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mister zimi

5

BALI PLACES

We generally stay in Seminyak or the surrounding area (including Umalas, Pettinget and Kerobokan). This area is on or close to the beach, it has a great mix of shopping and it also has some of the islands best restaurants. Seminyak is much quieter than Kuta (and Legian to an extent) which can be pretty full-on for some and action packed for others. It all depends on what you are looking for, however we find that the hustle and bustle of Kuta is only a short cab ride away if we up for it.

Ubud provides for another relaxing option but in the Mountains. We are not totally familiar with it, however it is worth checking out. Some people love it and there are plenty of amazing restaurants, art galleries and places to stay.Nusa Dua and Jimbaran are home to some of the bigger resorts, and some of the nicer white-sand crystal-blue water beaches found on the island. In comparison, the beach stretching between Kuta, Legian, Seminyak and past Canggu has darker volcanic sand, which can make the water not look as nice.

Between, Nusa Dua and Jimbaran are Ulawatu and Bingin which have most of Balis famous surf spots and are great for those looking to spend a lot of time in the water. This whole end of the Island can be great if you want to chillax in your resort/villa/beach shack or concentrate on surfing, but there is not much else to do after dark (although there are some great seafood restaurants in Jimbaran). The restaurants and bars of Kuta, Legian and Seminyak can be between 30 minutes and 40 minutes away in good traffic.

Hi there,

The following is a guide to Bali (but mainly Seminyak) that we have put together for anyone who is looking for a few pointers. We are no experts as Bali is such a great island and there are so many ways to spend your holiday. Rather, the following is meant to provide some helpful suggestions based on where we like to stay, eat, shop, rest, relax and have fun. Regardless of whether you try none, one or all of these suggestions, we are sure you will love it and have a great holiday.

N

Denpasar

Canggu

Seminyak

Jimbaran

Bingin

Ulawatu

Nusa Dua

To Ubud

Kuta

Legian

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mister zimiBALI PLACES...

In terms of other places to stay on the Island, Cangu can provide a really quiet Villa experience out in the rice fields and close to the beach. There are also heaps of other places that are worth checking out that we havent got to yet, but we will look to keep this page updated as we do...

^ Sunny view from the Jimbaran cliffs ^ Crystal blue waters near Nusa Dua

^ Balangan Beach near Bingin^ Sunset from Rock Bar in Jimbaran

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mister zimi

Villas

Villas can be super fun and cost effective for groups. They are also great if its just you on your own or as a couple. Nearly all villas will have staff and swimming pools.

Villas come in two forms; there are those that are part of managed complexes, and there are those that are individually managed (which can be amazing and provide great value but harder to find). Some Villa complexes we would suggest checking-out include:http://www.villabaliasri.com/ http://www.coconuthomes.com/http://www.prestigebalivillas.com/http://spaceatbali.com/http://www.ranadivilla.com/http://www.laksmanavillas.com/

Another option would be to check out www.iluxuryvillasbali.com. These guys have basically started a business by signing up heaps of the separate and individually managed Villas to a central website to make the search much easier. Their Villas are great spots all over Bali and range from high quality budget accommodation to the super-dooper high-end luxury experience. Villas range from one to seven-plus bedrooms and special deals are available if you mention Mister Zimi.

ACCOMMODATION

As far as accommodation goes, it all depends on your budget and how many of you there are. There are largely two accommodations options: villas or hotels.

Cheap deal websites like Agoda and Wotif are worth looking at, but we would suggest contacting each provider directly. Rates vary depending on the season. Bali has High and Peak seasons, with the cheaper periods in-between. High season includes Easter, July and September, while Peak periods are in August (Euro holidays), and around Christmas.

^ Villa Jemma at Laksmana Villas

^ One of the many Villas available through iLuxury Villas

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mister zimiHotels

There are some fantastic hotels in Bali too. The massive resort style accommodations are mainly in Nusa Dua and Jimbaran. The Ayana in Jimbaran (which is the old Ritz Carlton) is a massive resort with unbelievable pools and bars on cliff edges. In Seminyak the pick of the beach-front luxury hotels would include the Anantara, The Legian, The Samaya, the Oberoi and the Sofitel (which is the cheaper one of this bunch, but still nice).

The Island is a cheaper accommodation option set in a quite lane just back from Legian Beach. Centrally located, The Island is a boutique hostel/hotel that has a range of accommodation options from small dorms to deluxe private rooms. It is owned and run by some friends of ours and provides for a really relaxed and intimate environment where you can chill by the pool, meet travellers from all over the globe or simply use it as a base while still maintaining a high level of privacy and good clean comfort.

Accommodation at The Island starts at $30 per night and if you mention Mister Zimi they will take care of you with a 10% discount, free airport pick-up and a free massage for each guest. Check it out at www.theislandhotelbali.com.

Photos courtesy of The Island Hotel Bali

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mister zimiHotels continued ...

Yarra Villas provide really well appointed and modern serviced apartments in a small complex just behind the busy shopping and dining strip of Seminyaks main drag. This is great for young families and small to large groups holidaying to a budget, but still want the comfort of great accommodation. If you mention Mister Zimi when making your booking you can get a 10% discount. Check out www.baliyarravillas.com.

Other cheap & clean hotels include The Breezes, Villa Diana and The Harmony which can start at $60 a night.

Great holiday option for the girls ...

Surf Haven Bali is based in Seminyak and provides all inclusive surf retreat and spa holidays for women. Typically lasting one week, guests are taken through a surf, yoga and wellbeing program. The programs are designed for women of all ages and abilities and include, luxury villa accommodation, daily surf and yoga classes, spa treatments and healthy food prepared by a resident chef.If you become a fan of Surf Haven on Facebook you can qualify for 15% off this women's luxury surf and yoga retreat in Bali. Check www.surfhavenbali.com and

(http://www.facebook.com/Surfhaven)

^ Yarra Villas Bali

^ Photos courtesy of Surf Haven Bali

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mister zimiGETTING AROUND

Taxis are cheap and most hotels will have drivers that you can take for short trips or for the day.

Taxis run by the meter or you can arrange a set fee before you travel.

Andreas is a local taxi driver/tour guide/ handy man/all around nice guy. His personal motto is that every day is a good day. He is extremely trustworthy, has a great personality to be around, speaks very good English and can take you anywhere in Bali. He has been driving us and all of our friends around for the last six years and has become a great friend. He can pick you up from the airport if needed, you just need to text him beforehand with your dates and flight number or you can contact us and we will organise it for you. He has a mini van that can fit up to 8 people, but he can also arrange larger buses if needed.

Please feel free to contact him if you are heading over as his business is based largely on word of mouth from these emails or other people he meets. He knows so much about Bali and its culture and is a pleasure to be around. You can contact him on +62 8180 555 1060 or let us know via email and we can set it up for you.

^ Andreas

^ Andreas with his family

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mister zimiTHINGS TO DO

Karma Kandara is an amazing resort on a cliff that has a private beach with beautiful crystal blue water. Visitors are asked to pay a Rp 250,000 deposit per person (approx. $30) to use the private beach which is accessed by a private elevator. The deposit can then be used as credit to pay for food and drinks at the beach restaurant . Approximately 40 minutes from Seminyak, the beauty and views at Karma Kandara are one of a kind and well worth a day trip.

Balangan and Padang Padang beaches are fantastic white sand beaches with clear blue water. These beaches have great surf and great surfers. There are also small Cafes (or Warungs) which rent sun beds, and sell drinks and cheap basic (and largely safe) food.

A day trip to Ubud and the Volcano is a great idea for anyone interested in seeing another side to Bali. The trip up and back is fascinating enough driving through rice fields and small villages. There are hundreds of things to do, but some suggestions include checking out the steep rice terraces, the volcano hot springs, the Bedugul Botanical Gardens, the Ubud markets and monkey forest.

Andreas can organise bikes which are great for the trip back. This allows you to get out of the car, and immerse yourself in the sounds and smells of Balis rural areas while quietly rolling through rice fields and several beautiful villages that specialise in wood, silver and stone craftsmanship.

A water sports day at Nusa Dua is a great way to spend a day. Andreas can organise this for you at a discounted rate. We went with about ten of us and had an absolute ball. It was hilarious! Activities include: snorkelling, banana boating, jet skiing, paragliding, visiting turtle island and the amazing (and very unsafe looking) Flying Fish!!

A day or afternoon at Waterbomb Park in Kuta is also worth a look at for those who love waterslides.

^ Resort pool at Karma Kandara

^ The Flying Fish is one of the Watersport activities at Dusa Dua

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mister zimiPLACES TO EAT & DRINK

Here is a list of some great restaurants, the majority of them are in Seminyak. They are mostly owned by ex pats from all over the world and the food is great! Most of these are shown on the map on the next page. Cab drivers will know all of them.

La Lucciola is a beautiful restaurant on the beach in Seminyak. You will need to book in busy seasons. Great for a sunset dinner and also breakfast. This is one of our favourites!

Sea Circus is a new restaurant between the Samaya Hotel and Bodyworks. The Chef is from Long Grain and the food is amazing and reasonably priced. It is impossible to take a wrong turn on the menu. There are amazing cocktails and a great vibe throughout. A must do. If you mention Mister Zimi you will be able to get a free Salt & Pepper Squid or Tempura.

Ku De Ta is on the beach in Seminyak. Expensive but definitely worth going to even for a cocktail at sunset.

Cafe Bali is another favourite. Its in Laksmana Street and great for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cheap too!

Trattoria and Ultimo, also in Laksmana Street, are great Italian restaurants and relatively cheap. Pizzaa at Trattoria make for a great light lunch.

Kaima Good Moroccan

Chandi Great Chinese/Asian.

Kaisan Japanese and Korean BBQ Good sitting upstairs

Zucchini Cafe is an awesome little cafe for lunch and breakfast. Worth checking out at least once. The salads during the day make for a perfectly filling and healthy choice.

Corner Store is good for breaky and lunch.

Sarong is a beautiful restaurant in Seminyak. Expensive for Bali but worth treating yourself!

Lemon Grass has good cheap Thai food.

Biku in Pettinget has a awesome menu ranging from local curries and cuisine to hearty country style cooking. Great for lunch or dinner.

Zulu at the top of Dhiana Pura Street has unbelievably yummy & healthy vegan food.

Ryoshi is a popular Japanese restaurant

Pantarei is a Greek restaurant, band plays on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Much more atmosphere these nights.

Gado Gado is a beautiful french restaurant on the beach in Seminyak.

Rock Bar is built onto the cliff at the Ayana resort in Jimbaran. Great for sunset drinks.

Jimbaran Bay does beautiful sunset dinners on the beach with super fresh seafood.

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mister zimiSHOPPING

Mister Zimi now has a show room in Bali where you can see and try on the whole range. We will have stock of most items, but if not and you come early in your stay we should be able to make and deliver your order before you leave. It would be great to see you on your next trip to Bali!!! Our address is 117X Jalan Drupadi, Seminyak (see the map).

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mister zimiOTHER SHOPPING

Laksmana Street has some of the best boutique shopping. Dont bother bargaining in these shops, they are designer stores but the prices are really reasonable. For example a Magali Pascal dress that I bought for $150 Australian in Bali was for sale in Australia for $600.

Some of my favourite shops include: Magali Pascal, Lulu, Uma and Leopold, Simple Koncept Store, State of Georgia, Zuttion (great for guys too) and Prisoners of St Petersberg.

Just wonder up and down this street and you will be sure to find some great things.

There is also some good shopping in Raya Seminyak which is the main Street connecting Kuta and Seminyak, as well a Jalan Kunti.

Day Spa

Body Works in Seminyak is one of the most popular. I would recommend the body bliss massage, its two ladies massaging in symmetry at the same time. Pure heaven. You will need to book your appointments in advance as it gets really busy. Also good for other beauty treatments like pedicures, manicures and waxing etc.

Supermarkets

The Bintang Supermarket is handy to get bits and pieces. There is also a good chemist a couple of doors down from there next to the silver shop. All taxi drivers will know where to take you.

Bali Deli in Jalan Kunti is a supermarket/deli that caters mainly to westerners.

CASH & CURRENCY

You will need $25 US per person on arrival to enter Bali for a 30 day tourist visa. To get money out from the ATMs in Bali costs you quite a bit and the majority of them only let you get 1.5 million Rupiah, which is about AUD$180. Commonwealth Bank ATMs charge only $2 for withdrawals if you are with Commonwealth in Australia. These ATMS also allow you to withdraw up to Rp 3 million at any one time. On the screen where it shows the automatic withdrawl values, choose the Main Menu option and you can manually punch in Rp 3 million.

You can exchange cash at the airport once you have passed immigration and customs. Money exchangers in Bali will mostly likely provide you with a better exchange rate than what you can get in Australia.

The best value when changing money over can be found on the streets at any of the Authorised Money Exchangers. BE CAREFUL though and always double count the money they give you. Most are honest, but some perform magic hand tricks, where you count the money and are happy with the transaction only to find later that there is less than you thought there was. Anything around or above Rp 7,800 to the Aussie dollar is generally pretty good value, but this will obviously depend on the prevailing exchange rate.

Thats probably about all you need to know to get you started. The rest you will find yourself. Please do not hesitate to contact us on info@misterzimi.com if you have any questions Jimi & Zoe

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