My newbie Bali experience.. what I surprisingly didn’t love, but why I would return.. what bloggers won’t tell you.. Part I

I went to Bali and came back.. confused.  Let me first start off by saying Bali is an interesting place.  On the way there after we visited Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I was on a travel high after having such an amazing, surprising experience in KL; I even watched Eat Pray Love to prep me for the vacation of a LIFETIME.  I had my majorly long list of places to visit, eat, and consume all the namaste I could find with my third eye..

{our arrival and home during our stay}

We arrived late in the evening and pre-arranged for a ride to pick us up booked through the villa we were staying at (highly recommend pre-booking a ride).  We initially booked the villa through Airbnb, but it’s not a typical Airbnb.  There were about 9-12 villas in the whole compound, a swimming pool, and breakfast served every morning in your personal villa, of which you picked out the night before and put the request outside your door.

 

 

 

 

 

We stayed at Sunrise Villas in Ubud which was about a 15-20 minute walk from the town center (or $2-3 cab ride if you didn’t want to work up a sweat).  When I booked, the particular room we chose, Frangipani 1, stated there was AC.. nope. nothing. zilch. nada.  It was on average about 85-95 degrees and humidity unreal and we had no AC.  With that said, we had a couple fans help with the airflow and in the mornings till about 9:30am it was fine, after that, we got out of that room because it became a hot box.  In the evenings, it was pleasant to sleep.  We just were sure to put the mosquito nets down (just in case).. also, there were dinosaur sized ants and bugs that made noise and geckos.  I wanted a tree house and we got a real life tree house.  I know all this sounds horrible, but the only bad part was the lack of AC.. I even got used to the bugs and I hate bugs.. I figured geckos eat bugs so they were a good thing to have around.  BUT, my checklist items were tree house like place, views on views, and an infinity pool.

 

 

 

 

This place had it all.. and I would stay here again but in an air conditioned room (which they did have on the premises).  However, Frangipani 1 had the BEST view in the entire place, so it was a weird trade-off.

 

{ubud, bali, indonesia… and my brush with death}

 

Have you ever had something in your mind so hyped up and when it finally came, it was just kinda meh?  Bali was a little like that for me.. sort of.  It’s really weird and I’ll try to explain.  I was obsessed with saving pictures from IG and reading about the country and anything negative I read, I just blew off because I wanted to make my own decisions.. which honestly wasn’t a ton of negativity.  Julie Roberts really made Bali easy to love.. We decided to stay in Ubud the entire stay because it was recommended that our first visit be in one location (we could bounce around the island with transportation), but rather than make moves every 3 days (which I’m infamous for), to ENJOY Bali and ENJOY the slowness of it. I had to agree with that because I’m always on the go when traveling and purposely made this an extended trip compared to my normal travel schedules.

 

 

In short, Bali is this magical place that hasn’t quite figured out its shininess.  Perhaps that’s why people love its rawness.  But what it does have is an island full of organic, healthy, mellow, and overall, great culture… it’s not a place for the faint of heart.  If you can handle heat, because they have two kinds, hot and hotter, a town with no “frills” and “luxury” (think Waikiki in Hawaii), then you’ll be ok.

 

 

 

 

There are plenty of mind blowing resorts that are ridiculously insane and you could live like a legit monarchy for reasonable prices (expensive, but not for what you get), or stay in a normal $100-$200 location and still enjoy your stay with plenty of memories.  What I mean by a no frills town is you could be walking down the street, and the streets aren’t maintained, there’s pot holes, cracks, you could fall and hope you don’t scrape yourself too bad that you need to go to a hospital.. basically what I happened to do, except it was on a moped and I ran into a wall.   My first time on a moped and I told the lady who rented it to us, that I knew how to ride.  Slight lie, but I really wanted to, and we needed wheels for the day.  Took a turn too slow and hit the gas and brakes at the same time, bike meet wall..  Beat up my leg pretty good and the only thing I could find to help it was vaseline to keep out dirt and gauze to cover it.  It wasn’t until I got home almost a week later (before it got too infected) that I was able to get Neosporin to properly help with the healing.

 

 

 

Travel scars I will always remember came from Bali.. probably the worst thing I’ve done to my body my entire life.  Just glad it was just a really badly scraped leg and not worse!  But 10 minutes after the fall, I hopped back on and we headed to the Tagalalang Rice Fields.  I had my weird Eat, Pray moment on that moped that day.  I was on a moped, on windy roads of Bali with the wind rushing on my face (not my hair because I had a helmet on).  It was unreal and I will never forget that moment.  But you can see my new open wound on my knee in the above pic.  Zoom if you must.

I had never been to a place where religion was in their daily life.  Every single business had daily offerings which consisted of flowers, candy, and sometimes cigarettes.  Whatever you wanted to offer.

 

 

I found a small offering made of a leaf and pinch of rice on my moped and I flicked it off.  As soon as I did it, I realized what it was and instantly felt bad.  I thought someone put food on my seat.  NO!  Someone was saying a little prayer for me.  This came after my accident and maybe why I didn’t have another?  The smell of incense permeated everything and everywhere and I already miss it.

 

{absolute musts in Bali for first time travelers}

 

We did all the basic blogger things to do.. and stumbled upon a few others along the way..  It takes a special type of person to want to go to Bali.. I felt like the healthiest I had ever been on a vacation and so in tune with the greenery around me… If you’ve never been to Bali, these should be at the top of your list!

 

1. Tegalalang Rice Fields – Located about 25 minutes from Ubud Town Center.  Aforementioned, we rented mopeds to take us to the infamous green rice paddy’s.  What makes it different and photo worthy from all the other rice fields in the world, are the various levels and vastness of the rice fields.  There is an actual trail throughout the fields from one side to the other.

1. Protip: Start on the far right where you will see the Ceking Sari Luwak Coffee tasting.. this is the start.
2. Protip: Do the Luwak coffee tasting.  It’s amazing and part of what Bali is known for.  Try the “poop” coffee.. makes you poop but tastes delish.  Also the owner helped me with my leg and put turmeric on it to heal.  Old school medicine man and so kind!
3. Protip: Bring small bills because you will be asked for “donations” along the trail.

 

2. Bali Swing – So there’s a few on the island and I did two of them.  One was located at the Tegalalang Rice Fields and the other was located on the way to the rice fields from Ubud.  I would recommend doing a few of them because they are all different heights and a massive rush!  You are strapped in with a harness and/or lap belt.  The one on the way to the rice fields also had a giant birds nest if you wanted to feel like you were hanging from the top of a massive tree wanting to be baby birded some food.

1. 1. Protip: Wear bright flowy clothing so it looks great in pics!
   2. Protip: Make sure it’s a swing you can do and not a private one, i.e. one located at a resort and you have to be staying on the property.
   3. Protip: Some require to book in advance.  The two I went to, did not require this and the one before the rice fields (sorry forgot the name!) was about 100,000 rupiah or $7 USD and the rice fields swing was 50,000 rupiah or $3.50 (we bartered with them).

 

 

 

3. Yoga – no where better than to find your inner yogi.  I’m not the best in yoga, but I find comfort and release when I take classes (not all and not all the time do I feel this way), but one MAJOR bucket list was doing yoga in Bali.  I mean did you even go to Bali if you didn’t take a yoga class?  I had my heart set on the Yoga Barn.  This place is a massive compound with a cafe and several areas sectioned off for different types of yoga.  You can even book rooms here for a true yoga experience (I was so close to doing this but figured the husband wouldn’t approve).  We took the vinyasa flow class for cost of 130,000 rupiah or $9 USD.  We didn’t have to book in advance but I suggest going early enough because the class was FULL.  We were among the first five or so people to sign up for the 9am class and by the time the session started, it was maxed out; not sure how many people they can fit into the class, but I’m talking like 75 (maybe?) happy yogis.  It was instahusband’s second ever yoga class and he actually liked the vinyasa flow because there was a lot of movement with the class.  I was so determined to take the class after my moped accident, that I wrapped my foot and leg and threw on pants and one sock to cover up my wounds.  Anything that had us putting pressure on the knees, I would double up with a towel on my mat.  Worth it.  The teacher (Levi) was really great and said I had major determination.  Word.

1. Protip: Go early (I suggest 45 minutes before class; they start taking payment about 30 minutes before start time).
2. Protip: There are showers on site if you need.
3. Protip: You don’t have to bring your own yoga mat, they have them for no extra charge.

4. Street Markets – All those bags you see from Revolve and Lulu’s are replicas from Bali or maybe they’re from Bali itself.  But here you are buying it straight from the source and for a fraction of the price.  Bali is known for their hand woven straw bags and accessories.  I wanted everything but my suitcase only allowed for so much room.  I’m regretting not buying any of the macrame decor right now.  Don’t be afraid to barter, but make sure it’s worth it.  Sometimes you are arguing over 25 cents and don’t realize it because the rupiah numbers are so high!  For example one dollar is about 14,500 rupiah.

1. Protip: Have cash.  We hardly used credit cards except for maybe at the airport.
2. Protip: Barter but be reasonable.  These people are artists and make a living on very small wages.
3. Protip: The markets are always open during the day unless it’s raining.  Ubud is a sleepy town after about 9pm so get started early.

 

5. Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary – This is quite a trip.  There are hundreds of monkeys that live in the middle of Ubud and somehow they all stay in the monkey forest.  There’s no risk of not seeing any monkeys, there is a risk you might get something stolen from you.  I had a fan sticking out of my backpack and those little curious George’s jumped on my back when I leaned over and took it straight from the side pocket.  I freaked the EFF out because I didn’t know what just landed on me!  That was when I realized they were not shy and would jump a bitch innocent victim if need be.  I kept my camera around my neck with a kung fu grip and had all senses on point in case of another attack.  Some random guy walking around started handing me bananas to feed the monkeys, which by default they crawl up you and kind of hang out.  Then they start looking like little children waiting for you to give them bananas.  Don’t grip anything in your hand for them to see because they will pry them open.  I thought the man was being nice but then said I needed to pay him 30,000 rupiah for the bananas.  Fine, take my $2.

1. Protip: Don’t let anything dangle off you, keys, jewelry, sunglasses, etc. they will be stolen.
2. Protip: Don’t wear all white.  Dirty monkey banana hands stained my top.  Whatevs.
3. Protip: Bring bananas if you want to be prepared or buy them on site.
   
   

 

 

 

 

{why taxis are the way to go versus uber.. getting to seminyak from ubud}

 

We ventured off to Seminyak, about an hour away from Ubud by taking a taxi.  The ride cost about $25 or 350,000 rupiah.  This is pretty standard to get from Ubud to Seminyak.  Also, there is NO problem with finding a taxi.  Every 5 feet you take when walking around on main streets you’ll hear people yelling “taxi” at you, which kind of took away from my experience.  Uber exists but it’s shady as fu*k.  The uber accepts the ride then messages you asking where you are going and tries to get you to pay on the side.  Then, it’s a battle to get them to cancel the ride; one actually wouldn’t and finally started the ride without me.  Talk about rude.. don’t use uber while here, usually I’m a huge advocate, but the taxi’s give uber drivers a hard time and you often see signs that say “no uber” because many people make a living off being a low-key taxi driver.

Seminyak is where you go when you want to drink and party.  That’s the short of it.  There are huge resorts on the beach with an even higher price tag compared to Ubud.  I had one glass of champagne at Ku-de-ta for around $15 USD.  Pretty standard US prices, but astronomical for Bali.  You pay for the views and I honestly didn’t mind.  It was very tropical with the beach in sight with music and a cool vibe.  All except for the people on the beach scattered trying to sell necklaces, paintings, etc. going right up to the glass barrier to get your attention.  That’s the thing about Bali.  There’s so much beauty, but there is always something that doesn’t make it quite right.  You can’t hate them for trying to make money off tourists.. these people work hard for pennies while watching tourists throw down so much cash at these resorts.  It was a little uncomfortable at times.

 

 

We hit up a beach bar that was just what we needed for our last night.  After much detoxing and mellow nights where we were at the villa by 9 or 10pm at the latest, we ended up at Finn’s Beach Bar.  THIS is where the younger crowds come to hang to get a different kind of Bali experience.  Everyone talked about the sunsets in Bali and we weren’t able to see the full on sunset till we were on the beach and the pink and blue skies were unreal.  Because it’s Bali, even the beach bar had some of the best salads.  I swear I didn’t have not one bad meal the entire trip.  Even the most random places we didn’t check in some form, was just amazing.  The aesthetics of most places were unreal.  Hand crafted, artistic, with religion tied in, was mesmerizing.

 

 

 

 

I am glad we stayed in Ubud where the town was focused more on nature and culture, but next time, I would also stay in Seminyak where the focus is a little younger with beach bars and nightlife.  The big question of “would you go back?”.  YES.  I think for me, the initial reasons were after messing up my foot/leg, I had to stay away from the water and hiking.  I couldn’t wear any covered shoes and I was deathly afraid of flesh eating viruses (not that there are any) from waterfalls.  I have “unfinished” business left in Bali and it’s an unsettling feeling.  I would go back.. But try to find when the heat of the island is a little subdued.. if that’s even possible.  I’ll take Bali again, cracks and all.

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