Having booked a North Bali Day Trip (encompassing the Bedugal Lakes Area) through Bali Holiday Secrets, I was very fortunate to be assigned Wayan as my private driver. Wayan contacted me prior to the specified date via WhatsApp and arrived ahead of time to pick me up from my hotel. Instantly, I felt at ease and in no time at all, Wayan and I were chatting away about a variety of subjects; our families, interests, cultures, love of nature/ wildlife and even politics. He was so friendly and communicative, a wonderful conversationalist! Being a resident of Bedugul, Wayan was very knowledgeable about the area and was also happy to suggest attractions I might be interested in visiting. This suited me as I didn't want anything too structured. We agreed that things would 'go with the flow'. Viewing the streetscapes and landscapes along the way, with Wayan providing me with an ongoing commentary in between our own conversation, made the drive even more enjoyable. I was very keen to take on Wayan's suggestion to vist the Taman Ayun Temple in Mengwi and I wasn't disappointed. Capitalising on the 'go with the flow' unstructured style we had agreed upon, I optimised the time to wander leisurely around the magnificent temple structures, which had been built in 1630, and stunning landscape which included mature trees and exotic plants. I also spent time in the museum and galleries which I loved. All the while, Wayan was in the vicinity checking in regularly to see if I was at the meeting point we had established prior. From Mengwi we headed up to Bedugul, a spectacular scenic area with mountains and lakes, with the Bali Botanical Gardens located adjacent to the huge Bedugul Lake. Once again, I had the opportunity to do my own thing. This pleased me as I absolutely love gardens and was able to wander around admiring the repetitive plantings of perrenials and annuals enhanced by mature trees and meticulously maintained lawns. I couldn't help feeling relieved that I wasn't one of the hundreds of tourists pouring off buses adhering to a structured itinerary. After taking numerous photos of the Bali Botanical Gardens and Bedugul Lake, I wandered off to explore the streetscape which resembled the authentic Bali I first visited back in 1975; bordered with warungs, quaint little plant nurseries, old traditional buildings and markets. I spent a couple of hours ambling along the street taking photos, as well as sampling a traditional Indonesian meal in a warung. By that stage it was time to head back to Kuta, stopping along the way to get some more photos of the magnificent scenery. The North Bali Day Trip was worth every rupiah and the customer service I received from the time I booked online to being dropped off at my hotel at the end of the day was second to none. The booking process was simple and ensured a stress free experience and Wayan was a true gentleman; reliable, punctual, attentive, caring, respectful and great company. I would have no hesitation in using this amazing company again.