ITINERARY
Ubud > Pemuteran > Seminyak > (Gili Islands)
Bali is known for its lush topography, expansive beaches ranging from white to black sands, and elaborate arts & crafts. There are an estimated 20,000 Hindu temples in Bali (the only island in Indonesia that is hindu and not muslim) making it known as the ‘Island of the Gods’. Every aspect of life in Bali is accompanied by religious rituals.
We went to Bali with our friends Dave Steele, David & Jen Garlasco. We also got to meet my husband’s old roommates Glen & Leslie who have been living in Bali for over 15 years and were lovely hosts.
UBUD
a remarkable town in the middle of Bali. It is the island's heart and center filled with arts, local artisan shops & restaurants. It is the perfect spot to make it your base for exploring the island. We wish we had spent more time in Ubud.
STAY UMA Hotel [loved this intimate hotel and became a fan of the COMO resorts since. Make sure to get a Javanese Royal Lulur Bath treatment at their spa the day you arrive. It will wipe out your jet-leg away!] COMO Shambala Estate [is their other property nearby. Beautiful hotel and wellness center. I got to spend the day there and had a wonderful Taksu massage in a bungalow tucked in the woods by the river. Pure bliss & peace!]
EAT Ibu Oka Warung [opposite to the former Royal Palace, this shanty cafe is an Ubud institution that draws both locals and tourists from around the world. Babi guling is Balinese roast suckling pig and that is what everyone goes there for. It is served in big chunks in a rattan bowl with rice, spicy vegetables and secret sauce. And it is crazy cheap!] Mozaic [considered a gourmet restaurant in Ubud, it was not worth the price and very long dinner in my opinion] Locavore [did not go to Locavore but read great things about it]
SEE/DO Hiking & Biking Tours [UMA provides various excursions and we did a hiking tour one day and a biking one another. We got to see peaceful Balinese farmland, ancient villages & terraced rice paddies. Banyan Tree Bike Tours also offers good tours] Rafting on the Ayung River [this is a popular tour for tourists but we did not get to check it out] Yoga [we took yoga classes at the hotel’s studio that is open and overlooks the Ayung River valley. Not to be missed!] Walk around Ubud [worth exploring - bit touristy at the times, but for most part still retains quite a bit of charm]
PEMUTERAN
a small fishing village on the northwest coast of Bali.
STAY Matahari Beach Resort [located between the Bali Barat National Park and the Java Sea, this is a secluded hotel in very traditional Balinese style]
SEE/DO Secret Garden Tour [tour offered by the hotel to Buleleng: we trekked in this mountainous area, saw waterfalls and got to swim in one, traversed plantations of coffee, cloves, fruit trees and Balinese rice] Scuba Diving or Snorkeling [we went to Menjangan Island, part of Bali Barat National Park for scuba diving and snorkeling. It was a 50-minute boat trip from the hotel and considered one of the top dive sites in the world, offering steep wall sites - spectacular coral as well as rich variety of fish] 4 Hands Royal Bali Massage [yes, a four hands massage is something to be experienced at the hotel’s spa. It felt beyond luxurious!]
SEMINYAK
is Bali's most fashionable beach & home to luxurious resorts, fine restaurants and boutiques.
STAY We stayed at a villa in the town of Seseh and even though it’s not that far from Seminyak, the traffic in that part of Bali is terrible, so we ended up pretty isolated from everything. If we were to do it again, I would stay in Seminyak. The W Hotel is a nice option.
EAT/DRINK Sardine [seafood - enchanting open air restaurant overlooking rice paddy fields and lily ponds] Kilo [Latin-Japanese cuisine - minimalistic designed restaurant tucked away behind Oberoi] Mamasan [Asian-Thai - beautiful restaurant & lounge bar] Tiger Palm [Malaysian cuisine - little cousin to Mamasan, serves Penang street food] Metis [French Mediterranean – very sophisticated setting & food] Sarong [Indian-Asian food – very nice & classy restaurant & bar. Really liked this place!] Potato Head [sexy beach club right at the beach] Ku De Ta [another sexy beach club facing the sea – the sunset is incredible from here and lounging at night on big beds facing the illuminated beach with great DJ music in the background is as cool a bar as it gets] Hotel Tugu in Canggu [Canggu is not that far from the village we stayed at and we had a Balinese dinner at an outdoor kitchen with a traditional wood-burning stove. This very sweet older Balinese woman cooked a great variety of dishes on her own and served us]
DAY TRIP Uluwatu [hire a driver for the day – pretty cheap – and go check out the beautiful beaches in Uluwatu. We spent part of our day at Karma Kandara beach club at Karma beach. A cable car will take you down the limestone cliff to the beach. There’s a nice restaurant for lunch & drinks. Some other beaches to check out: Uluwatu beach – to get here you’ll need your driver to drop you at Blue Point Bay Villa & Spa and then walk through the Pecatu village down the hill. The beach is located deep under the cliff bank, but it’s not good for casual swimming. Preferred beach for surfers though. Bingin – ask your taxi driver to drop you off at Mick’s Place and then follow the signs to the beach. You will have to hike down the massive rocky path to get to the beach. Pretty spectacular. Padang Padang & Dreamland aka New Kuta Beach are also favorites]
It would be worth spending a few nights in Uluwatu and if you want to splurge, the Alila Villas is stunning or the Bulgari Hotel is equally beautiful.
We were going to the Gili Islands for a few days but Michael threw out his back so badly that we had to return to the US earlier than planned. The Gili islands are a group of 3 tiny islands – Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air – with idyllic sandy beaches with palm trees, and beautifully clear waters. Our friends did go and had a great time even though the boat ride from Bali can be rough.
