The best surfer hangouts in Bali

Bali’s surf scene is legendary – in fact, some of the first Western visitors to the island in the 1930s were wave worshippers captivated by the warm, clear waters off Kuta Beach. While urban development has mushroomed in some pockets, Bali still has its fair share of off-the-beaten-path surf spots and uncrowded line-ups. Couple this with trendy surf-themed eateries and quality surf schools and you have the winning formula for a swell holiday.

Kuta Beach is a great place for beginner surfers

The starting point: Kuta Beach

Once a quiet stretch of sand, Kuta Beach is today teeming with vendors hawking anything and everything from massages and henna tattoos to ice-cold drinks and local snacks. But rampant tourism hasn’t dampened the beach’s allure as a prime surf spot. Renowned for its accessible swells and reliable waves, Kuta is an ideal training ground for beginners. More seasoned surfers can head to nearby Kuta Reef, an offshore break easily accessible by boat.

Grab your gear from The Drifter. Photo credit: Tommy Schultz

The store: Drifter

Get kitted out at this shop, café and gallery all rolled into one. Drifter stands in stark contrast to larger surf stores on the island. Instead of retailing big-name brands, it focuses on promoting independent and up-and-coming labels, as well as surf-related art. Here, you’ll find one-of-a-kind surfboards, stylish accessories, surf-related books and collectibles. Complete your shopping experience with an espresso at the on-site café.

Grab a board and get your lessons at The Chillhouse

The surf school: Chillhouse

Chillhouse opened back in 2005 when the hipster stomping ground of Canggu was still very much a sleepy surf village. Today, the long-standing institution offers surfing lessons for all levels, along with accommodation and yoga classes. Sign up for one of the various packages and hone your skills on the punchy barrels of Canggu’s fringing reefs.

The Balcony is a Bali favourite with celebrity surfers

The restaurant: The Balcony

This breezy second-floor café in the heart of Kuta has welcomed surfing legends such as Rob Machado, Kelly Slater and Mick Fanning. The décor here is on point – think surfboards adorning the ceiling, a Wall of Fame documenting famous visitors and shelves stacked with surfing magazines. On the food front, there is a diverse menu of salads, pastas, seafood dishes and Indonesian classics – best washed down with a frozen margarita or two.

The secret swell: Balian Beach

Approximately a 2.5-hour drive northwest of the airport, Balian Beach makes for a great escape from the nearby tourist enclaves of Canggu and Seminyak. Still relatively undeveloped, this unpretentious beach is known for its long swells and picturesque black sands. Balian village also offers accommodation and restaurants for those who wish to stay in the area overnight.

Cliff Surf Camp is situated near some of the island’s best waves

The all-in-one venue: Surf Camp Bali – Cliff

Guests at this surf camp on the picturesque Bukit Peninsula practically live and breathe the sport. Surrounded by caves and hills and only accessible via a stepped path, this laid-back venue offers accommodation, surfing lessons and yoga classes. Some of the island’s best surf breaks – including Green Bowl (which is just 150m away), Padang Padang, Uluwatu and Impossibles – are within easy reach.

Try out night surfing in Komune and then indulge in the luxury of their villas

The night surfing spot: Komune

Fancy a challenge? Head to Komune on the east coast of Bali, one of the first resorts in the world to offer night surfing. Every evening from 7pm to midnight, the Keramas reef is illuminated by enormous floodlights, with daredevils riding the powerful right-handers and deep barrels that spill onto the gorgeous black-sand beach. Limited to just six surfers per night, it’ll certainly be a surfing experience like no other.

Wind down with fellow surfers after a day on the waves

The post-surf bar: Old Man’s

Named after one of Canggu’s most popular surf breaks, Old Man’s attracts a mix of expats and tourists, who often come in straight from the waves. The open-air venue features a long bar and a lounge area with plenty of seating, where you can quench your thirst with an ice-cold beer or an espresso martini. Refuel with an array of pizzas, salads, burgers, fish and chips, or Asian dishes like chicken curry. Visit on Wednesdays for beer pong nights, and on Fridays and Saturdays for live music.

FEATURE IMAGE BY TOMMY SCHULTZ

Singapore Airlines flies to Bali four times daily. To book a flight, visit singaporeair.com

SEE ALSO: Best yoga retreats in Bali

This article was originally published in the August 2018 issue of SilverKris magazine

The post The best surfer hangouts in Bali appeared first on SilverKris.

from SilverKris

Best mooncakes to try in Singapore 2026

The Mid-Autumn festival has been observed since the early Tang dynasty (618 – 907), with the cakes themselves believing to have originated in the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) when revolutionaries used them to pass secret messages to each other.

In China, Mid-Autumn festival is a public holiday where families get together to enjoy grand lantern processions, moongazing and a sumptuous feast. In places like Hong Kong, carnivals and lantern displays, as well as the Fire Dragon Dance, are held in public spaces like Victoria Park.

Here in Singapore, while places like Chinatown and Gardens by the Bay are decked out with colourful lanterns for all to enjoy, it is the variety of mooncakes that most choose to celebrate with. Traditional mooncakes are often made with lotus seed paste and salted egg yolks, but today, there is a mind boggling variety. Here are some of the very best to share with your family on the 24 September.

Traditional mooncakes from Thye Moh Chan

1. For old-school, flaky pastry: Thye Moh Chan

Thye Moh Chan, the 75-year-old Teochew confectionery has rolled out a collection of handcrafted mooncakes with a unique and memorable light flaky pastry. Like the brand’s signature tau sar piah, these seasonal items are hand-crafted the traditional way, using high quality ingredients such as meticulously prepared smooth mung bean filling.

The mooncakes feature a mix of savoury and sweet fillings, such as favourites like the Salty Tau Sar with Salted Egg Yolk ($38.80) and Sweet Tau Sar with Melon Seeds ($38.80). The brand has also introduced a new flavour – Red Bean Mochi with Salted Egg Yolk ($38.80). The pastry is woven with sweet Taiwanese red beans and soft chewy mochi, and balanced with salted egg yolk and melon seeds. Those who are more adventurous can zero in on the limited-edition Mao Shan Wang Durian with smooth durian-infused mung bean paste ($43.80). The mooncakes come in pretty pastel packaging with peony flower motifs.

Chinatown Point, #01-45/46, Paragon #B1-11/12, Changi Airport Terminal 2 (Level 2, Departure Lounge)

Shangri-La’s signature mini baked custard with bird’s nest

2. For luxury with a healthy twist: Shangri-La Hotel

This year, Shang Palace has created Hong Kong style baked custard mooncakes filled with delicate bird’s nest. The hand-crafted treats are rich and creamy, yet not overwhelmingly sweet. Shang Palace’s Executive Chinese Chef Mok Kit Keung who was previously at the helm of the two Michelin-starred Shang Palace at Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong, created these Signature Mini Baked Custard with Bird’s Nest for Singapore’s market for the first time. These golden gems come in elegant champagne gold “treasure chests” with intricate designs.  They are available in a box of eight pieces at $118, and perfect for gifting.

Goodwood Park Hotel’s Mao Shan Wang snowskin mooncake

3. For durian lovers: Goodwood Park Hotel

Durian lovers will enjoy Goodwood Park’s popular D24 and ‘Mao Shan Wang’ snowskin mooncakes. These soft snowksin mooncakes are freshly made using pure durian pulp without any preservatives.

The premium Mao Shan Wang Durian Mooncakes are $88 for four pieces and $56 for two, and the luscious D24 Durian Mooncakes are $56 for 2 pieces and $88 for four. Great for gifting is the Snowskin Combo ($62 for four pieces) featuring tropical fruit-based mooncakes: Soursop with Calamansi, Mango with Pomelo, Cempedak and D24 Durian.

Fairmont Singapore’s Salted Egg Caramel mini snowskin

4. For snowskin mooncake fans: Fairmont Singapore

Fairmont Singapore is most known for its handmade mooncakes featuring soft delicate snowskin, and unique flavours, sometimes infused with alcohol.

Two of its best-sellers include the Mini Champagne Truffle & Chocolate Ganache snowskin mooncake ($70 for eight), and the snow-pearl edition of Mini Rum & Raisin with Chocolate Truffle ($68 for eight). This year, the dim sum team also unveiled their new Mini Salted Egg Caramel mooncakes ($68 for eight). The delicate rose-hued treat with a dark chocolate praline in the centre is well-balanced with a touch of saltiness.

Black Sesame Raspberry Truffle mooncakes

5. For bite-sized options: Simple Indulgence Patisserie

This small boutique bakery offers handcrafted petite-sized snowskin mooncakes using only natural ingredients – from the various flavour pairings to the delicate snowskin made with a special house blend flour.

For example, fresh raspberries are used to tinge the snowskin of the Black Sesame Raspberry Truffle treat. Other sublime flavours include the Japanese Yuzu Truffle –  yuzu is infused into the snowskin, and paired with low sugar white lotus paste. The centerpiece is a white chocolate truffle filled with yuzu white chocolate. For a local touch, try the blue-hued Butterfly Pea Gula Melaka made with low sugar Gula Melaka lotus paste and a dark chocolate truffle filled with white chocolate coconut ganache. Prices start from $34.

Old Seng Choong Various Baked Mooncake Flavours

6. For a traditional throwback: Old Seng Choong

This year, heritage brand Old Seng Choong presents seven traditional mooncakes. New this season are three traditional baked flavours: White Lotus Paste with Durian Paste ($66.80); White Lotus with Yolk Blend and Mixed Seeds (pine nuts, pumpkin seeds and melon seeds ($66.80)); and Longan with Wugu ($66.80) whose filling is made with pure dried longan paste, dried longan and ‘wugu’ – a mix of five different seeds and berries. Top pastry chef Daniel Tay has also experimented with various ingredients such as dark chocolate, liquors, seeds, nuts, as well as durian, longan, yuzu and cherries.

Yàn Thousand Layer Yam Mooncakes

7. For something different: Yàn

For a flaky, crisp pastry that you won’t find in many places in Singapore, try Yan’s Thousand Layer Yam mooncakes, inspired by the Teochew style of mooncakes. In layers of crispy, light, golden pastry, the sweet yam filling is aromatic and pleasant, a perfect balance. Yàn’s mooncakes are available in boxes of four pieces (from $62); the version with single yolk embedded within is $64. Order them one day in advance.

SEE ALSO: Pamper yourself at these relaxing spas in Singapore

The post Best mooncakes to try in Singapore 2026 appeared first on SilverKris.

from SilverKris

Coming soon: Spectacular art festivals in Melbourne and Sydney

The post Coming soon: Spectacular art festivals in Melbourne and Sydney appeared first on SilverKris.

from SilverKris

Weekend escapes in Hong Kong and Shenzhen

The post Weekend escapes in Hong Kong and Shenzhen appeared first on SilverKris.

from SilverKris

Zurich Airport VIP Service

The post Zurich Airport VIP Service appeared first on SilverKris.

from SilverKris