Reader Question: What to Pack for a Bali Holiday? (From Bali With Love)

I'm often asked what one should bring with them on a holiday trip to Bali. The list can vary depending on what your planned activities will be, such as relaxing, hiking in the mountains, etc.

Here's my suggestions for you basic must-haves:

• hat
• sunscreen
• sunglasses
• sandals
• comfortable shoes for walking (shopping)
• mosquito spray/lotion
• your favorite tylenol or aspirin in case of headache or sunburn
• your favorite cosmetic/toiletries/makeup

Tylenol is a big one! When you are pregnant, tylenol is the only safe medication to take if you have a headache, etc. You will not find tylenol here. You have to go to the Pharmacy to buy any type of medication. A few drug stores here carry acetaminophen, but I had to travel to many before I found one that carried it.

Since Bali is a tourist destination, there are shops (tokos) and drug stores (apotiks) here that offer many common items if you forget something. If you have a favorite brand of an item, you might as well bring it because the brands offered here are of different quality.

Do you have anything else to add to the list? When you travel, what do you never leave home without?

House Love (From Bali With Love)

SWOON!

The California owners of this Spanish-style home have amazing taste! 

I love the splashes of exoticness in every room! Check it out...

I love everything from the windows to the furniture to the plants. 

I wonder if they have a quest house for me to stay in?? :)

Read more about the house at Design Sponge.

Photo Challenge (From Bali With Love)

One of my dear childhood friends is hosting a photo challenge on her blog and I told her I'd participate. I didn't have much time to get all my pictures together. 

Here are her themes for this week's photo challenge:

A Statue From the ground up

A Reflection From above

A Circle, Triangle, Square shapes from the ground up

A Tree Branch from the ground up

A Shadow From above

A Person From Close up, far away, from left, from right and in their environment

A street scene, all angles

Surprise Me! From Your Unique Point of View

Here are my photo entries:

A Statue From The Ground Up

A Reflection From Above

A Circle, Triangle, Square Shapes From The Ground Up

A Tree Branch From The Ground Up

A Shadow From Above

A Person Close-up

A Person From The Left

My Unique Point of View

These photos are property of From Bali With Love. Please do not use them without my permission.

Want to join in, if you'd like on her blog. Thanks!

Indonesia, Cicaks and Tokeks, Oh My! (From Bali With Love)

Living in Indonesia, we often have some "visitors" in our home. 

Ah, yes. Cicaks. Cicaks are known as lizards in America. They are often found here indoors and out, sticking to the walls and trying to eat any bugs they can catch. They can be quite entertaining to watch. They make interesting "clicking" noises, jerk their tail up and down, and chase other cicaks, sometimes as a territorial aspect and sometimes for mating. They also "drop" (drop, as in fall off) their tail when they feel threatened.

Aside from cicaks, tokeks also "visit" on occasion. Tokeks are known in English as house geckos. They are much like cicaks, but larger and more colorful. They make a very low, loud sound, similar to "toke-kay", but I swear they are saying, "Geck-ko". It is hilarious to listen to them. They also eat bugs as well as other smaller lizards. They mainly come out at night and hide/reside during the day in trees or the roof of houses. We recently heard that you can make quite a bit of money if you catch a tokek and sale it, as they are used for some sort of traditional medicine. I know no details of this, nor do I ask. :)

Click on photos to see their links, found via google.

You can check out my own pictures of cicaks, tokeks and other "visitors" we have had HERE in our Bali Home in my Unexpected Guests album...

I also wanted to apologize for not posting yesterday. I've been busy working in the house and garden, as well as preparing for my Singapore trip in 4 DAYS!! More exciting posts to come, so stay tuned! :)

DIY: Spruce Up Any Cabinet (From Bali With Love)

This is great, inexperience and beautiful. Spruce up any cabinet with leftover wallpaper...you could even use contact paper bought from a $1 store and achieve a work of art!

Taken from HERE.

Bali News (From Bali With Love)

Heavy rain caused flooding around the island of Bali.

Read the full article HERE.

The Indonesian Rupiah has strengthened against the US Dollar. For the first time in 3 years, it is just under Rp. 9.000 to one US Dollar.

Read the full article HERE.

Indonesia has unveiled a new note and coin. The new Rp. 10,000 is blue, as compared to it's former red. Many tourist confused the Rp. 10,000 ($1.12) note with the Rp. 100,000 ($11.20), which is a similar red color.

Read the full article HERE.

New tax law in Bali to be implemented in hopes to cutdown on over congestion, traffic problems and pollution. The Balinese government wants residents to pay higher taxes if they have more than one vehicle registered under their name. 

I, personally, think this is a great idea!! Bali and Indonesia both are overcrowded by bikes, cars, work trucks and buses.

Read the full article HERE.

Image taken from HERE.

Woo Hoo! Bali plans to put their Vehicle Registration and Licensing Department online! Save time, money, paper and labor. GREAT IDEA BALI!

Read the full article HERE.

DIY: Wall Art...with postcards? (From Bali With Love)

Love this idea of creating a wall or inspiration board of postcards.

Taken from From The Right Bank.

Have you heard of FROM THE RIGHT BANK? If not, check it out. Ally is a super awesome, sweet blogger! She seems so friendly, always replies and comments back to her reader's and posts some of the best design ideas. She is definitely on my Top 5 favorite blogs list!

Shared Children's Room (From Bali With Love)

I love this orange and blue shared children's room. Though, this room featured is quite large in size, I think this same setup could easily be adapted for a smaller room as well by losing the chairs and using smaller floor pillows. You could even just do one side of the room for 2 bunk beds and have the other side of the room open...

Found HERE and also HERE.

Bali, Calling Jennifer Aniston (From Bali With Love)

Jennifer Aniston was recently quoted as having Bali on her list of desired places to travel.

Check out the story HERE.

If anyone out there knows how to contact Jennifer Aniston, tell her she is invited! Bali Discovery put out an article with an open invitation to Jennifer which stated, 

"If Jennifer is perchance browsing this article or a friend cares to forward it to her, please tell her how Bali would love to have her company. All she has to do is contact balidiscovery.com and we'll arrange complimentary accommodation at one of Bali's outstanding boutique hotels and local transportation to make sure she enjoys her visit to Bali. A "friend" like Jennifer deserves to have her travel wishes come true."

So, Jennifer Aniston, come on over to Bali!

Bali News (From Bali With Love)

Sukawati Art Market will be getting a modernized renovation for 2011. Sukawati is a popular market in Bali to buy local handicrafts. 

Read the full article HERE.

See my photos from Sukawati HERE.

Hemorrhagic fever on the rise in Bali. The reason? Climate change.

Read the full article HERE.

The government of Bali is trying to become a shareholder in Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport. Currently, all profits, including revenues from visa's, are all directed straight to Jakarta.

Read the full article HERE.

This is great news! Bali's governor has pledged to make Bali "Green and Clean" by 2013! He calls this pledge, "a challenge to all Bali citizens". I can't wait to see how this turns out!

Read the full article HERE.

An article published recently in the UK claims that Bali and it's culture are in danger from it's fast paced tourism. The last line in this article is interested, "mass tourism would kill Bali and it's unique heritage". 

Read the full article HERE.

Singapore Bound! (From Bali With Love)

Just a quick post to say I'm heading to Singapore in 9 days!!! 

I'm super excited, can you tell?

I've been searching online for sightseeing ideas, shopping zones and good places to eat.

And, of course, I plan on taking lots of pictures! 

If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thank you!