Clear blue skies and sun; experiencing too many gloomy winters have scarred me for a lifetime. And yet, they never want to leave me. Getting even the slightest glimpse of the sun in Chengdu has never made me happier, and being in a place that is sunny all year round was quite the experience. Bali is one of nature, beauty, and peace, minus the tourists, that is.
It’s been 3 weeks since I was in Bali, but the feeling of me once being there feels very dream-like. I’ve yet to process much of the experience itself, and I’m hoping that writing it down will allow me to do so, even if it’s not everything. So here goes….
Bali….
Bali was beautiful. The scenery was lush and the weather was sweat-dripping hot. I lived for it. I flourish in the heat these days, or rather from the presence of the sun. Leena on the other hand was struggling, and it was entertaining to watch hehe 😉 After visiting Malaysia, Bali had to be our vacation. Either way, I knew once it was all over, I would need a vacation from the actual vacation. That’s always the case, isn’t it?
We spent a week in Indonesia, 5 days in Bali, with those days being split into 3 days in Ubud and 2 days in Kuta; and the remaining 2 days in Nusa Penida Island. Most of our time was spent by the pool, strolling around the island, food searching, and simply taking it all in. I’d say for the first time while traveling, I actually “chilled”. Meaning I partook in doing nothing and relaxed. I never knew how rejuvenating it could be, and I do thank Leena for teaching me her ways.
I loved Bali for its simplicity and the hospitality of the people. It was a little overwhelming how touristy it was, but we did our best to make our experience a little more authentic by indulging in local cuisine, shopping at small businesses, connecting with locals, and overall traveling mindfully. We still visited the touristy areas, and for how beautiful the scenery was, it was nevertheless worth it.
Here’s everything we enjoyed during our very relaxed and fulfilling holiday in Bali. Enjoy!
About Bali
- Bali is one of 17,508 islands located in Indonesia, according to the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia.
- Bali is also a province that includes a cluster of small islands off the main island’s southeast coast. These are, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan.
- It is the most famous island in Indonesia, for its scenery, beaches, and welcoming hospitality.
- 80 percent of Bali’s economy relies on tourism.
- The world’s most expensive coffee comes from Bali and is called the Kopi Luwak – extracted from the droppings of a civet.
Best time to visit
Bali is blessed with tropical weather all year round. There are only two seasons, the dry season from April to October, and the wet season from November to March. The average temperature will not fluctuate much throughout the year, with an average of 29 degrees Celcius, although the humidity will vary. We visited in early February during the wet season, and we witnessed a couple of rainy days.
Getting around the island
The best way to get around the island is most likely by renting a motorbike. We didn’t feel safe enough to drive a motorbike, nor did we know how to control one, so we chose the safest way: walking. When we visited the attractions, we hired a driver, and to travel between Ubud and Kuta we went by bus.
Renting a motorbike
Renting a motorbike in Bali is the most convenient way to get around the island. You will indeed need an international motorcyclist’s license to rent a motorbike. If you go the route of renting a bike, take all the precautions you can – wear a helmet, follow traffic safety rules, and be careful.
Hiring a driver
Once you arrive in Bali, I highly suggest asking the receptionist at your accommodation whether they offer airport pickups/dropoffs prior to hopping into a taxi. We did this and were offered a driver, who also became our tour guide during our trip.
Drivers will be plenty. Many surrounded the main road outside of our villa in Ubud, and it was just a matter of bargaining a price that was best for both parties. You tell them your itinerary with an estimated timeframe, they give you an estimated cost, and it’s up to you if you want to negotiate a better deal or compare prices with other drivers.
Travel by bus (Ubud to Kuta)
After our stay in Ubud, we traveled to Kuta by bus via a shuttle bus service. There were a couple of bus service kiosks conveniently right by our villa, and on the day of our leave, the bus picked us up from our accommodation. The receptionist at the kiosk will provide you with the necessary information on pickup and dropoff locations if there is any confusion.
Balinese food
*Chefs kiss*
My life has changed for the better. Yes, indeed.
We made it an obligation to indulge in local non-western-style cuisine. Some of the Balinese food we indulged in were fried rice or noodles, sate, mixed vegetables with peanut sauce, tempeh and tofu, and delicacies like banana fritters. It was all a big YES for me! The food was light and satisfying!
Warungs (small restaurants) are everywhere on the island. Check their menus to get a feel of what sounds most suitable for your palate!
A tip to the eaters who strictly follow a halal diet, don’t shy away from asking whether they offer halal options. Halal and Muslim-owned restaurants are indeed available, although you may have to search for them in advance.
Ubud
We stayed a total of 3 days in Ubud and only spent 1 day visiting the common tourist spots. This was more than enough time, and it gave us the pleasure to spend more time relaxing and strolling the island. We would spend mornings by the pool and took long and short walks around the island during the afternoon and evenings.
Where to stay
Satya House (Ubud) ~ the villa is in a great location, near the markets, and food, and not too far of a drive from many of the commonly visited attractions. Very friendly and hospitable service, and a clean environment. The atmosphere was very relaxing, and breakfast was served every morning by the pool.
Where to go
The day we visited the scenic spots in Ubud, as mentioned previously we hired a driver. For a total of 6 hours, we paid 350k rupiahs ($24.45). This was a reasonable price for the designated amount of time.
Bali Swing
Our first stop was the Bali swings. Keep in mind, that there is more than one location to experience the swings. If you’re looking to go to the “real” Bali swings attraction, you need to book your ticket well in advance. A heads up, you’ll likely be paying double the price and end up waiting a long time to ride the swings. Not knowing there would be multiple locations, we went with the similar and less expensive option our driver recommended.
Depending on how many times you want to ride the swings, the cost will vary. We paid 230k rupiahs ($16) per person to ride on 2 swings and have a total of 16 pushes. It was more than enough. The price also included a guided tour of the different plants and trees Bali is known for, and tea and coffee tasting (my favorite!).
The experience of riding on the swings was terrifying at first, but after the first push, it felt like any other swing at a park. There are 2 workers who help you get on the swing, who stand on each side to push you, and judging by their faces, they’re hella tired of tourists. Our guide was a younger guy, and we managed to form a genuine relationship with him. We asked him whether he was tired of tourists or not, and not surprisingly he said he was. Too many bad experiences with tourists can scar you or even just their presence I guess – so to all humans who visit other countries, please act accordingly. A genuine shout-out to him for his good energy and beautiful photography skills.
Tegallalang Rice Terrace
The next stop was the rice terrace. Prior to entering the actual field where we parked, we each paid a 10k rupiah ($1) entrance fee. To get to the terrace, there are dozens of tourist shops and restaurants. I ended up finding a beautiful sarong and beach hat I fell in love with, so I had to buy them.
To get all the way down to the rice terrace there are some stairs that lead you and you’ll also be walking on wet grass and muck. We went far enough to see the rice patties, and it was absolutely breathtaking. The weather was very hot, but the sky was completely blue. Also, once you get down to the middle of the field, you’ll see a small covered area with a local(s) sitting, and out of respect and support, you should make a donation.
One thing I took away from this particular visit was how nature literally never fails to amaze me. The way it grows and nurtures us. How it heals our pain and illnesses. The calming effects it has on our mind, body, and soul. Literally everything, Subhanallah. May we nurture nature, as it nurtures our existence.
Tegenungan Waterfall
Lastly, we ended our trip by visiting a waterfall. By the time we arrived, it was noon, and of course, there was a crowd.
We paid a 20k ($1.40) parking fee to enter. Surrounding the place there are tourist shops and restaurants as expected. To get to the waterfall, there are stairs and a pathway that’ll lead you to the water. Once we reached the waterfall, we found many people swimming, relaxing, and taking pictures. Unfortunately, it was crowded, so Leena and I decided to go across the beam that led us closer to the water and somewhat away from the crowd. Talk about taking in the view. Unfortunately with some a** in it too. Nevertheless, it was beautiful – the waterfall that is.
We ended with lunch at an outdoor restaurant, and that basically concluded our day until the evening. I’m horrible at taking photos of my food or even remembering the name/location of restaurants, but on the bright side, the food was good!
We drove back to our villa and relaxed for a bit, and I realized it was our last day in Ubud. We found a bus service that would take us to Kuta the next day. We paid 60k ($4.20) rupiahs each for the shuttle ticket, whereas a taxi rental would’ve cost us about 300k ($21) rupiahs.
So off to Kuta!
Kuta
Kuta was the last stop, and the bus dropped the remaining passengers (including us) at a street platform. We then had to book a Grab (Southeast Asia’s version of Uber – highly recommend downloading the app) to get to our hotel.
In Kuta, we stayed at two different hotels (one after arriving from Ubud, and another after returning back from Nusa Penida Island). Both accommodations were situated in a convenient location near the beach and market. Kuta is very touristy considering it is also in very close proximity to the airport – about a 15-minute drive with no traffic. It’s known for its beach and basically living up that island life.
Where to stay
Photo courtesy Booking.com
Swiss-Belinn Legian ~ the first hotel we stayed at in Kuta and one I highly recommend for its location and the overall stay. Like I mentioned earlier, the continental breakfast was bomb, the place itself was beautiful, and they had an infinity pool! And it was all for a great deal!
Photo courtesy Booking.com
Alron Hotel ~ we stayed here after coming back from Nusa Penida and enjoyed our stay. Didn’t do much sightseeing around the area, although it is in close proximity to many food spots and the market. The place was clean and comfortable, and the staff was very friendly.
Where to go
We didn’t do much in Kuta, but we did get the chance to walk during the evening and see a little bit of the market street. We had planned to visit the beach, although on both occasions we were quite exhausted from the heat and devoted our time to relaxing by the pool once again.
Kuta Market
It’s not an official trip unless Mariam visits the local market, let’s make that clear. Kuta Market is likely the most visited market for tourists. The items you’ll find range from handcrafted keychains, baskets, clothing, jewelry, furniture, and more. It’s Bali’s largest outdoor market and most of the items are produced either in Bali or nearby Indonesian islands.
Kuta Beach
Kuta Beach is known to be a very touristy spot, and this was part of the reason we decided not to visit. Although it wasn’t a selling spot for us, it can still be worth visiting.
I didn’t take many or almost any photos during our stay in Kuta, and it reminded me that sometimes the eyes are all we need to capture our experience and just an overall break from our mobile devices. Everything happened so fast, but the time was all spent in a wholesome way.
Main highlights
- Basking in the sun and relaxing by the pool
- Sharing this trip with my soul sista (lots of love to you Leenoo)
- Eating banana fritters!
Peace and prosperity to the entirety of the island and its people, for the beauty, hospitality, peace, and love.
Terima Kasih, Bali 🙂
