7 tips for cherry blossom fun in Washington

 After a harsh winter for much of the United States, you're probably more than ready for spring. And if you're looking for a way to welcome the season of flowers, the National Cherry Blossom Festival is a good place to start.

The annual Washington festival started Wednesday, the first day of spring, and runs through April 14. The peak bloom time for the cherry trees is expected in early April.

Arabella Bowen, executive editorial director for Fodor's Travel, recommends these seven ways to experience the more than 3,000 cherry trees in bloom:

Arrival of spring deserves its own parade

Spring arrives with cherry blossoms

The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade runs along Constitution Avenue (from 7th to 17th streets N.W.) from 10 a.m. to noon April 13. The parade will feature celebrity performances, giant helium balloons, colorful floats and marching bands from across the country. Grandstand seating can be purchased for $20, and there is no cost for viewing along the parade route.

Celebrate the culture of Japan

Also on April 13, Sakura Matsuri, a Japanese street festival, runs nearly a mile through downtown Washington and features traditional and Japanese pop musical performances, an arts and culture section, martial arts demonstrations and Japanese products, plus more than two dozen food vendors and two Kirin Ichiban beer gardens. These events make a nice addition to a day spent enjoying the blossoming trees, which were a gift from Tokyo more than 100 years ago.

Cruise the blooms

Relax and tour the cherry blossoms by boat on the Potomac River. Enjoy a lunch cruise for $57 or a dinner cruise for $107 with Spirit Cruises, or just go for a 45-minute sightseeing cruise on the Capital Elite yacht for $26.

Capture the perfect shot

Take your best shot with a cherry blossom photo safari. Washington Photo Safari offers sunrise and afternoon tours at the Tidal Basin for $69. The sunrise tours meet at 6:15 a.m., but "remember that great art is only produced through suffering," the company's website says. Washington Photo Safari also offers a photo excursion that includes a boat tour along the Washington Channel into the Potomac River for $89.

Stroll under the blossoms

Take a walking tour of your own around the Tidal Basin as signs along the way highlight facts and history of the trees. Use the Tidal Basin Cherry Tree Location Map as a guide, with names and descriptions of the tree types.

Fly a kite

The Blossom Kite Festival, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 30 on the Washington Monument grounds, showcases kite ballets and demonstrations by pros, but it also gives kids and families a chance to build and fly their own kites. Check out the Hot Tricks Showdown and the Rokkaku Battle on the competition field or learn to fly your own kite at noon on the family field.

Cherry-pick a hotel that's also in bloom

Many hotel operators have blossom-themed packages. Kimpton Hotels' "Blossoms & Bubbles" package offers blossom-inspired perks such as handcrafted cherry blossom soap, a $30 credit per day for dining or parking, and bubbles at check-in for kids. Plus, guests can sip complimentary sake at the evening wine hour from 5 to 6 p.m. The package is available at Kimpton's 11 Washington and northern Virginia hotels. Starting rates range from $135 to $185 per night.

Washington's Willard InterContinental is known for its live cherry blossom display during the festival. The Willard's Very Cherry Blossom Package for two is available through April 14, and includes valet parking, breakfast for two and two Old Town Trolley tour tickets. The package price per room starts at $409 per night, based upon availability.

First-class vs. business: Is it worth the extra cost?

 If you want to fly nonstop first class from Tokyo to London and want the privacy afforded by a suite, be prepared to pay as much as US$27,000 on All Nippon Airways or Japan Air Lines. Or just slum it in ANA business class for $9,000 and change.

If you don't mind less privacy, for a mere $4,900, you can fly the same route nonstop business class on Virgin Atlantic and still be plenty pampered.

If you still insist on first class but don't mind one stop, you can fly China Southern Airlines for $11,465.

Amazing first-class air cabins

Price differences between first- and business-class fares can be dramatic, but what do passengers in first class get for the additional money?

More importantly, for those in a position to make the call, is first class worth all the extra cha-ching?

Lufthansa's first class: retractable walls between seats can separate passengers.

Differences you don't see

Tokyo-London has by far the highest first-class fares found on three major routes recently spot-checked by CNN.

But fluctuating pricing for flying first class with "open suites" or business class with lie-flat beds varies widely depending on whether you're flying nonstop or one-stop and the amount of pampering you want both in the air and on the ground.

The highly traveled New York-Frankfurt route is typical.

If you're flying first class from Frankfurt on your way to the Big Apple, there are many perks beyond what you get on the airplane.

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Lufthansa offers first-class passengers a dedicated lounge at Frankfurt, along with a full dinner before boarding a late-night flight, if customers prefer sleep to onboard meals.

The lounge also offers beds, showers, office space, special security screening and chauffeured limousines directly to the aircraft, allowing passengers to avoid bumping elbows with mere mortals who buy business-class or coach tickets.

You're out of luck if you're boarding in any other Lufthansa city, however. Only in Frankfurt do first-class travelers enjoy such ground perks.

Once onboard, it might be tough to discern the differences between first and business, beyond the obvious: a suite and more space versus a lie-flat seat. The food is plentiful and the booze is free.

Don Buckenburg, Lufthansa's managing director for sales, North America, says that many airlines offer a suite of enclosed space with a door, creating a passenger's "own little cabin."

"When we developed first class, we asked customers, and our customers like open space, but they also like privacy," says Buckenburg. "You have a seat, but a wall that separates you. You press a button, and a wall comes up."

The retractable wall allows couples or fellow travelers to decide whether to be connected or separated.

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Buckenburg says the first-class value differential over business class is space, privacy, a larger, longer and wider seat and additional crew per passenger in first class.

In addition, according to Buckenburg, flight attendants are specially trained to serve first class, knowing how to "read" the passenger differently and knowing the wine and menus with precision.

For good measure, "We're one of the last airlines to serve caviar," Buckenburg says.

Nope, that's not your hotel. It's the bathroom available to first-class passengers on Emirates Airlines A380 flights.

First class may become obsolete

Buckenburg acknowledges not all markets can support first class, and in those, Lufthansa offers only business and coach service.

Mary Kirby, editor of the Airline Passenger Experience (APEX) magazine and blog, believes the first-class value proposition not only is diminishing, but also that the class will disappear in five years.

The trend toward lie-flat seats in business class, along with amenities that are similar to first, diminish the value of first, she says.

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Lufthansa's Buckenburg disagrees. There remains a passenger segment that wants the privacy of suites.

He says CEOs, financiers and Hollywood types are among those who will pay for first class for the onboard experience and the privileges of airport services reserved for them.

"Lufthansa has invested quite a bit of money in keeping a first-class product because a lot of airlines are moving out of first-class where there is not enough traffic to warrant it," says Buckenburg. "There is still a market segment willing to pay for first class. The demand is still there, but not everywhere."

United Airlines remains a hybrid.

Legacy United has largely favored the first, business and economy (and recently introduced Premium Economy) model. Merger partner Continental Airlines favored two-class business and economy.

The long and short of "premium economy"

The legacy Continental aircraft continue to have just two classes. Legacy United's Boeing 747s are three class. About half the merged fleet's Boeing 777s are three class and the others are two class.

"It is less about our perspective on the values than the customers who buy it," says United spokesman Rahsaan Johnson. "There are customers who appreciate and value all the attributes of GlobalFirst (United's name for first-class). Ultimately the pricing is a function of the demand and value that customers have for that service.

"In a nutshell, there are customers who choose to pay for this additional privacy and additional space and additional luxury and the higher level of personalized service."

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But United also says that not all very long-haul routes merit first-class service.

"The value proposition for the lie-flat in first has been significantly diminished," says APEX's Kirby. "It's the reason a lot of airlines are going to a single-class premium service. It's why you see Lufthansa pulling out of first in some markets, and even Emirates Airlines is thinking of going all-business on the A380."

Sort of elite? Business First Class seats on the United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Blurring the line between first and business

Virgin Atlantic began operations in 2003 and never has offered first class.

Instead, its business class is named Upper Class, a first-class product at business-class prices, says spokeswoman Anna Catchpole.

"The Upper Class suite has been designed to be separately both the most comfortable bed and the most comfortable seat in the air," Catchpole says. "Instead of extending from a seat into a bed, Virgin Atlantic's seat provides the passenger with a luxury leather armchair to relax on which then flips over into a separate bed with a mattress to sleep on."

In a throwback to the early days of Boeing 747 service, Virgin offers a bar area in Upper Class, all for prices far below first-class on other carriers.

Virgin's Upper Class passengers also benefit from ground amenities at select airports. At London Heathrow Airport, Upper Class passengers have access to a limo and a dedicated security channel a short walk from the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse.

"Upper Class passengers and Flying Club Gold members making their own way to the airport can check in at the Upper Class check-in, in Zone A of the main terminal, before taking a priority lift straight to the dedicated security channel," says Catchpole. "Upper Class customers ... can now check in 40 minutes prior to their scheduled departure time at the latest, and whiz through the dedicated security channel straight to the gate."

As for the ultimate question -- Is first class worth it? -- the market seems to be reacting the way it usually does to luxury products and premium services: yes, it's worth it, if you can afford it and if those products and services are perceived as being unique.

Flying dragons: Private jets are new status symbol in China

With the growing affordability of private and corporate jets, however, as well as with budget tightening and improvements in business-class comfort, more high-end travelers are likely to put business before the ultimate pleasure.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/25/travel/first-vs-business/index.html?hpt=tr_c1

Bad - Wale

Insider Guide: What to do in Bali

They may not be the staple attraction in Bali, but paddy fields are still one of the most calming experiences you can have under the sun.

Many would argue that Bali is a paradise lost. 

It isn’t. It’s just evolved. 

If you want to know what to do in Bali, remember first that the island has transformed itself from a laidback surfer hangout into one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations.

It now offers as many experiences as the varying hues of green found in a plot of terraced rice paddy. 

Whether you’re a hardcore partygoer determined to eat, drink and not sleep your way through Seminyak; a yoga devotee seeking peace and tranquility in Ubud’s tropical rainforest setting; a die-hard surfer whose only agenda is to paddle out and catch the monster swells at Padang Padang; or a curious traveler charmed by Bali’s sacred temples in Manggis -- you can do it all (or do nothing at all) in Bali. 

The best of Bali has everything, the good, the downright ugly (braided, Bintang tank-top-wearing hordes in insufferable Kuta) and the sublimely beautiful. 

Here's what to do in Bali.

Hotels

Despite the double-glazed windows, you'll still hear the roar of the ocean.W Retreat & Spa Bali -- Seminyak 

The new rock star on the island, there’s no denying the high-octane glamour that comes with this beachfront property. 

It’s large by Bali standards, but exudes its own sense of cool and calm. 

A room in the main building gets you close to the action. Back from the beach are the hotel’s brilliant, and affordable, private villas and pools.

Very useful is the best of Bali AWAY spa, which remains open 24/7. That’s great news for late-night revelers in need of a foot massage after stumbling in from a night at Woo Bar -- Bali’s newest hot spot. 

Equally useful is the hidden sliding door that conceals and reveals bathroom and bedroom areas, and the three-tier main swimming pool for ample lounging and photo opportunities.  

The hotel is far enough from the main array of hotels to keep the beach quiet, while further north is the even quieter Canggu beach. 

The hotel can arrange a motorbike rental for US$5 a day.

Jalan Petitenget, Seminyak; +62 361 4738106; rooms fromUS$325; www.whotels.com/baliseminyak 

The Colony Hotel

The Colony Hotel: For adults only.There’s one big plus point about staying at The Colony Hotel: no children under the age of 16 allowed. 

Another bonus is the on-site Jari Menari massage facility. 

Not to be overlooked are the 20 rooms done up in a pretty but minimalist decor. The junior suite comes with a spacious balcony that overlooks the 16-meter pool. 

Jalan Laksmana 22, Seminyak; +62 361 736160; rooms from US$165 in low season; www.thecolonyhotelbali.com

Amankila's signature three-tiered pool. You'll never look at swimming the same.Amankila

Located on a headland in Candidasa, high heels are not recommended while staying at the Amankila, as there are plenty of stairs to navigate. 

Luckily, golf carts are readily available to transport you down to the beach club where a generous strip of black sand beach remains tout-free. 

If you're tired of the sand and wanting to know what to do in Bali come sunset, try watching the changing color of the sky from the hotel's signature triple-stepped swimming pool. 

Early bookers, try to get upgraded to villa 37 -- reportedly the resort’s most requested villa -- which enjoys the best view of the ocean. 

Manggis, Bali, +62 361 341333; rooms and suites from US$850; www.amanresorts.com/amankila

The penthouse suite at Anantara Resort Seminyak puts you at eye-level with the coconut trees.Anantara Resort Seminyak

Bali has a quirky local rule stating that buildings should not be higher than a palm tree. This five-story property just makes the cut. 

Sitting front and center on Seminyak beach, all 59 suites (and one penthouse) come with ocean views. 

Penthouse suites come with attached outdoor lounge space and a terrazzo bath, so you can fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves. 

Jalan Abimanyu (dhyana Pura), Seminyak; +62 361 737773; suites from US$640; bali.anantara.com/

The rooms may change, but the pool doesn't.Michi Retreat 

Ubud is where artists flock, so if you’re staying here, it makes sense to put up at a property with artistic inclinations. 

Michi is a work in progress, and its creator, the septuagenarian Professor Kung, calls himself a nomad. Hence, the resort near Jukut Paku is an eclectic collection of rooms that are always changing. 

Adding another dimension to the experience are mosaic grottos that overlook a particularly spectacular stretch of the River Wos.

Jukut Paku Village, Ubud; +62 361 8987021; rooms fromUS$60; www.michiretreat.com

Harmony Hotel 

Cheap and cheerful, and located just minutes walk from Seminyak beach, this is one of the best values in Seminyak. 

The rooms are decent sized and come with Wi-Fi and a TV.  

All rooms are located around a common mosaic pool. Breakfast included.

Jalan Drupadi 234, Seminyak; +62 361 737711; rooms from IDR 450,000 (US$50)  www.theharmonyseminyakbali.com

The orange juice is getting warm.Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan

Away from the coast, amid dense bamboo jungle and perched looking over the sacred Ayung River is this wonderful, peaceful retreat.  

Jungle wildlife and the occasional screams of rafters thrusting along the river are the only sounds to intrude upon the privacy of each villa at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan.

All 42 thatched maxi-huts/villas come with an outdoor shower that overlooks the river valley and a plunge pool that releases itself endlessly into the jungle’s steamy abyss. There are also 18 suites.

You are far from the maddening crowds and if a non-beach stay is what you are looking for, your budget is well spent here.

Sayan, Ubud, 80571 Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia; +62 (361) 977577; Rooms from $680-850 per night;fourseasons.com

A part of the three bedroom AYANA villa. Wonder where everyone is?AYANA Resort and Spa Bali

Since it relaunched in 2009 as AYANA Resort and Spa Bali, this hotel has bagged a whole slew of significant awards for its bar (see below), its accommodations and the spa. And it is clear why.

Despite the size of the place (there are over 350 rooms, suites and villas -- some on the cliff with staggering sunset views) there is still a sense of privacy and space. The rooms and hotel design are very well done -- well appointed without the over the top 'luxury flourishes.'

The hotel sits high above the Indian Ocean near Jimbaran Bay on Bali’s south-western peninsula so it is a bit of a schlep from the busier Seminyak, Kuta, Legian stretch. Not a bad thing, but it is harder to pop away should, for some reason, you want to escape. 

The above are some of the reasons the hotel is also proving a popular wedding (and honeymoon) destination.

Jl. Karang Mas Sejahtera, Jimbaran, Bali 80364, Indonesia; +62-361 702222; rooms from around $250 per night; www.ayanaresort.com

Restaurants

Foie gras at Metis: So good, you might fly over just for dinner.

Metis 

If you're wondering what to do in Bali, start with great food.

The charismatic chefs Said and Dou Dou, have taken bits of magic from Warisan -- their former haunt -- and elevated it at Metis. 

The foie gras (all six types) is Bali’s best, and then some.  

The kitchen is equally adept at putting out a freshly grilled sole as it is an aromatic plate of fork-tender osso bucco served on a bed of creamy risotto. 

The Grand Marnier soufflé and passion fruit martini are highly recommended. 

After dinner, you can hang out at the lounge overlooking paddy fields. On Thursday night, there’s live music.

6 Jalan Petitenget, Kerobokan; +62 361 4737888; www.metisbali.com 

Small pieces of Bali heaven.Sardine 

More than 120,000 bamboo shingles and 10 types of bamboo were used in the construction of this restaurant. But you’re not really here to do an architectural survey. 

Sardine focuses on fresh produce and organic greens. Brilliant side dishes include smoky miso eggplant and wasabi mash.

The scallops with ravioli and creamy panna cotta are outstanding. 

21 Jalan Petitenget, Kerobokan; +62 361 738202;www.sardinebali.com

Can't be bothered trekking over to Sari Organic? Get an ojek ride in.

Sari Organik

You’ll break a sweat getting to this restaurant -- it’s surrounded by its own farm -- where you can pick your own vegetables for the chef to cook. 

Take a pre- and post-meal walk through fertile paddy fields -- this is a great thing to do in Bali -- and revel in a meal of nasi campur crowned with chunks of tempe fried to crisp perfection. 

800 meters up into the rice fields of Subak Sok-Wayah; +62 361 7801839; www.sari-organik.com 

Serious cozy.Sarong 

We’re not sure which we like better, the spiced Asian fusion with a strong Indonesian slant (the caramelized duck is a hot favorite) or the sexy fleur-de-lis and chandelier setting. 

Then there are some of Bali's best cocktails. Sarong’s extensive cocktail menu is one of the most original we’ve seen. 

The Bill & Ben is a gin and pink grapefruit concoction topped with chamomile foam. The Sarong Cappuccino is made with vodka or brandy, maple syrup, Kahlúa and espresso.  

19X Jalan Petitenget, Kerobokan; +62 361 737 809;www.sarongbali.com

The finest dining space in Bali.Mozaic

If there’s one dining destination in Bali, it’s Mozaic. 

Part of the Les Grande Tables du Monde, since opening in 2001 the restaurant has had a flurry of global food critics eating out of its hand. 

Market cuisine is led by French Laundry-trained chef Chris Salans, who blends French and American culinary techniques with Balinese ingredients.

Salans’ use of black olive Balinese Kluwek sauce is brilliant, and addictive. 

Expect to pay up to US$175 per person. 

Jalan Raya Sanggingan, Ubud; +62 361 975768; www.mozaic-bali.com  

Nightlife

Catch the sunset on Seminyak beach in comfort at S.O.S.S.O.S

If you prefer your sunsets unobstructed, and like to enjoy them without grains of sand stuck in hard-to-reach crevices, S.O.S. is your spot.

The rooftop bar offers one of the best views of the Seminyak sunset slowly melting behind the horizon. 

Service is swift and the drinks icy cold. This is where to be and what to do in Bali come happy hour.

Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa, Jalan Abimanyu (Dhyana Pura); +62 361 737773;bali.anantara.com

La Plancha

While most other beach bars roll out designer cocktails and fancy finger food, La Plancha keeps it simple with laid-back reggae beats, a selection of beer, oversized beanbags and jugs of potent sangria. 

It also helps that the bar has an uninterrupted view of the pink-to-red-to-orange sky.

Double Six Beach, Bali; +62 361 8900000; www.laplanchabali.com

There's always something going on at Bali Joe.Bali Joe 

There’s rarely any room for women in Bali Joe, except for those that get up on the bar and lip-synch to Beyoncé anthems. 

The bar is popular for its energetic vibe and nightly drag shows that feature plenty of audience participation. Performers can be persuaded to extend a few private DIY diva tips.  

8 Jalan Dhyana Pura, Abimanyu Arcade (next to Antique restaurant); +62 361 8475 7715; balijoe69@yahoo.com; www.facebook.com/BaliJoeBar

Mbargo 

It’s hard to say where you’ll sweat more, lying on a towel at midday on Kuta Beach or dancing with the masses round midnight at Mbargo. 

The play list is predominantly R&B and hip-hop with the odd Guetta or Lady Gaga tune thrown in.    

The crowd starts streaming in after midnight. Before midnight, you can get triple-shot cocktails at the nearby Skygarden bar. 

Legian street, Kuta; +62 361 756280

Rock Bar: Now this is a drink with a view.Rock Bar

Rock Bar's mixologists pour creative cocktails set to the beats spun from a DJ booth carved into the stone -- although some nights are devoted to live music.

Designed by Yasuhiro Koichi of Japan's Design Studio SPIN, this is one of the best, and most crowded, places to watch the sunset in Bali. 

A word of warning: wear suitable clothes. No board shorts or sleeveless tops for guys. Thursday to Saturday nights are extremely busy, so be prepared for a long wait. 

A scooter from the main Kuta/Seminyak stretch will take 30 minutes-plus to reach the bar.
Ayana Resort and Spa, Jimbaran; +62 361 702222; www.ayanaresort.com/rockbarbali

Ku De Ta's flaming Coffee Blazer.Ku De Ta 

No trip to Bali is complete without catching a sunset at this local institution. Arrive early or you’ll have to sprawl out on the lawn. 

Drinks are pricy, but the mojito, raspberry and lemongrass cocktail and Kuve Margarita made with lemon sorbet is worth the coin. 

9 Jalan Laksmana, Seminyak; +62 361 736969; www.kudeta.net

You can rest your head at Potato Head.Potato Head Beach Club 

Bali’s newest, hippest beach bar is housed in an impressive geometric facade that you won’t miss. 

It’s the best place to be seen drinking and partying. Celebrity DJs often play weekend gigs. 

Other nights see island residents streaming in at sunset for cocktails and tapas. 

The kookaburra is a popular order, a curious concoction made of lemongrass gin, passion fruit and mint, and topped by the club’s signature vanilla foam. 

Jalan Petitenget, Seminyak; +62 361 4737979;www.ptthead.com

Shopping / Attractions

Back home, a Jenggala wobble cup will remind you of your time in Bali.Jenggala 

There's plenty of shopping to do in Bali, and few visitors are able to resist the urge to take home a full 24-piece set of Jenggala crockery in pale green jade or plain white. 

What started in 1976 as a small, experimental cottage industry has become a global ceramic force. 

The high quality, handcrafted ceramic decorated with painstaking detail is a pretty addition -- and nicer reminder of Bali -- to any home. 

Jalan Uluwatu II, Jimbaran; +62 361 703311;www.jenggala.com

Items from local designer for SKS make great gifts.Simple Konsep Store 

This store is anything but simple. 

At this concept space that fuses Bali’s traditional artisan skills with modern European designs, you’ll find everything from origami folding leather bags, Melissa shoes, commissioned ceramics objects by Gaja Gallery, jewelry by local and European designers and unique batik print apparel. 

40 Jalan Lesmana-Oberoi, Seminyak; +62 361 730393; www.sksbali.com

Mount Agung gets you closer to the gods.Mount Agung

What to do in Bali after you've seen all the beaches, sampled all the menus and hit all the bars?

Scaling the majestic Mount Agung -- at 3,142 metets the highest point on the island -- makes for a worthy challenge. 

A strato-volcano that last erupted in 1963, locals believe it’s a replica of Mount Meru, the central axis of the universe. 

There are two routes to the top. Both take up to four hours. And while you can scale it without a guide -- they can be found lingering at the start of the trek -- employing one is highly recommended. 

Tanah Lot: Best at sunset, but still not bad at noon.Tanah Lot 

Supposedly the work of the 15th-century priest, Tanah Lot is one of Bali’s most holy, and touristy, sites. 

Located in Tabanan, the sacred Hindu temple sits on a large rock out in the ocean and is said to be guarded by sea snakes. 

Head toward the footpath leading to the raised cliff area where the view of the sun setting behind the temple is outstanding.

Only in Bali

Bali's lush paddy fields are worth a day or two of exploration.Paddy fields

OK, they’re not only in Bali, but terraced rice fields in varying shades of brown, gold and green make for one of Bali’s most calming and beautiful sights.

Keep Walking Tours runs daily excursions, but you can also head off exploring on your own. 

Start at Ubud Palace, head west on Jalan Raya Ubud and follow signs that bring you past the River Wos, Campuan Ridge and the village of Penestanan.   

Ubud Palace, junction of Jalan Suweta and Jalan Raya Campuan 

Sika Gallery: Home to Bali's avant-garde.

Balinese avant garde 

Balinese art is more than topless women and rice-paddy landscapes. 

The artist-run Sika Gallery in Campuan, Ubud, condemns commercial art and seeks to push Bali’s visual arts envelope. 

Ask after artist-curator I Wayan Sika and see if you can coax out the story of his artistic journey, during which a coma-like state inspired him to produce some of his best works.

Jalan Raya Campuhan, Ubud, Gianyar; +62 36 1975084;www.sikagallery.com

Medicine man 

Poor Ketut Liyer. The elderly medicine man has been kept busy all hours of the day since “Eat, Pray, Love” catapulted him to global fame. 

Consultations on your life and love prospects don’t come easy or cheap. Expect all tickets -- yes, there’s a docket system -- to be snapped up by 9 a.m. Prices vary, but often start from US$25.

10 minutes' walk south of Pengoseken, follow the signs; +62 361 974092

Oh mama, that is a whole lot of pig.Babi guling at Ibu Oka 

When in Bali, a meal of babi guling (roast suckling pig) is a must. 

It’s essentially a whole roasted pig stuffed with spices, carved up and served with rice and vegetables. 

While there are many places to get it around Bali, Ubud’s Ibu Oka is a famed institution serving up platefuls of the stuff daily till mid-afternoon, when the food runs out. 

This is a meal that works your jaw. You’ll need to chew hard till all the flavors are released from the succulent meat. 

Around noon, staff usually carve up another pig. It’s a great photo op. 

Jalan Suweta/Tegal Sari No. 2, Ubud 

Jari Menari: Masseurs with magic, dancing fingers.Jari Menari massage  

There are massages and then there’s a Jari Menari massage. 

The name means “dancing fingers” and your body parts will be in perfect harmony at the end of the treatment. 

The all-male staff employs a mixture of techniques (Swedish, deep tissue, Balinese) and emphasizes the rhythm and movements of your body. 

Book well in advance to ensure a spot. There’s another branch at Nusa Dua, and a one-masseur facility at The Colony Hotel. 

Introductory massages classes are held on Tuesdays. 

Jalan Raya Basangkasa 47, Seminyak; +62 361 736740; www.jarimenari.com