FACES Conference Bali 2013 Itinerary

Bali is known as the “Island of God”. The Balinese culture is deeply steeped in spirituality, art, music, and community. Traveling through Bali, you will experience the coastline, beautiful vista of hills, mountains and verdant and golden rice fields. Sacred statues of Hindu Deities are in the center of most towns and villages. Smile back to the Balinese, as they are sincerely kind and gentle people who warmly welcome your visit to their island. As you travel, notice how the skies change throughout the day. You have arrived in paradise!

Day 1-Arrival: Sidemen Village

Arrive at Denpasar Ngarah Rai International Airport; your arranged driver will meet you as you exit the airport. Look for the driver with your name on his/her sign. There will be many, many drivers. Take a deep breath and slowly scan the group of drivers. A great way to help the driver is to have your name on a hand-held sign as well. Grab a cold drink prior to getting into the auto, sit back, relax and enjoy travelling to the mountains. Arrive at Uma Agung Villa & Spa in Sidemen Village approximately 2.5 hours later. Sidemen Village is a pristine area that is nestled within terraced rice fields offering a majestic panoramic view of Mount Agung, Bali’s most sacred mountain. We will be at the hotel to greet you upon arrival, if you arrive late in the night, we will greet you in the morning. Reception and dinner will be at 7:00 pm with uplifting traditional Balinese music performance after dinner.

Day 2

Qigong class begins at 7:30 am, and concludes at 8:30 am. Breakfast service is held at 8:45 to 9:45 am. We take an optional stroll into Sidemen Village (1-1.5 miles walk) and shop at the traditional weaving shops in Sidemen. Sidemen Village is known throughout Bali as home to the traditional weavers. We will stroll back to the hotel and take a cool swim in the pool, relax and prepare for lunch at 12:30-1:30pm. We will depart for Klung-Klung, the previous ancient capital of Bali. Klung-Klung is the location of the King’s Palace; a historical tour awaits you there. We will visit the King’s Palace and have time to shop in the bustling Klung-Klung market. We will return to Sidemen Village around 6:30 pm. Dinner is on your own.

Day 3

Qigong class begins at 7:30 am. Breakfast service is held at 8:45 to 9:45 am. We will depart by 10:00 am to visit the highest mountain in Bali, Mount Agung. Along the way, we may stop at local warungs (family-owned shop or café) to purchase snacks or a beautiful papaya. We will visit the Pasaragung Temple, which is also known as the Father Temple. This is a rare opportunity to visit a temple that most tourists do not visit. We will have an offering ceremony at the temple. There will be plenty of time to walk about the grounds. We will have lunch at an organic restaurant located close to the home of the late famous writer Walter Spies. We will return to our hotel around 3:00 pm, just in time for a cool plunge and perhaps a spa treatment. Dinner is on our own.

Day 4- Move to Lovinia

Qigong class begins at 7:30 am. Breakfast service is held at 8:45 to 9:45 am. We will depart for a 3.5-hour trip to our next destination in North Bali, the village of Lovina, which is near the beautiful Sea of Bali. This trip is breath-taking as we travel through the mountains to the Sea of Bali. A lunch snack will be provided to have with you on this trip. We will arrive at our next hotel by 2:00 pm. After getting settled into your room, perhaps you will explore the ocean by snorkeling or taking a dip; a nap or outdoor relaxation always is available as well! During the evening, we will gather for a reception and dinner at 7:00 pm.

Day 5

Qigong class begins at 7:30 am. Breakfast service is held at 8:45 to 9:45 am. We will depart at 10:00 am for our next tour. Today we will explore nature with a hike to a local waterfall. We will visit a temple on our return to the hotel. The afternoon and evening are free to book spa treatments; you may also explore more options with a driver. Lunch and dinner are on your own.

Day 6

Qigong class begins at 7:30 am. Breakfast service is held at 8:45 to 9:45 am. We will depart at 10:00 am for Ubud, the cultural and artistic center of Bali. Arriving in Ubud at 12:00 noon, we will have lunch together at Casa Luna, a famous Balinese resturant owned by an American/Balinese couple. If desired, you will have an exciting opportunity to shop-till-you drop! We will attend a Kecak dance performance at 7:30 pm and depart to Lovina after the performance. Dinner is on your own prior to the performance. There are fantastic restaurants in Ubud.

Day 7

Qigong class begins at 7:30 am. Breakfast service is held at 8:45 to 9:45 am. Relax by the pool, schedule an optional spa treatment, explore with a driver. During the evening, we will gather for a farewell celebration dinner and Balinese music.

Day 8-Final Day

Dolphin watching begins our final day together at 6:00 am. Qigong class begins at 8:30 am. Brunch service begins at 10:00 am. We will gather after brunch for a closing ceremony. A driver will transport you back to the airport. If possible, visit the coffee plantation on the way to the airport.

If you have specific questions, feel free to contact our guide, Linda Cammarata at [email protected], or call her at 828-712-8421 (EST).

The FACES Conference Bali 2013 Itinerary is subject to adjustment due to weather and other unplanned scheduling changes. We will do our very best to provide this itinerary to you.

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