“Ticket to Paradise” is the newest romantic comedy that you ought to add to your list of must-watch movies this October for plenty of reasons: it features the wonderful and hilarious chemistry between revered Hollywood actors George Clooney and Julia Roberts, it teaches you the beauty of second chances at a failed love, and it showcases the breathtaking island paradise that is Bali, Indonesia!
Balinese actor Maxime Bouttier, who makes his big international debut with “Ticket to Paradise” as the charming seaweed farmer Gede, whom Kaitlyn Dever’s character Lily falls in love with and agrees to marry within weeks of just knowing him much to the disapproval of her parents David and Georgia (played by Clooney and Roberts respectively), talked about how much the new film means in boosting the tourism of Bali, especially after a difficult couple of years in a pandemic.
Photo from Universal Pictures
“It’s a very lighthearted script, something we’ve been needing in the world. Ever since COVID hit, Bali’s tourism has faded to a complete halt. Even now, Bali is still struggling to get tourism back, so a movie like this that’s set in Bali in a romcom format will hopefully invite the world back into Bali,” he shared.
As the world continues to open its borders to tourism and with Bali expecting more visitors following the premiere of “Ticket to Paradise,” WhenInManila.com asked Maxime to share his top three places that any first-timer should not miss when traveling to Bali!
1. Ubud Monkey Forest
Photo by Radoslav Bali on Unsplash
“There’s this place called the Monkey Forest in Bali. That’s a very sacred temple [that] has been there for like hundreds of years. That’s a beautiful spot,” began Maxime, referring to the Ubud Monkey Forest which is home to over 700 grey long-tailed macaques. The forest lies within the village of Padangtegal and is viewed by locals as an important spiritual, economic, educational, and conservation center. However, Maxime warns: “There’s a lot of monkeys. They can be a little naughty sometimes, so just keep stuff in your bag!”
2. Mount Agung
Photo from Geio Tischler from Unsplash
Mount Agung is an active volcano and is the highest point in Bali. Locals believe that the volcano is the home of the gods, and thus revere it as a sacred place. The “mother of all temples” in Bali Pura Besakih is located there and is best visited during Galungan celebrations. It’s a rather tough trail to climb, however, and Maxime only recommends it to the adventurous folk.
“I think [Mount Agung] is for people who really want to do extreme hiking, but I think it’s one of the most beautiful places. If you go there, when you reach the sunrise, it’s just one of the best experiences,” he shared.
3. Nusa Penida
Photo by Alfiano Sutianto from Unsplash
Finally, Maxime recommends Nusa Penida which is also featured in “Ticket to Paradise.” Nusa Penida is a small island located southeast of Bali that offers scenic cliff views and stunning, white sand beaches. “Nusa Penida is a beautiful place to visit. You can even see dolphins at certain times. It’s such an experience to see dolphins swimming next to you while you’re in a boat. You see them just jumping up and down. It’s magical. It’s really magical,” he gushed.
(ALSO READ: Asian Actor Maxime Bouttier on the Beauty of Bali in “Ticket to Paradise” Starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts)
“Ticket to Paradise” will be shown in Philippine theaters starting October 5, 2022, from Universal Pictures International.
Do you have recommendations and tips for first-timers to Bali too? Share them in the comments!
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