Latest news with #Ubud
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Padma Run Soars to New Heights with Inaugural Bali Edition
BALI, Indonesia, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Following four successful editions in Bandung and two in Semarang, Padma Run marked a new milestone with its inaugural Bali event on May 2025. With more than 740 runners set off through the lush highlands of Payangan Village, Ubud, an area known for its untouched natural beauty and tranquil atmosphere. What began in 2019 as a local initiative, has now grown into a vibrant community of enthusiasts, united by the rallying cry #LaceUpForChange, supporting a chosen cause through the Padma GIVE programme (Grant, Inspire, Volunteer, Empower), each event champions a meaningful cause. In Bali, this year's run was a collaboration between Padma Resort Ubud and Padma Resort Legian, with more than IDR 100 Million, which will be dedicated to enhancing educational facilities of SDN 2 Puhu, benefiting the 102 elementary school students in process. The race featured three categories, 5K, 10K, and Kids Dash, and welcomed runners of all levels and ages. Participants came not only from across Bali, but also from more than 70 cities such as Jakarta, Pangkal Pinang, and Jayapura, across 9 international destinations including South Africa and the United States, highlighting the event's growing global appeal. "Being the first Padma Run Bali, I never imagined we'd achieve something of this magnitude. Beyond crafting an unforgettable event, we've also made a lasting contribution to education; enhancing learning environments and empowering our community. It is the incredible spirit shown by every runner, volunteer, and partner involved that made it all possible. We truly could not have done it without you." said Inez Teresa, Race Director of Padma Run Bali 2025. What differentiated Padma Run Bali 2025 was its seamless blend of sport and culture. Participants were treated to fresh mountain air, peaceful village views, and immersive touches of Balinese tradition woven into the race experience. The opening ceremony featured the iconic Tari Barong and Kera dance, energising the crowd at the starting line. Along the scenic course, runners encountered joyful Joged dancers at kilometre one and a mystical appearance by Hanooman at kilometre seven, infusing the journey with the island's rich mythology and vibrant spirit. "The event truly honoured Balinese root, both on the intricate decorations and the vibrant dance performances that greeted us throughout the course. The route is challenging yet rewarding, winding through lush landscapes that kept runners motivated. The refreshments were thoughtfully curated and the race village buzzed with endless energy and prizes!! Having experienced countless runs across Bali, I can say this event stands out for its seamless blend of culture, course design, and community spirit. I encourage everyone to join Padma Run Bali next year, or in any other part of Indonesia for that matter!" stated one of the 10K runners after event. From the picturesque trails of Bandung, the serene hills of Ubud, to the lively streets of Semarang, Padma Run offers more than just a race, it cultivates meaningful moments, fostering community spirit, and supporting worthy causes. Looking ahead, Padma Hotels will continue its 2025 series with Padma Run Semarang on September 2025, promising another day of community engagement and charitable impact in the heart of Central Java. Be a part of the expansive Padma Run community and stay connected with updates on the upcoming events by following their Instagram account @padma_run. About Padma Hotels Previously known as Sekar Alliance Hotel Management, Padma Hotels has two exclusive properties on the island of Bali, a hillside town of Bandung, a prestigious highland of Semarang, and an industrial area in Karawang. All of them are inspired by the rich artistry and cultural heritage of these unique locations. This is reflected through the design aesthetic as well as the gracious hospitality of each property. Padma Hotels is committed to the care and comfort of its guests through dedicated service and up-to-date facilities. Padma Resort Legian and Padma Resort Ubud are the perfect introduction to the carefree ambiance of tropical living, Padma Hotel Bandung uplifts the senses with breathtaking natural scenery, Padma Hotel Semarang brings resort ambiance and contemporary opulence to the city, while Resinda Hotel Karawang, managed by Padma Hotels, is an oasis in the center of the industrial area. About Padma Resort Legian Padma Resort Legian is a five-star resort in Bali that comes under the banner of Padma Hotels management. It is encompassed within a 9.6-hectare parcel of tropical landscape overlooking Bali's legendary sunset beach and is just 15 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport. The resort is an uplifting environment where guests can experience the fun of an artistic lifestyle. Accommodation is a collection of 437 comfortable rooms and suites, each with its own private balcony or terrace for heightened relaxation. About Padma Resort Ubud Ensconced within an untouched river valley overlooking the enchanting bamboo forests of Payangan in Ubud; the 149-room Padma Resort Ubud is an expansive destination resort located north of Bali's celebrated cultural centre. Featuring the five-star amenities and facilities offered by the renowned Padma hospitality brand, including stunning views from every room or suite, an 89-metre infinity swimming pool and signature world-class dining venues, the expansive resort comprises 11 hectares and offers discerning travellers a rare opportunity to experience contemporary Balinese architecture and artworks in an unparalleled natural setting. 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Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I moved to Bali with my husband, but paradise changed us: British TikTok influencer reveals how she's now a single mother and going through a 'really bad time' as new dream life went sour after just a year
A pair of thrifty TikTok influencers who ditched their dreary life in rainy Manchester to live out their dream island life in Bali have split up, MailOnline can reveal. Carlie Donnelley, 37, and her partner Matt Dearing, 38, both from Denton in Manchester, took the plunge two years ago, moving their three children across the world to south-east Asia. The family at the time jumped at the opportunity to sell their £365,000 three-bed in exchange for a similar size home on the Indonesian island that cost just £2,000 to rent for the whole year. While they rented out the home in Ubud, the couple planned to kick off their own construction firm, called Serenity Living Bali. They planned to build their own luxurious villa, as well as a number of other two, four and five bedroom properties to eventually sell or rent out. But despite their intentions to 'escape the rat race' and 'live financially free', the couple, who had been together for 15 years, sadly split one year into their new life abroad. Beautician Carlie, who has 11,000 TikTok followers, revealed that Matt moved out just 12 months into their new life abroad, leaving her a single mother abroad with three children under the age of 10. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline from her rented home in Bali, Carlie said: 'Things did not go to plan but I am working on it. I am trying to now navigate this new life, on the other side of the world, on my own. 'I am living in paradise but also going through a really bad time in my life. It's definitely not how I imagined things would be when we first moved to Bali but I still don't regret it. 'I would still absolutely recommend other Brits to come abroad here, the people are amazing, everyone out here is really friendly, people have ambition and drive. 'People are striving to be their best selves and it's definitely a more positive way of life. That's helped loads during this time - it has been a roller-coaster of emotions. 'The kids are happy here, they love it. It's just me who has had a hard time with the breakup. But I am working through it. We are still co-parenting out here and doing the best we can for our kids.' 'I hope other single mothers see what I am doing out here, creating a life for ourselves abroad thousands of miles from our families,' she added. 'It has been rocky, I am still trying to figure things out but it is doable and the positives are still outweighing the negatives.' Carlie would not go into further details about the split but both parents have remained in Bali trying to continue with their own plans to get out of the dreary UK and provide a 'better life' for their children. Carlie has now ditched her former Instagram account, which was filled with pictures of her and Matt, for a new one about 'Bali living' where she describes herself as a 'mum of three' in her 'beach gal era'. Her new life as a single mother-of-three living abroad has attracted a significant following, where she openly speaks about her heartbreak and how she manages day-to-day life. And while she has thought about returning to Manchester to be closer to her family, for now, Carlie has stayed put on the island. In another video, she said: 'Two years ago I moved to Bali. It didn't quite go as planned and I ended up as a single mum 12 months in. 'Many times I've wanted to run back home to Manchester for family support but it was also a dream to leave the UK and create a better life for my babies. 'So for them I stayed to see if I can make it work and what better place to heal than in Bali.' In another post from earlier this year she wrote: 'Crazy how life can be falling apart and coming together at the same time. 'Going through one of the worst times in my life but also living the best time of my life.' The move was intended to give them financial freedom and enable them to spend as much time as possible with their three youngsters. But as Carlie told MailOnline this week, she said: 'I am living in paradise but also going through a really bad time in my life.' When she moved Carlie, originally from Denton, urged other parents to make the bold leap to Bali - just like her. But now she would urge caution having learned the hard way that living in a different country away from everything you know back home can be a challenge Despite the hurt from the split, Carlie insisted Matt was 'not a bad person' and that people change when they move to a different country. She said 'when you move to another country you can become a whole new person' and that despite having been together so long both changed. Matt, who previously owned five houses in Manchester, is now nowhere to be seen on social media. The couple's accounts for their property development firm have been taken down and it is unclear what his life in Indonesia looks like now. It is a far cry from the life they had envisioned for themselves when they initially decided to pack up and leave the UK. The couple bought one-way tickets to the country in November 2022 - even though relatives thought they were 'mad' and thought they would not go through with it. Matt said at the time: 'This was something we have wanted to do for years. A couple of times we would go over to Spain, and I was looking for cave houses as I wanted to go off grid. 'In the UK it got to the point where I wasn't spending much time with my kids. I would spend about an hour with them before bedtime. 'I was constantly chasing bills and working. I did a lot of research into Bali as it has all-year-round tourism, and the weather is great.' By March that year, the couple had found a plot of land to build their home on for £100,000. Matt had said he grown tired of working 'ten hours, seven days a week sometimes'. He added: 'The return on your investment here is amazing. We sold the UK house we were living in and doing up for £365,000. With that money, we were able to buy a 1,200 square foot plot of land to build two villas on. 'We have struck gold - this is everything we want. For us, being financially free is literally freedom to do whatever we want with the kids, compared to working ten hours, seven days a week sometimes'. 'I have always dreamed of dropping the kids off at school and picking them up - I can do that here. 'The people here are lovely and show a lot of gratitude - it ticked all the right boxes'. At age 24, Matt fantasised about earning a sufficient income, and having enough savings and investments to live a comfortable life. But by the time he was 36, reality hit, and even though the savvy father owned a staggering five houses in Manchester, his dreams quickly turned sour when he realised he was nowhere near where he wanted to be. He said: 'At the time I owned five houses in Manchester, and I realised that in order for me to be financially free I would need ten of those but I wanted to do it quicker. 'I was working so hard at home, I didn't have much of a social life. I didn't really go out partying - my main goal was that I wanted to be financially free. 'It was something I have been pushing for the last ten years. Because of the cost of living in Bali, it is something we will achieve quicker'. Their family back in Manchester had warned the couple to 'stop being silly' and said 'everyone was calling us mad'. Matt said prior to the break-up that the move felt like 'we struck gold' with 'every weekend being family weekend'. 'The only thing about being out in Bali is you don't have that support network anymore,' he said discussing the disadvantages at the time. 'We are hoping we get to the point where we can fly our family here and we are planning on coming back to the UK for two to three months at a time.' Carlie has since been back to Manchester once to visit her unwell grandfather, while the kids have not left the country in two years.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
I was warned that Bali would be different when I returned after decades away. But I was still FLOORED by the reality...
A Gen X Aussie has shared his shock at how drastically Bali has changed from a cheap holiday paradise to an Instagram-obsessed hotspot. Craig Lambert, now in his late 50s, told Daily Mail Australia he first touched down on the island in 1988 when he was a young man looking for adventure. Then, palm trees lined modern-day high streets, surfing backpackers roamed the dusty roads, and a singlet cost just 50c. But when Mr Lambert and his wife returned to Ubud this year, the tourists of today just left him and his wife scratching their heads. 'It was my first trip back to Asia in many years, seems like a lot of places are now for TikTokers and Instagram types,' he said. 'There was one lady we saw in Ubud in the huge resort we stayed at who would do laps around the resort wearing full makeup and carrying yoga equipment. 'She never seemed to go do the yoga – just walked around taking selfies and wanting to be seen. 'That seem a bit odd to oldies like my partner and I.' He said the 'vibe' had changed. The old-world charm of 80s Bali had been replaced by cookie-cutter development you could find anywhere in the world. 'It felt like a real adventure for a young bloke in his 20s. This visit I can see how much Bali has grown to cater for the tourists,' Mr Lambert said. 'The malls could be anywhere in Australia and it's not as cheap as chips anymore. 'The singlet I bought for the photo cost $6, the one in 1988 probably cost 50c. 'There's a lot of men in the stalls now and some can be quite pushy, enough to make the missus and I want to avoid going in. Back in '88 I remember having lots of fun with the stall owners bartering. It was a hoot - this trip not so much.' Mr Lambert said even the beaches had changed. 'There were no places set up with chairs for drinks if I remember correctly,' he said. He shared a 'before and after' picture near the Sari Club Bali Memorial, exposing just how much had changed in the last few decades. The photos were shared on Facebook with many social media users lamenting the drastic changes. 'Maybe it is the beautiful sunlight and the greenery in the top photo... but Bali back then had such a positive, happy vibe to it,' one wrote. 'Somehow that got lost along the way, I really miss it.' 'Old Bali had its quiet charm, untouched and raw. Today it's different: busy, built-up,' another woman agreed. 'You haven't changed a bit,' a third quipped. Bali was recently deemed the world's top destination to avoid, with tourism-driven development and well-documented plastic pollution pushing the island to the brink. In the past two decades, the sector has eclipsed the island's other industries, including its declining agriculture sector. Bali has remained the top travel destination for Australians, with 1.3million visiting in 2024. Australians were put on notice by Balinese officials earlier this year, as many locals have been left upset by the increasing numbers of poorly-behaving tourists. In March, bizarre footage emerged of a tourist being wheeled on a trolley through the streets by security staff with his wrists and ankles tied. 'Drunk foreigner causes chaos at Y Sport Bar, Legian – starts hitting people,' the caption to the video shared on the Instagram page said. Legian is a popular tourist area of Denpasar located between the bustling hive of Kuta to the south and Seminyak to the north. Commenters on the clip commended the way security staff handled the situation and said it was 'tough to find the balance between being welcoming as a tourist island and letting tourists walk all over us'. 'Gotta admire the way this was handled,' one said, while another added: 'This kind of tourist we don't need in Bali. Jungle behaviour!' One viewer branded the incident 'Bali Bogan strikes again!' as another posted: 'Looks like they're taking him to a dumpster... Give him another Bintang.' The man's nationality was unclear, but the incident came after Australians were caught up in a brawl at the famous Finns Beach Club in nearby North Kuta earlier this year. Five tourists had a fight with about 15 security staff in that incident.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Take a peek inside this pavilion-style home on the lush island paradise of Bali
Almost two decades ago, husband-and-wife team Marcello Massoni and Michela Foppiani moved from Italy to Ubud in Bali to develop their hand-thrown pottery brand, Gaya Ceramic. Fast-forward to today and the company has a team of more than 100 local craftspeople who create one-of-a-kind ceramics, hand-thrown using a variety of natural materials such as porcelain, raku clay and stoneware. Clients include Armani/Casa and Bulgari Hotels. The couple's home – set in the middle of a rice field surrounded by jungle and a creek – consists of two large Limasan pavilions (traditional Indonesian houses made without walls). One features a lounge, kitchen and dining space. The other contains the TV area, bathrooms and bedrooms, the only enclosed spaces in the house to give protection from the wild animals that roam at night. All other areas lead seamlessly outdoors. In the open-plan dining area, a stainless-steel kitchen is framed by glass windows and teak columns that both insulate and support the space while allowing uninterrupted vistas over the landscape. A handpainted trompe l'oeil mural, based on the work of artist Henri Rousseau, wraps and zones the kitchen area. The concrete countertops and flooring absorb heat from the sun during the day and store it for cool nights. A traditional decorative bull head – found in homes in the Tana Toraja region of Sulawesi island – hangs above a handmade dresser in the entranceway and a gallery wall displays pieces collected from friends and family down through the years. 'Everything in our home has a story,' says Michela. The downstairs bathroom is adorned with ceramic leaves made by Michela to reflect the surroundings, and shelves throughout are stacked with the brand's ceramics. There is no such thing as a 'failure' at their studio. 'If we can't sell it or it doesn't work out the way we planned, we usually take it home or upcycle it,' says Marcello. 'It keeps things evolving and interesting.' This is an edited extract from The Reimagined Home: Sustainable Spaces Created With Joy by Nicole Gray, which will be published on 29 May by Quadrille, £35. To order a copy for £29.75 with free delivery until 8 June go to or call 020 3176 2937
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Experience More with a Longer Stay at The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali
BALI, Indonesia, May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Surrounded by lush landscapes and located just moments away from Ubud's cultural and natural treasures, such as the Sacred Monkey Forest, Campuhan Ridge Walk, Tegalalang Rice Terraces, and Tampaksiring, The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, invites travelers to slow down, recharge, and truly experience the essence of Bali. Guests who choose to stay longer are rewarded with deeper connections. Upon arrival, they are welcomed with a traditional Balinese blessing ritual, a symbolic gesture of harmony and respect. This cultural immersion continues throughout the stay, with opportunities to participate in meaningful traditions such as the art of making canang sari offerings and the calming Sandikala ritual at sunset. The Westin brand's core philosophy of wellness comes to life in Ubud through daily yoga, revitalizing aqua exercise, and hands on sessions like the Barista Class and Mixology Class. The experience is further elevated with signature Heavenly Spa Ubud by Westin™️ treatments, designed to restore body and mind in a serene jungle setting. Complementing this immersive journey, the resort's culinary experiences reflect the Eat Well pillar of the Westin brand. From nourishing breakfasts to wholesome lunches and dinners, guests can indulge in thoughtfully prepared dishes at Tabia Restaurant and Tall Trees Restaurant, each crafted to balance flavor and well-being. For a fresh take on wellness dining, guests may also opt to enjoy their meals at Tabia Terrace, the resort's newest dining spot offering a serene open air ambiance. All of these experiences unfold naturally when guests take the time to truly immerse themselves in the rhythm of Ubud. To enhance this journey, The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali presents the "Stay Longer, Save Bigger" offer, ideal for travelers seeking a deeper connection and a more enriching escape. For additional information and reservations, please visit or contact the reservations team at Follow The Westin Resort & Spa, Ubud social media to find the latest information and promotions: Instagram and Facebook Media Contact: Nadya ChendanaMarketing Manager The Westin Resort & Spa Bali, View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
