Bali

2026/9/25

Best Massage of My Life? Ametis Villa Canggu Spa Review

One of the things I always look forward to in Bali is a good spa or massage. I have struggled with stiff shoulders and lower back discomfort for years and have tried countless massages and spa treatments in Japan. But at Ametis Villa in Canggu, I finally found one that made me think: “This might be the best massage I’ve ever had.” My husband loved it just as much as I did. In fact, we both agreed that we would happily come back to Bali just to experience this massage again. After two blissful hours, my entire body felt unbelievably light — I even noticed that riding my bicycle felt easier after returning to Japan! Here is our experience at the spa at Ametis Villa. The Best Massage of My Life? Our Ametis Villa Spa Experience During our stay at Ametis Villa, we had both a 30-minute massage and a two-hour spa treatment. And they were wonderful. I had experienced many different massages and spa treatments over the years because of my stiff shoulders and lower back, but this one stood out. It honestly felt like one of the best massages I had ever experienced. A Relaxing 30-Minute Massage That Found All the Right Spots This photo was taken during the 30-minute massage. The therapist seemed to know exactly where my body was carrying tension. Rather than simply following a routine, the massage felt focused on the areas that actually needed attention. I wore comfortable villa clothing during the treatment, so the whole experience felt ...

Bali

2026/9/25

Breakfast at Ametis Villa Canggu & a Private Pool All to Ourselves

Life had been busy again, and suddenly I found myself thinking back to the dreamlike time we spent in Bali. This time, I want to share our breakfast and private pool experience at Ametis Villa, a peaceful luxury hideaway in Canggu, Bali. If you ever feel like escaping everyday life and doing absolutely nothing for a while, this kind of villa stay is hard to beat. As of 2026, Ametis Villa continues to offer private pool villas with personal butler service, and breakfast can still be served in the comfort of your villa. Menus and other services may change, so check the latest details before booking. Breakfast at Ametis Villa: Japanese Food with a Funny Surprise One of the best things about breakfast at Ametis Villa is that you do not need to go to a restaurant. Our personal butler brought breakfast directly to our villa. Sitting in our own private space, listening to birds outside and enjoying breakfast at a relaxed pace felt wonderfully luxurious. There was no need to dress up or rush anywhere. A Comforting Japanese Breakfast in Bali That morning, we chose the Japanese breakfast. When it arrived, one small detail immediately made us laugh. “The salmon is facing the opposite direction from how it is usually served in Japan!” Little cultural differences like this are part of what makes traveling overseas so interesting. We had eaten quite a lot during our romantic dinner the night before, so the light and gentle Japanese breakfast was exactly what we wanted the next ...

Bali Overseas Travel

2026/9/27

Ametis Villa Romantic Beach Dinner: Our 30th Anniversary in Bali

One of the things I was most excited about during our Bali trip was the romantic dinner offered by Ametis Villa. The idea of having dinner on the beach while listening to the sound of the waves felt almost too perfect. Just imagining it made me excited. That year was especially meaningful for us because I was celebrating my 60th birthday and we were also marking our 30th wedding anniversary. No matter how old you are, celebrating a special milestone together can still feel wonderfully romantic. So this became our very own version of a honeymoon — or perhaps a “full moon” trip for a long-married couple! 2026 update: Ametis Villa still offers a private beach dining experience in Canggu, with a romantic setup featuring flowers, candlelight and dedicated butler service. The current menu and pricing may differ from what we experienced during our stay, so check the latest details before booking. 1. Relaxing in the Lounge Before Dinner Before heading to the beach, we spent some time relaxing in the lounge at Ametis Villa. The space was large and beautifully decorated with Bali-inspired furniture. At the time, there were no other guests around, so it almost felt as if we had the whole lounge to ourselves. That sense of privacy is one of the things I loved most about staying in a villa. You can move at your own pace without constantly crossing paths with other guests. The dress I wore that evening was something I had bought at a local market in Bali. ...

Bali

2026/9/25

Ametis Villa Canggu Review: Private Pool, Butler Service & a Dreamy Bali Stay

One of the highlights of our Bali trip was staying at Ametis Villa, a luxury private villa in Canggu. We wanted to spend a couple of days simply relaxing at a beautiful villa, and Ametis Villa was exactly what we had imagined. Each villa offers plenty of privacy, and ours came with a spacious private pool, open living area, kitchen, large bathroom, and a dedicated butler. Having a butler who could assist us during our stay also made the experience especially comfortable. For travelers visiting Bali for the first time, staying somewhere that feels private, peaceful, and well looked after can make a big difference. Here is a closer look inside our villa and what it was like to stay at Ametis Villa in Canggu. Checking in at Ametis Villa in Canggu The villas are separated from one another, and our villa was located beyond this private entrance. Even before stepping inside, it already felt very secluded. This was our villa. It had its own garden and a large private swimming pool. The atmosphere felt more like staying in our own private vacation home than in a typical hotel. A Spacious Open Kitchen and Living Area The living space was incredibly spacious. There was a dining table as well as an open kitchen, making it easy to spend time relaxing in the villa without feeling confined to a hotel room. Guests can also use the kitchen. Our butler helped prepare fruit for us, and it was also possible to buy ingredients from a supermarket and ...

Bali

2026/9/27

Lippo Mall Kuta Supermarket: Mangoes, Salak & Bali Souvenir Finds

After returning to our hotel in Kuta from a Nusa Lembongan tour, we decided to visit the supermarket inside Lippo Mall Kuta, just across from where we were staying. I had seen online reviews saying that supermarkets in Bali were a good place to look for souvenirs such as coffee, so I was curious to see what we could find. Supermarkets in Bali are surprisingly fun to explore. The atmosphere felt very different from the supermarkets I usually visit in Japan, and simply walking around looking at the fruit, vegetables, coffee and snacks was enjoyable. As of 2026, Lippo Mall Kuta still has a supermarket. The mall's official information currently lists PRIMO SUPERMARKET on the LG floor. The store and product selection may have changed since our visit, so the photos and products below show what the supermarket was like at the time of our trip. So Many Mangoes at Lippo Mall Kuta! Look at all these mangoes! It is unusual to see this many mangoes displayed together in a supermarket in Japan. They were still quite green. When we tried mangoes during this trip, they were not as sweet as I had expected. They almost tasted more like a vegetable than a sweet tropical fruit. The mangoes I had eaten in Taiwan were much sweeter, so it made me realize how different the same fruit can taste depending on where it is grown and how ripe it is. We Found Salak, Also Known as Snake Fruit This unusual fruit is called salak, also known ...

Bali

2026/9/27

Nusa Lembongan Day Tour: Blue Pools, Beaches & Snorkeling in Bali

This is the second half of our Nusa Lembongan day tour. Relaxing by the Pool with Beautiful Blue Ocean Views Snorkeling and sea walking are fun ways to enjoy Nusa Lembongan, but simply sitting back and looking at the beautiful blue ocean can feel just as luxurious. This pool was located in front of the lunch venue included in the Nusa Lembongan tour we booked through GOGO BALI. At the time, tour participants were able to use the pool freely. The pool, ocean and sky were all blue! Yay! I am 158 cm tall, and the water came up to around my shoulders, so the pool was fairly deep. The water was not cold either. It felt pleasantly warm. On the opposite side of the ocean view, we could also enjoy plenty of greenery. I remember finding the cushioned sofas beside the pool a little surprising. They looked very comfortable, although I did wonder what happened when everyone came out of the pool soaking wet! It was such a photogenic place. The blue of the pool seemed to continue straight into the blue ocean. Then beyond that was the blue sky. This was one of those beautiful Bali views that I could have stared at for hours. If you visit Nusa Lembongan, spending some time somewhere like this is definitely worth considering. Relaxing at the Beach Without Carrying Too Much When we joined the tour, the beach in front of this pool was introduced to us as “Mandala Beach.” The sun can be very strong ...

Bali

2026/9/27

Nusa Lembongan Snorkeling Tour: Marine Walk & Bali Ocean Adventure

On our second day in Bali, my husband Masahiro and I joined a Nusa Lembongan snorkeling tour. Because we had to leave early in the morning, the staff at our hotel kindly prepared a packed breakfast for us. Little touches like that made the trip feel much easier. Here is what the experience was like for us as a couple in our 60s. Starting Our Nusa Lembongan Tour by Car I took this photo from the car on the way to the boat departure point. There were relatively few traffic lights in this area and the traffic moved quickly, so many of my photos ended up blurry. This shop was selling Buddha statues and other decorative pieces. There were so many different designs lined up outside. Next, We Took a Boat to Nusa Lembongan This photo was taken just before we boarded the boat to Nusa Lembongan. Even here, I could already feel the relaxed Bali atmosphere. From this point, we continued to the island by boat. I always get excited when we reach the ocean. The sea here felt quite different from Hawaii. There was more of a natural seaside smell, and the sand reminded me a little of beaches in Japan. But the water was still very clear. What I Wore for Snorkeling in My 60s My swimsuit was a camisole-and-shorts set. I found this kind of style easy to wear in my 60s. I wanted something comfortable and cute without feeling too exposed, so this style worked well for me. Something like ...