beautiful beaches, however the area around is really renowned for its surf so finding a calm bay to swim can be tricky. For a bit of night life especially on a Sunday night head to Single Fin and for the most amazing breakfast find your way to Buddha Soul. We carried on our road trip to Ubud for a night, the culture capital of Bali. With the Hindu influence the temples and buildings are just incredible and on the main street there’s even a Starbucks snuck in. We spent the afternoon walking around the markets and admiring the architecture then settled into some cocktails at the Ooh bar on the main street. From nightly cultural performances to museums showing the works of artists whose creativity flowered here, to the green rice fields that spill down lush hillsides to rushing rivers below, fine dining, shopping and spa’s Ubud is not to be missed on your Bali itinerary. Our last day in Bali we decided on a last minute final adventure and drove up to the mountains to visit Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, a major Shivaite and water temple. There were some spectacular views and incredible buildings, the trip was worth it just for the drive alone! Bali was probably busier than expected and I didn’t get out to the far reaches where it quietens down but the people were so friendly, I felt very safe, the culture was fascinating and there was always something to see and do. Pair it with a nice relaxing stay on the island of Nusa Lembongan and you’ll have a fantastic holiday experience. This is just a snippet of my time in Bali. Please get in touch on 01534 747826 or kim.pierce@travelcounsellors.com to find out more about this diverse destination.