Bali [Monday Morning, February 24, 2014]

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Bali is the smallest province of Indonesia, but that doesn't mean it's just us on the island. We're sharing our vacation spot with 4.2 million Balinese residents who live in various villages around an island that's only 95 miles wide and 69 miles long. Your touring options will take you all over the island, or you can just hang out at the beach beside the hotel or in one of its five pools. It's vacation. No need to overthink anything!

It's overcast today, which makes it perfect for hiking and shopping, but it feels like it's 92F (33C) outside, so a dip in the water wouldn't go amiss either.

[OOC: HOTEL: Rooms | Pools, Beach, Spa & Fitness Centre | Shopping | Restaurants BALI: Shopping | Touring | OOC]

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HOTEL

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We're still in the beautifully stunning Hyatt! (http://blogs.synopsys.com/viewfromtop/files/2008/07/balicolor.jpg)

Rooms [2/24 Morning]

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Students are checked into King Club rooms in the East Village where one king bed (or two twins) takes up some of the 49 square meter room (http://www.bali.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/rooms/grand-club.html) with views of either tropical gardens or a serene lagoon, depending on what side of the complex you fall on. Luxurious appointments include marble bath with separate shower, a batik robe, slippers, and complimentary Internet access. The slippers and robe are NOT complimentary. Cade. Chaperones are housed in the larger suites (http://www.bali.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/rooms/suite.html), complete with sitting rooms and views of the beach, far enough away not to hear the shenanigans students get up to while still remaining legally liable for their actions. Wake up early to eat breakfast, or stay in and order room service (http://www.hyatt.com/hyatt/images/hotels/balgh/Room_Service_Menu.pdf).

[OOC: Room assignments are here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aq994Jtyb7HrdDFXUmxTREN1aXlIZndHZEw2d29EUWc#gid=0), NFB goes into personal journals, please put your room number into the subject line, please and thank you!]

Spa, Pools, Beach & Fitness Centre

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Pools [2/24 Morning]

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There are five (FIVE!) pools (http://www.bali.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/activities/hotel-activities/pool.html) on the Hyatt property. The Lagoon Pool, set in parallel to the white sandy coast line of Nusa Dua, provides a breath-taking view of the off-shoring waves of the Indian Ocean. You can relaxy as you float down the River Pool in the surrounding of lush tropical gardens, lily ponds and lagoons, or just simply have a splashing fun in the waterslides. Located in the North Village, the Balinese-featured Pool is inspired by the fabled Balinese water palaces of old. Dedicated exclusively for our Club guests, which Fandom is, the Grand Club Pool is located in the East Village, adjacent to the Grand Club Lounge and just steps from your room. Finally, the Bay Club Pool is located within the area of The Bay Club Fitness & Health Centre. If it helps make up your mind, the Poolside Bar (http://www.bali.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/dining/PoolsideBar.html) is by the River Pool, and they serve food and drink all day.

[OOC: Please mention which pool you've chosen in the subject line so others can find you!]

Kriya Spa [2/24 Morning]

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Kriya (http://bali.grand.hyatt.com/hyatt/pure/spas/about/features.jsp) - meaning "ritual" in Sanskrit - celebrates authentic Balinese healing forms with treatments based on "wellness rituals" at their spa villas in Bali. It draws inspiration from traditional Balinese healing philosophies - Hindu, Jamu and Ayurveda, to promote positive health, delay aging and promote longevity with the use of natural herbs, roots and essences. The luxury Bali spa resort offers four healing rituals - Harmony, Purity, Energy and Bliss.

Bay Club Fitness & Health Centre [2/24 Morning]

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A vast range of activities is available for the active vacationers. The Bay Club Fitness and Health Centre (http://www.bali.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/activities/hotel-activities/fitness.html) features a state-of-the-art gymnasium, aerobics studio, glass-back squash courts, steam and dry sauna, a whirlpool, a plunge pools and a massage room. There are also three floodlit tennis courts, a jogging trail and a putting green. The Bay Club opens from 7am to 10pm daily, with 24hr access to the gymnasium only.

Beach! [2/24 Morning]

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The Hyatt is located on more than 650 meters of pristine white beach that's only a short walk from the Poolside Bar. Grab a towel and some sunscreen and laze the day away. It is vacation.

Shopping

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Shopping Arcade [2/24 Morning]

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Grand Hyatt Bali's Shopping Arcade offers a large variety of quality shops, including Grand Hyatt Bali’s drugstore, jewellery shop, handicraft shops, resort apparel boutiques and souvenir shops.

Restaurants

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Garden Cafe [2/24 Morning]

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Located in the center of the hotel, adjacent to the Lobby, Garden Café (http://www.bali.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/dining/GardenCafeInternationalDelicacies.html) serves an array of classic dishes from Asia to Europe. Surrounded by cascading waterfalls and lagoons, Garden Café exudes the look and feel of a resplendent restaurant. (Open for breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Salsa Verde [2/24 Morning]

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Served in a fun-filled Italian restaurant situated on the beachfront with a Californian décor, treat yourself to some Italian magic and la dolce vita with gorgeous Italian cuisine in Salsa Verde (http://www.bali.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/dining/SalsaVerdeBeach-FrontItalianRestaurant.html), serving an array of seafood, pizzas, pastas and other Italian favorites. (Open for breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Watercourt Restaurant [2/24 Morning]

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The Watercourt artfully presents a Balinese style dining room in surroundings that pay tribute to legendary water–palaces of Bali with an exquisite combination of traditional edifices and magnificent fountains, carvings and clear fresh water pools. The Watercourt serves breakfast from 6am until 11am.

BALI

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Shopping

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Tohpati Batik Center [2/24]

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Batik is a cloth that is traditionally made using a manual wax-resist dyeing technique and is unique to Indonesia. At the Batik center in Tohpati, a town fifteen kilometers from the hotel (don't worry, they're providing the transportation), you will watch artisans creating the cloth and, of course, have a chance to buy some as well (http://www.batikpopiler2.com/).

Mas & Celuk Villages [2/24]

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Mas (http://www.balistarisland.com/Bali-Interesting-Place/Mas-Village.htm) is famous for its wood carvings (http://www.balistarisland.com/Bali-Interesting-Place/Images/maswoodcarving.jpg) and Celuk (http://www.balistarisland.com/Bali-Interesting-Place/Celuk-Village.htm), a few kilometers down the road, makes beautiful gold and silver jewelry (http://www.balistarisland.com/Bali-Interesting-Place/Images/celuksilver.jpg), if you were looking to spend money today.

Ubud Market [2/24]

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The market in Ubud is divided in half by a busy road: one side has art for sale--wooden carvings, batik fabric, metalwork, and other souvenirs-- and the other side holding a more traditional market full of fruit, vegetables, spices, herbs, and flowers for offerings to the temples around the island. The average Balinese spends half of their salary annually on offerings.

Mod Your Shopping! [2/24]

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There are tons of other places to shop in Bali. Stick 'em here!

Touring

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Goa Gajah Temple [2/24]

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Goa Gajah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goa_Gajah), or Elephant Cave (because of all the elephants carved into the rock like so (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Goa_Gajah-Elephant_Cave_Entrance.jpeg/450px-Goa_Gajah-Elephant_Cave_Entrance.jpeg)), served as a sanctuary in the 9th Century and was carved to be scary to ward off evil spirits, or maybe just unwanted people because there's a bathing hall inside as well. The guide the hotel provides will use this time to explain the difference between Indonesian Hindoism and the religion practiced in India. Take pictures because yay culture!

Kintanami [2/24]

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Take a bike ride to witness the breathtaking view of Mount Batur--a still active volcano (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Batur)--as well as the 18 square kilometer Caldera Lake. After your bike ride, make sure you go to the Pura Ulun Danu Batur temple (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pura_Ulun_Danu_Batur) in Batur, the village located at the bottom of Mount Batur. Rebuilt after the volcano destroyed the original (and the village it stood in) in 1926, the temple is dedicated to Dewi Danu, goddess of lakes and rivers and is the second most important temple in Bali.

Ubud Palaces [2/24]

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Though they aren't open for tours because the families still live in them, the various palaces around Ubud are extremely photogenic (http://www.travelnix.com/ubud-palace-photos/748.htm) and are beautiful examples of Balinese architecture. If you're in Ubud for the market anyway, you might as well take in some culture.

Mod Your Adventures! [2/24]

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There's plenty of other things to do in Bali!

OOC

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I want to be in Bali.