Travel Diaries: Bali
When Jacob and I booked the flights to Bali, we knew it would be our biggest adventure yet. Having seen and heard nothing but incredible things, it was always somewhere we knew we wanted to visit together. However, despite the vast amount of recommendations, we couldn’t have prepared for just how unbelievable the trip was! So, here’s a (not so) little insight into our Bali experience…
Seminyak
We started our trip in Seminyak, one of the main hubs of Bali. Our accommodation was only half an hour away from Denpasar airport, where we stayed in Asa Bali Luxury Villas and Spa for 3 nights. This was the perfect amount of time to do and see everything, whilst still allowing for relaxation time. Our villa couldn’t have been better; with breakfast included and a daily shuttle to Seminyak beach, we had everything we needed!
WHAT WE DID:
Seminyak Beach - You can walk for miles along the seafront, stopping anywhere with a guaranteed beach bar and sun bed.
Lunch at Shelter Cafe - This trendy cafe is a must if you’re looking for a secret escape from the busy streets for some delicious food and juices.
Dinner at Sea Circus - A vibrant restaurant where we indulged in tacos and cocktails.
La Favela - If you’re in the mood for a night out, La Favela is the absolute hotspot of Seminyak. This is by far the most unique and best club I’ve experienced. My advice would be to get there before midnight to avoid the queues and dance the night away.
Potato Head Beach Club - Another one not to miss, this was one of my highlights! We were advised by everyone to arrive between 9-9:30am to secure a bed and it was definitely worth the early start. The beds are free but come with a minimum spend of 1m Rp (approx £57); we were there until sunset and enjoyed a mouth-watering lunch with plenty of cocktails as part of our minimum spend budget.
Motel Mexicola - This was one of our most recommended restaurants and as soon as we arrived, we realised why. You absolutely must book this as walk-ins are almost always impossible. If you’re in the mood for tapas, combined with feel good sing-along music and a boogie after, this is the place to go. The restaurant quickly turns into a dance floor and ticks all the boxes for an unforgettable night in Seminyak.
Nusa Penida
The second stop on our Bali adventure was Nusa Penida Island, where we stayed for one night at Sunrise Penida Hill. To get to the island, we took a Crown Fast Cruise from Sanur (approx 30 mins from our accommodation) to Nusa Penida. We stayed in one of the Deluxe Hut Bungalows overlooking the infinity pool and incredible views of Nusa.
WHAT WE DID:
Snorkelling - One thing we didn’t realise, was that snorkelling trips pretty much all depart in the morning. We had chosen a late morning boat transfer, meaning that by the time we arrived at our accommodation all the main snorkel trips had left. Luckily, our resort offered the choice to go on a private snorkel tour, for a little bit extra, where we were biked down right to the harbour and taken out for an afternoon on the water. We weren’t lucky enough to see Manta Ray’s but the various stop off points we were taken to made for perfect trip.
Nusa Penida is an extremely remote island, meaning we had dinner at our accommodation. The peaceful surroundings made for a secluded, romantic meal.
Sunrise - As we were only on Nusa Penida for one night, we woke early the following day to see the famous sunrise, before taking an Eka Jaya boat to Gili Trawangan
On reflection, we could have done with one extra night and day on Nusa to see more of the island.
Gili Trawangan
Each spot in Bali was unique and incredible, however I would be lying if I said I didn’t have a favourite…Gili T instantly had my heart. Upon arrival it soon became clear that the only mode of transport is by horse and carriage, walking or bicycle. We were staying at Sunset Palms Resort which is the opposite side of the island from the main port. By ‘opposite side’ you may be wondering just how big the island is and why we chose to stay there. Well, you can cycle around this mini utopia in just 30 minutes and the clue is in the name, the villas are just a 2 minute walk to reach most beautiful sunset.
Before going into how we spent our time on Gili T, I wanted to highlight just how special the accommodation was. There aren't enough words to truly express how much we loved staying at Sunset Palms Resort. From the staff to the interior design, location, facilities and experiential opportunities - it was all perfection. Ricky was the most incredible resort manager I have ever met, no request or question was too much trouble; he and the rest of the staff went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect for us. Ricky was able to book us onto every activity we wanted to do on the island including private boat trips, cooking classes, renting bikes and transfers back to mainland Bali when leaving. The attention to detail was nothing like I've experienced before and we made a genuine friendship with everyone there. Being the only resort on the island with no neighbours, this is the absolute hidden gem of the island!
WHAT WE DID:
Sunset - After watching the sun beautifully set, we walked across the beach to one of the many cosy spots for dinner and drinks by the sea.
Snorkelling with Turtles - Our accommodation helped us to book a snorkelling day trip around the three Gili Islands, where we swam with turtles and underwater statues. We were taken to a restaurant for lunch on Gili Air before a few more snorkel stops, making for one of the most unforgettable days at sea.
Cooking class - Everyone recommended attending the Sweet and Spicy Cooking Class but this was sadly closed for refurbishments whilst we were on the island. However to make up for this the resort manager, Ricky, offered to host a private cooking class in our very own accommodation which was truly such a special experience.
Fat Cats Bar & Restaurant - Part of Trawangan Dive, Fat Cats offers a variety of tasty food options to enjoy under a fairy lit tree, with your feet in the sand.
Sama-Sama Reggae Bar - This is the bar not to be missed! We ended every night at Sama-Sama for a late night boogie with reggae music and drinks.
Ubud
We ended our Indonesian adventures in Ubud at Kamajaya Villas Sayan. If you're struggling to decide on where to stay in Ubud, look no further. With multiple shuttle services to Ubud centre daily, incredible hosts and gorgeous villas, this was the idyllic place for us.
WHAT WE DID:
Sunrise Hike - When booking our trip to Bali we knew we wanted to do the sunrise hike up Mount Batur. We were lucky enough to have met a couple on Gili T who recommended booking the hike via AirBnB Experiences rather than through the main tourist companies. The AirBnB experience meant we were on a trek with a local guide and no more than 10 other people on the walk. We were collected from our accommodation around 2am and taken right to the starting point, where we were offered hot drinks and light snacks. Equipment was provided and breakfast was served once we’d made it to the summit. The hike itself takes no longer than 1hr30 (shorter than the other larger crowded treks) and is absolutely worth the early rise for the breathtaking views at the summit. With the booking you’re also taken on a coffee plantation tour after making it to the bottom of the volcano and returned back to your accommodation.
Clear Cafe - A spot absolutely worth visiting for lunch. This is one of the funkiest cafes in Ubud which promises healthy food that tastes good. Primarily a vegan and vegetarian restaurant, they also offer pescatarian options including the exquisite sushi I indulged in. The interior decor is like nowhere else you’ll have been!
Monkey Forest - It’s impossible not to go to Ubud without taking a trip to the Monkey Forest…
Aloha Ubud Swing - Unlike Seminyak, where everything is in relatively close proximity, most of the sights in Ubud require a car to get from A to B. Most people hire a driver for the day and that’s exactly what we did for our final full day; organised by our accommodation, we simply wrote a list of everything we wanted to see and our wonderful driver took us to each destination. We started the day by popping into Aloha Ubud Swing, which on reflection was a waste of time and money (Jacob will like me admitting that). It’s essentially a place to pay to sit on a swing to get that ‘perfect’ Instagram… ha!
Tukad Cepung Waterfall - We then headed to one of the many waterfalls Ubud has to offer, which was much more secluded and empty than some of the other, larger waterfalls.
Lunch overlooking Rice Paddies - Our driver took us to a fabulous restaurant (kicking myself for not writing down the name) overlooking rice paddies. Despite not knowing which one we went to specifically, there are rice fields all over Ubud, meaning plenty of places to eat with equally beautiful views.
Tirta Empul Temple - Our final stop off was Tirta Empul water temple famous for its holy spring water, where Balinese Hindus go to for ritual purification.
Tips & Tricks
Doha Connection - While most travel via Dubai, we stopped off at Doha and couldn’t have asked for a smoother journey.
Gojek - Getting around is made easy and cheap with Indonesia’s version of Uber. Gojek gives you the option of riding on the back of a moped or in a car. We would have been absolutely lost without it!
SIM Card - Most small shops sell sim cards for maintaining data everywhere. Just be careful not to lose your original SIM when returning home.
Time of Year? - We travelled throughout the first half of September for 10 days and had great weather throughout. It was arguably just after the busy season but this was perfect for us.
Drink Bintang Radler - enough said…
All in all, Bali was the trip of a lifetime and an experience I will never forget. The people are kinder than I’ve ever known, the food is unimaginably delicious and each place stole my heart for different reasons. Having never visited anywhere that far from home, I was really stepping into the unknown but couldn’t have wished for a better adventure. If you’re wondering where next in the world to visit, make it Bali. You won’t regret it, I promise.
