Because in the end, you won’t remember that time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamm mountain
So our time in Bali has sadly come to an end. I can honestly say that this little island has been one of the most amazing places I have ever visited. Not only are the locals some of the most humble and generous people we have ever met, the island itself just has so much to give – from breathtaking beaches, secluded island secrets, delicious food and vast landscapes just waiting to be explored. I hope one day we will be back… a month seems a while to be in one place however we could of happily stayed for many more!
As I sit here in Denpasar Airport, I felt it was a great time to share some of our final experiences (Plus it’s a great way to pass the time as everyone knows airports are dull)
We decided to head back up to Ubud on one of our last days to explore some more of the beautiful place we had only seen during our trip to the Monkey Sanctuary. We had indeed only scratched the surface of Ubud on that previous day.
After scooting around the idyllic little streets we stopped off for some lunch at a wonderful little restaurant, Fair Warung Bale. Hands down this was probably our best meal we had on the trip so far! The food was out of this world and best of all you were so looked after by the incredible staff. We sat up in their traditional rooftop terrace on cushions and could look out over Ubud. Gary chose a chicken and cashew nut dish with rice where I stuck with a traditional Indonesian favourite, Mie Goreng. The flavours were truly out of this world and the portions were very generous (perfect for Gary’s unnatural ability to consume his entire weight in food) I wish we had asked for the recipes…
The warung was so unique in that they dedicated their entire ethos to their very own charity ‘Fair Warung Bale Social Workshop’ where their aim is to connect isolated people – particularly youths – and help solve everyday problems such as finding a job and having a place to call home. The warung gives back to the poorest of people and helps by providing meals and also is one of the only restaurants in the world that supports a comprehensive and massive public healthcare program.
The staff were so gracious and did not look for tips or service charges from us (as most other places in Bali will) however did encourage small donations to help their cause which we were more than happy to give after receiving such an amazing experience.
Moving on with our trip in Ubud, we carried on walking through the vibrant streets and treated ourselves to some gelato (my new favourite) Ubud is filled to the brim with markets almost everywhere you turn so you’re bound to find absolutely anything you are looking for here. Your eyes really do get lost struggling to capture everything within your surroundings.
During our wander around the markets, I managed to grab myself some elephant trousers at a bargain price (they just looked so comfy) Travel really just gives you the opportunity to dress outside the box! Thankfully, we are also getting far more accustomed to the art of haggling and being shall I say ‘politely encouraged to have a browse… Just remember locals will always start off with the most extravagant price point, so make sure you stand your ground! They can get very pushy.
Ubud has plenty hidden little areas so it’s a good plan just to walk without the intention of a specific destination. We ended up in some very peculiar settings including a little secret garden. Everywhere is just so accessible for anyone so you never really feel restricted in where you can and cannot go. As previously mentioned, everyone in Bali is so generous which is amplified in locals allowing access to such beautiful places without the need for padlocked gates and ‘no entry’ signs. We found ourselves in the midst of a traditional housing complex with pretty gardens and a huge pond. We were greeted by the gardeners and carried on our way – no hassle whatsoever.
The next day we decided to take a little drive to Jimbaran (the one district we were yet to explore) Jimbaran is famous for the morning fish market which starts at 7am and runs for a couple of hours daily. This is the hub for seafood and practically all hotel/restauranteurs will buy their fish supply from here. After a 6am wake up call, we drove down to the fishing docks and were welcomed by the strongest stench of fish every (it’s extremely overpowering) and the market was already bustling.
The entire experience was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The market was gigantic and your were spoilt by the abundance of seafood on offer to purchase. I must say I felt somewhat overwhelmed with everything going on. You didn’t really know where to look and to be honest, watching fish be gutted out was not really my cup of tea… (Gary was much more fascinated than me that’s for sure) I stuck with pondering around each box checking out what was available to buy (I never knew how big prawns actually got for starters!!) Annoyingly, flies dominated the market so if you are planning a visit, wear a tonne of bug spray. I was practically eaten alive!
Outside by the docks, we caught sight of fishermen reeling in what looked like a shark at first… but on closer inspection it was just a giant fish (I’m not an expert with specific terms). The fishermen here seem to never stop and as you walked right along the pier, many were sat out fishing trying to catch even more – fishing really does seem incredibly tedious…
Jimbaran beach is actually quite a pleasant looking beach with lovely white sand and calm waters however, I would not feel too confident in lying out with the warm smell of fish masking the area…
The beach is lined with many seafood restaurants and after reading up on the area, most of the restaurants fill up very fast around sunset for tourists to enjoy a freshly cooked meal overlooking the ocean where their meal originated – certainly won’t get much fresher than that. This being said though, we decided against the idea… (after visiting the market, I was slightly put off fish for the tine-being) Additionally, other than the hoard of restaurants, there wasn’t really much else to Jimbaran so we moved on.
We drove further down into Nusa Dua as we had really only seen a little of the place and after checking our lonely planet book, a recommendation to explore a 5km promenade seemed definitely worth a visit.
Nusa Dua really is a place which keeps giving and essentially is paradise. It is worth noting though that this area of Bali is quite pricey but easily accessible if you are like us and want to stay in a cheaper location. The beauty of Bali is that locations can be so diverse in what they offer yet you pretty much can see everywhere within an hour or so from each area.
We parked up and took a long walk right down the entire promenade. It was just blissful. The resorts here are just so beautiful and you will be treated like royalty. Inviting restaurants and bars fringe the sea (choosing just one is far too difficult) Us being on a travellers budget however made it simple for us and we sat for lunch near our loungers (the poor section) and enjoyed a simple Nasi Goreng and Water… One day we will sun ourselves in one of those luxury resorts.
There is a quirky little place in Canggu called Deus which is a famous motorcycle brand which position themselves in only a few spread out locations across the world – surprisingly one being only seconds from our apartment. Previously, we had been quite curious to check it out as the ‘store’ (as we thought it was) goes wild every Sunday evening. Turns out It was not just a shop, but in fact had an amazing restaurant and terrace area inside. Not to mention a gallery and a barber shop too! On Sunday’s they have live bands play and put on a barbecue for guests to enjoy.
Now I don’t know much about motorbikes but this place was just so cool and the food here was an added bonus. We had nice breakfast on our last morning and Gary picked himself us a T-shirt here too- fairly expensive but a great souvenir to have!
Overall, staying in Canggu was a wise decision and I would 100% recommend to anyone coming to Bali to stay here. Although with so much development taking place, I really hope in a year’s time Canggu still holds it’s uniqueness and charm. We definitely had the best of both worlds here, being based in a quiet scenic location with the option of the hustle and bustle only a 20 minute drive away.
After visiting a fair few places during our visit, I thought I would add a run-down of areas to stay and a few hints and tips for anyone who has been inspired to travel here:
Canggu:
- Very hipster and a surfers paradise
- Up and coming and lots of development taking place
- Gorgeous setting amongst green rice fields
- Bustling beach scene (try Oldman’s if you’re a lover of nightlife)
- Betelnut, Crate and Canteen cafe’s are all a must for a good breakfast!
- Try every kind of juice- they are all so tasty
- Ithaka is Canggu’s hidden gem for a deliciously cheap meal… We went three times!
Kuta:
- Busy, busy…. And well.. BUSY
- Stay here if crazy night life is your scene
- Culture will not be found here, everything is very Americanise
- Fantastic shopping
- Huge beach here which is very busy
- Spoilt for restaurant choice
- Waterbom is super fun
Seminyak:
- Luxury area with more designer and boutique style shops
- Big hotel scene
- Nicer beach than Kuta but loungers are more expensive
- Similar to Kuta (places are right next to one another)
- Huge choice of cafes and restaurants
Ubud:
- Much more cultural and picturesque
- Monkey Sanctuary is a great day out
- Get lost within the markets here
- Run’s warung is excellent if you are on a budget
- No nightlife here whatsoever, people are in bed by 9pm
- Try Fair Warung Bale for a taste sensation
- Go on tours with ‘Authentik Bali’ from here – you will not regret it!
Nusa Dua:
- The beach scene
- Idyllic settings
- Crystal clear water- best area to swim
- Expensive place to stay – no cheap beach shacks for food and drink here
- Very hotel orientated
Sanur:
- Hub for all tours to surrounding islands
- Great place for water sports
- Very quiet if you are looking to get away from everything
- Markets by the beach are nice here
Jimbaran:
- Not a huge amount to see
- Fish market
- Huge choice of seafood
- Sunset dinners on the beach
This post concludes the last chapter in the Bali diaries. I hope my blog has given an insightful look into Bali and helped anyone who is consider visiting. If not, I just hope you have enjoyed keeping up to date with our adventures so far.
I guess it’s on to the next destination…
Be sure to keep reading and find out how we get on in Bangkok
Lots of love
Xx
