English – Page 2 – Going Anywhere

hello. Today I’d like to tell you about my experience at Nandini Jungle by Hanging Gardens, a resort in Ubud, Bali, where I had a blessing cleansing ceremony (Melukat) at the Ayung River. This experience was so mysterious and special that it has stayed with me for a long time. At Nandini Jungle Resort, this is possible because we have exclusive use of a sacred space in the middle of the dense jungle in Ubud, Bali, where invisible spiritual energy flows. Let me tell you more about it : )

About the Blessing Purification Ritual Experience at Nandini Jungle Resort

Nandini Jungle Resort is located in Ubud, Bali, about a 30-minute drive from the city center, deep in the heart of Ubud’s charms. As such, the resort had a great selection of activities to choose from. We booked a traditional Balinese tea bag making experience and a blessing purification ritual, which we were excited about before our trip because it was a great way to immerse ourselves in the local Balinese culture.

For more information about the activities and experiences at Nandini Jungle Resort, you can check out their official website. If you’re interested in an activity, it’s best to contact the resort in advance to make reservations.

[Nandini Jungle Resort Official Website]

Preparing to experience the Blessing Purification Ceremony

Although it’s not a required part of the Blessing Purification Ceremony, we started by making a canang, which is very common in Bali. The canang is a kind of offering to the gods, and since we’ll be using it during the Blessing Purification Ceremony, we thought it would be more meaningful to participate in the Blessing Purification Ceremony with our own canang.

After about an hour of making tea bags, we went back to our room to rest for a while and then headed to Ayung River. During the blessing purification ceremony, a lot of water is used, so your clothes will get wet, so it is recommended to change into comfortable clothes. Also, although the cable car is used for transportation, there is a lot of walking down the stairs, so it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes.

Testimonials from the Blessing Purification Ceremony

The resort is located high up overlooking the jungle, and it’s convenient to take a cable car down to the Ayung River where you can experience the Blessing Purification Ceremony. The lush green view as you slowly descend in the cable car like a rattan basket was very pleasant : ) I headed to Ayung River with trepidation, feeling the movement and scent of nature, such as birdsong, grass swaying in the wind, and the scent of flowers.

After taking the cable car down, you’ll see the spa, and from here you’ll have to walk down. The path is a bit rough, so I recommend wearing comfortable shoes and clothes. It’s also a good idea to bring a hat to shield you from the sun and some water.

The staff will give you instructions, so just follow them. After a long walk down the stairs, you’ll arrive at a place with a sacred river. The view of the river and the waterfall is really stunning. This is a place where you can not only perform purification rituals, but also experience a private spa, private dining, and you can even swim in the Ayung River : )

After a few moments of catching your breath and looking at the stunning scenery, the blessing purification ceremony will soon begin. The ceremony is performed by a traditional Balinese priest to purify the body and mind using the water of the Ayung River, which has been said to flow with sacred energy since ancient times. The canang I made is also placed as an offering : )

The first part of the ceremony involves moving close to the waterfall and washing your face three times with the falling water. The weather was very hot, but the clear waterfall water felt so cool and refreshing.

Next, you return to the priest, spread your hands out in front of you, bow your head slightly, and he pours the blessing water over your head, which is filled with flowers. I was a little surprised that my clothes got completely wet because they poured a lot of water on me during this process 3 times 🙂 It felt good to feel something cool being washed away, and then they asked me to make a wish, so I made a heartfelt wish for my family’s health.

At the end of the ceremony, they tie the tri-colored thread used in the last ceremony around your arm. It was such a precious experience that I wore it for the rest of the long trip. One tip is that after the blessing purification ceremony, you might want to book a massage course so that you can get a massage outdoors and feel Ubud, as your legs will be a bit sore from walking down and up all those stairs.

Overall Review

I was really looking forward to the “Blessing Purification Ceremony” on my trip to Bali, and it was every bit as good as I expected it to be. It was a bit of a hike down a lot of stairs, but it was great to experience the religious culture of the Balinese people at the sacred Ayung River in the middle of the dense jungle, and it was even more meaningful to be able to make a wish for a safe and healthy journey. If you’re traveling to Ubud, Bali, I highly recommend experiencing the tea bag making and blessing purification ceremony at Nandini Jungle Resort. You’ll definitely have a lasting memory : )

Hello🖐️ Today, we’re excited to announce that Singapore Airlines is celebrating its 50th anniversary in Korea by offering up to 50% off tickets. This is a great opportunity to save on flights to Singapore, Bali, and the Maldives from Incheon or Busan, so if you’re planning a trip to any of these three countries from Korea, it’s worth taking a closer look at this promotion.

Introducing Singapore Airlines’ 50th anniversary promotion to Korea

✈️ Promotion details

Sale Period: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 – Monday, April 14, 2025
Travel Period: May 1, 2025 – February 11, 2026
Departure: Incheon, Busan
Destination: Singapore, Bali (Denpasar), Maldives (Male)
Applicable class: Economy Class
- * Some dates may be subject to blackout.

For just two weeks only, from April 1 to April 14, 2025, Singapore Airlines is celebrating its launch to South Korea with a special ticket promotion offering up to 50% off. With this promotion, you can book economy tickets from Incheon or Busan, South Korea to Singapore, Bali, and the Maldives for less. It’s a shame it’s only in economy class, but it’s still worth checking out if you’re planning a trip 😊.

⭐ 1st promotion: up to 50% off (April 1 – April 5 only)

Singapore ~ 315,200 KRW
Bali (Denpasar) ~ 404,300 KRW
Maldives (Male) ~ 791,000 KRW

The promotion will run in two phases: April 1-5 and April 6-14. April 1-5 is the first part of the promotion, and you can get more discounts compared to the second part👍.

⭐ Second round of promotion: up to 30% off (April 6 – April 14)

Singapore ~ 382,700 KRW
Bali (Denpasar) ~ 404,300 KRW
Maldives (Male) ~ 791,000 KRW

Compared to the first period, the benefits are reduced in the second period, with up to 30% off. Still, 30% off is pretty big, so have a look : )

✔️ Notes

Blackout period: October 1, 2025 – October 8, 2025 (Offer does not apply during this period)
International payment note: Although rates are displayed in Korean Won (KRW), the actual payment is processed as an international transaction.
As a result, you may incur additional costs due to overseas payment fees and exchange rate fluctuations depending on your card provider.
Child discount not applicable: Child discounts are not available for this special fare (V, K class).
Children traveling alone not eligible: Unaccompanied Minors between the ages of 5 and 12 are not eligible.
Seats are limited: Ticket quantities are limited and seats are not guaranteed on all dates and flights.

[Singapore Airlines promotions page]

Example of booking a promotional ticket

I searched for economy tickets from Incheon (ICN) to Singapore (SIN), and the lowest price I could find was 349,000 won roundtrip for one person. Singapore Airlines is an FSC airline, so the airplane is quite big and nice, and the meal and free checked baggage are all included, so it seems like a pretty good price👍.

I also searched for flights from Incheon (ICN) to Bali (DPS), and the lowest price I could find was 400,000 won. Prices can fluctuate a lot depending on the circumstances and dates, so just take it with a grain of salt : )

Organize your promotions

Today, I shared the news of Singapore Airlines’ 50th anniversary promotion in Korea. You can get up to 50% discount on this promotion, so if you choose the date well, you can book at a good price👍 Especially if you are planning a trip to Singapore, you can take advantage of this promotion because flights to Singapore are cheap 😀

Hello🖐️ Before traveling from Ubud to Sanur, Bali, I stayed at the Grand Mercure Bali Seminyak for one night. The resort is part of the Accor brand chain and is located in the center of Seminyak, with easy beach access, clean facilities, a wide range of amenities, and a luxurious yet relaxed atmosphere. I hope you find my review helpful if you’re looking for a hotel in Seminyak, as it caters to everyone from families to couples.

About Grand Mercure Bali Seminyak

I arrived at the Grand Mercure Bali Seminyak hotel via Grab. I had just checked out of my previous hotel and arrived a little early for check-in time, but they were kind enough to check me in. The hotel is brand new, having opened in December 2022, so you can see that it’s quite clean and sophisticated overall👍.

This resort is under the Accor brand, so if you book through the official Accor Hotels website or app, you can get a lot of benefits. Also, if you have a paid membership program called Accor Plus, you can get discounts when booking a room or eating and drinking. I already have Accor Plus, so I got a good discount when I ate at this hotel 👍.

[Hotel Accor official website]

In the lobby of the hotel, you can listen to a live performance of the Rindik, a traditional Balinese instrument, for a more Balinese feel. The shape and colorful patterns of the instrument are slightly different at each resort, so it’s fun to look around. For me, the soothing sound of the instrument was very fitting for Bali : )

At the entrance of the hotel, you can also rent bicycles for a fee. It costs 50,000 rupiah for 1 hour and 75,000 rupiah for 2 hours.

After passing through the lobby, you will find the Batur All-Day Dining, Lagoon Pool Bar restaurant on the ground floor along with the swimming pool. The restaurant serves a buffet breakfast in the morning and during the day, the menu ranges from local Indonesian dishes to Western favorites, making it a great place to visit any time of day. We also had lunch here after checking in, but more on that in my next post 😊.

The hotel has two adult pools and a dedicated kiddie pool and playground for kids, making it a great place for couples and families to go swimming. The lagoon-style pool was big, with lots of sunbeds and a very exotic atmosphere, which I really liked! Everything was clean and nice, probably because it’s a new hotel : )

Most of the hotel’s facilities are located on the ground floor, and besides the pool and restaurant, there are also facilities like the Naima Spa, meeting rooms, fitness center, and kids club. Rooms are located on floors 2 through 5.

Grand Mercure Bali Seminyak Hotel Rooms

We were assigned a room on the 3rd floor, which was definitely a nice change of pace from the city center hotels as the corridor opens up to the outdoors and you can see the lush greenery👍.

It was the first time I personally received a cute welcome message on the full-length mirror at the entrance of the room, which was very cute and touching👍👍 They also provided us with a welcome snack and fruit, which was delicious.

The room I stayed in was a Deluxe King Room. The hotel has a total of 269 rooms, of which the deluxe king/twin rooms take up most of them as there are 245 rooms in total. The deluxe room is about 37.5 square meters, so it is quite spacious for two adults, but if you want a slightly larger room, you can stay in a suite. The bed is decorated with towel art in the shape of a dragon because it’s the Year of the Dragon, which is pretty cool, right?

For a brand new hotel that only opened in October 2022, the rooms were very neat and clean👍 The air conditioning was the best I’ve ever had in a hotel on this trip to Bali, so I stayed cool and crisp. There were 4 complimentary bottles of water, 49″ LED TV, balcony, bathtub & shower, sofa, minibar, safe, and most of the floors were parquet, so it was very comfortable and less dusty.

In most hotel rooms, there’s nowhere to lie down except the bed, so it was very convenient to have a separate sofa to lie down, use my phone and relax.

The bathroom is also really clean and well-divided, with all the amenities you need.

The room has a big balcony and the view of the pool from the room balcony is really nice. This hotel has different prices for the same deluxe room depending on the view, so if you can, I would recommend booking a room with a pool view. It’s so relaxing to drink a beer while enjoying the view.

[Hotel Accor Official Website]

Total Reviews

Grand Mercure Bali Seminyak Hotel is a brand new resort with a pool and everything you need. It was opened in October 2022, so everything is brand new, stylish and clean, which made my stay comfortable and I would definitely return to this resort next time I go to Seminyak. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good value for money and well-equipped hotel in Seminyak, Bali. Stay tuned for my next post to hear about the delicious breakfast : )

Hello🖐️ Today I’m going to share with you the Novotel Phu Quoc Resort, where I stayed for my first two nights in Phu Quoc. I have a lot of photos and a lot to share with you, so in this post I’ll give you a general introduction and details about the deluxe bungalow twin room I stayed in, and in the next post I’ll go into more detail about the breakfast, amenities, and more. I was quite apprehensive about staying at the Novotel before I went, but I was pleased with the location and the value for money.

How to get to Novotel Phu Quoc Resort

First of all, to get to the resort from the airport, Novotel Phu Quoc Resort offers a shuttle bus from the resort to the airport and back. If the time is right, you can book and board the shuttle bus. For reservations and shuttle bus times, please contact H9770@accor.com to receive the latest information.

🚌 Pick-up from the airport to the resort: 08:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00
🚌 Drop-off from the resort to the airport: 07:00, 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00

Since I was arriving late at night on Korean Air, I couldn’t use the shuttle bus, so I asked the hotel if they had a pick-up service, which was quite affordable👍👍 The pick-up service needs to be booked at least 1 day in advance and must be paid in cash upon check-in. Since we were 2 adults, we booked it for 200,000 dong (roughly $1,000) and arrived in Phu Quoc.

When I walked out of the airport, the driver was waiting for me with a sign with my name on it, and I was quickly and safely taken directly to my hotel. To pay for the shuttle, I exchanged a 100USD note for Vietnamese dong at the airport and paid in cash. This information is accurate as of June 2024 when I traveled, and policies for pick-ups and shuttles are subject to change at any time, so it’s best to email or call the hotel to make arrangements.

🚌 Novotel Phu Quoc Resort pickup service prices

200,000 VND/one way (7 seats)
1,100,000 VND/one way (16 seats)
1,400,000 VND/one way (29 seats)
2,800,000 VND/one way (45 seats)

[Phu Quoc Novotel Resort Official Website]

Check in to the hotel

I had emailed them ahead of time to let them know about my flight and late arrival, and they had a staff member at the front desk so I was able to check in right away. Most of the lobby of Phu Quoc Resort is open air and not air conditioned, Novotel also doesn’t have air conditioning in the lobby, so it was very hot and humid upon arrival 😊 It takes a while to get used to the Phu Quoc heat 😊.

It took me a while to check in because I had to listen to a lot of explanations. After checking in, they took me to my room by buggy so it was easy to move around.

About Novotel Phu Quoc Resort

We arrived late at night, so we woke up in the morning to have breakfast and explore the resort. The resort is not huge, but it’s a good size, and the facilities are well maintained without being outdated👍 There are two pools and they are relatively small, but it’s nice to be able to use them a little later than other resorts. It’s hard to hang out at the pool during the day without shade because the sun is really hot.

The price of booking a resort for one night is around 100,000 won, but if you book during the discount period, you can book a basic room for less than 100,000 won per night, and you can see that the facilities are quite good for the price👍 Looking at this, it seems that traveling to Southeast Asia is quite attractive because it is cost-effective.

The bungalow room I stayed in is a 2-story building with 4 rooms, 2 on the first floor and 2 on the second floor, and I was assigned to room 638 on the first floor. I heard that due to the nature of the building, there may be inter-floor or neighboring room noise, but luckily there was no one staying nearby when I stayed, so I was able to stay quietly and comfortably for 2 nights👍.

Deluxe Bungalow Twin Room Introduction

If you look at the overall room layout, you’ll see the bungalows on the left side of the property, and the standard hotel rooms in the larger building on the right. The bungalow rooms have to go to the main building to eat, use the pool, or go outside, as all the facilities and restaurants are in the main building. It’s not too far away, so it’s not too much of an inconvenience, but it’s a bit of a hassle when it’s really hot out lol.

Introducing the deluxe bungalow twin room. I was a little worried about whether to do a bungalow room or not, but it was a waste of time lol The room had a tiled floor, so it was good because it was not dusty and easy to move around 👍 There was a large rattan bedhead, so it felt more like a vacation spot, and there was a ceiling fan running on the ceiling, but it made a little noise, so I was using the weakest one. The room size is 40 sqm and it can be used by up to 4 adults, but it seems a little narrow if 4 people use it, and it seems to be okay for 3 people. The air conditioner worked well, so I was able to stay cool in the room.

When I emailed them in advance and told them it was our anniversary trip, they gave me macaroons and made me a pretty swan ornament for my bed 😊.

There was a safe in the room, and the room was well-equipped with amenities such as churros, shower robes, and bottled water. For bottled water, you need to buy more outside because the weather is very hot. There is a supermarket right outside the front door of the hotel, so you can buy it there.

There’s also a table and two chairs, which is great for snacks : ) There’s also a multi-purpose desk, so if you’re working on your laptop or need to sit down and do something, it’s great for that too👍.

My favorite part of the room was the view. It’s a bit weird to say that it’s a view because it’s on the first floor, but I liked the view that you can go outside and see the lush garden👍 It’s not a place where people pass by, but you can see in from outside, so you need to pay attention to your privacy.

There are also rattan chairs and a table outside the room window, so you can relax and enjoy the garden. The birdsong and quietness made it a great place to have a cup of coffee or a quick drink at night👍.

There is quite a lot of information on the resort, so you can take a picture of the QR code and check it out.

[Review of Novotel Phu Quoc Resort on Agoda]

The bathroom was clean and nice overall, although there were some lizards occasionally in the bathroom👍 There was also natural light on top, so it felt like showering outdoors, which was a different experience. There was a large bathtub and the toilet and shower were separated, so it was easy to use, but I would recommend bringing a hair dryer. The water quality in Phu Quoc is not very good, so a shower filter is also a must.

Overall rating

I introduced the Novotel Phu Quoc Resort Deluxe Bungalow Twin Room, which is recommended for Phu Quoc Resort. I was actually really worried about Novotel before I booked it, but it was much better than I expected👍 It’s a really good value for money, around 100,000 won per night for a basic room, but it has a lot of facilities, a good location, and excellent F&B, so I was quite satisfied with the price. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone planning to stay near the airport or as a first or last night’s accommodation.

Hello🖐️ Today, we went to the Tree Bar at Maya Sanur Resort & Spa, which is a beachfront restaurant and bar with Mediterranean-style cuisine and handcrafted cocktails. With Sanur beach and the ocean right in front of us, it was the perfect place to feel Balinese and romantic, so if you’re looking for Sanur restaurants in Bali, take a closer look : )

About Maya Sanur Resort

We didn’t stay at the Maya Sanur Resort & Spa, but only visited to use the spa and restaurants. We came after checking out of another hotel and brought our suitcases with us, which we were able to leave at the hotel entrance right after we got out of the taxi. Luggage storage is free for the first 3 hours and then charged for every hour after that, but they said they would do it for free if you had a receipt from a restaurant, spa, etc.

I love exploring new resorts, so we explored every corner of the resort before and after our meals. We’ve since visited the Maya Ubud Resort & Spa, but the Maya resorts are quite large and well appointed👍 The suite with lagoon pool acces look great if you have kids or like to swim. I’d definitely like to stay here next time lol.

First, we visited the Spa at Maya, where we had a massage and then a meal. The massage I had here was quite good and I was really happy with it, but more on the spa review in my next post.

Tree Bar is located on the beach side, so from the main entrance, you’ll find it on the far side. You’ll follow a path that looks like a lush forest, and the logo is a large tree, which is the same as the restaurant’s name👍.

Tree Bar restaurant at Maya Sanur Resort

The Tree Bar is characterized by the fact that various trees are located inside, as the name suggests👍 The view of the lush green trees and the ocean was very relaxing. The place is very well maintained, so there was no inconvenience at all, and you can really feel the Balinese atmosphere. The atmosphere is very nice, right?

This is what Sanur beach looks like right in front of you. It’s a great place to eat, have a cocktail, and then go for a swim in the ocean.

We were seated at a table on the beach side, and the floor was made of sand from the beach, which was quite unusual👍 It was a different feeling to eat while stepping on the sand lol There are also seats upstairs with a good view of the ocean, so you can look around and choose your favorite seat.

Tree Bar serves an a la carte menu for breakfast and a variety of Mediterranean dishes for lunch and dinner.Every day from 5 PM to 7 PM, they’re offering 50% off on beer, wine by the glass, cocktails, and even mocktails (perfect if you’re going alcohol-free but still want something fun). And just when you think it can’t get any better—there’s live music from 6 PM to 9 PM.

[Tree Bar Restaurant Menu]

Dining at Tree Bar restaurant

I ordered an iced latte and a mocktail called Passionita. Bali is hot and humid, so I keep thinking about something cool, so I drink mocktails a lot : ) The visuals are just as pretty as the cocktails👍.

We ordered arancini and vegetable spring rolls for appetizers. Arancini is an Italian rice ball with parmesan cheese and rice inside, and tomato sauce on top, so it was very filling and delicious👍 The spring rolls were crispy and tasted even better when dipped in sweet chili sauce : )

This is the Acai Bowl. It’s a pretty little fruit bowl, right? It’s filled with acai smoothie, fresh fruit, and granola for a healthy and delicious meal.

I was in the mood for a fresh salad, so I ordered the BBQ Octopus Salads. The ingredients were octopus, arugula salad, avocado, cherry tomatoes, potatoes, and more. The octopus was chewy but tender, so it went well with the various vegetables and was delicious👍.

For my main dish, I ordered the Nasi Goreng Seafood, which comes with a choice of seafood, chicken, and vegetables. Nasi Goreng and Mie Goreng are the two dishes I ate the most in Bali, and I think everyone will like them because they taste a bit like Chinese fried rice. Each restaurant has a slightly different style, so it’s fun to try them, and they’re even more delicious when served with sambal sauce, tangcho soy sauce, and Balinese pickles👍.

I can’t tell you how many prawn chips I ate in Bali, and I stocked up on them when I came home. Whether you eat them with the spicy sambal sauce or the soy sauce with hot chilies, they are quite a treat.

For dessert, I ordered the French toast, which was a delicious combination of moist toast and sweet and sour berry sauce. I also ordered the Young Coconut because I love coconut, and it’s stamped with the Tree Bar logo, which makes for a great photo op. The cool, subtle sweetness is also great for quenching your thirst, so make sure to order a couple : )

[Maya Sanur Tree Bar Official Website]

Organize reviews

Today I shared my review of Tree Bar at Maya Resort & Spa, a great place to eat in Sanur, Bali. Tree Bar is located at the end of a lush green forest path, with the cool Sanur beach and ocean just around the corner, so it’s a perfect Balinese getaway👍 With a wide variety of dishes, drinks, and alcoholic beverages, from Balinese to Mediterranean, there’s something for everyone. If you’re looking for a great place to eat in Sanur, I highly recommend visiting Maya Tree Bar and relaxing on the peaceful Sanur beach : )

Hello🖐️ On my first day in Bali, I dined at Skai Bar & Grill, one of the restaurants at the Padma Resort Legian, which I had booked in advance. It’s a stylish modern take on a classic beach house, where you can enjoy a meal and cocktails facing the ocean. You can swim in the infinity pool with a beautiful sunset and listen to live music from a DJ, so it’s a great atmosphere.

Directions to the restaurant – Legian Beach

We had already made a reservation for dinner at Skai Bar & Grill, a restaurant at Padma Resort Legian. On the way, we were lucky enough to see an amazing sunset from Legian Beach, and the orange color of the sunset and the sea in Bali was amazing👍 It’s hard to get a good sunset because of the weather, so it was nice to see it on our first day.

There are many restaurants and bars with great views along Legian Beach. It was nice to walk around and take it easy : )

When entering Skai Bar & Grill from the beach side, you’ll see this blue sign. The sign and entrance are not large from the beach side, so I didn’t see the entrance and walked right past it.

Skai Bar & Grill, Padma Resort Legian

Skai Bar & Grill is a restaurant at Padma Resort Legian, a famous 5-star hotel. The clientele ranged from young to middle-aged, and the atmosphere was relaxed and nice, with families, couples, and anyone else feeling comfortable visiting👍 There are indoor and outdoor tables, and you can choose to sit wherever you like.

The whole atmosphere of the restaurant is really romantic, you can watch the sunset overlooking the ocean and enjoy your meal with live music from the DJ, it really makes you feel like you’re traveling 😉 The infinity pool inside the restaurant is also very attractive, right?

Dining at Skai Bar & Grill

The menu of Skai Bar & Grill can be viewed in advance on the official website. The dishes are Mediterranean in style, with a blend of Levantine (Middle Eastern) flavors. It’s a restaurant run by a 5-star hotel, but the prices are quite reasonable👍 The dishes emphasize fresh and healthy ingredients, and the spices are not strong, so the food is suitable for everyone, young and old.

We ordered a cocktail first, which was recommended by the staff, and the color is so pretty 👍 It’s made with tropical ingredients unique to Bali, so you can really feel the citrusy taste. It’s not too strong, so even we who are not good at drinking were able to enjoy it.

The first dish we ordered was the Burrata cheese, which is a perfect appetizer for a meal. You can cut the burrata cheese into round pockets and mix it with nuts, and the texture of the soft, creamy cheese and savory nuts is so good👍.

The accompanying dish is Flatbread, which looks a bit like an Indian naan, but is light and chewy enough to keep you coming back for more.

Smoked octopus manakish was the best dish of the night for me personally👍 Smoked octopus manakish is a Middle Eastern flatbread-style dish with thin slices of cooked octopus, topped with a lot of cilantro, which I really enjoyed because of its subtle cilantro flavor. I’m not a big fan of gose, but this combination was delicious.

The next dish was the Quinoa tabbouleh. The quinoa-filled tabbouleh was light and refreshing, with an interesting chewy texture and a nice combination of fresh tomatoes, cucumber, and lemon juice.

Okay, now for the main course. Oven baked roasted snapper en papillote (Oven baked roasted snapper en papillote). Papillote means “wrapped in paper” in French, so the fish was actually served in a pile of paper and then the paper was cut on the fly. The fish was very flavorful and moist👍.

The highlight of the meal was the lamb shank tagine. The cartoonish meaty visuals caught my eye, but the lamb was cooked so tender that it fell apart very easily, and the deep flavors of spices and herbs permeated the meat, giving it a tender, deep taste : )

Location.

SKAI Bar & Grill
Jl. Padma, Legian, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361 Indonesia

⏰ Opening hours

Sunday – Thursday : 12PM – 11PM
Friday – Saturday: 12PM – 12AM

📞 Contact

Phone: +62 811 3821 9512
Email: info@skaibarandgrill.com

Reservations can be made easily and conveniently through the above contact details or the official website. It is recommended that you make a reservation in advance to visit on weekends, during peak season, and during sunset.

[Skai Bar & Grill Official Website]

Total Reviews

This is a review of a meal at Skai Bar & Grill, a restaurant in Legian, Padma Resort, Bali. We recommend visiting during sunset time to enjoy delicious food and cocktails while watching the spectacular Balinese sunset. You can also take a dip in the infinity pool and listen to live performances by DJs, which is a great way to enjoy the atmosphere. The staff is also cheerful and friendly, so if you’re visiting Kuta Legian Beach, we definitely recommend checking it out : )

Hello🖐️ Today’s Fukuoka restaurant recommendation is Hambak Steak Japone(ジャポネ), located near Nakasu Kawabata Station. The restaurant is run by an elderly couple, and we were the only foreigners in the restaurant when we visited, so it’s a local restaurant with not many Korean reviews. I love hambak steak and it’s close to my hostel, so I recommend it because it’s a place where you feel like you’ve come home to a warm home-cooked meal : )

Fukuoka Restaurants Access to Japone

I’ve traveled to Japan a lot, but I think it was my first time to visit Fukuoka in the middle of July. I went for a short period of time due to work, but the summer in Japan was really hot 😂 It was slightly less hot than Phu Quoc, Vietnam, which I visited just before, but it was like stepping into a sauna. I thought my hair was melting off my head during the daytime, so if you’re visiting Japan in the middle of summer, I recommend you to be prepared for the heat. For example, bring a hat, parasol, sunglasses, etc. to shade yourself from the sun.

I visited during my lunch break and it was about a 7-minute walk from Nakasu Kawabata Station, where I was staying. According to Google Maps, the restaurant is closed on Sundays and is only open for lunch from 11:30 to 14:00 and dinner from 18:00 to 20:00. The hours are short, just in time for a meal, so you’ll need to time your visit well.

About Zappone

The interior is fairly small compared to most restaurants, with a large round table and bar seating for 8 or 9 people. It’s run by an elderly couple, with the grandfather making the food and the grandmother serving and paying the bill.

I was warned that there might be a wait because it’s a popular place for locals, but luckily there were seats available so I was able to sit down right away👍 Once you’re seated, they offer you a towel and ice-cold water with ice cubes. It was really hot outside, but drinking ice water saved my life lol.

As I was getting into the atmosphere and carefully trying to take pictures of the store, the owner told me that you can’t take pictures of the inside of the store❌ (but you can take pictures of the food). There are many places in Japan where you can’t take pictures like this, so you have to be careful. I panicked a bit and didn’t take a picture of the menu.

Where to Eat in Fukuoka: Zappone

Before the hambak steak, we were served a salad, soup, and rice, which are included in the set menu. The soup was clear and light, so it was easy to drink. The steaming rice was scooped right out of the rice cooker, and the slightly sticky white rice was very appetizing👍.

The hamburger steak came with french fries, vegetables like spinach, and lotus root vegetable fries. The lotus root vegetable fries were chewy, not crispy, and were a delicacy👍.

The Wapung hamburger steak had a nice savory flavor and moist juiciness, and it tasted similar to the salty bulgogi seasoning with the grated garlic. The demi-glace hamburg steak tasted just like the hamburg steak we know, with a deep and smooth sauce. Both dishes were not overpowering and felt like eating at home : )

The hamburger steak was grilled on an iron plate, so when I pressed it slightly, the juices trapped inside came out.

It was perfect with warm white rice. I thought the large size of 280g would be a lot, but I ate it all in no time. I recommend men to order the large size. Even if you eat all of it, you don’t feel it and the flavor is not stimulating, so I ate it deliciously well until the end : )

Organizing reviews

We’ve introduced you to Japone, a hamburger steak restaurant in the Nakasu neighborhood of Fukuoka.

It’s a hamburger steak restaurant that feels like a home-cooked meal, served slowly and carefully. It was delicious to eat the freshly made hamburger steak while chatting in the small interior👍 It’s not a very special flavor, but it’s the kind of restaurant that you want to eat often as if it’s ordinary, so I think I’ll go there again next time I’m nearby : ) I had a good meal.

Hello🖐️ Today, we’re excited to announce a new promotion from IHG Hotels. You can earn 3,000 points every two nights after registering, but it’s a targeted promotion that’s not open to all members – only a select group of members will be able to participate. You can find out if you are eligible to participate in the promotion by registering through the promotion page, but let’s take a look at the details.

About IHG Promotions

🌈 Promotion summary

Eligible for: Invited IHG One Rewards members
Stays: April 1 – May 15, 2025
Earning Offer: Earn 3,000 points every 2 nights (up to a maximum of 9,000 points)
Pre-registration period: March 25 – March 31, 2025
Registration period: Registration is also available during the promotion period

The promotion is only available to select members as mentioned above. You can earn 3,000 points for every 2 nights, up to a maximum of 9,000 points, which means you can benefit from the promotion for up to 6 nights and earn 1,500 points per night, which is worth about 7.5 USD based on the 100% bonus on points purchase promotion👍.

[View IHG promotion page]

✔️ Notes

To be eligible to earn points, a stay must be a paid stay with a minimum spend of $30 (or local currency) per night.
Rewards stays (points stays), points+cash bookings, or bookings made through an online travel agency (OTA) are not eligible.
After a single registration, companion members in the same room are not eligible to earn points.
If more than one room is booked, only one room will be recognized.
Points can be earned up to 6 weeks after the stay.
Points earned are not included in the calculation of IHG elite status.

We encourage you to review the terms and conditions before participating in this promotion. As with all IHG hotel promotions, only paid stays with a spend of 30 USD or more per night will be recognized, not points stays or travel agency bookings made outside of the official website or app.

To get the offer, you must register before you stay, which you can do by logging in and clicking the REGISTER NOW button on the promotion page. Since this is a targeted promotion, I wasn’t selected, so I didn’t register. If you’re planning to stay at an IHG hotel, check to see if you’re eligible : )

[Register for the IHG promotion]

Promotion review

Today I introduced you to the newly launched IHG hotel promotion, which is a great deal, but it’s unfortunate that it’s limited in scope. You can earn an extra 7.5 USD worth of points per night, so if you’re staying at a 75 USD per night hotel, for example, you’ll save about 10% on your stay. Let’s see if you qualify for this promotion : )

Hello🖐️ Today I’m going to review a new hotel in Shanghai, HUALUXE Shanghai Changfeng Park (上海大华长风华邑酒店), which opened in 2022. This hotel is one of the HUALUXE hotels, a five-star luxury brand operated in China by IHG, a global chain of hotels. As a newly built 5-star hotel, it has excellent facilities and quite good reviews, so let me introduce you to this hotel in detail : )

[See the hotel’s official website]

About HUALUXE Shanghai Changfeng Park Hotel

Before introducing this hotel, it would be good to give you a brief introduction to the HUALUXE brand. HUALUXE was created by IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) in 2012 and is an international premium hotel brand that reflects the tastes and traditional culture of Chinese guests. Currently, it is a hotel brand that only operates in China, so you can only find it in China : )

First, let’s look at the location of the hotel: it is located within the Changpeng Ecological Business Zone in Shanghai’s Putuo District, adjacent to Changpeng Park and Ocean World. It’s only a 2-minute walk to Shanghai Line 15 subway station, and there are LEGO Discovery Center and Changfeng Joycity Shopping Mall nearby for your convenience👍👍👍.

The lobby of the hotel is quite luxurious as it is a brand new 5-star hotel. The design theme is “Water Creates All Things”, which is a modern interpretation of the traditional Chinese garden aesthetic. The entire architecture and interiors are said to combine the flow of water and nature, and I think this design philosophy makes more sense now that I know the concept👍.

Rooms at the HUALUXE Shanghai Changfeng Park Hotel

The hotel offers a total of 312 luxurious standard rooms and suites. One important feature is that all of the rooms have large windows to utilize natural light, which creates a much more pleasant room space with a sense of openness and good views👍 I personally don’t like dark and stuffy hotels, so I’m quite fond of this : )

There are three main types of hotel rooms: standard, premium, and suite. Standard and premium rooms are quite spacious, ranging in size from 30 to 55 square meters. They are located on the 5th to 21st floors and have a full-length mirror, indigo-toned bathroom, and 55-inch TV. They also come with a variety of gourmet Chinese teas (loose leaf, black, green, and herbal) and a set of traditional teacups 😊.

As a 5-star premium hotel, we also have a Club Lounge👍 If you book a Suite, Executive or Club room, you will have access to the Club Lounge. Located on the 3rd floor, the Club Lounge is open from 11:00 – 23:00 and offers unlimited coffee, tea and soft drinks, including during afternoon tea (15:00-16:30) and happy hour (17:30-19:30). As a side note, I have an annual lounge pass from an IHG 40-night milestone reward, so I think I’ll be able to get access even if I book a regular room.

The rooms have views of either the city or Changfeng Park, depending on the orientation, each with its own charm. It would be nice to sip on some of the Chinese tea that’s on hand, or relax with a beer at the end of the day while enjoying these views.

Wellness Facilities at HUALUXE Shanghai Changfeng Park Hotel

Wellness facilities at the HUALUXE Shanghai Changfeng Park Hotel include a fitness center and an indoor heated swimming pool on the third floor. The pool is open from 09:00 – 21:00 and is 20 meters long and 1.3 meters deep, so you’ll never be short of a swim for exercise. The floor-to-ceiling windows let in sunlight and city views, and there’s even a kids’ pool and dry sauna👍.

The fitness center is 777 square meters with a “clear valley in the mountains” motif and features a glassed-in yoga room that allows for maximum natural light. As a luxury hotel, these wellness facilities are pretty well thought out, right?

Dining at HUALUXE Shanghai Changfeng Park Hotel

The hotel has four restaurants: LUXE Tea, CAI FENG LOU Chinese restaurant, Xian Yan all-day dining, and Mian+ noodle restaurant. First up is LUXE Tea, where you can experience authentic Chinese tea service. This is something you can only experience in China, so if you’re interested in tea, it’s worth a visit.

CAI FENG LOU Chinese Restaurant serves traditional and contemporary Western and Cantonese cuisine. Five private rooms are available for both fine refreshments and formal dinners. Hours of operation are 11:30-14:30 for lunch and 17:30-21:30 for dinner.

Xian Yan all-day dining restaurant is open for breakfast buffet, dinner buffet (Fri-Sat), and a la carte menu. It is open from 06:30-22:30 and features an open kitchen and utilizes seasonal ingredients.

There is also a noodle restaurant called Mian+. It has very long opening hours (06:30-24:00), so you can enjoy a hot meal late into the night. The menu includes handmade noodles, dumplings, udon, dim sum, and more, and the spicy beef noodles are their signature dish, so we recommend you try it : )

Location & Info

Main access streets 🚍

Destination	Distance	Travel Time
Shanghai Railway Station	7.7 kilometers	16 minutes by car
Shanghai South Railway Station	10 kilometers	20 minutes by car
Hongqiao Railway Station	10.5 kilometers	20 minutes by car
Hongqiao Airport (SHA)	7.5 kilometers	18 minutes by car
Pudong Airport (PVG)	53 kilometers	55 minutes by car
International Sourcing Exhibition Center	0.5 kilometers	5 min. on foot
Changfeng Joy City	3 kilometers	10 minutes by car

Review aggregate

Today I’ve reviewed in detail the new 5-star hotel in Shanghai, the HUALUXE Shanghai Changfeng Park Hotel. As you can see, this hotel has a lot of advantages, and although it is a bit far from the main center, it is a premium hotel with facilities worthy of a 5-star hotel and good value for money, so if you are planning to travel by taxi, it would be a good choice to book a place slightly off the main center : )