Travel Diary: Bali, Indonesia
Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Ubud,Bali
The perfect getaway to clear you’re mind, body and soul, Bali is an exotic, relaxing oasis. If you’ve a fan of the book or the movie starring Julia Roberts, “ Eat, Pray, Love” then this is most likely on your bucket list and for good reason. Even though Bali is a small island the different towns/areas all offer something unique and special.
We mainly explored Ubud (an hour away from the the main airport, Ngurah Rai) and South Bali: Seyminyak and Kuta for 5 days. If you have more time, consider a drive through to Canggu and North Bali or take a boat ride and stay overnight in the Gili Islands or Nusa Penida. With plenty of luxury resorts, budget friendly villas and hostels, trendy boutique cafes and restaurants, it’s no surprise why Bali continues to be one of the top places to visit in South East Asia.
Traditional Bali Dance performance.
A popular Balinese dish: Babi Guling aka suckling pig is roasted pig over a fire.
Ubud:
Bali Swings:
Soar over the jungle. There are different swings all around Ubud, so it won’t be hard to spot them. I suggest doing your research ahead of time since they all vary in pricing. The original Bali swing is the most popular, at $35 USD it’s not cheap but it does include lunch and a scenic waterfall background. We ended up going to Uma Pakel Argo Tourism which was close to the Tegalalang Rice Terraces. For 150,000 IDR ($10 USD) it included a mini tea and coffee tasting.
This is definitely much scarier then it looks, but the view is well worth it (some swings are over 200 feet off the ground). For extra safety, you’re strapped into a harness.
Tegalalang Rice Terraces:
Bali is full of picturesque rice fields. Tegalalang Rice Terraces is probably the most photographed and is easy to get to. Tip: make sure to bring smaller bills. When you cross a bridge, you are expected to give a donation to continue walking through the field otherwise the locals won’t let you through. An hour and a few generous donations later we decided to head out. Luckily you don’t need a full walk through of the rice fields to take in and appreciate the beauty.
The Udaya Resorts and Spa
Flower baths are notorious in Bali and I was not going to leave without one. The famous Kaveri Spa at The Udaya Resorts is all over social media and to my surprise, didn’t cost an arm and a leg. We booked an appointment online 3 months prior (you may not need to book that far in advance, but I wanted to secure a spot ASAP). They have tons of options for facials, massages, manicure/pedicures and combo treatments. I selected the “pampering package” which was a 2 hour treatment that included a Balinese massage, mini facial and a flower bath. At 600,000 IDR ($42 USD) it was basically a steal. You can also do the flower bath as a solo treatment for 350,000 IDR ($25 USD)
Pura Tirta Empul
This Hindu Balinese water temple is dedicated to the Hindu god of water, Vishnu. The highlight of the temple is the purification pool, legend has it the holy water cleanses the mind, spirit and heals illnesses. When you enter, you’ll notice sarongs being passed out, in order to walk freely around the temple it’s required to wear the sarong over your clothing. Sarong rental is included in the entrance ticket, 15,000 IDR. If you would like to participate in the purification ceremony, there’s a separate sarong and sash you must rent before going into the pool (10,000 IDR). They have lockers on site to rent for your belongings (10,000 IDR).
To fully understand the spiritual cleansing ritual aka Melukat, look for a guide. Ours was so helpful in explaining in detail what to do. He was with us every step of the way and even took a bunch of pictures for us, don’t forget to tip them.
Start with an offering.
Our guide brought over an offering made up of flowers, palm leaves and incense. We were told to sit in front of the alter, with our offering close to our heart and pray to the gods, water spirits and the spirits of our parents. We make a wish and place the offering on the alter. Our guide then sprinkled water over us and placed a small flower behind our ears.
There are 2 pools with a total of 30 water spouts. You start with the fountains on the far left. Skip the first spout (those are for children) and continue with spouts 2 through 10. You also skip the 11th and 12th spout, those are used in rituals for the dead.
For each fountain spout put your hands together in prayer and raise above your head and say “Ommm” 3 times. You then cup water into your hands and wash your face 3 times to purify body and soul. Drink, gurgle and spit out the water 3 times to rid negativity. Drink and swallow water 3 times to restore and heal. The steps must be done 3 times to pray to 3 gods, Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva. Finally submerge your head fully into the flowing water for good fortune and protection. Continue to the second pool.
The second pool cleanses the body of any illness. You go through the fountains in reverse order. Take your time with the very last spout.
Once you leave the pool, end with a prayer to the gods, water spirits, the spirits of your parents and thank them.
FYI I was definitely hesitant to drink the water at first. We were told it was safe even for tourists and the natural springs are supposedly clean. For me it was more about experience and what ritual represented, so if you’re cautious about drinking the water, take in tiny sips.
Chasing Waterfalls:
We had a list of a few waterfalls to see, but since we only had time to visit one, our choice was Kanto Lampo. I think we picked it because we were running out of daylight and it was the closest one to us. Even though it’s not as popular as Tegenungan Waterfall, this can be a good thing especially if you’re worried about crowds. To get here we had to walk down several steep, wet steps but otherwise is easily accessible. The locals are on hand to help take your photos and videos, we got some great slow motion group shots.
Entrance fee 10,000 IDR.
Pura Taman Saraswati :
Also known as the water palace, this temple honors the Hindu goddess of music,art, knowledge and wisdom. The huge lotus pond is one of my favorite features. We mainly walked around the outside, but if you plan on entering the temple or any temple in Bali, here’s a few basic temple practices and etiquette to take with you:
You must wear a sarong around your legs ( kain kamben) and a temple scarf around your waist (selendang) . Most temples will have sarongs and the temple scarves for rent.
It’s also respectful to cover your shoulders/upper body.
If you’re bleeding, whether you have an open wound on your body or you’re a female on her period, you’re not allowed to enter the temple. Blood is considered impure.
Pregnant women or women who have given birth in the last 6 weeks are also not allowed in.
Seyminyak
A Bali hot spot to unwind and drink a Bitang beer is Seyminyak Beach. You’ll find a selection of beach bars and restaurants with either a DJ spinning or a live acoustic guitar performance. Two things Seyminyak Beach is known for: the sunset and bright, colorful bean bag chairs. You’ll also come across the locals selling items like jewelry, fresh coconuts, sarongs, paintings as well as offering services like hair braiding, massages, etc.
Another trendy beach hang out is Potato Head Beach Club. The luxury beach club has more of a lounge feel with an infinity pool overlooking the ocean, three restaurants, three bars and beach access. Entrance is free but because this is more of an upscale place and the prices in the drinks, food, cabana and lounge chair rentals reflect that. Potato Head is a chain you can also find in Jakarta, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Motel Mexicola:
A Mexican inspired restaurant with an assortment of tacos, tostadas, empanadas, quesadillas, ceviche and margaritas, just to name a few. Though I enjoyed the food, this place was pricey and the food portions were small. BUT despite that I would still recommend checking this place out. If not for the food then stop in to pregame with few drinks and enjoy the ambience. If you’re someone who appreciates aesthetics like I do, you’re going to adore the details. It’s a lively atmosphere with vivid color, mis-matched patterns and bright lights.
Canggu:
La Laguna:
La Laguna is a restaurant/bar set on Berawa Beach in Canggu, just about a 15 minute drive from Seyminyak. Once again, a sucker for details this place was filled with eccentric, gypsy elements. It was straight out of a children’s storybook. The restaurant had both indoor and outdoor accommodations with wooden tables and couches, beds, ottomans for seats. Hand painted art and vintage pieces added to the bohemian charm. They even offered Tarot card readings from 5pm to 10pm. The menu is described as a fusion of Spanish and Mediterranean. We ended up here for brunch and we stuffed ourselves with omelettes, crepes, avocado toasts and granola fruit bowls.
**As of February 4th, 2019, La Laguna is temporarily closed for renovations. Follow up on their instagram @LaLagunaBali for updates on when they reopen.
