By this Author: Nsevers

I settled in to a lovely Blue Lagoon Condo in North Hua Hin for 8 weeks.

I felt so fortunate to connect with Jib, my new real estate agent & now good friend. Irina whom I met in a yoga class at the Sheraton introduced us. I am forever grateful that we met.

My location was a 15- 20 minutes rideshare from the Hua Hin Town & Malls & 7 minutes to the Hua Hin Airport, the Makro large grocery store., and the Index/ Villa Market complex. Most expats prefer to be walking distance to town, restaurants & bars, but I preferred the quiet and amenities of where I was, albeit a bit farther out. I went into town often. I booked private Thai language sessions at the Thai Language Center Hua Hin between Soi 63 & Soi 65, upstairs, just behind the Hua Hin Pharmacy. Khun Gorp was my Teacher twice a week for 4 weeks. I made noticeable progress with speaking, learning tones, & letter recognition to read, decoding simple Thai words. On class days, I started at The House of Croissants. It’s just down the street from the main Post Office & Father Ted’s Tavern, same side of the street. The baked goods are amazing and they have lovely food and drinks too. I was always on time for class because I studied there with a yuzo ice coffee coffee & a treat first.

House of Croissants

Download the street is the entrance to the Main Beach at Hua Hin. There is a fun daytime beach market always busy with local and expat families.

Beach Market Hua Hin

Near the school is the best used bookstore in Hua Hin for expats. Baan Nangsue is nearby on Soi 61 but across the main road. They have a large selection of used paperback books in English, French, German, Swedish and I found my beach reads there! The safest way to get there is to walk back down to the traffic light opposite City Hall. Once on the Hua Hin City Hall side of the street, walk back a block to find Baan Nangsue.
After class, I usually took a Tuk Tuk to the Market Village or Blueport Mall. Both provide indoor a/c walking space, window shopping, lots of food choices at any price; local Thai treats and western restaurants restaurants, and there is nightly entertainment and food stalls outside of Market Village all winter. While our malls in the USA are old school, they ARE still quite the Town Centers in Thailand.

I liked to eat at Fuji in Market Village and I discovered an amazing Vegan Restaurant just a block from the Hua Hin Village Market, same side of the main road. I ate Mediterranean, falafel and mezzo platters at Ogen several times and even introduced my Thai friend Jib to this yummy cuisine.
Here a a few food photos.


One evening after a Sound Healing Class with Doriane at the Integral Center in Hua Hin, I discovered the Hua Hin Night Market. I had avoided it as too touristy.

My BAD! It’s a gem!


The vendors are friendly & grateful for our support. I found fresh squeezed pomegranate juice & on and often brought some home. I found tee shirts & water bottle carriers that I love, and then I discovered the grilled on the street seafood restaurants! I liked Bird Chili the best. After discovering what we in the US call Caribbean lobster, but this one is more local, from the Andaman Sea south of Hua Hin, I returned weekly for my $22.00 dinner of 3 grilled lobster tails, a baked potato and lime soda.

Night Market Lobster Dinner

I took a 5 day trip to Chiang Mai in January to see friends that winter there.

I loved spending 4 days with Stefi & Frank who I first met in 2006 in a Lampang Elephant Homestay.

After our elephant sanctuary morning we changed clothes for a special lunch at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai. I had never been, but Stefi & Frank go for special occasions!


I reunited over a lovely dinner with Lena & Brian whom I met in 2009 & have remained in touch with and another dinner with young friends visiting the same time as me!

And I had a brief visit with my Pai friends, Jay, Wat & Joan in Chiang Mai too. I stayed at the Centara Riverside, formerly the Holiday Inn. I was familiar with the location from past trips and I knew I did not want to be in the tourist, old city, or night market neighborhoods. I did of course stroll within the historic city walls and stop by my favorite ancient temple, Wat Mun Chang one afternoon.

I even got a good haircut!

Stefi knits her own designs. She gifted me this beautiful shawl. I treasure it!

To be with friends & especially to have these lovely days of social connections were very special.

Travel Tip: in Winter, Air]Asia flies from the little and convenient Hua Hin Airport non stop to Chiang Mai with round trips 4 days a week. It was easy and affordable. I loved that I did not have to add two days of travel to Bangkok to fly there. We are all hoping that flights to and from Bangkok and other destinations will be added to Hua Hin in future years.

Here are other sights and scenes from my time in Hua Hin. When family visited over Christmas, we enjoyed the Monsoon Winery. It’s in the mountains about 40 minutes west of Hua Hin. We took a Grab and I hired our driver to stay and wait for us for the return trip home. It might be unlikely to get a rideshare driver on demand so far afield. On the way we passed new golf and other developments in Hua Hin, and Thai villages, and Pineapple, Coconut and Papaya Farms. We had a lovely terrace lunch overlooking the impressive for Thailand’s sandy soil vineyards. Totally enjoyable and recommended.


I also visited the Hua Hin artists colony, the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand https://www.wfft.org/ animal rescue center, and the Cicada Night Market which is south of the Malls. Things have modernized since my first trip here in 2005-2006. The Cicada Night Market is modern with a stage for live music, and best, dedicated, freshly built, clean western restrooms.

The Wildlife Friends Foundation Day Tour was very worthwhile. They provide transportation from your hotel & the tour costs supports their costly rescue work.

The Hua Hin Artists Colony was an interesting mix of local artists, antiques and treasures. It’s not far out, towards Hin Lek Fai. It was only a 15 minute Grab from north Hua Hin & I had no trouble getting a return Grab when done. It is worth a visit!

Hua Hin Artists Colony 10

Hua Hin Artists Colony 3

But we expats still don’t drink the tap water. Jib brings me water weekly so that I have plenty. When I make salad or wash fruits to eat in, I use bottled water. Sometimes we still come across toilets like this:

The streets are still a perplexing tangle of wires that I and others enjoy photographing. Thailand is emerging first world, but not yet emerged lol.

I have so many more photos but I have to stop somewhere! There’s more to explore in South Hua Hin, from Koh Takieb to Pranburi & south to Prachuap Kiri Khan town. But that will have to wait until next year. To me, being in Thailand is both more interesting & more affordable than wintering somewhere warm in the USA. The trick is to stay long enough to make the excruciating long flights worth the trip! I feel grateful and lucky.

There’s a school holiday in December for Thai Constitution Day & I wanted to plan a special activity with my teenage grandson. He’s Thai- American; he likes to cook but he doesn’t like Thai food.😂 The hotel concierges knew only Thai cooking classes, of which there are many to choose from. An Internet search led me to the La Dotta Pasta Bar on Soi Convent, which offers Pasta making classes on weekend mornings. Francesco, the chef owner, was very accommodating and offered to do a Wednesday morning class for just the two of us, on the school holiday.

Generous with his time and knowledge of the science and art of Italian cooking, I learned that Francesco also teaches at ALMA in Bangkok. ALMA is the world's leading international educational and training centre for Italian Cuisine with classes globally.
Our class was fantastic & so much fun!

If you live or have an extended stay in Bangkok, you can find the delicious La Dotta Pasta Restaurant & Market website here:
https://www.ladotta.co/about. The La Dotta information about the class is here: https://www.ladotta.co/pasta-class

We made three types of pasta, tagliatelle, ravioli and tortellini from scratch, starting with the dough. At the class end we went home with a bag with the dough we made, a generous voucher to use in La Dotta’s restaurant, our recipe book and a Class Certificate! Classes are from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and we stayed for lunch, using our vouchers! YUM.

Here are some of the photos showing the class activity.

Next trip to Bangkok, I’ll be back to eat at La Dotta. If I lived in Bangkok, somewhat convenient, I would be a regular for sure.

I flew from Bali to Bangkok with hotel reservations for 2 weeks & no set plans beyond that. I hoped to avoid this winter in New England & with a son and grandson in Thailand, this seemed a good choice. I wanted to be accessible to Bangkok for weekend visits.
This was my first post pandemic visit back to Thailand. In Bangkok, I once again stayed at the Sheraton Royal Orchid. It’s been my favorite Bangkok hotel and location and once again did not disappoint. You can read more about it in my 2018 & 2019 entries. With its amazing location on the Chao Phraya River, two resort pools, complimentary hotel riverboat shuttle, upbeat Chaoren Krung neighborhood, and super Club Lounge with breakfast and evening cocktails and buffet for Marriott Bonvoy Platinum & above Members, this reasonably priced hotel can’t be beat.

IMG_5364

I decided that the beach town of Hua Hin on the Gulf of Siam about a 3 hour taxi or Grab would work out best. I rented a comfortable condo, thanks to meeting Jib, a competent, honest real estate agent & 8 weeks in Hua Hin did not disappoint.
I was so lucky to stay at the Hua Hin Sheraton Resort & Spa.

I posted this Review on Trip Advisor:
Spectacular Quiet Beach Resort 20 Minutes From Hua Hin Town
I’ve been at the Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa for a month & I’m still pinching myself to see if it is real!
I am a solo senior woman traveler with family in Bangkok. I arrived December 20, stayed 9 nights until the 28th. My family joined me with a separate room over Christmas the holiday. Since checkout, I’ve since been staying in a nearby condo rental & I took a monthly membership to the Sheraton Gym that comes with classes & resort amenities.

That’s Jib and me enjoying dinner at Ogen in Hua Hin. He’s at Hua Hin Living by Rattakit & his LINE contact is 095-597-1444 if you have real estate needs for sales, purchases or condo rentals in Hua Hin.

Today, in late January, I’m watching the huge palms sway under a clear blue sky as I listen to the Gulf of Siam waves break. I have already exercised in the pool lagoons & soon I’ll go change for yoga at 5 in the Sheraton gym.

The 2 story resort rooms traverse two sides of the large courtyard type property between. In addition to the large infinity pool, there are lagoon pools and the 1st floor poolside rooms have pool access from their private balcony. (Recommended.) There is a sandbox pool for little ones and a Kids Club too.


This resort is spacious. Since I’ve been here, there have been several weddings & birthday events extravagantly decorated. Even on event weekends, the resort accommodates a crowd without feeling crowded or noisy at all. Last night, I watched fireworks while others celebrated a wedding.


That lovely horse is waiting to bring a groom to his lovely bride at the start of their wedding ceremony!

Breakfast is a huge International buffet with eggs to order & Western & Asian Food. The Sundara Restaurant & Lobby Bar & the beachfront Luna Lanai both serve lunch & dinner. The Sala Restaurant with a Pizza & Italian Menu along with other Thai & Western offerings opens on weekends. In the month I have been here I have had countless satisfying meals. Tip: The Snapper Sandwich at the Lobby Bar, the Poke Bowl & Grilled Pineapple with Chocolate Chili Pepper Mousse are favorites.
As a Titanium Marriott Member, I had a room upgrade to a pool access room, which I enjoyed. Platinum & Titanium Bonvoy Members have complimentary coffee & tea, iced or hot all day at the Lobby Bar, and I had a free cocktail or wine certificate to enjoy also.

Location: Reviewers mention the location between Hua Hin and Cha am, 20 minutes from either Hua Hin town or Cha am Beach & town. In a rideshare, Grab or Bolt, or driving, it’s only 15 minutes to Hua Hin town near the Night Market, & 20 minutes to Market Village, 25 minutes to Blueport Mall, Cicada & Tamarind Markets, & nearby Soi 94.

Tip: if you enjoy a quiet pool & beach vacation, as I do, stay here. There is a great local massage kiosk down on the beach, and a few other resorts walkable from the beach for restaurant variety. I am happy admiring the beautiful gardens that are abundant with flowering trees & orchids, where I can watch & hear the birds & enjoy quiet beach walks without crowds or vendors.

If you prefer a busier beach resort location walkable to off property restaurants & shopping, I recommend the Marriott Resort & Spa (best) or other hotels in that area. I first stayed there while looking for a monthly rental. Within the Marriott it’s quiet, & it is also a great hotel. The street, sidewalks & neighborhood bustle with traffic noise & activity if that’s your thing.

The Sheraton Hua Hin Resort Staff is so lovely & helpful. I’ve surely missed someone, but these lovely Sheraton guest service employees welcome me & make me feel at home at the resort every day.
At Reception, Niyom, Patarapon, Nahm, Orajit & Paa. Khun Ekalok up is the very helpful rooms division manager.
The lead Housekeeper for the 3000’s Room wing is Dada -Kannita. She is the best!

Taiwan once hopped off his bike to help me move chairs & umbrellas. At the Pool Towel & Drink Bar Khun Oo & Khun Ratchapol are helpful every day! All of the Staff at Luna Lanai, the restaurant overlooking the beach waves, are terrific, overseen by Khun Wittaya (Art) who also manages Sala, the weekend Italian Restaurant. Rungsia (Ray), & Arik are particularly helpful at both restauarants. At Sundara & the Lobby Bar everyone is also great. I have enjoyed getting to know Prem, she is efficient, sweet, helpful.


Each time I arrive at the resort entrance I am greeted by Bellmen
Piroon Knock, Peck (Damri) or Roon. They help me get a taxi when rideshare is sparse & they have carted my luggage around. They regularly give me golf cart rides to my condo & they take guests to the end of the resort road at Petchkasem Rd, where it’s a 5 minute walk to 7/11.
The Sheraton Shine Spa is large & very pretty. I booked a 2 hour monthly promotion that included a 30 minute matcha scrub, 60 minute aromatherapy massage & a 30 minute express facial. The room had two massage tables and an in room shower and dressing room. Khun Gai was my wonderful therapist. I was comfortable & relaxed during & after my treatment. The products were top notch & I have to say that the 30 minute facial here was the most effective, maybe the best I have had anywhere.

Shine Spa at the Sheraton Hua Hin

The promotion price was 2,990 Thai Baht including tax & 10% service. The service charge is spread among the spa employees so I gave an extra tip to Khun Gai, the therapist. While you can certainly get cheaper similar services in Hua Hin, rock bottom & mid priced, for $52 an hour US, this was clean, classy, first rate experience.

All Beaches in Hua Hin are Public, unowned by the resorts. There is a local Beach Massage Place just steps from the Sheraton on the Beach.
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I am a bit embarrassed to tell my friends that I am “living in a resort” while avoiding this harsh New England winter. You won’t go wrong with a winter beach vacation at this resort, that is only a 2-3 hour taxi, Grab or private ride transfer from the Bangkok airports or Bangkok city locations. I for one am planning to return again next winter!

Indonesia may have the largest Muslim population in the world but most residents of the island of Bali are Hindu & they are deeply religious. Hindu Temples can be seen in every neighborhood. Most private homes have their own spots for daily worship and offerings. Some Temples are newer but most appear old, and famous ones date to the 9th century. I saw two of those.

On the way from Nusa Dua to Ubud, after our Sanur Museum stop (see the previous entry) my driver Kadek brought me to see the 12th century temple in Batuan.

Pura Puseh Batuan has an inscription that testifies to the date of founding of Batuan in 1022 AD. It is known for its intricate stone carvings. It is located in the northern part of the Batuan village, 200 metres off the main road from Denpasar to Ubud. The temple underwent restoration in 1992. It is a five-tiered gateway tower, clearly influenced by Indian religious architecture. Its icons and decorations, however, are typically Balinese in style. The roof of the temple is made of the fibre of chromatic black palm tree. The maintenance of the temple is done by the residents of the village.

I arrived in Ubud during the Galungan holiday.
Galungan is the major 10-day Hindu holiday occurring in November, & celebrates the victory of good over evil. It features island-wide ceremonies, family gatherings, and beautiful penjor(decorated bamboo poles) lining the streets. The festival concludes with the related Kuningan holiday.

There is a local village Temple just down the street from the hotel. One evening, I went on the hotel’s nature walk. Afterwards, still out on the road in front of the hotel, the entire village passed by on the way to the Temple to celebrate the end of a holiday! There were no other tourists, just 3 of us witnessing this joyous local parade.

On my second sightseeing day with Kadek we visited a stunning Temple called DTW Gunung Kawi Sebatu. This Temple is in daily use and you can see Balinese and tourists alike partaking in Hindu purification rites in its pools.

On another day I went to Goa Gajah. This 9th century archeological site, formerly on the UNESCO list, is easy to visit and like the day I was there, you may find yourself wandering alone. Think about similar historical sites elsewhere. In Siem Reap Cambodia to see Angkor Wat, there were 1000 tourists and 100 tour buses. At Machu Picchu in Peru, visitors are capped at 800 at a time. I knew what a treasure seeing Goa Gajah in this setting with just my driver was!

This ancient temple features wild faces that are carved into the stone – whose purpose is assumed to be the warding off of evil spirits. The primary figure was once thought to be an elephant, hence the nickname Elephant Cave. Other sources state that it is named after the stone statue of the Hindu God Ganesh (characterized by having the head of an elephant) located inside of the temple.The site is mentioned in the Javanese poem Desawarnana written in 1365. The baths were excavated in the 1950s. The inside of the temple is small and usually has trails of white smoke from the incense burning. The complex also contains 7 statues of women (out of which 1 has been destroyed due to an earthquake) holding water pitchers that depict seven holy rivers of India: the Ganga River, Sarasvati River, Yamuna River, Godavari River, Sindhu River, Kaveri River, and Narmada River.

On my return trip to Bali I asked Kadek to take me to see the Ulu Watu Temple. The Ulu Watu temple is built at the edge (ulu) of a 70-meter-high (230 ft) cliff or rock (Watu) projecting into the sea. In folklore, this rock is said to be part of Dewi Danu's petrified barque.

Though a small temple is claimed to have existed earlier, the structure was significantly expanded by a Javanese sage, Empu Kuturan in the 11th century. Dang Hyang Nirartha, another sage from East Java at the turn of the 16th century, is credited for introducing the padmasana shrines and it is said that he attained moksha here, an event called ngeluhur ("to go up"). The attraction of this temple is the stunning cliff setting and sea views. Take off your glasses and don’t bring anything including your phone that the crafty long tailed macaques can snatch, because you’ll never retrieve lost belongings.

One reason I wanted to visit Bali was to see rice terraces. The beginning of the rainy season was the perfect time to visit. The rice was high, almost ready to harvest.

There is a UNESCO site if Rice Terraces 2 hours each way from Ubud that is less commercial than the nearby one. But this one only about 20-30 minutes from Ubud center, is definitely fun, with photo swings, a zip line & bicycle line attractions. Guests can hike up and down through the paths. I did not venture far because it had rained hard & the mud made things slippery. So green.

So special. I don’t really have a bucket list, but if I did, rice terraces in Bali would be on it!

We stopped at a coffee farm. It poured rain for an entire hour while I was at the tasting table. I was delighted to taste 6 different coffees & 6 different teas while chatting with other interesting rain stranded tourists. Rather than admission, the “coffee farm” provides tastes & then directs you to their shop for purchases. Actually I visited two. Neither were sizeable production farms. Both appeared set up for “show” & sales. At the first shop, I purchased some mangosteen tea that clearly said no sugar added. When I opened it & prepared a cup, it was sickly sweet. Not the healthy mangosteen tea made from the ground rind of the fruit that I expected. At a second farm visit, I bought some “artisan dark chocolate” supposed to be local and special. It was chalky white when opened, not fresh, & not special. Definitely worth a visit, but buy the products only if you want to.

Coffee Farm 5

These visits, along with a silver shop & a woodworking shop benefit our drivers. They get a bonus for each person they bring. Kadek was transparent about this, & told me I had no obligation to buy.

Silver Workshop

I did love the Bali nature & gardens. I particularly did not want to visit the Monkey Forest or animal camps. I did enjoy a Butterfly Park that while also set up to attract tourists, it had a beautiful garden setting& butterfly aviary.

There was a lovely bonsai display too.

Health & Wellness

A guest at my hotel told me about a day spa she had gone to, and showed me her photos. On my first visit to Ubud, I booked a 2 hour service, a coffee scrub, massage & flower bath. I had never heard of a flower bath & when I finished this treatment, I was more relaxed, and felt more pampered than ever before. I returned to Ubud on my 2nd trip, principally to return to the Putri Bali Spa! On my return trip I booked a 3.5 hour treatment before starting the long flights back to Hong Kong and then Boston. Such a wonderful treat at such reasonable prices!
https://www.putribalispa.com/

I enjoyed learning about the Balinese Hindu culture. The Balinese people that I met were genuine, kind & grateful. I loved the Balinese hospitality, & the focus on health & wellness that draws tourism to Bali. I met many hotel interns & trainees during my stays. Some in high school, some post grad, all were studying tourism. It was clear that tourism is “The Profession” in Bali. I was fortunate for the opportunity to be a tourist there & each of the Balinese people I met added meaning to my stay.

Because I started this 3 month trip in Bali, I did not manage to travel light. With two average size suitcases & a carry-on, all 3 rolling bags, I did not want to move hotels often. I booked the first 7 nights in Nusa Dua (see the previous 2 entries), & the next 8 nights in Ubud. This entry is about the Westin Ubud where I stayed. If it’s not relevant to you, just skip to the next Entry to read about my Ubud Sightseeing.

There were 30 hotels in the Marriott brand to choose from & Bali is affordable both with cash or Bonvoy points. While researching Ubud lodging, I started on the Bonvoy site & cross checked recent hotel reviews on Trip Advisor. Because I appreciate and use TripAdvisor, I contribute reviews after my stays as well. I looked at a Tribute Portfolio in the brand in Ubud. It appeared to be lovely & it the room rate worked was only $112.00 a night. But then I saw the photos of the Westin Ubud! It’s a quiet & green oasis, but a 20 minute drive to downtown Ubud. Some Trip Advisor reviewers find this out of the way location a minus, but for me it was a plus. I enjoyed both of the hotels so much that I booked the same two again for my 6 night end of trip “wellness” stay before starting the long trip back home to the US. I was welcomed “home” at both like a “dear friend.” The hospitality really was amazing.

The Bali cities are a bit like the towns and cities in Thailand. The sidewalks can be treacherous & overhead electric & cable wires are haphazard. They can be hanging down to street level & who knows whether it is a live wire or not. Behind the road frontage, in Ubud there are many treasures to be discovered. Beautifully decorated, comfortable cafes & coffee shops, stores and galleries with local art & crafts, street markets & historic temples. Of course I wanted to see & experience Ubud, but as a solo senior woman traveler, I needed a reassuring level of safety and comfort in my lodging.

The Westin provided that and more! The hotel is sits in front of a river, and over looks a lush green mountain backdrop. The lobby & comfortable indoor outdoor Lobby Bar are on the 5th floor -that’s the top floor. The generously sized rooms are down the lift or stairs. The breakfast (also dinner) restaurant is on the 3rd floor. And Treetops, the beautiful Poolside restaurant which is open for lunch and dinner is on level one, along with the freestanding kids club, gym & spa buildings.

I enjoyed relaxing at the Westin & it was a delight to return to after sightseeing days & trips to town. In late November to early December, it was shoulder season, the very beginning of the rainy season & well ahead of the Christmas & New Years holidays. For a 5 star resort & spa, the room rates of around $225.00 a night are enticing for a hotel at this level. I used points for 4 nights & paid & earned points for the latter 4. It was the middle of the rainy season when I returned. It was cloudy all day but the heavy downpours were mostly during the night & my activities weren’t really affected. In November I wrote a Trip Advisor review. My return stay in late February to early March equaled the perfection of the first. I even had the same spacious room! Here’s an updated review.

I stayed at the beautiful Westin Ubud Resort for 8 nights in late November, 2025. As a solo, adventurous senior woman traveler, I as very well taken care of. My stay was as close to perfect as it gets. Perhaps it is the Balinese hospitality, but I and other guests that I met felt that we were treated like we were celebrities.

I arrived on a Thursday & was given a lovely, spacious pool & mountain view junior suite with balcony on the 3rd floor. Great room. Amazing shower and tub. That was a Platinum upgrade. I made Titanium during my stay & in addition to the included wonderful daily international breakfast buffet & lobby bar cocktail coupons, there were special gifts & recognition in my room.

Other reviewers mentioned the Westin location about 20 minutes from the center of Ubud. For me that was a plus. The hotel setting is quiet & the Resort offers included activities; e.g. yoga, yogalates in the pool, other fitness classes & local crafts. The lobby bar offered light treats & live music four nights a week & the setting was relaxing and lovely.

It’s easy to get around. I used Grab Rideshare & two private drivers for sightseeing and transfers. Check the PS for the What’s App # for Kadek, a terrific young man to be with; he is a great English speaking driver.

In addition to breakfast, I had dinner at Tall Trees most nights, all delicious, with attentive service & a relaxing atmosphere under a fan. I met the hotel’s head Chef, Sebastian, on my first day there. A few times a year, Sebastian plans a special set menu dinner & wine tasting. He was having an Italian night the next evening. At reasonable resort prices, guests started with included cocktails & hors d’oeuvres. We were encouraged to sit with other guests which provided interesting dinner company for me. Each course had a special wine pour & our elegant & tasty dinner was a highlight of my stay. If offered the opportunity, don’t pass this up.


Because I stayed for eight nights in November & for 4 more in February-March, many staff & interns personally impacted my stay. The list is long & I probably missed a few folks too, but each person made my stay meaningful.
Reception & Loyalty Staff:
Safitri, Tatia, Eka, Era, Wira, Nara, & Widya, Agus, Luna & Try! Hotel Greeters Ayu, & Pusma & Senia who were trainees.
Riski was a helpful Bellman. Pusma made a point to welcome me back, reminding me that she previously had helped arrange my desired outside laundry service. I think she has since been able to similarly assist other guests with this.
Yoga Teachers & Pool Attendants:
I did 6 classes while there. The Westin wellness focus elevates this property from other brands. Thank you Heri, Anom & Ardi. (And 3 with Heri plus a pool stretch class with Anom, all terrific on my return stay.)
Sebastian Head Chef:
He is responsible for all of the restaurants & their staff, the Italian Wine dinner & makes the best chocolate croissant I’ve ever had. Hadi is the Bar Manager & both executives personally welcomed me back.

At The Lobby Bar, Tall Trees & Tatia where Breakfast is served the list is long & I apologize for those I’ve missed. But each staff member makes an effort to interact personally & this especially made me feel at home. You each made a difference!
Dharma, Krisna & Pande & Astim & Berly & Wiana (lovely trainees,) & Andika- thanks for the special avocado toast. Oka, Nanette, Diah greeted me every morning by name. Artini, Wintari, Agus, Mahesa, Desi & Nando, Yana, Ana, Wirawan, Pradipta, Pani, & Sadina, Tia (trainee) & Ariawan, Lani, Arcana, Dian & Risks.
There were quite a few skilled baristas among this group! Personalized Decaf Cappuccino awaited me every morning.

I was so intrigued that I booked the Barista class to learn to make a proper coffee. Wirawan was a patient teacher. I made good coffee, but my Cappuccino Art need lots of practice before anyone would hire me! I laughed lots & really enjoyed this one hour class!

Housekeeping: Wayan manages & motivates a terrific group!
On my return trip, Nesya reminded everyone that I enjoyed the amazing towel art! Sindu & Adi, & especially Wawan, Ivan, Nesya & Amerta, Valen, Junawan, Budi & Arta, Dena,Angarra, Sarga, Dika, Sastra, Berliana & of course, Nesya!

I have so many great photos of the whimsical towel displays that I might have to make that a separate entry. Those are some of my favorites! Thank you all!

A Boreh Body Mask is an herbal skin mud treatment used in Bali homes. It has medicinal properties. I signed up for this included Resort Activity. Eli & Amelia taught me to make it.

The next day when I had a spa treatment with Boreh at a day spa, I really felt the benefits in my arthritic bones and joints. Here’s the recipe!
Ingredients
Lemon Grass
Ginger
Galangal
Aromatic Ginger
Cloves powder
Cinnamon powder
Star Anise Powder
Lime
Soak the rice 20 min. To soften
Add two tsp rice plus 1 tsp each of the 3 powders to mortor & chop & grind. Add a little water as needed. Add chopped ginger 1 thumb each but less aromatic.
Chop & grind it well to make a solid paste. Apply to arms and legs, especially your joints. Rinse it off after 15 - 20 minutes.

The hotel activities also include a Nature Walk, offered daily in the neighborhood outside of the hotel. I did it once & the leader whose name I missed, was attentive to safety, knowledgeable & led a nice hour walk to see local flora & herb & vegetable gardens, a neighborhood temple & nearby rice fields.

This Westin gets it right! It’s an oasis of calm, provides time & activities for relaxation & wellness & healthy food options. It’s a really good spot from which to visit the Ubud rice terraces, 11th century uncrowded temples, & other sights. I’ll share the not to miss places I went in the next entry.

PS: How to get to the Westin Ubud.
I booked Kadek (3 days) for my transfers from Nusa Dua to Ubud with sights on the way, for my airport transfer & a sightseeing days too. He can pick you up from the Ngurah Rai Airport and return you there too. He is patient, attentive & careful & speaks English well. You an book him ahead or check for availability on short notice. There are TA reviews for him too. Here’s his What’s App: Kadek “Ubud Lovely Driver” +62 812 39905338.