My Happy Bali-day

Travel to Ubud:

So my friend and I had taken a flight from Mumbai to Denpasar (via KL) that landed at the Ngurah Rai airport at around 15:30 hours.

Our driver was waiting for us and we soon took off on the long drive towards Ubud.

Before you start your trip make sure you complete your currency exchange since reliable exchangers are hard to find and Bali is infamous for certain counters duping tourists when it comes to money exchange.

One reliable money exchanger is BMC wherein we got a good rate and quick service as well.

We also purchased a local SIM card (airport can be expensive for this) with just a data pack; there are several packs available, pick what suits you the most.

The journey to Ubud from the main city area is interspersed with several Warungs (cafe in Balinese), market areas and very busy streets.

We had not expected such heavy traffic, so factor that in while planning your day.

The streets can get quite dark in the evening leaving you with little scope to plan any late evening excursions.

We finally reached our little villa just off the main Ubud market and the place had a lovely zen vibe to it. When in Bali, go for the villas!

Once we finished our check in we set out in search for a good dinner place, and Ubud can really spoil you with choice, it’s a haven for foodies especially if you love seafood, however there are adequate vegan and vegetarian options as well, if scouted well. We settled for a quiet Balinese meal that was filling and easy on the pocket as well.

Ubud sightseeing:

Day started on a happy note with our lavish breakfast spread being laid out by our villa hosts. What was quite unique about Bali was that Nasi Goreng ( the traditional egg and fried rice combination) is served for breakfast too!

We opted for a mixed spread that was hearty and extremely delicious.

Breakfast done, first stop was the Rice terrace estate complete with the Bali swing and lush expanse of green.

There are several such estates that can treat to the spirit of Ubud, opt for the one most convenient.

For close to INR 1000 pp we got to experience the thrill of the Bali swing, the tranquility of the vast green terrace and even sampled the various flavours of coffee and tea. There is also an option for the famous Luwak coffee (made from the poop of the Luwak cat) which I didn’t opt for.

The place is very picturesque and can make for some Instagram worthy photos.

Having spent over an hour here, we decided to move towards our next activity, just when we happened to notice several stalls vending the famous Bali purses and handicrafts.

Now you will find many stores and shops across Bali selling these bags, it however makes sense to opt for the ones in less commercial areas such as these, since you can get a good deal.

We shopped for several items and were able to bargain well; this saved us an additional trip to the Ubud handicraft market.

Our next stop was the Sacred Money Forest.

Not quite sure what to expect, we set out exploring the area that is home to more than 300 monkeys, extremely friendly ones at that, who happily pose with you and can even give a selfie if lucky.

The place is easy to get lost in; given its size and there are monkeys of all ages and sizes, happily chomping on their meals and swinging around the massive trees. We even spotted a baby chimp. Be careful to not litter the place or try feeding the monkeys yourself. They are well taken care of and all one needs to do is enjoy the place while maintaining the sanctity of it.

It’s a must visit when in Ubud.

Bidding adieu to the monkeys, we decided to have a late lunch at one of the Ubud market cafes, and explored the place on foot. You will be able to find many uniquely shaped handicrafts, musical instruments, accessories and what not.

Shopping done, we had dinner at a lovely Pizzeria, and called it a day.

Arrival at Gili:

Our day began very early at 6 am, with the bus coming to fetch was expected to reach very early. It was to take us to the Padang Bai harbour. It was from here that our prebooked fast boat would ferry us to the Gili islands.

The round trip to Gili including the pick and drop to the Harbour set us back by close to INR 4500 pp. There are many tour operators that provide the fast boat service; we opted for one named Karunaya Jaya.

The journey of over two hours was marked by choppy waters that made the ride a bumpy one. However the view that greeted us at Gili made it

all worth it.

Gili is a set of three islands - Gili Travangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air each having a distinct character, with Gili T being the more popular one.

Our boat docked at the harbour at Gili T and what greeted us was a breathtaking view of clear blue waters; blue skies and a hippie island vibe that was to be our home for the next three days.

We stayed at Damai Village a quaint hotel a couple of minutes walk from the harbour. The primary mode of commute in Gili was either by cycle or horse cart. The thought of riding the carts lugged around by the poor animals, was enough for us to decide to venture out by foot, which was not such a bad idea after all. The entire island can be covered within two hours and walking around helped explore the place better.

Having settled and unpacked we set out to have lunch. In my opinion Gili warrants a separate trip itself if one wants to do justice to the huge variety of food options that it has to offer. I am

Yet to come across a more delectable spread of fresh juices, smoothie bowls, pastas, pizzas in addition to the local Indonesian fare.

We lunched at Kayu Cafe famous for its beetroot pasta and fresh smoothie bowls. Food Coma.

Post noon it gets extremely hot in Gili, hence its best advised to stay indoors. Towards the evening we set out to the beach for some snacks and drinks. Cafe Egosite is a much favoured and popular option here; and one can enjoy Happy Hours for drinks if timed well.

The best way of exploring a new place is by sampling its food, and what better than a cooking class to get some local flavour. We signed up for a cooking class at Egoiste, who were sweet enough to tweak the menu to suit the vegetarian taste buds of my friend.

In pairs, we prepared a lavish three course Indonesian meal which was delicious and also served as our dinner.

With our stomachs groaning under the onslaught we decided to sleep in early.

Scubaaaaaaaa:

So we woke up late and then set out rushing for our breakfast. It was our scuba diving day and for a non swimmer like me, while exciting it also gave me the jitters.

Gili is the Turtle capital of the world and is a great place to snorkel and scuba; you can be rest assured that you would definitely spot a turtle.

There are many diving classes in Gili and all are equally good; going by the reviews. Pick the one that offers the maximum options of diving sites. The prices are pretty much uniform across all classes. We registered with Blue Marlin which had an impressive line up of diving instructors.

After the theory session, was the session in the pool which prepares you (well..almost) on how to venture out into the deep waters. Pool session done; we got into our scuba gear and set out for an experience of a lifetime.

The dive underwater was nothing short of magical; a surreal experience that was calming and exciting at the same time. We spotted two turtles; a lot of corals; a few fish and while we did miss out on seeing a lot of marine life; just the experience of being underwater is something that shall be imprinted on my memory forever.

We were famished after the dive; went back to our hotel and freshened up and decided to go cafe hopping. Our first stop was for some sweet potato burger and some Vietnamese rolls at Fat Cats Cafe. It was a Wednesday and the Gili party scene at its best! The Gili boat party happens every Saturday and there were hordes of tourists pub hopping; giving the place a lively vibe. The night food market at Gili also needs to be explored. One can ignore the hygiene standards for once and sample the local seafood fare at pocket friendly prices.

Our final stop was at Francesco’s Pizza; possibly the best I’ve ever had. The chef personally comes over to check your taste and served up lip smackingly amazing Italian fare right in the middle of Indonesia. This place shuts early and runs out of stock soon so make sure you arrive well in advance.

A nice stroll round the beach and dancing in the busy streets and we were ready to call it a day.

Off to Seminyak:

As much as we hated having to leave Gili, we were also looking forward to the adventure at Seminyak known for its fancy party scene and tourist attractions.

Our fast boat ferried us to the Sanur harbour from where it was an arduous drive to our hotel - The Ramada Encore at Seminyak.

Since it was evening by the time we checked in it did not leave us with much time to pack in too many activities. Had a late lunch at this lovely cafe named Shelter Cafe at Seminyak Square that served up some healthy and scrumptious salad bowls and smoothies.

With our appetite satiated we set out to witness the sunset at Rock Bar, one of the most famous bars in the world. Though it’s part of the Anvaya Resort, the entry to the bar is free. It’s a huge property complete with a glass elevator that transports you to the stunning sunset viewing seat. The place can be a little heavy on the pocket; however since we were skipping the other party places, we decided to give this one a try.

A little over rated for my taste though many would love spending time here nursing a drink and enjoying the view.

Jimbaran is an area replete with many restaurants (we even spotted an Indian one) but is best known for its seafood that is best enjoyed on the beach; and that is exactly what we did.

Cafe Menega on Jimbaran beach served some amazing seafood platter at not so expensive rates and is a must visit for seafood lovers.

Nusa Penida:

We were quite exhausted from all the travelling the day before; but Nusa Penida had to be done.

So an early morning cab ride to Sanur Harbour and we were ready to set sail to Nusa Pendida, one of the largest islands in Bali. The ferry ride was thankfully smooth and an hour later we reached the island. The round trip cost was at around INR 3000 pp excluding lunch and pick and drop to harbour. We had a driver and car included in the package; which is must required considering the island is quite huge and involves a lot of travel between beaches.

Though the place is quite arid with dry vegetation, what one can never be prepared for are the beautiful beaches that provide anthithesis to the otherwise dry geography of the place.

First stop was Crystal beach which though beautiful, in hindsight, it could be skipped to save time to spend at the other more popular ones.

What was next was the most photographed beach at Nusa Penida - the KlingKling beach. Shaped in the form of what many consider to be T-Rex, this place is nature’s marvel. There is a long and steep walk down some precariously positioned stairs down to the beach which we had to skip on account of paucity of time however the view from top was equally beautiful.

Several photos and a quick lunch later we arrived at Angels-Billabong beach where we could feel the sea spray on our faces, huge waves gushing across the rocks and clear green blue waters. A sight made in heaven.

Adjoining it is the Broken Beach that also has a manta point, though we unfortunately couldn’t spot any manta rays.

Our phone camera had a field day and we came back with as many beautiful memories as pictures. Nusa Penida is a must visit.

Bye Bye Bali:

It was our last day in Bali and we were determined to make the most of it. We were yet to visit the famous and architecturally exquisite temples; hence decided to go to Tanah Lot one of the oldest temples in Seminyak.

This temple as it’s name suggests, appears to be floating in the middle Of the waters and is best known for its sunset views. Though we visited it in the afternoon it was just as beautiful. This place is known to be guarded by holy snakes and we could even spot one nestled in a crevice.

The waves are very strong hence it makes best sense to not venture into the waters and just admire the beauty of the place from afar.

There are many stalls and shops vending handicrafts in Tanah Lot and with some bargaining one can get a good deal; just like we did.

We were getting late for the Uluwatu temple and immediately set off for it. By some serendipitous encounter we were able to get the tickets for the Kecak dance at Uluwatu (pls book this way in advance the tickets get sold out real soon) which was a sight to behold.

The entire Ramayana depicted in dance and music form with the Kecak sound forming the background, the entire atmosphere gets enlivened with the passion and energy of the performance. All this against the stunning Uluwatu sunset and our day came to a beautiful end.

Off to Mumbai:

Our flight to Mumbai was in the afternoon and with a very heavy heart we bid farewell to a beautiful and warm experience that Bali was.

This place has something for everyone; an active party scene, several food choices, the tranquil Ubud, the fast paced Kuta and the magical Nusa Islands. Adding Gili to the Bali intenary was the best decision we could have taken.

So decide your pace and area of interest and plan your trip around it; coz no matter how many days you pack in, Bali will always leave you longing for more.