Bali deserves all the hype it receives. It’s one of the most beautiful islands I have seen…so far. Every which way you look there is a rich texture in its appearance. Many parts of Bali have not yet been cleared for development so the natural beauty of the vegetation and farmland is a significant characteristic of the island.
Bali is the only island in Indonesia with a prominent Hindu population. The rest of the country’s inhabitants are Muslim. When you arrive in Bali you notice these religious influences everywhere, especially in the buildings and temples. Many of the buildings we saw were intricate in design, borrowing its aesthetic from Hindu temples. There are many Hindu temples in Bali which feature a detailed winged gate made of stone at the entrance. Some of these buildings were garnished with red and yellow flower necklaces, highlighting the stone designs. In fact, when you leave the airport, the main tourist town of Kuta has massive statues depicting characters from the Mahabarata, an epic written in Sanskrit during ancient India.
We stayed at an awesome Airbnb in a village south of Ubud, a town which is visited by many tourists. The village is called Sukawati and it is southeast of the island. The Airbnb had an open house concept with the living room as a balcony. Every morning I heard the sound of roosters in the farm area nearby, feeling a sense of calm while drinking tea and overlooking a garden of banana leaves. This goal to wrap oneself into a state of relaxation is probably what drives a lot of tourists to visit the island. Combined with the warm weather, it was a fantastic time spent in Bali. This was the view from the balcony (living room)!
Batuan Temple
One of the first things we did was visit the Batuan Temple, a short walk from our Airbnb. It is a local Hindu temple open to the public. Note that you will be denied entrance if your legs are bare, whether you are a woman or a man. Unless you are fully dressed, colourfully printed cloths are available for rent to wrap around your hips. The detail on the temples are impressive, including the animal-like figures on each side guarding the entrances. The animal figure is Hanuman, the God of strength in Hinduism resembling a monkey. You will also notice leftover burning incense and flowers at the steps of the temples from morning prayers by the locals.
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
If you are afraid of monkeys jumping onto your shoulders for a better look at their surroundings, then this place might not be for you. This forest sanctuary in Ubud is a home for monkeys who are able to roam free within the large compound. Covered in many sturdy trees with vines, ponds, and beautiful walkways, this forested area is a great place to relax and take your time strolling around. Please don’t feed the monkeys, they will find you on their own.
On our walk to the entrance of the sanctuary we saw this beautiful rice field.
Ubud
Ubud is possibly the Bali town you’ve seen the most pictures of on social media and in the general internet sphere. It’s full of foreign travellers exporting the west coast lifestyle of North America and mixing it with the local flare. We found many Australian and German tourists visiting Bali on vacation as well. The design concept of many of the restaurants feature the popular modern minimalist style, with white walls and naked wood. Even their menus contain many vegan-friendly dishes such as smoothie bowls, green smoothies, and other fresh and healthy eats which include popular ingredients like chia seeds and avocados.
However, it doesn’t mean the local cuisine has been eradicated. Almost every restaurant offers traditional Indonesian dishes. We visited the Don Biu Warung cafe in Ubud and tried Nasi Goreng, a favorite and popular dish among the locals. It is made with fried rice, chicken, veggies, and egg. If you want the spicy noodle version, it is called the Mie Goreng. Of course there are veggie options available as well.
Here are some of the buildings we saw while walking around Ubud. You can see Ganesha, an admired Hindu deity resembling an elephant, sitting inside the entrance.
Ubud Street Market
We stumbled upon a street market while in Ubud. The town has many shops for unique purchases, but you could also visit the informal markets to bargain for a deal. There are dreamcatchers in every stall, beautifully printed scarves, jewelry, and all sorts of knick knacks for your mind to ruminate over, and choose those few items which are able to bend and twist for a perfect fit inside your luggage.
While in Ubud we saw the Ubud Palace. Once a palace for the Ubud royal family, it is now a well-maintained historical building with a beautiful garden and pond filled with lily pads.
Beaches
There are many scenic beaches to visit in Bali. You can choose from surfing beaches, beaches with soft white sand for relaxing, or beaches with minimal waves suited for swimming. We spent our day at two different beaches, starting out at the Blue Lagoon Beach. From our Airbnb the drive was not too far, and this small beach was tucked away with few tourists. You can find the popular Bali beaches by the airport in Kuta where many resorts line the strip. This is also the area to visit if you are looking for a busy nightlife.
The Blue Lagoon is located southeast of the island. Its turquoise blue waters surrounded by rocky cliffs and palm trees, is stunning. I realized however, for swimming this is not the best beach. The water is very wavy and it has a strong undercurrent which can be dangerous, so it is best not to swim far from the shore.
We also headed over to the Bias Tugel beach, a short drive away west from Blue Lagoon, near the Padang Bai Port. This beach is less wavy but the floor of the water is rocky. Once you’ve stepped past the rocky area and into deeper water, it’s great for swimming.
Goa Gajah
Goa Gajah felt like stepping into a Garden of Eden. You will find beautiful carvings, gardens, ponds, shrines and temples here. East of Ubud, this peaceful haven dates back to the 11th century and used to be a sanctuary for meditation. You can see evidence of this from the small gazebo in the middle of a pond used for meditation, as well as the cultivation of vegetation and trees surrounding the area virtually hiding it away from the noise of the outside world.
There are temples inside the area and multiple small single altars where you can pay your respect to the Hindu Gods. The stone carvings include both Hindu and Buddhist images.
Inside Goa Gajah there is a sunken area for bathing. Water flows from the stone figures holding pitchers. This is a religious site so you will need to dress modestly.
On the same site you will see the ruins of a Buddhist stupa which were believed to be of a similar size as Borobodur. The stones from the former structure are stacked here on the original site.
Tegallalang Rice Terrace
North of Ubud is the popular Tegallalang Rice Terrace. Terraces are used as a farming technique. They trap water which is beneficial when growing rice because the grains need high amounts of moisture. It also prevents nutrients from washing away from the soil when it rains. This practice is used widely in mountainous areas.
Under the burning heat as you venture down the hill of the terrace and up into the mountainous area, the terrace steps are mighty to conquer. Palm trees are scattered around the area. There is a large swing at the top of the terrace you can pay to use for those Instagram-worthy pictures which motivate the free-spirited adventurer inside you. Past the terraces as you climb up the mountain, you will see rice fields. The farming area looks empty but in fact there are families living in small houses by the fields. If you have time, explore beyond the terrace for a while and walk among the fields.
Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
The Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is north of Bali, further north of Ubud and the Tegallalang rice terrace fields. It is located on Lake Beraten in the Bedugul region. The Beratan Temple is iconic, resembling a Buddhist pagoda. The temple begins at a wide brim at the bottom to a gradual decrease at the top. It’s a familiar temple design when travelling to religious sites in Asia. It was a cloudy day when we went but on a clear day you could see the inviting mountains around the lake. There are boats for rent if you are interested in exploring the lake. The temple grounds are on a large area of land where people call their home.
Luwak Coffee
An expensive gourmet drink popular in Indonesia is the coffee made from the excrement of a Civet cat or a Luwak. The Luwak cat are not like the domesticated cats you see in North America, rather they resemble a cross between a raccoon and a ferret. They can be found in tropical areas of Asia and Africa. There are many coffee shops selling this particular brand of coffee, and they also provide a short tour on how the mammal’s waste turns into uncontaminated drinkable coffee. The Luwak eats the coffee beans, they are processed through the body, then it is excreted. The beans are then extracted from the waste and roasted.
Finally the beans are processed into coffee. I was surprised by the deliciousness of the coffee which had a citrus acidic flavour. The tour guide also offers different teas to try for a small fee, however the Luwak coffee tasting is free.
They don’t export Luwak coffee yet, so you can only try it in Indonesia. One aspect of the experience I was saddened by when taking the tour was seeing the Luwak who produced our small cup of coffee. It was locked up in a tiny cage, swiftly walking back and forth like it was agitated. It became clear that the production of Luwak coffee as a business is at times harmful to the animals.
Uluwatu Temple
South of the island, west of the elongated tip near the airport is the famous Uluwatu Temple. It sits on a cliff overlooking the Indian ocean. Spiritual souls seem to find the most stunning and peaceful areas for meditation. We also found this to be true when we visited the Buddhist site of Lalitgiri in Odisha, north east of India. Uluwatu temple is a Balinese Hindu temple which archaeologists believe dates back to the 10th century. We went there at sunset and the view was spectacular. I spent a couple of hours staring at the waves crashing onto the cliff shores. You fall into a trance watching the repetitive motions of the waves curling forward and receding back into the ocean.
We want to thank our driver Godek for being our tour guide the last couple of days in Bali. We originally hired him as our Grab driver (equivalent to Uber), and were able to negotiate for his services to guide us around Bali since we had limited transportation.
There is an insatiable quality to Bali where you feel a sense of tranquility. It’s a common feeling if you leave the bustle of a glass city for an island robust with natural beauty.
Have you visited this desirable island? Let us know your thoughts!
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