Bali Bliss Trip for Clubbies Sept 15-24
Attention ALL CLUBBIES! 12 Spots Available--Please join me for an inspiring culinary, culture & bliss trip to Bali, Indonesia, Sept 15-24
Please note: you must leave the U.S. on Sept 13 to arrive on Sept 15 because of the
International Date Line combined with flight time
PRICE: $2150 per person
Includes all ground transportation from airport to our first night’s stay and for group excursions detailed here, nine nights accommodations based on double (or more!) occupancy in lovely, authentic, Balinese-owned accommodations (NOTE: most are shared so bring a friend! Please, no participants under age 18). Price also includes return transportation to the airport on Sunday, September 24 only. Sorry, extended stays will require your arranging your own return transportation. Price does not include flights; however, Theo will make suggestions for airlines and itineraries offering the best value, based on her prior experiences.
IMPORTANT PAYMENT DATES:
Deposit: $800 by March 31, 2017:
$300 refundable if cancellation made by April 15, after April 15, no refunds will be given on deposit, $500 of your deposit will be forfeited; please make sure you are able to join us so you are not disappointed!
Final Payment due by April 30, 2017:
$1350, no exceptions
EARLY BIRD SAVINGS!
Pay in full by March 31, 2017 for a $150 per person discount
Personal Checks, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or PayPal accepted
Trip Overview:
Let Theo guide you through a fun, enlightening journey through her favorite island paradise of Bali. The Balinese people are warm, friendly, Buddhists whose kindness is unequalled. Their food, culture, natural environment, antiquities, art, ocean and smiles will be forever burnished into your heart; we think you’ll want to come back soon!
This trip will require some physical stamina and is not for those who want an American-style Four Seasons vacation. You need to be able to hike moderately and not afraid of being immersed in different types of natural environments, insects, frogs and other tropical delights! If you like to hike and explore, this trip is for you! If you want to experience new flavors and spa treatments like you’ve never had before, this trip is for you! Many Balinese roads we will traverse are dirt, and/or with loose cobblestones, paths that can become large puddles (due to frequent tropical weather) and stairs that are seldom even! Please refer to the suggested packing list at the end of this itinerary. To have the ultimate experience, leave any dressy shoes with heels, excessive jewelry or clothing at home! Pack extremely lightly and take our suggestions seriously. Bali is a tropical island. It will be humid and warm during the days (80’s), balmy in the evening, (70’s). Teva style hiking sandals and flip flops, sunscreen and a hat will be your best friends.
Global Gardens Bali Bliss trip also includes:
• 60-minute arrival massage in the coolest jungle huts you’ve ever seen!
• Balinese cooking class & lots of authentic Balinese foo
• Tour excursions DAILY (see tour details and dates in itinerary below):
1) water falls, volcano & Buddhist water temple
2) excursion to Tenganan, the island of Bali’s oldest city
3) guided Ubud Market and shopping tour, Lotus Temple
4) excursion to Candidasa where we will stay 3 nights
5) excursion from Candidasa to the outskirts of Ubud where we will stay our last 3 nights, stopping at world famous Luwak Coffee Co
6) Spa treatment at Karsa Spa (you may add treatments and easily arrange your own transportation back to our villas—Theo will help you!)
7) White Sand Beach excursion, optional deep sea fishing tour
- Authentic Balinese BBQ pit pig roast dinner & cocktails
- Multi-course lunch at Bridges, Ubud
- Multi-course dinner at Locavore, Ubud
- Multi-course dinner by the sea
All totaled, breakfasts served and included in our tour price daily, 6 lunches and 5 dinners provided
OPTIONS:
Your optional selections will be paid for by you, directly to your service provider. Spa treatments, fishing, meals not in this plan and transportation to/from. Theo will help you to coordinate additional experiences. If you wish to extend your stay beyond September 24, Theo can make suggestions for excellent properties and additional experiences as well as suggestions for “free time”
- Spa Treatments at all properties (the Balinese are known for their incredible massage and spa treatments of all types—Theo’s favorites are the hot stone massage and body milk/exfoliation!) Spa treatments are available at all properties and you will be able to book these upon your arrival at our destinations. Spa treatments included in this package are one, one-hour arrival day massage (to get you into the Balinese way!) and one treatment at Karsa Spa, details below. You will be responsible for additional treatments not included in the package.
- Extreme fishing: named “extreme” by Theo! Take a motorized outrigger canoe with Theo’s “brother”, Q’ull, a successful entrepreneur who will provide you all the tackle, bait and experience for a fisherperson’s trip of a lifetime! Depending on weather, he will recommending jigging or popping, with an opportunity to catch edible, gorgeous fish we will BBQ upon your return!
- SHOPPING!!! We’re all going to shop; but you may want to do more! Selections for original clothing, jewelry, art, antiquities, garden statues, brass/metal art, hand-made furniture, textiles are abundant in Bali—think Pier One Imports on steroids—and you’re buying direct from the artist. Most artisans prefer cash and you can get a much lower price if you have cash. Higher end boutiques and eateries will take Visa; however, few artisans will take American Express or MasterCard.
DISCLAIMERS:
Our three different locales & accommodations are in beautiful Balinese-owned properties. Theo has personally stayed in all of them several times and knows the property owners personally. Prices are based on double occupancy. There are no options for single occupancy; so if you’re travelling solo, we’ll pair you with another guest. If this is unacceptable to you, please email Theo and she will contact the properties to see if additional rooms are available and at what additional cost. The properties are large, comfortable, immaculately clean and perfect for two people. During our last three-night stay, each villa has its own swimming pool. Some of the villas are 2 and 3-bedroom; so in this case, you may be sharing a pool with a few other people. Still, they are gorgeous and very private!
Our day-by-day itinerary MAY CHANGE due to weather and availability of space at various locations. However, we will re-arrange the locations and experiences to ensure the same quality of experience or better! Sometimes Bali-time is different that USA time! Theo will arrive 10 days ahead of our group and make certain everything is in order for us!
No Refunds can be given on trip after April 15, 2017. $500 of your $800 deposit will be forfeited.
Please research your own travel insurance policies if you are concerned about cancellation. We personally do not endorse these providers; however, they have been used in the past by friends and family: insuremytrip.com, travelinsurance.com, allworldtravel.com, worldnomads.com
Daily Itinerary
Guest Arrivals September 15, Hatti Suchi, 3 nights:
Denpasar Airport to Hatti Sutchi – You will be picked up by a wonderful, kind Balinese driver who will have your name on a placard at the airport. Theo will coordinate with you on your arrival time. This is a very busy, active airport! He will be outside, so you will collect your luggage and exit Balinese arrival customs. Look for a sign that says #GGBaliBliss17 and your name. There is free WIFI in the terminal area. We’ll have a Facebook Messenger Group established as well as simple ways to contact Theo should you require direct attention. A fascinating, 90-minute drive through villages intertwined with Balinese antiquities and Buddhist relics will bring you to a serene and beautifully appointed grouping of new Balinese-style homes, located in an ancient jungle about 40 minutes northeast of Ubud, built by Theo’s friends Evelyn Roberts & her Balinese friend Ilhu Senski.
NOTE: This property is not air-conditioned; however, it is away from the city and lovely trade winds frequently blow thru, as well as tropical rains. Ceiling fans cool your bungalow and the musical sounds of tree frogs and cicadas at night, as well as roosters and crickets singing at dawn, are at once an immersion into Bali’s spectacular fauna. Your bed will be netted and super comfortable. Theo has spent weeks on this property without leaving. It is meditative and delightful, with a yoga hall for personal workouts and spiritual renewal on site.
DAY 1, Friday, September 15:
All food provided. Arrivals and introductions. Balinese style lunch and dinner/cocktails prepared by Theo & her staff. Arrive before 7 pm for a blissful 60-minute massage in a private spa area located on the property. Chill out, swim, meet new friends and hang out in this gorgeous paradise.
DAY 2, Saturday, September 16:
Breakfast provided: Balinese fruits, nuts, breads, jams, coffees, teas, etc.
Depart Hatti Suchi , 9 am for 5-6 hours of touring the famous Balinese ____ Volcano, the gorgeous _____ Temple and waterfall area known only to the locals around here.
Bring your swimsuit! Traversing to the waterfalls is via boulders and a moderate trail. You buy lunch from surrounding restaurants nearby.
Free time in the afternoon swimming back at Hatti Suchi, or having another spa treatment on site at Hatti Suchi. Theo will help you book all Hatti Suchi treatments one month PRIOR to your arrival.
AUTHENTIC Balinese Pig Roast and Party on site at Haati Suchi, 6 pm - ? included in our trip costs. This isn’t your typical Midwestern hayride-style pig roast! We’ll learn so much from a local rancher who moved to Bali from Australia, specifically to reintroduce the once threatened Balinese pig back onto the island. Jon Lennard has his own food company and we’ll let him educate and entertain us on the many sustainable, organic practices he is committed to. He’s a fun, smart and very knowledgeable foodie who speaks our language! NOTE: 2 cocktails (OR glasses of WINE) included in this evening’s festivities. Liquor in Bali is difficult to obtain and expensive (in Balinese terms!) If you are particular about your choice of drink, you should stop at Coco Market after today’s tour for your own alcohol that you can travel with from location to location on our trip. NOTE: additional stop to Coco’s will require an additional tip of $5 US each to your driver. (approx.: 50,000 rupees)
DAY 3, Sunday, September 17:
Breakfast provided: balinese fruits, nuts, breads, jams, coffees, teas, etc.
Depart Hatti Suchi, 9 am, for a guided Ubud market tour with Ilhu’s fun husband, the one and only LOLY, stopping first at the lovely Lotus Palace for photos and engagement with Balinese architecture.
Then SHOP till you Plop! (or go to Museum Blanco!) We’ll meet for a multi-course GROUP LUNCH AT Bridges, Ubud, 1:30 PM. Ubud is an amazing town of Balinese clothing/textile boutiques and eateries. The low prices will shock you! After lunch we’ll take a short walk to Theo’s favorite shopping locale at her friend, “Wyan’s” for local souvenirs, cool, gauzy clothes, Balinese silk scarves, sarongs and accessories. BE PREPARED TO BARGAIN! The Balinese people love to make deals; never pay asking price—it’s part of their culture to make shopping fun. So many great photo ops today.
Evening free time at Haati Suchi for swimming, conversation, spa treatment and working off that huge lunch, hiking the surrounding jungle. Dinner is on your own—local casual outpost style restaurants, “warungs” available nearby (TAKE YOUR FLASHLIGHTS!) OR, if you’re like Theo, you’ll buy some amazing treats while out market shopping today to munch on for dinner.
DAY 4, Monday, September 18:
Breakfast provided: balinese fruits, nuts, breads, jams, coffees, teas, etc.
Free morning time for jungle hiking, swimming, spa treatment, etc. Depart Hatti Suchi 11 am for a 2-hr drive to Candidasa, a lovely coastal village where we will spend the next 3 nights. Ocean-side lunch served upon arrival, included in our tour package. NOTE: This property has air-conditioned villas, with every unit facing the sea; heaven is here!
FREE TIME this afternoon & evening to shuttle to the beach town of Candidasa, tour to the historic Buddhist Bat Temple (yes, it’s filled with bats—but it’s really cool!) Theo will have a list of great local restaurants you might choose from for dinner (she’ll be going to La Rouge—you’re welcome to join her!)
DAY 5, Tuesday, September 19:
Full American or Asian breakfast (order from Villa property menu), coffee, tea, etc served on site, included in our tour package.
Depart villas at 9 am for Tenganan, the ancient cobblestone village of Bali. Here we will meet world famous textile designer, ___________ whose work hangs at LACMA (Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art) among other worldwide institutions and homes. ____ will guide us through his original weaving process. Walk through the ancient cobblestoned village, experiencing weavers, basketry and the original artisanal flavor of Bali. We’ll stop at PANDA (no, not Panda Kitchen!), Theo’s secret spot for the best deal making on the island for “Ata” baskets & home accessories, woven with single grass reeds, then smoked for their beautiful orange-brown color. We’ll stop for lunch at an authentic Balinese warung, run by a young family, well-critiqued on Yelp and Trip Advisor (and, yes, dear travelers, Theo has eaten there twice in the last year and it’s really good!) You’ll pay for your own lunch; but it won’t cost more than 5-6 dollars, including a local Bin Tang (Balinese Beer)!
Afternoon & evening villa time, pool side, dinner on your own. Our resort has a sweet restaurant on site, but there are several nearby warungs within walking distance that are amazing! (one in particular where Theo will be hanging out!) f
DAY 6, Wednesday, September 20:
Full American or Asian breakfast (order from Villa property menu), coffee, tea, etc served on site, included in our tour package.
Depart 10 am for White Sand Beach day trip. Be prepared to hike about ½ mile from where our bus drops us off to the beach itself—magnificence awaits! If you prefer arriving by water taxi, you can arrange that for just a few dollars at our locale. You can take your own picnic lunch or eat beachside at a lovely warung, established especially for beach goers. Food is FANTASTIC and cheap!! Optional chairs and umbrellas are available beachside for a super nominal fee. Otherwise, take a pool towel from the hotel and lots of sunscreen—swimming here is amazing.
OPTIONAL EXTREME FISHING TRIP with Q’ull and his associates from DunkQ Professional Fishing Company! (add $400 US) ?????????? See his instagram and friend him on FB _______ for the fishing excursion videos of a lifetime! YOU could be in his next Go Pro video!!
Dinner tonite will be at our own villa restaurant, BBQ seafood caught today by our DunkQ fishing team, food and service included in your tour costs, cocktails and wine charged individually to you. Or bring your own!
DAY 7, Thursday, September 21:
Full American or Asian breakfast (order from Villa property menu), coffee, tea, etc served on site, included in our tour package. Swimming and free time in the morning.
Depart 10 am for Karsa Spa, Ubud, but first stop for a 1-hour guided tasting at Luwak Coffee Company.
Arrive Karsa Spa, Ubud, 1:30 pm for an incredible organic lunch, included in our tour costs, enjoy your pre-booked Spa treatment on Global Gardens!
Depart 4:30 pm, Arrive on the outskirts of UBUD at private villas with individual swimming pools perched high above the _______ River. NOTE: Additional spa treatments can be booked ala carte as well as individual transportation arranged to our next destination at your own costs. Please ask Theo if you want more spa time.
Dinner tonight is on your own, enjoy the BEST room service in Indonesia, delivered to your villa, overlooking your pool area or go to nearby warungs. (HINT: Theo is staying in—this property is gorgeous and you’ll be ready to stretch and relax in an Architectural Digest-style, contemporary paradise!)
Day 8, Friday, September 22:
Full American or Asian breakfast (order from Villa property menu), coffee, tea, etc served on your own villa veranda, included in our tour package.
Depart 10 am for the Monkey Forest Park, a classic Balinese destination on the outskirts of Ubud—a “live zoo”, filled with, yes, monkeys! Great photo opportunities and large shaded park, lush in plant life and verdant fauna. Spend the afternoon on your own having lunch and shopping around this vibrant area—known particularly for hand-made shoes and sandals—very cool!
Depart Monkey Forest Park 3 pm for our villas—hang out and chillax…trust us, you’ll want to!
Depart 6:30 pm for a multi-course dinner at world-famous LOCAVORE—go hungry—this is an exceptional feast Theo and the LOCAVORE chef have designed just for us! Depart 10 pm for villas and an amazing night’s sleep after a swim in your private villa pool.
Day 9, Saturday, September 23:
Full American or Asian breakfast (order from Villa property menu), coffee, tea, etc served on your own villa veranda, included in our tour package.
Depart 8:30 am for food market tour and cooking class at Laka Leke, included in our tour, lunch will be made by us all and we’ll learn all about Balinese deliciousness!
Depart Laka Leke 2 pm for Villa and/or free time, last minute shopping in Ubud. Our drivers will drop you off EITHER at the Villas OR in Ubud
Depart 7 pm FAREWELL DINNER: The Elephant, Ubud, dinner included in our tour package
Day 10, Sunday, September 24
Full American or Asian breakfast (order from Villa property menu), coffee, tea, etc served on site, included in our tour package. Free time in the morning, departure pick-ups for Denpasar Airport, say good-bye, group hug and last-minute selfies!
