Bali

Bali really needs no introduction. It is one of the premier tourist destinations in the world having an amazing combination of spectacular beaches, striking volcanoes, picturesque rice paddies as well as an incredibly rich and vibrant culture and an open and friendly people.

Bali receives thousands of visitors from all over the world every year, and as a result is relatively easy to get to with direct flights from most parts of the world to Denpasar airport, and most things that you would need are readily available including good medical care, and most western goods and services.

The majority of tourists to Bali stay within 30 minutes of the airport either at the huge self-contained 5 star hotels that hug the beach at Nusa Dua or in the heavily touristed areas along Kuta & Legian beach which is the centre in Bali for surfing, shopping and partying.

In the past few years visitors have increasingly found their way first to Ubud, which lies among the picturesque rice paddies in the foot hills of the massive volcanoes in the centre of the island, and latterly to East Bali (where Candi Dasa is situated) which has similar spectacular mountain views as Ubud, but also has access to beaches and some of the best diving in Bali, if not in South East Asia.

Candi Dasa

Villa Talia Vashti is less than 5 minutes drive away from Candi Dasa - the gateway to East Bali. Candi (pronounced "Chandi") is only one and a quarter hours away from the heavily developed Kuta/Sanur area of Bali, but it can at times feel like stepping back in time to a more relaxed and less hectic time.

In recent years however while development has come to Candi Dasa, it retains its relaxed easy going charm. There is now however a good variety of different hotels and restaurants in Candi and the shops provide most tourist services such as good restaurants, internet access, tours and trips, diving and car hire. Candi Dasa is however still thankfully entirely free of the hard sell that you find in the Kuta/Sanur/Nusa Dua/Legian developments or increasingly in Ubud.

Basically Candi Dasa is a place to do a bit of shopping and then sit in a restaurant, order some good food in pleasant surroundings and take in the view across the ocean to Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida or across the rice paddies to Gunung Agung looming in the distance. We like it which is one of the reasons of course why Villa Talia Vashti is where it is.

If however you want happy hours in packed bars and then to party until late into the night, or if you want streets of designer clothing shops full of western goods then to be honest you are best getting out of Candi and taking a taxi to Kuta/Legian for the day, which is easy enough.

Candi Dasa Restaurants

In recent years eating out in Candi Dasa has become more and more varied with increasing numbers of great restaurants, far too many to list here. While you will find the food at Villa Talia Vashti the match of most any restaurant here, if you fancy a change of scenery one night then there many options that you can try in and around Candi Dasa.

Toke - Atmospheric and popular water garder restaurant on the main road with the same owners as Vincents. Highly recommended, particularly if you have a craving for a proper Indian curry.

Lotus Garden - Sea front restaurant on the main road just as you enter Candi Dasa. Good views, laid back atmosphere and fresh lobster. Good place to wile away a long lunch. http://www.balieats.com/full.cfm?id=157

Dewata Agung - Typical traditional Indonesian and Balinese cuisine, with nice views out across the Candi Dasa lagoon. A good place to be as the sun sets. Free Balinese Legong dance shows every evening.

Water Garden - Good western run restaurant. Although a bit close to the road, the food is always reliably good and the ponds are very relaxing and absolutely full of massive Koi carp.

Vincents - More westernised bar/restaurant towards the eastern end of Candi Dasa on the landward side. Fitted out with modern art and laid back jazz music playing in the background and with a wide selection of wines and beers. One of our favourites.

Kubu Bali - Although nicely laid out, and fine for a drink when out shopping in Candi Dasa, the food was very disappointing when we last tried and every dish reminded us of the sort of MSG sodden gloop that you get down a cheap Chinese restaurant in a highstreet in the UK. Not recommended.

Lotus Bungalows Italian Restaurant - Relaxing but normally empty place on the main road some way before you reach Candi Dasa. Does the best Pizzas around, (although with limited competition) and will deliver to Villa Talia Vashti.

Alila Sea Salt Restaurant - A typical huge 5* luxury hotel, but the restaurant is surrounded by a relaxing lotus garden and is a great place for an expensive splurge, with interesting Balinese dishes, and fabulous ice creams (we recommend the Dark Chocolate Sorbet and the Honeycomb ice cream). The Alila can be reached by a pleasant 30-40 minute walk west along the little road from Villa Talia Vashti, or is a 5 minute drive. http://www.alilahotels.com/manggis/dining.asp

Aman Kila - If money is no object then try out the "super luxury" hotel Aman Kila. Given the prices however the food is disappointingly unimaginative and unimpressive. Alila is far better in our view. This hotel however is meant to be the secret get-away for royalty and film stars, and last time we were there the King of Morrocco had block booked the entire place. Pierce Brosnan is also meant to be a regular visitor. Enjoys exactly the same views as Villa Talia Vashti, but does not have a white sand beach.

Mendira Beach

Villa Talia Vashti is situated on a separate private beach just a couple of hundred yards from Mendira Beach, a small and quiet development 5 minutes outside of Candi Dasa. In the past few years Mendira beach has itself been subject to some subdued development with a couple of hotels and laid back restaurants opening up with the same fabulous views as enjoyed by Villa Talia Vashti.

Primary amongst these is Candi Beach Cottages, a large "cottage style" hotel which is part of a luxury hotel chain and has all the typical facilities that you would expect to find in such an establishment. Although the restaurant is large and impersonal, there are a few tables outside on the shore that are a good place for a sunset beer, although the food is very average, and expensive compared to alternatives such as the Amarta.

Next along the beach is the Anom Inn. This appears to have a reasonably pleasant restaurant with an extensive menu but the only time we have been there it was entirely empty so we did not actually give the food a try.

Further along is the Amarta Hotel and Restaurant. The bar/restaurant here has a laid back charm with cushions on the floor and atmospheric lighting and music - a great place to relax and have a few drinks. Alternatively you can always try out the good value Asian and European cuisine at normal tables in the adjoining restaurant if you prefer. There appears to be a strong German connection at the Amarta with German specialities on the menu and when we were last there the restaurant was packed with Germans who were presumably guests staying at the hotel.

Although Villa Talia Vashti is actually on a separate beach you can easily walk to the restaurants and hotels at Mendira Beach through the coconut plantation adjacent to the villa (3 minutes or so only). Alternatively it is an easy and pleasant 10 minute walk inland through Mendira village.

Locations of main restaurants around Villa Talia Vashti: