As we’re now six months into our grand tour and have another six months to go it seemed a good time to reflect on the first half of our travel experiment and share some tips based on what we’ve learned from the experience so far. Rarely a day passes when we don’t get told “You … Read more
Kiki was adamant. “There is a Royal Cremation Ceremony tomorrow,” she told us, “You must go!” Our villa manager, Kiki had made it her mission to ensure we were getting the breadth of Bali’s local experiences. And while I’m not one for taking photos at funerals (err, or weddings, for that matter), Kiki was right. Mengwi’ Queen … Read more
Sometimes words and photos are not enough… a video of Villa Tukad, featuring the sights and sounds from the idyllic surroundings of our latest holiday rental in Bali, Indonesia. A Video of Villa Tukad, Tumbank Bayuh, Bali Scenes from Villa Tukad, Bali. from Gran Tourismo on Vimeo. Video shot with our Olympus PEN E-P2, and edited … Read more
Cooking in Bali with Desak, our villa chef, ended up being one of the highlights of our two-week stay at our Balinese villa, allowing us to tick off a few grand tour goals – learning from locals, learning to cook the local cuisine, and giving back. I taught Desak Western dishes in exchange for her … Read more
The artistic, cultural and spiritual heart of Bali for centuries, Ubud is serenely located up in the hills in lush jungle, surrounded by rice-paddies. Lined with galleries, cafés and craft shops, its narrow streets are a delight to wander. There’s no denying that Ubud has become increasingly commercial and its economy is more tourist-focused than ever. … Read more