Bali
Is Bali really as beautiful as they say?
Ok so Bali isn't exactly the closest of holiday destinations so it really has to be worth it. It's every Aussie's version of Mallorca which shows the distance and effort it takes to travel to from the UK (approx 17 hours with at least one stop off of varying duration). Given the effort it takes to get there we decided to pair our trip to Bali with other destinations we were dying to see on that side of the world (Hong Kong and Singapore - more on those soon). Despite the small size of Bali there is a great deal to see and do when you finally arrive..
Seminyak
Seminyak is a bustling town not far from the airport, Denpasar (35 minutes). It is comprised by a main strip of restaurants and bars, a shopping square and a magnificent beach. Hotels and villas are found off dusty roads throughout this town. During our few days here we decided to stay in Bli Bli Villas. The villas here provide you with a lounge, dinning area, bathroom and bedroom all in a courtyard with private pool and sunbathing space. Despite feeling like a villa this accommodation operates like a hotel with cleaners, hotel lobby and each morning breakfast is served in your room. The villas were beautiful and only minutes walk to the thriving social scene that Seminyak has to offer.
Char Char's (only restaurant name I actually remember as it's my name) provides opulent food at prices cheaper than maccies andddd it has an exciting array of drinks (aka smirnoff ice which was an exciting find on the eastern side of the world for a baby like me!). The ambience is an eclectic mix of party scenes and date night vibes. Everywhere in Seminyak caters to people of all ages and tastes. Given the large amount of tourists that travel from Australia there is a large range of westernised food on offer that one many not find in all parts of Bali.. and though of course everyone who goes to Indonesia wants noodles, rice, curry etc. a chocolate lava cake didn't go a miss either! Meal prices here never seemed to max £20 for multiple courses and drinks. Everything is ridiculously cheap, to the point where you question how food is normally charged so much more at home. Amongst the shops, restaurants and bars in Seminyak you of course will pass many amazing massage palors. It's scandalous to walk past here without popping for a £3 30 minute leg and foot massage. There are lots of beach clubs that can be found in Seminyak, and many people gather at the beach to watch the beautiful sunsets. Seminyak is very appealing for an average traveller who loves a good time with plenty of food and wine. It possibly isn't the most cultural part of Bali to visit but definitely fab for an unwind after that long trip. Would certainly recommend!
Ubud
Only 30km out of Seminyak is the magnificent town of Ubud. Found right in the heart of the Balinese rice fields and rainforests is a selection of hotels, temples, markets and eateries that would fascinate any tourist. Despite the reasonably short distance from Seminyak the small windy roads that take you there gather a lot of traffic so don't be surprised if it takes you up to 3 hours to arrive. Once you get there you truely will be in awe of the surrounding landscapes.
Our hotel Jannata was a small complex which faced out into an endless horizon of trees. We decided to splurge on one of the two rooms with a private pool and we were not disappointed! (ps. when I say splurge - no cost in Bali feels a splurge compared to travelling fees of the western world/Amercias).
Just like in Seminyak, Ubud likes to cater to a social traveller offering pool party hang outs, jungle fish was a cool place we loved but there are also many bars/restaurants in town too. Following our time in Seimyak we were now ready for a more authentic Balinese experience so we planned our time in Ubud to be spent in the markets, temple, spa and exploring the jungle. The hotel was brilliant at offering services to help arrange our excursions and offered a free shuttle service into town (often the case since everything is so spread within the forestry). The amazing market and temple was found in the main town square. As with any market abroad, don't be afraid to haggle and bag yourself a bargain (I say as I place my drink upon our coasters we bought there all those years ago ❤️).
Another big 'attraction' in Ubud is the monkey forest. There are mixed reviews from here as some people said the monkey's can display aggression. I am sure anyone with half a brain cell would expect aggression if they are waving food around the monkey or trying to force 'the perfect photo' so I would assume it's a fair place to go if you monitor behaviour (do note that there is much hearsay surrounding monkeys and rabies, lonely planet describe this as a real possibility so it really wouldn't be beneficial to annoy them - more on rabies and vaccinations later). Anyway if you end up in a hotel in the middle of the jungle like ours you'll likely see a monkey on your balcony and have no real need to go there.. **warning - as is to be expected in the jungle there were more than monkeys that appeared in our living quarters, if you're not a fan of critters you may be better booking somewhere further in town but realistically they'll probably find you there too**
Okkkk back to Ubud, not far from the hotel was the Karsa Spa. Found in the middle of the rice fields this spa is the definition of peaceful. They provide couple treatments, days out and have a cafe open for those who just wish to unwind. We had a massage followed by the traditional flower bath (have you even been to Bali if you haven't had one?). Out of curiosity I thought I would research how much the massages are now retailing at and unbelievably they are still priced at 240,000 Indonesian Rupaih .. and whilst that sounds a lot its actually £12.19 😂 (just for some perspective for those who aren't massive on massages, my friends very kindly just paid £80 for one in Mykonos 🤔). So aside from it being great value for money, the spa really is beautiful and relaxing, there are many in Ubud to choose from and if you have the time I would definitely recommend going to one!
Following a little relaxation we felt it was time to get our adrenaline pumping. Thanks to assistance from the hotel we booked to go white water rafting down the Ayung river. A short drive collecting other members of the rafting teams takes you to HQ (a little shack with some life vests and helmets). Once you're all set up you jump aboard the boat with your trusty Balinese guide who is unlikely to speak large amounts of English - "Boom Boom" means your about to crash so brace yourself 😂. It honesty was so exhilarating and a laugh, and despite the lax safety procedures that often blow my brain compared to our uptight western world, we were completely safe and in good hands.
Gili Trawangan (aka Gili T)
Following our time in Ubud we decided to brave the journey to Gili Trawangan (aka Gili T). I use the term 'brave' literally. The stretch of water (ocean) between Bali and the tiny Gili islands is some of the deepest in the world. Where two stretches of water collide can provide rough terrain for the boats crossing. There is a ferry which departs hourly but takes 5 hours. Most people instead opt for the 'fast boats'. Around the time of our travel there was a lot in the media about the safety of these boats, with some outlets suggesting there are the appropriate precautions are not used by certain companies and I do believe there has been boats that have got into trouble from sailing on days with bad weather. If you read tripadvisor there are some horror stories!! I was in a complete tizz about who to go with or what to do and decided it was best to decide when we were in Bali - I WAS WRONG! the boats get booked up so far in advance, so if you want the best pick of the most reliable companies then do your research in advance and commit to a travel date by pre-booking your transport. Despite the big hoo-ha described and the constant worry I felt about our impending near death experience I was conked out from start to end of our boat trip 🤦🏽♀️. Perhaps we were fortunate that it isn't as rough as people describe, perhaps it was rough and the anxiety just made me sleep through it, perhaps people exaggerate. Whatever the case I don't think it does any harm to research and plan ahead.
Ok so once you've managed the boat trip you will have arrived at the small picturesque island of Gili T.
It's very popular with travellers, party goers, those into a hippy vibe whilst still having a very remote feel. The neighbouring islands of Gili Air and Gili Meno are substantially smaller and typically appeal more to honeymooners however we felt there seemed to be too little going on there so opted for the busier destination. Despite me describing it as busier, it is by no means commercial, there are no cars on the island and almost all hotels/bars/restaurants can be walked to. Things on the island tend to be split into two sides, the boats dock where the majority of bars and restaurants are, on the opposite side of the island (where the sunsets) are some other hotels. All over the island bikes can be hired that enables you to ride around the whole island in around an hour (a flat easy ride along the shoreline makes for a lovely afternoon). Bike riding, swimming, eating and drinking is about all there is to do here despite it being the island with the most going on. People come here for a relax and a good time and it's exactly what you get. We loved our stay here at Pearl of Trawangan, we booked for a 'tree house' type of room where the bathroom and living area was outside and you climbed up the ladders to the bed. The novelty of the room was cool but beyond that I am not sure Gili T was worth the extra travel. (I must be honest that we've been ruined by many picturesque paradise-type islands, so it isn't that this isn't beautiful but for us, it was nothing we hadn't experience before but without the extra travel element). If you're short on time, this is the part of the trip I would miss out on.
date of visit- Summer 2017
necessary time - 7 days
recommend time - 10/14 days
overkill - I doubt there is such a thing if you're exploring all over
approximate budget (based on 2 adults for a week all in) - £2500 the most expensive part of that is the flights so if you stay longer the cost won't dramatically increase
highlights - white water rafting, waking up to a jungle view, surviving the boat ride to Gili T
pros- cheap, cheap, cheap, amazing accommodation, western food for those who are particular, as a destination I feel it's a good mix of commercial and authentic
cons- legit don't think there are any.. just wondering why I haven't been back already. ok no wait it is a long journey, hmm i need to think about this
Random info:
- the currency is in much larger quantities than GBP, don't panic that things are expensive, download a converter on your phone asap
- since there are no cars on Gili T people opt for horse and cart to travel around the island, if you can just drag your suitcases please do, i feel so sorry for the horses! 😫
- some people may wish to get vaccines for travel to Bali, some are free others are charged, it's worth speaking to your GP about their recommendations
- in relation to the above ^^ Bali like many Eastern countries does have cases of Rabies, since it's almost always fatal be mindful around animals/do your research
- on a cheerier note.. nope after 10 minutes of thinking what else I could share I am realising there's no coming back from fear of death 🤦🏽♀️😅
