Bali
Bali - Island of the Gods
For a few days a year, the Balinese believe the gates of heaven open to receive their departed loved ones. It’s a joyous time to visit as people speed their ancestors to a peaceful afterlife.
A mother and daughter at the Royal Palace in Ubud
Located in the Indonesian archipelago, Bali has captivated travelers of all stripes with its stunning beaches, lush landscapes, vibrant culture and spiritual charm. From backpackers to fans of Eat Pray Love, Bali offers everything from $10 massages on the beach to high-end hotels and villas. I combined this tropical paradise with my trip to Singapore, as Bali is only a 2-hour flight away - but you step 100 years back in time.
Ubud - the Spiritual and Cultural capital of Bali
Ubud is the spiritual and cultural capital of Bali. Surrounded by emerald-green rice terraces, the town’s landscape is punctuated with temples and gates, whose dramatic verticality stands in contrast to the wavy organic forms. Art is everywhere - from craftsmen working in textiles, stone, wood, paint on paper and dozens more media - there is a dedicated arts & culture street, complete with a bustling Art Market Ubud. Traffic is everywhere on the main drag as pedestrians, cars, and bikes jostle with the hundreds of scooters. A trip of a few miles can take an hour if you get caught in a Bali traffic jam. But everywhere is a sense of the spiritual as well. Incense burns on every street and each door and entryway is adorned with a small flower offering. Health and wellness opportunities abound - so I booked an entire spa day to really settle into the Ubud vibe.
Murni is the self-proclaimed “Mother of Ubud” - as a one-woman force of nature who is their biggest proponent for travel and tourism in Ubud. She operates a small empire - a guest house, spa complex, store, restaurant and much more. Her spa is a small village of multiple buildings set within a courtyard complete with statuary, water features, and extensive gardens. I did a 2-hour Balinese massage, a flower bath that was amazing, facial and mani / pedi plus a delicious fresh fish lunch with a mint smoothie. The service and the quality of the services were world-class - and all at a really affordable price due to the strong dollar. Here are some pics of the highlights of my spa day.
Other must-do things in Ubud are the Sacred Monkey Forest - only about 20-minute walk from the main drag - and the evening Balinese dance performances at the main temples in town. There were also some great restaurants in town - a sushi spot called Toro sushi, tacos at Baba Bistro, Indian at Pesana Lounge and dinner with a view of the rice paddies at Cafe Pomegranate.
Cretya - Instagram Disney for Adults
Cretya is an incredible place. It’s the dream of one man, Alas Harum, that encompasses two restaurants, many bars and dozens of instragrammable locations throughout the rice paddy valley. The chief draw is the hot tubs, pools and multi-tiered overlooks of the massive property. The most famous Instagram draw is the magic swing - where ladies can rent a red or purple flowy dress and get harnassed into the swing for a few minutes of ticktock fame. It’s a sight to see husbands, dutiful boyfriends or gaggles of girls filming every move. I ate in the Asian restaurant - where you can hang out to avoid the cover charge of the couches and tables which can be pretty steep - and then went to explore the pools and hot tubs. The place was really friendly as folks easily struck up conversations with their neighbor. This was definitely a must do - if only because all of the beautiful people seemed to flock there from all parts of the globe. Here’s a look at Instagram boot camp for beginners!
Uluwatu - Surf Capital of Bali
On Bali’s southwestern shore, Uluwatu has some of the best surf in Indonesia. A great day trip there includes a visit to the Uluwatu Temple, with its stunning cliffside location and large monkey population (watch out for sunglasses, phones and hats! They’re quite mischievous) After checking out the temple, head over to Single Fin for the absolute best views of the surf break while grabbing a coffee, beer or something to eat. Check out these photos of the cliffside temple and the view of the surfers.
Ubud - Villa Life
There are many lodging options in Ubud, but I would highly recommend Lebah Villas for your stay. They have a few budlings in the compound ranging from a few bedrooms to the 4 bedroom villa I was in - all surrounding a beautiful pool. The villa is serviced by a hospitable family that did everything for you - breakfasts, tours, arranging rides - they even drove me 3 hours to the airport on my last night at midnight. Now that’s service. There’s a spa/massage pavilion right next door and cute cafes, restaurants and a stunning pathway through the rice paddies which was my favorite part of the trip. Super clean, quiet and luxurious. Highly recommend! Here are some snaps to give you a sense of the property.
