A Place For Happiness (From Bali With Love)

USA TODAY listed Bali as one of the top ten places to find happiness. So what did the acclaimed author Paul Theroux have to say about Bali?

"It's the grace and aesthetic appeal. I just love the colors, the artistic sense of the Balinese. They can do anything. They can weave, they can carve, they can dance, play instruments, sing. Their houses are beautiful, their clothes are beautiful, they have temples, they have the most wonderful dances and ceremonies."

Do you really need to hear more? I didn't think so either. So stop saying "one day" and hop on a plane to check out the scenery in Bali!

You can check out the full ten spots at USA TODAY Travel.

7th Heaven (From Bali With Love)

Would you like to escape to a private, remote villa and maybe even mingle with some celebrities along the way?

Well, look no further than Khayangan Estate. Their website explains that Khayangan means "seventh heaven" in sanscript and from the looks of the photos, it seems that name holds true.

Khayangan Estate is nestled in Bali's south western tip of the Bukit along the cliffs and is made up of ten antique wood, Javanese homes descended from noble men. The Estate also features a lush garden, spa, lap pool, library, many outdoor activities, such as tennis, and five star meals prepared by your own in-house chef.

All suites have views of the majestic Indian Ocean and the bathrooms have a bathtub which floats over a pond, complete with a waterfall and nearby garden.

The Estate has been featured in many magazines, such as Architectural Digest Italy and Elle Decor Germany.

Looking for an unforgettable wedding location? 

You can marry high above the waves, overlooking the endless Indian waters. It's a dream come true!

I also have this Estate listed under Wedding Planning on my LINKS page. Be sure to check out my LINKS page for lots of resources and inspiration about Bali and it's surrounding islands. I am constantly updating it and if you have some great links to share about Bali, or Indonesia in general, please comment here or email me.

All images taken from Khayangan Estate's website.

Indonesia's National Parks (From Bali With Love)

Did you know Indonesia has 50 National Parks? Crazy, right? Not really, I guess, when you consider that Indonesia is made up of over 17,000 islands, though only 922 are inhabited.

Komodo National Park

Wakatobi Marine National Park

Komodo National Park

Teluk Cenderawasih National Park

Palung National Park

Way Kambas National Park

Komodo National Park

Indonesia has marine parks, wildlife safari's, rain forests, biodiversity parks, coral reefs...so much beauty is spread throughout the Indonesian archipelago and it's all so valuable and rare. Wouldn't it be wonderful to take some tours to visit these magnificent sites and get up close to these beautiful creatures?

Where would you visit? What would you want to see?

The Beauty of Bali (From Bali With Love)

You always read about how Bali is a special place, unlike any other, but what makes Bali so special?

People often ask me this very question and it's actually quite hard to answer. There is just something wonderful and special about the island that you have to experience for yourself to realize.

Personally, I love the food, the sunsets, the "mood", but Bali has a lot to offer, including arts, smiling faces, exotic landscapes, endless heat, surfer's dream waves, music for all ears and ages to enjoy, as well as lots of culture.

Images taken from HERE, though I noticed many are watermarked by baliwww.

Looking For A Villa? (From Bali With Love)

I just came across this beautiful open air villa online and yes, it's for SALE! 

It's located in Canggu, the south of the Bali. It has 4 bedrooms, a swimming pool and views of the beach and the Indian Ocean! Nice!

If you were buying a villa, what features would you want it to have?

Photos taken from HERE.

Villa Semadhi Bali (From Bali With Love)

I was contacted by a reader who owns a beautiful villa in Bali. It's available for rent and she wants to share it on From Bali With Love.

It is located in Pemuteran, northern Bali and sits right on the beach, so you can have the tranquil ocean at your front yard and Bali's northern mountains in your backyard. 

The villa has 4 suites, a large garden and staff on call to help you.

You can see more of Villa Semadhi on Flickr or you can visit Villa Semadhi's website to book your getaway!

Thank you Jane for sharing your villa with us!

Bali's Best 5 Hidden Beaches (From Bali With Love)

Have you ever been to Bali? Which beach is your favorite? 

Most everyone who travels here knows Kuta Beach, as it's the most popular tourist hangout and a favorite spot to gather in the evening to watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean. If you travel here with young children, Nusa Dua's Geger Beach is a good spot as the ocean water is quite calm and relaxing for child's play.

Well CNN Go recently published an article about Bali's Best 5 Hidden Beaches. Want to know which beaches made the cut? I'll be happy to give you a preview.

Balangun Beach

Geger Beach

Bias Tugal Beach

Ungasan Beach

Amed Beach

I am lucky enough to have visited 3 of these 5 beaches. The remaining two, Bias Tugal Beach and Amed Beach, are on my list of next stops. 

The article not only shows you the beaches, but also tells you how to find them and what to expect, so be sure to check out CNN Go's article on Bali's Best 5 Hidden Beaches.

Photos taken from CNN Go.