In Reply to: Sorry Colleen posted by Debbie on Friday, 17. February 2006 at 20:14 Bali Time:
I feel as if we know it fairly well & I can honestly say this is our
absolute favourite area of Bali.Many people do not understand that it is not just the name of 1 small place.Lovina is actually an 8km strip of narrow land from Singaraja to Serrit made of of many villages,including Anturan,Kaliasem,Banyalit,Pemaron,Tukud Munga,Temukus,Banyualit & Kalibukbuk ( please excuse any incorrect spelling or errors )
The area stretches from the sea up to into the mountains & has accomodation ranging from homestays & losmens up to resorts the standard of the Damai up in the hills & is filled with many caring & friendly people.
Many people think it's too quite but we love it,watching the sunset,the peace & tranquilty is magical & once you spend some time sitting back enjoying it all,you will always want to return.It's the place we escape to..We always run out of time to do all the thing we want to when we are there because it's so hard to get motivated to do anything when you are so totally relaxed.These days we only stay at Rambutan cottages,there are plenty of great places to eat & shop within a few minutes walk.
We have got to know so many of the locals & become friends so we love it there.Kalibukbuk is the actual main area of Lovina & what is most people mean when they say Lovina.It's where the dolphin statue is that people often refer to.IF in Kalibukbuk you can easily get locals to drive you anywhere you want to go for day trips but we like being based there because it's so central in case you want a quite day close to your hotel & need to pop out for supplies or a meal.On our first trip we stayed out at Anturan but we would not be that far out again.
All I know of Villa Pondok is that it's about 2km out of town & I believe it's fairly basic.Sorry but I don't know more,I don't think it's a very well known place.Anyway I Hope I've been of some help .
BTW - 2 places not to be missed in Lovina is Fritz & Ceria's restuarant & winery up in the hills of Kayuputih called Ponjok Enjah.It's on the road opposite the markets that leads up to the Damai hotel.ALso make sure you check out the Jasmine Kitchen, it's in the little lane that leads off the main street not far from the dolphin statue.
If you want to know more check the archives for mine & others posts.I'm happy to chat via email if you want to know anything specific.