Bali holidays with Mecky

It can be argued that Bali is not the destination it once used to be. Bali is no longer the cheap holiday location it once was - true. In so many ways, Bali has improved, it is now turning into a more upmarket destination in many instances from restaurants, shopping and activities.

As Bali holidays become more expensive, what are our choices? As I spend  my time with Mecky in the Philippines, I need to show her somewhere different that still has a resort type holiday feel. Do I start taking Mecky somewhere else or is a Bali holiday fine for relaxing and hanging out? Head to another Indonesian location maybe? East Malaysia, Peninsula Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia or the Philippines? What about Brunei or Myanmar?

I guessing East Malaysia probably as my next resort style break. We have been to Penang and Langkawi before, I would be happy back in Penang. I can't say I much enjoyed Langkawi. We travelled in KL and then onto Penang, the short hop from KL to Penang isn't too bad. But on the downside, it is so easy to get to Bali from both Perth and Manila - I think we will just hang in Bali.

Hanging at Greenbelt

When I first started travelling to Manila, I used to stay in the business district of Makati. I would then hang out at Greenbelt shopping complex during both the day and evenings when I'm wasn't doing all that much. 

This is the high end entertainment precinct catering to high earning locals, expats and international tourists. There is plenty of money kicking around in the Philippines, the cashed up locals like to enjoy life and they do.

I had seen the shopping centre grow over the years; Greenbelt 1, 2 and 3 had already been constructed when I started vising the Philippines after a long absence of more than a decade. They were in the process of constructing Greenbelt 4 when I started staying at a hotel over the road and Greenbelt 5 completed the project.

I have been told the restaurants are world class, they are certainly popular with well heeled locals, a Friday night sees plenty of suits heading out straight from the office. For me, the restaurants are the reason to be there, the bars are good too, Friday nights are my favorite, the atmosphere is vibrant, there are no issues regarding safety - I'm looking forward to the weekend.

Tulumben afternoons

There is diving in Bali, a number of Bali dive guides exist and my favourite would be Simon Pridmore and Tim Rock Diving & Snorkeling Guide to Bali - 2016 Edition. Bali is known for its diving; there are some great dives in Bali, none more so than the Liberty wreck at Tulumben.

The afternoons spend hanging with Mecky at Tulumben can be magnificent with the still water, reflective cloud cover and beautiful contrasts looking towards the horizon. This sure beats being hanging in Kuta for any amount of time. Bali is such a beautiful island once you venture past the main population areas.

Following a number of dives at the Liberty wreck in the morning followed by the Tulumben wall later that day, I look forward to Bali diving coupled with a relaxing afternoon. We can be a little selective with my afternoon post dive activities, this is a relaxing way for Mecky and myself to spend our pre-Christmas trip.

Bali as our Christmas destination

Most nations have their cheap holiday destination; I like to head over to the Philippines to get away from Perth during winter. I am able to spend time with Mecky as we travel around the Philippines.

However, when Mecky needs an overseas trip, Bali is a fantastic destination for us. Sure, we have been to Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Langkawi together but Bali is our pre-Christmas relax destination just before the Christmas peak season. Mecky flys in from Manila, usually still in her work clothes and I fly in from Perth, well after I have finished work.

For me, Bali is a three and a half hour flight to a resort location for sun, sea and surf to wind down. For Mecky, her flight is slightly longer at just under four hours, landing at Denpasar airport is the perfect halfway destination for us.

After a couple of days we are both am keen to head up north too a more  remote destination although these days we head up country first before spending the last days near Kuta. I really have no need for the nightclubs, bars or a loud disco with exorbitant prices for watered down drinks so I am more than willing to stay out of the more popular areas. I do like the restaurants and quieter bars though, Mecky does too and we enjoy the time together.

Bali is known as an adventure destination with white water rafting, scuba diving, mountain biking, hiking and the water sports of parasailing, water skiing and jet skiing. Mecky has been white water rafting but there is no way I will get her scuba diving or parasailing. Maybe the lure of the long weekend will be the motivation to visit Bali in the cold and wet winter months of Perth.

Eating out in Hong Kong - Fisher & Farmer

We headed on down to the Tsim Sha Tsui area of Kowloon, the interactive mobile phone that was offered by our hotel recommended the Fisher and Farmer restaurant. The restaurant was chosen by Mecky and I wasn't about to complain as that would be met with a stinging rebuke. So off we went on a stunning Friday night in Hong Kong.

This was apparently one of the restaurants in Hong Kong to visit, arriving at 8 pm without a booking was always be troublesome and after waiting for an hour we were seated. There wasn't much of a wine list so the drinks were beer, so the choice was Corona. For the meal, we started with a dumplings as the entrée, the Peking duck was recommended but I can't say I was overly impressed and since desert wasn't on the cards, we left even without coffee.

I'm neither a Hong Kong local or Chinese resident so while I wasn't much impressed with the Peking duck, this reputation of this restaurant is highly rated and the Peking duck is a specialty. It is not difficult to work out the issue stems from my tastes and not their cooking, I wanted local food and not westernised food so in that respect, I got what I wanted and appreciate the meal for what it was. The acid test always is, would I go back and eat there again, the answer is a resounding yes.

Mecky's mini MBA course

I have had the opportunity to take a look at the mini-MBA presented by the Chartered Association of Business Administrators in the Philippines after viewing their course materials in 2012. The Canadian not-for-profit professional association states its mission is to raise the standard of management competency to raise the status of business administration as a profession.

Based on the knowledge development materials I viewed; their program includes human resources management, marketing management, accounting and finance management, information technology management, organisational management and leadership. That's a fairly rounded program with the main disciplines represented; the delivery is fairly condensed over an eight week period with face-to-face tutorials, presentations, case studies and written examinations.

The certificates awarded at the end of the program carries weight; successful completion allows advanced standing at affiliated international universities including but not limited to Edinburgh Business School, Edith Cowan Business School, the University of Liverpool and Charles Sturt University.

Its all very good gaining qualifications, however, implementing your newly acquired knowledge and skills in the workplace is the true test of graduate competency. As the majority of the student cohort are employed professionals; one can assume knowledge and skills are transferred to the working environment.

Friday nights at Cafe Havana

My favourite bar in Makati was Cafe Havana in the Greenbelt entertainment complex. As I travel to the Philippines on a fairly regular basis to hang with Mecky, go scuba diving and generally enjoy life, this was my bar of choice in Makati.

I generally departed Perth at 1.10 am early on a Friday morning for Singapore arriving about 6.30 am. It could be argued that I left late on Thursday, it was tiring after working all day. I have my connection to Manila at 9.30 pm and arrive at about 1.30 pm in the afternoon - it's always the same flights so I know the routine well.

But the time I travel to my hotel after clearing immigration and the Manila traffic - it's Friday afternoon and I'm ready for a little entertainment. Most times Mecky would make it down to the airport and pick me up before heading back to work. I would have a lie down, a shower and get ready for Friday night in Makati.

Friday and Sunday night, a long running band playing an entertaining mix of Cuban and salsa music - this is really a great evening out. I just love the set list, the Salsa and Latino sounds are great Friday night entertainment although I must admit, I can't recall us hanging out too many times on a Sunday night. We have walked past plenty of times though and just listened to the band play, yet I can't remember their name.

I generally travel to the Philippines three times a year for two weeks at a time, that accounted for three attendances at Cafe Havana on a Friday night per trip and nine happy experiences per year. That's more boozy outlandish Friday nights that I can care to remember for the decade I have been diving and holidaying in the Philippines. Mecky on the other hand had to work on Saturday morning and was much more sedate, but then again, she wasn't up all Thursday night either.