It is true, from the moment that you step of the plane everyone in Bali seems to be smiling. This is not our first trip to Bali, we know it well.
It’s a warm tropical kind of smile that only really seems to occur here.
This time, for the first time, we stayed at Villa Bugis in Seminyak, close enough to all the lovely restaurants, shopping and nightlife but far enough away to enjoy a little serenity as well. We travelled to Bali to celebrate one of our friends’ 50th Birthday along with a group of our closest friends. An all too quick four days away.
There’s a distinct smell of clove cigarettes as you walk into the humid air past all the guys trying to offer you transport to your accomodation, our driver leads the way.
The gardens surrounding our villas were lush and filled with the heady scents of Frangipani and Gardenias. The structural beauty of giant Heliconias and colourful Crotons and perfectly pruned palms and lots of verdant green lawn around the long warm water pool.
Continue reading “Bali: The Land of Smiles”
in a word, stunning
These orchids have faces!
Orchids of The Andes..and there’s even a llama or two!
Everything is on a grand scale…this guy could eat quite a lot of garden!
I could not help but think though, “I really hope that this is not a snapshot into our future…” Is this the only way that our grandchildren will experience nature?
The entire time I wandered around this incredible attraction I felt somehow that I had been transported to the year 2030…it was a funny feeling, I must say. That said, walking through all the levels of the Cloud Forest was a beautiful experience that I will never forget. Every single plant was at its very best. Not a single leaf out of place. Perfection.
The biggest single leaf I have ever seen
Now that’s what I call a Fuschia!
The Floral Clock and The Children’s garden were lovely but I also enjoyed the Sun Pavillion and all of the Cacti and Succulents on display.
The Floral Clock…a great space to watch time going by…literally
