Bali, Indonesia

OKAY. Wow. If you get the chance to visit South East Asia, Bali should be on the top of your list. I wish I could put into words how magical of a place this is.

I went to Bali in May of 2016. I had friends that lived there so it was a little cheaper for me in regards to staying at a place but this entire country is affordable, for sure. For me, Airbnb is always the way to go. There are so many options in Bali for places to stay. Only thing I think you should keep in mind is that the plane ticket can be pricey depending on where you are flying from.

Transportation:

We got around mostly by motor bikes. Although incredibly fun, they can also be very dangerous so please be careful when riding. The roads are really unpredictable there and a lot of accidents occur, especially to tourists that don’t know how to ride the Bali way. (If you know, you know). This article helped me in my search to rent my bike. For the really long distances, I suggest hiring a car. I did this when I needed to get to Ubud from Seminyak. The drive was around 50 minutes so I think hiring a car or getting a car rental is best for these types of trips.

Ubud:

  • Monkey Sanctuary Temple. Those monkeys are wild. If you don’t want them all up in business, maybe this isn’t for you. I loved it and found it so fun, though. I roamed around by myself, took some cool photos of the monkeys and got to explore a temple that was honestly just breathtaking.

  • Coffee Plantations. If you love coffee and tea as much as I do, you should stop at one of these plantations and taste test there home grown delicious coffees. Mas Plantations and luwak coffee is the one I did and it was so fun. You have to reach out via whats app to request for tour info. I got a tour of their plantations and the coffee making process, all the different plants, and I even got to try Luwak coffee, or Civet coffee as well as their teas. Luwak coffee consists of partially digested coffee cherries, which have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet. Sounds interesting, I know but it was actually really good dare I say. Will I have it again? Probably not but hey, ya live once. Try new things. You can book excursions here.

  • Art Market. I bought the cutest bags, rings and trinkets. I really felt like I was living my best life. So many handmade pieces and such friendly people here. It all felt very authentic and I really encourage you all to support these local businesses.

More places to see:

  • Ubud palace

  • Monkey Forest Road

  • Agung Rai Museum of Art

  • Saraswati Temple Ubud

Food:

  • Bebek Bengil- Food with a view! Amazing setting.

  • Cafe Lotus- The setting here is so tranquil and relaxing.

  • Locavore- Balinese food with a European twist

  • Bee Cafe- not a busy place which I appreciate and a lot of healthy options

  • DUMBO Bali - If you like pizza, go here!

Canggu:

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Desa Seni Yoga

  • Echo Beach Club. This is where all the tourists and young crowd go. Super fun and right on the beach. Great music and cocktails. The food is delicious also.

  • Canggu Beach. Everyone loves to surf over there but it is also really nice to just chill and relax at. It’s a black sand beach which is even more fun.

  • Tanah Lot. A rock formation. It is home to the ancient Hindu pilgrimage temple Pura Tanah Lot. Very popular and touristy but neat to check out.

  • Love Anchor Canggu Bali. Very fun market place to check out for arts & crafts. Pretty much all hand made and very unique. It’s a lot of fun to shop.

  • Yoga. So many amazing yoga studios. Desa Seni Yoga was my favorite place to do it at. I had so much fun. Keep in mind, during the summer time it gets SO HOT so drink plenty of water during these sessions. Take a moment before or after to walk around this resort and just see how it’s built. Truly breathtaking.

Food:

  • Skool Kitchen- Rooftop restaurant! The view is amazing. Everything here is cooked BBQ style.

  • Tanau Bali- Indonesian food that blends traditional flavors with new styles.

  • Luma- Upscale restaurant for special occasions. Definitely book a reservation!

  • Santanera- Spanish food

  • The Avocado Factory

  • Crate Café

  • Buongiorno by Sa’Mesa

  • Nude

  • Baked

Seminyak:

  • Potato Head Beach Club. Whether you want to spend the day here swimming in the pool, lounging, drinking & eating or mingle with friends at night, it’s the perfect place to escape. I really enjoyed the ambience and open vibes it had to offer.

  • Revolver Coffee. Both locals and visitors will tell you this is one of the best coffee shops in town. Truly a treat. You won’t regret it.

  • Pura Petitenget. One of the six important sea temples in Bali. Go.

  • Ku De Ta. Large beachfront bar which has some great views over the ocean. They do a range of specialty cocktails and you can rent a lounger or sit on a bean bag on the beach and take in the scenery. There is a DJ as well who will provide great beats for you to vibe too. Wonderful food as well to order.

  • Jalan Laksmana. A main road to do some shopping. Really fun and vibrant. Whether you want to splurge or conserve, you’ll find something that fits your price point.

  • Yoga 108 Bali. GO HERE. It was such a unique experience. I went several times during my stay and I loved it so much. Right across the street are yummy restaurants you can dine at that serve everything from acai bowls, to sandwiches to healthy salads. My inner basic girl was thriving ;)

Food:

  • Uma Garden – Great for date night

  • Sa’Mesa – Dinner

  • Sisterfields - Yummy brunch

  • KYND Community - Vegan restaurant

Uluwatu:

  • Uluwatu Temple. Breathtaking scenery. Seriously. YOU WILL DIE FROM THE VIEWS. I didn’t want to leave honestly.

  • Single Fin. An amazing beach bar. Great ocean views and the beach right below it is even better. Such cool caves to swim in and out of.

  • Balangan Viewpoint

  • Nyang-Nyang Beach

  • Visit a Private Beach at Thomas Beach

  • Relax at Bingin Beach

  • Watch the sunset at Uluwatu Bar

Keep in mind:

1) Water. The water isn’t safe to drink. I recommend water bottles at all times or use filtered water and reuse your water bottle. Also, I would brush your teeth with bottled water so you can prevent getting sick.

2) Wear bug spray. It’s not worth it to get bit and chance getting sick. The bugs are SCARY and gnarly there, lol. I’m not an insect fan so I hated it but it is what it is. Just, always wear bug spray no matter what.

3) SPF. The sun is so intense, you’ll get burned just from standing outside for 20 mins.

4) Get a facial and massage. From all the moving and sweat, your skin will thank you. Also, it’s super cheap. I remember it cost like $5-$10 (USD.. I can’t remember the exact amount in their currency) for 1 hour. Amazing. Book here.

5) Temples. If you are going to visit a temple, make sure you dress accordingly. Wear long sleeves and cover up!

Danielle Giordano