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Easter Joy for Every Bunny: Padma Golden Egg Hunt

08 Apr 2025 by Bella

Easter Joy for Every Bunny: Padma Golden Egg Hunt Image

“Spring has sprung,” as they like to say in the West when April rolls around. While the season doesn’t quite make it to tropical Bali, Easter is still a big deal on the island. Hotels go all out with Easter brunches, the kind that might just have you unbuttoning your jeans from all the deliciousness.

But beyond the brunches, there’s one fun tradition that Padma Hotels brings back every Easter weekend – not just in Bali, but across all their properties in West and Central Java too; Padma Golden Egg Hunt.

This activity brings back all the nostalgic feels – remember the good old days of egg hunting? Well, Padma Hotels is keeping the tradition alive at all their properties: Padma Resort Legian, Padma Resort Ubud, Padma Hotel Bandung, Padma Hotel Semarang, and Resinda Hotel Karawang. Last year, guests absolutely loved it, with families and friends joining in the fun, racing to find the hidden eggs and sharing laughs along the way. It was such a hit that it’s making a much-anticipated return!

Padma Golden Egg Hunt

There’s one golden egg to find each day, and it’s got the main prize inside!

Newsflash: if you’re thinking of a staycation at Padma Hotel Bandung, better book it soon – they’ll be closing temporarily for a mega transformation starting 20 April 2025!

Clues for the egg hunt will be shared on each hotel’s Instagram account (so keep those notifications on or someone else might beat you to it!). Every egg has a fun little treat inside – think ice cream, dessert, or milkshakes, but there’s ONE Golden Egg per day, and that one holds the grand prize.

And hey, big kids! Don’t worry, this hunt is open to all ages! No guarantee the adults will win though…because the little ones have way too much energy to keep up with! hehe.

It’s such a fun and thoughtful tradition from Padma Hotels, a brand already known for being super family-friendly. It’s not really about the prizes, it’s the joy of the game that makes it so special.

So, get ready to channel your inner detective from Friday, 18 April to Sunday, 20 April 2025 at your favourite Padma Hotels destination! Stay tuned to their official Instagram accounts:

@padmalegian, @padmaubud, @padmabandung, @padmasemarang, @resindahotel 

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What It’s Like to Live in Bali: Cost, Culture, and Everyday Life Image

22 May 2025 by Bella in Info

What It’s Like to Live in Bali: Cost, Culture, and Everyday Life

If you're new to Kata Bella, you're probably wondering what this website is all about. So hi! I'm Bella. I started this page as a blog to share fun and interesting things about life in Bali - the place I've called home for the past 12 years, as well as bits and pieces from my journeys outside Bali too. I first moved here completely unplanned - I “accidentally” got a job while travelling. Yep, accidentally. I left my big city life behind and landed on this island with nothing but a small suitcase. Wait…where is Bali again? Bali might sound familiar -  people talk about it all the time. But I’m no longer surprised that a lot of people still don’t know where it is (It’s okay, though. No judgement here). So here's a quick geography check: Bali is a small island in Indonesia, a country in Southeast Asia made up of over 17,000 islands. Despite all that competition, Bali has consistently been in the spotlight as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. 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The island is home to several volcanic mountains, with options for everyone - from casual hikers to hardcore trail runners. Mount Batur is a popular sunrise hike that’s beginner-friendly, while Mount Abang or Mount Agung offer a more challenging climb. Ok next, chances are, you’ve heard that many people come to Bali to find healing, with plenty of spots offering spiritual journeys and wellness retreats. Honestly, the list is endless. Bali really does have something for everyone. Whether you’re into silent retreats and meditation or the party scene (I’ve been through all kinds of phases during my 20s here, hehe). The highland areas of Bali, like Kintamani and Bedugul has cooler temperatures But for me, it’s the local Balinese people who make Bali truly special. While they’re open-minded and influenced by Western culture, there’s still a deep-rooted sense of tradition, spirituality, and ceremony. It’s not unusual for your Monday morning commute to be paused by a temple procession right in the middle of the road - and that’s part of the charm. I often get invited to odalan (ceremonies), and I still remember getting my first Balinese attire. Next thing I knew, I had a whole collection in different colours for all kinds of occasions! What to expect when you live in Bali Living in Bali definitely has its perks - especially if you’re into that laid-back, but not too slow, kind of slow living. It’s not as fast-paced or hectic as Jakarta or other big cities, so if you’re all about climbing the corporate ladder, Bali might not be the best fit. But it’s not super quiet either - definitely not like a sleepy village. Bali strikes a nice balance between work and play, hustle and chill. It's a real perk to still have time for yourself after work I said yes to my first job here because I was drawn to the work-life balance, the quality of life, and the lifestyle I wanted. 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How to Stay in Thailand Visa-Free for 90 Days Image

18 Feb 2026 by Bella in Asia

How to Stay in Thailand Visa-Free for 90 Days

If you’re Indonesian, you probably already know that Thailand is among the countries we can enter without a visa. But I only recently found out that not many people realise you can actually stay for a total of 90 days. You get 60 days visa-free when you first enter, and then you can apply for an extension at the local immigration office. At first, I thought I needed a visa agent because I’d never done anything like this before and was scared of getting rejected. But when I went to the immigration office in Chiang Mai for the first time, they happily explained the steps. It was surprisingly easy - and you can absolutely do it yourself. Check how many days you can stay in Thailand visa-free on Thai e-visa official website You may also like this article: A Guide to Doi Suthep Temple, Chiang Mai: 4 Things to Know The first 60 daysArriving in ThailandAfter your first 30 daysApplying for your extensionFinal Thoughts The first 60 days After checking several trusted official websites, the rule (at the time I’m writing this) hasn’t changed. Indonesians can enter Thailand visa-free and stay for 60 days, despite the uncertain news you might have seen on social media. What shocked me was that during check-in at Soekarno–Hatta, when I showed my return ticket, the staff questioned my 60-day stay - even the immigration officer seemed unsure. But don’t worry. If you’re ever in doubt, you can check the official Thai e-visa official website and enter your nationality (if you’re not Indonesian) to confirm whether you can enter visa-free and how long you’re allowed to stay. Fill in TDAC online before you fly Arriving in Thailand Don’t forget to fill in the TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) form before arriving in Thailand - you can do it a day before your trip to stay organised. In the form, you’ll be asked for your return flight details. When you’re in the immigration line, you just need to scan the barcode sent to your email. As long as you haven’t been going in and out of Thailand a suspicious number of times in the past few months, you should be fine. I landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, and after scanning the QR code, they didn’t even ask me any questions. You may also like this article: What It’s Like to Live in Bali: Cost, Culture, and Everyday Life After your first 30 days Depending on where you’re staying in Thailand, you can look up the nearest immigration office. I was based in Chiang Mai, and the immigration office there is conveniently located inside a shopping mall called Central Festival Chiang Mai. After you’ve spent a month in the country, or basically before your 60 days run out, you can apply for a 30-day extension. Here’s what you’ll need: Applying for your extension It’s actually pretty straightforward once you have all your documents ready. You can show up during opening hours, but like most administrative offices, I’d suggest going early. I’m not sure about other cities, but in Chiang Mai they’re closed for lunch from 12–1pm. When I arrived, an officer checked our documents first. They’ll let you know if you’re missing anything or forgot to fill in a section. If everything’s in order, they’ll sign it off and give you a queue number. After that, you just sit inside and wait for your number to be called. When it’s your turn, hand over the checked documents and pay the 1,900 Baht fee in cash. Then you wait another 15–30 minutes (depending on how busy it is). Your name will be called, they’ll take a quick photo of you, and hand back your passport with a new stamp giving you another 30 days to stay in this beautiful country. In my personal experience, I wasn’t asked a single question, and the staff were actually pretty nice - you know how immigration offices can sometimes feel a bit intimidating? Anyway, that’s it. The whole process was done in one day, which was great and super efficient. Final Thoughts So yes, staying in Thailand visa-free for 90 days is completely doable for Indonesians and many other nationalities, and you don’t need an agent to make it happen. It might feel intimidating at first (especially with all the mixed information online), but once you understand the steps, it’s actually very manageable. My biggest tips are to double-check official sources, prepare your documents properly, and go early to the immigration office. That’s really it. Hope you find this article useful and happy holiday! 

5 Co-working Spaces in Jogja to Get Things Done Image

12 Apr 2026 by Bella in Info

5 Co-working Spaces in Jogja to Get Things Done

I was in Jogja visiting my parents, and while their house is nice (and rent-free, with three free meals a day, hehe), I still prefer working in a proper work setup; less distractions, more focus, proper chair for your back. So I ended up trying a few spots around the city which I was surprised are very affordable, and I put together this list, so you don’t have to go through the hassle of checking and contacting them one by one. Ps. A little bonus fun fact in case you didn't know, Jogja has a free public wi-fi network called "Jogja Istimewa" that you can connect to around the city, super handy if you ever need a quick connection on the go. Based on my experience, the connection is quite decent, though at my parents’ house it tends to be faster at night. Pps. You’re welcome 😉 KLA Co-working SpaceCreative HubGenius IdeaCrônica Creative Working SpaceAntologi Collaborative Space You may also like this article: Lokananta - Why This Musical Landmark is a Must-Visit in Solo KLA Co-working Space Don’t panic when you walk in and it looks like a computer shop - because it is, lol. The coworking space is on the second floor. You just need to order coffee or snacks from their little stall to use the space. It’s nice and bright, with plenty of tables and easily accessible plugs. There are also booths with more comfortable chairs, shared tables, as well as private meeting rooms you can book in advance. The internet is good enough, and when I was there, most people were university students studying or working on assignments, so it was chill and quiet. Image credit: KLA Google page 💰 Price: From IDR 20K (for coffee) ⏰ Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9am-8.30pm 📍 Address: Jl. Prof. Dr. Ir. Herman Johannes Jl. Sagan No.73, Samirono,Caturtunggal, Yogyakarta 55223 Creative Hub They have a few branches across Jogja, but I’ve only been to the one in Gejayan. I needed to work on a Sunday and it was the only location open (remote work comes with flexibility, but also means work can show up anytime lol). Since it was Sunday, it was just me and one other person in the whole coworking space. There’s a café where you can order drinks and snacks, and the overall ambience was good. Image credit: Creative Hub Google page 💰 Price: 20K (half day day), 40K (full day) ⏰ Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8am-9pm 📍 Address: The Jayan Building, 1st Floor The Jayan Building, Jl. Affandi No.4 Lt. 1, Gejayan, Condongcatur, Yogyakarta 55281 (Check their website or Instagram for other locations and opening hours) You may also like this article: Goolali Gelato Bar & Pâtisserie - Semarang’s Sweetest Escape Genius Idea I booked a private room at Genius Idea once because I had a few online meetings that day. It’s only IDR 150K for a full day for a small room that fits up to 5 people. You can also book it for half a day for 75K, but I figured I’d just have the whole space to myself to finish my deadlines. They have quite a few rooms, a pantry on the first floor, plus free coffee and tea. It’s more of a focused office space, so there’s no café inside, but you can order food online. There’s also an outdoor area and some sofas in the hallway where you can eat or take a break. Image credit: Genius Idea Google page 💰 Price: 75K/ day (plus tax) ⏰ Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm 📍 Address: Jl. Magelang No.32-34, Cokrodiningratan, Jetis, Yogyakarta 55233 Crônica Creative Working Space This co-working space is perfect for those days when work is a bit lighter. The setup is more relaxed, maybe good for a research day or wrapping up the last few emails on a Friday, since the tables and chairs aren’t very office-like. The vibe is also more chill café than quiet workspace. If you need privacy for important calls, they have a phone booth available upstairs for IDR 50K for 5 hours, but you need to book in advance. Other than that, the space is free to use as long as you order coffee or food from the café. The only downside is that not every table has access to a plug, so you will need to take turns with people nearby. Image credit: Crônica Google page 💰 Price: From 20K (for coffee) ⏰ Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 7am-10pm 📍 Address: Jl. A.M. Sangaji No.62 Lt. 02, Cokrodiningratan, Jetis, Yogyakarta 55233 Antologi Collaborative Space It’s under the same management as Crônica, and the staff recommended this space to me. I haven’t had the chance to visit yet, but thought I’d add it to the list so you’ve got more options. Aside from the co-working space, there’s also a café, an event space, and even a garden area. Membership is pretty affordable too, starting from just 45K a day. Image credit: Antologi Google page 💰 Price: IDR 45K (daily), 175K (weekly), 599K (monthly)  ⏰ Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 7am-10pm 📍 Address: Tawangsari CT II Gg. Gayamsari II No.9C, Karang Wuni, Caturtunggal, Kec. Depok, Kabupaten Sleman, Yogyakarta 55281 Whether you’re in Jogja for a quick visit or staying a little longer, there are plenty of spots to get work done. Each place has its own vibe; some more focused, some more laid-back, so it really depends on what kind of workday you’re after. Also, don’t be alarmed when locals say “it’s so far from here”, because most of the time…it really isn’t, hehe. Especially if you’re from Jakarta or other big cities, a 10 to 30-minute commute is basically nothing, right? hehe. Anyway, enjoy your work-holiday in Jogja, and don’t forget to explore and eat lots of delicious food after work!