A Quick Guide to Bali

Bali is on most peoples travel bucket list. A year ago I would have never dreamed of actually making it there this year. And what I can say is 8 days is not nearly enough to enjoy the splendor it has to offer. I visited two cities in my time here and overall I loved my experience. I stayed in Kuta, A surf town just north of the Airport Denpasar. They have a great nightlife, tons of shopping and a pretty killer beach for catching waves and taking surf lessons. But I also stayed in Ubud, which has a completely different feel. If you have a short time in Bali, Ubud is a must go for the solo female traveler. It has everything you want to enjoy from the island and more. Think of it as the hipster art scene nestled meters from rolling rice fields and minutes from gorgeous landscapes.

Transportation:

Local Bus: There is a public bus, Kura Kura bus, which has a map and details online, its cheap and easy but its still a public bus. There are a lot of stops and sometimes it can take a while to get from place to place. If you want to meet locals and travelers and you don’t have a time limit this is a great option.

Shuttle bus: I got a shuttle bus from Kuta for 80,000 IDR (approx. 6USD) to Ubud. I also snagged a Shuttle bus from Ubud to the airport for 60,000 IDR (4.5USD). Shop around at local travel agencies and see what their shuttle prices are. Depending on if your in a group or not they have different options and you can typically make a deal. Because I was alone I was able to snag the last spot in the bus for a discounted price during my departure.

Taxi: Take a taxi bike if you need a taxi. Taking a car is time consuming and actually more expensive. You will not have a hard time finding a taxi bike in Ubud center they are literally everywhere and negotiate a price. Bali is more expensive than Thailand and most of SE Asia (aside from Singapore) but find something fair. My average taxi was 50,000 IDR to get to my hotel, but it was quite far.

Rent a Scooter: I would highly recommend this. If you are staying near Ubud center then you will probably only need this if you want to venture outside of Ubud, but if you're out of town its cheaper to rent a scooter than take taxi back and forth each day, each way. My scooter from the property was 50,000 per day. For 24 hours, with a helmet. Just like renting a car, they might require a deposit and please don’t ever give anyone your passport for this (sometimes is can be used as leverage against tourists), and you need to bring it back with the same amount of fuel as when you started. Done, easy.

What to do:

Beach Kuta: Just hit the beach! This beach is huge and comparable to like what Waikiki is like, a little crowded but still stunning. Grab a fresh coconut for about 15,000 IDR and walk the beach markets or soak up the sun.

Surf Lessons in Kuta: I wanted to take some lessons because its been a while since I had been on a board and I looked into lessons online, to be honest it was out of my budget. I made my way to the beach and just hung out when a man approached me and asked if I knew how to surf. I explained my situation and he said I could take lessons with him I was a little weary about it but when we walked up and I saw all the small private surf places on the beach I felt better! And hands down it was fantastic! Pong dedicated 2.5 hours of his time, I got a board, and a rash guard and we hit the waves. Best surfing experience I could ask for. Cost 150,000 IDR.

Nightlife Kuta: Kuta has some great nightlife. There are a variety of clubs on the main party street and they are all pretty western. Depending on what you like for a night out hit a club, or grab drinks during happy hour just about anywhere. The street is open until about 3am almost every night.

Monkey Forest Ubud: This was a highlight for me. I love animals especially when its ethical. There are no cages and these monkeys run free. Its literally all their land. There is no regulations like in the US so be prepared for kind of a free for all with the little critters. I had monkeys on my back, in my backpack, on my arm, and I only managed to get bit twice. Just remember to put loose things away, they want to play so they will not hesitate to grab sun glasses etc. And don’t take food! But you can buy bananas and feed them and its adorable. They have over 600 monkeys of which more than a third are babies, so take you time and explore with them. Cost 40,000 IDR Bananas: 20,000 or 50,000 Sm/Lrg

Rice Terraces Ubud: The Tegallalang terraces are probably the most famous, and for a good reason. Stopped here to enjoy the view and were met with tour bus after tour bus. Most of the people made it down the steep wet hill to the first terrace took their photos and turned back but I actually spent a few hours here just wandering the terraces and soaking in the beauty. They are huge and if you make it around the bend you will probably have them to yourselves. Bring money because there are required donations in the front. 30,000 IDR should do, but take small bills there is no change.

Kintamani Lake View Point: This lake was huge. The drive up might have made the whole experience because you weave through the country side up the hills and then down to reach the lake. We ate a local reggae bar and listened to reggae music while chatting with locals and eating some Nasi Goreng.

Tegenungan Waterfall: This is going to be crowded but it is so worth it! This reminded me of home, except the water was so warm. You can swim under the waterfall, behind it, and climb to the top with several restaurants on top with the viewpoint. Enjoy a Bintang below or a fresh coconut and cool off in the rushing waters.

Where to eat:

Warung Garasi: Local Balinese food. This was the first place I ate which was recommended by some locals I had met when I said I was looking for something not extravagant and a little more authentic. This tiny place is in an alley off Monkey Street and was delicious! It was cheap had no wifi and their slogan was, "No Wifi; Talk to each like its 1995." I loved it.

Sari Organik Ubud: This is right next to the fantastic Ubud Yoga house along the Campuhan Ridge Walk. If you get up early and head to practice in the morning you can stop here for a post yoga breakfast afterward and catch the beautiful views in the middle of the rice fields.

Seniman Ubud: By far one of my favorite meals. Its not cheap but the coffee here is to die for and gorgeous. Their food is locally sourced and the menu is fantastic. Its healthy plates spanning form breakfast to dinner.

Caramel Ubud: Totally opposite of healthy plates but I couldn’t help my sweet tooth and driving by this place literally everyday made my mouth water stop in and try literally anything. The chocolate is so rich you have to try it.

Earth Café and Market Ubud: Vegan café that is such a nice transition after weeks of friend noodles and rice. Plus, they deliver! Again not the cheapest option but splendid. Try the

Veggie burger with Pesto or the Lemon Rosemary Tofu Wrap.

Layali Lebanese Restaurant and Lounge just outside Kuta: This is the best Lebanese food I have had outside of Lebanon. And they have hookah too if you are into that.

Yoga: Even if you're not a yogi, just try it. This is one of the most yoga dense areas I have been to and the teachers come from all around the world to teach a variety of skill levels and practices of yoga from Aerial to Bikram. I would recommend just trying one. I used Never Ending Voyage as my yoga guide and they did not disappoint. I visited most of these centers but was unfortunately too sick to practice.

Link Here: http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/yoga-ubud-bali/

"To travel is worth any cost or any sacrifice." - Elizabeth Gilbert