Exploring Bali

In my last post I discussed my experience of volunteering in Bali for 4 weeks over December 2023 into the new year. However, I also had plenty of time to explore the island on afternoons and weekends, and this blog post will cover various activities, spots and trips that you might want to do if you find yourself there. As I was based in Ubud, my weekday afternoons were spent exploring things in the town and surrounding areas, leaving my weekends free to venture further afield. There is heaps to see and do, with a mixture of culture, art, nightlife, sports and peaceful retreats. I'm sure this only scratches the surface as to what Bali offers - but as you can see the choice is endless!

In and around Ubud 📍

Tegalalang Rice Terrace 🌾

Entry to the rice terrace is 25,000 IDR (approximately 2.50 AUD, or £1.25). It's a nice landscaped, photographable spot which looks very idyllic, with water streams, greenery and the lack of tourists as you move away from the main road.

Bali Pulina Coffee Plantation ☕

Just a 2 minute drive up the road from the Tegalalang Rice Terraces was Bali Pulina, a coffee and tea plantation. The customer service was great from the moment we arrived, with a tour guide who took us through the step-by-step process of how coffee is made at the plantation. I enjoyed this experience, especially as you get to see where your cup of coffee comes from. A summary of the steps to make coffee are as follows:

1. The coffee beans grow in a berry-like form. For the Luwak Coffee (a type of animal that looks like a large cat), the Luwak eats these berries and the enzymes in it's stomach process them. It then poops out the whole bean, which is collected, cleaned and then processed like regular coffee beans.
2. Addition of spices - some of the coffee blends were mixed with locally grown ginger, vanilla, cinnamon or coco beans.
3. Bean roasting - Traditionally, bean roasting was done over a fire in a large pan, with the duration of the roast affecting the taste of the coffee. It was then ground up using a pestle and mortar. Nowadays, the roasting and grinding process is standardised using machines.
4. Types of coffee roasts - various types of coffee can be made, including wet, dry, honey and natural blends.

Then the fun part - trying the coffee and tea! Bali Pulina also grows many types of tea, of which I enjoyed the rosella the most.

Balinese massage 💆

When in Bali, you must try a traditional Balinese massage! Typically costing about 150,000 IDR ($15AUD or £7.50) for an hours session, it is a great way to unwind and relax. I used to go every Friday afternoon after a week on the construction site to unwind before the weekend. Some places will also kindly offer you a complimentary herbal tea after your session.

Mt Batur Sunrise Hike ⛰️

As one of the 'must-do' activities for those who love adventures, I had organised to hike Mt Batur for the sunrise on my first weekend here. To summarise in 1 sentence - the hike was a demonstration of humans being at the mercy of mother nature, which you cannot predict or control no matter how hard you try. Let me explain in more detail (TLDR: we got to the top and it was completely cloudy, so we saw nothing at all!)

At 2am the taxi picked me up from my hostel, and I began the journey to the base of Mt Batur where we would begin our hike. The majority of the ascent is in complete darkness, and as a result a guide is mandatory to complete the hike. He gave us our head torches, and we were off! The walk to the summit of Batur was split into various sections:

1. A pretty flat section with small incline leaving the car park and getting to the first stop. At each of these stops there would be a shack that got set up selling drinks and stuff, and bikes would also be posted there for those looking to ride their way up to the top.
2. The following section was still on tarmac, but with a greater incline.
3. The path then transitioned into loose rocks and dirt. I found myself really focussing on the task at hand, with only the beam of your torch showing what's ahead of you.
4. The final section takes you past a plaque which states the height of Batur (1,717m), until you reach the summit.

However, as mentioned by my spoiler above, the sunrise came and went and we saw nothing. It was all clocked behind a thick wall of white cloud - a tough reward for the effort I had put in. I guess it was a good reminder that it's about the journey, rather than the destination!

Saraswati Temple 🛕

Along the main road of Ubud town centre lies Pura Taman Kemuda Saraswati, also known as the Ubud Water Palace. Notable for it's lotus pond, the temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Saraswati. A traditional 'sarong' is required to be worn as you enter, and it's worth a visit. You don't need to allow too much time for it, an hour at most.

Monkey Forest 🐒

The Monkey Forest is a must see spot in Ubud, covering an area of 12.5 hectares and is home to 1200 long-tailed Macaque Monkeys. I had heard stories that they can be quite aggressive, but I had no such encounters when I visited. Just make sure that you don't look them in the eye (as that's a sign of aggression), and don't carry any food with you. If you're at the Monkey Forest at the right time, you may be able to catch the Frog Dance, which is a traditional Balinese dance telling a story.

Pyramids of Chi - Ancient Sound Healing 🎐

The Pyramids of Chi is a centre that combines Pyramid Power, Sacred Geometry, Polar Alignment and Ancient Sounds to deliver yoga, meditation and sound healing sessions. I tried the latter for the first time, and it was an interesting experience! In brief, a sound healing session involves meditating in the dark whilst listening to sounds and vibrations from a range of instruments.

I was a bit sceptical at first, but I did enjoy the experience in the end. The science behind it is that the vibrations from the instruments resonate through your body, sometimes leading to a 'tingly' feeling - which is said to be your energy. People have experienced all sorts at these sessions, from becoming emotional to hallucinating, or just falling asleep!

Bali United ⚽

Something which I didn't expect myself doing was going to watch a league football game here in Bali - but some spontaneous last minute planning made it happen! I attended the Bali United vs Persib home game at the Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium, an 18,000 capacity stadium not far from Ubud. I didn't really know what the football scene would be like in Indonesia, and I was surprised. Fans had come out in their masses, and you could see the passion in them as they cheered their teams on. There was even a section for Bali United's 'ultra' fans, the North Side Boys - who made the stadium feel like it could have been a Champion's League night in Europe. It was a great evening of entertainment (despite the 1-1 result).

Yoga Barn - Iyengar yoga session 🧘‍♂️

I had a go at my first yoga session at The Yoga Barn, again close by to Ubud. It was an Iyengar session, and was tough but fun! The Yoga Barn is located in a quieter part of Ubud, so great to get away from the bustle that Bali sometimes has.

Ubud art market 🎨

Located on the main road in Ubud Town, the art market is a great place to walk around in, try your go at some friendly haggling and pick up any local clothing or artwork you fancy. There are lots of stalls selling similar items so be sure to have a look around before deciding to buy something.

Ring making 💍

Located in a small open front shop amidst the rice paddies, was a ring shop where you could make your own silver ring. A fun experience, especially if you'd like to create a meaningful piece of jewellery. From the solid silver to a final polished product, the owners take you through all the steps:

1. Melting the silver down in a crucible using a blowtorch which was supplied with air using a foot bellow.
2. Once in a single piece of metal, I had to hammer it out a bit before putting it through a roller multiple times to get the desired thickness and width. Hand roller with a gear system, and adjustable rollers to change the force applied on it.
3. Once flattened then had to reheat (trick is to keep the silver warm so that you can work it). Used a hammer and stencils to imprint my design. Carved it into the ring, and then bent it to the required diameter to fit my index and middle fingers. Then used the blowtorch again to heat it up whilst a sliver of silver was placed in the gap to seal it.
4. Next step was to use some black dye to make the imprints more visible, and then wash the ring.
5. Finishing time, used a sander of various thicknesses to remove excess dye and polish the ring up to get it shiny and clean.

ATV tour 🏍️

For those seeking more of an adrenaline rush, the ATV jungle tour is a great way to see the rice fields and greenery in rural Bali. It cost me 450,000 IDR ($45AUD or £22) for a guided tour with lunch included. There are different ATV tour companies that offer excursions, with some routes being more extreme than others. The one I did was very off-road, going through knee deep streams, steep inclines and drops, mud and caves.

Tibumana & Tamansari Waterfalls 💧

Bali has what feels like an endless supply of waterfalls, so there is plenty on offer no matter where you are in the island. The two I went to were Tibumana and Tamansari waterfall, both a close drive from each other. You are able to swim in the pool of water at the base of the waterfall, although the water is pretty cold.

Ubud Food Spots🍜

As a vegan, finding food spots which offer a variety of plant based food is always a nice bonus when travelling. Prior to arriving in South East Asia, I wasn't too sure what the food scene would be like, but Bali has been great for me. There is lots of vegetarian and vegan food on offer, and the restaurants below are just some of my favourite spots to grab a bite.

Anomali Cafe 🥗

Situated on the main road in Ubud town centre, I went there for breakfast post-Batur hike. I ordered a porridge bowl along with a coffee. I'll let the pictures do most the talking in this section of the blog!

Suka Espresso ☕

Great for coffee and cake, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had a vegan chocolate cake on offer here.

Alchemy 🧇

I went here for brunch with some friends. Known for their salads (I didn't get round to trying them), I got a acai bowl.

Taco Fiesta 🌮

Vegan burritos with a refreshing mocktail. This place is located halfway between the Monkey Forest and Pyramids of Chi, so makes for a nice spot to break up a day of touring.

Queens of India 🍛

The last dinner I had when in Bali, Queens of India does amazing Indian food, with vegan, vegetarian and non-veg food on offer.

Kuta & Nusa Dua 🏖️

Kuta is a beach and resort area in the south of the island of Bali. One of Bali's first tourist developments, it's best known for partying, surfing and is very touristy. I went for the weekend with some friends and stayed for 2 days. The traffic around Kuta is pretty bad, as it is such a popular spot with tourists - it took 2 hours to get from Ubud to my hotel. On the flipside, the high levels of tourism means there are plenty of spots to stay in this region. Here are a few of the activities I got up to.

Surfing 🏄‍♂️

Kuta's long, consistent waves make it a popular surf spot, particularly for beginners, with plenty of outfitters offering board rentals and surf lessons. Having learnt how to surf earlier in the year on Bondi Beach in Sydney, I wanted to give it a go again and practice my skills. I booked in for 2 surfing sessions on Saturday with Tio Surf, one of the many surf schools located along the beach. The water here is super warm, almost bath-like, so no need to wetsuits. Each 2 hour session cost me 150,000 IDR ($15AUD or £8).

La Favela🪩

For those looking for things to do in the evening, La Favela in Seminyak is a nice restaurant/bar/club to visit with friends. It's huge - and has multiple floors with different types of music. The road outside does get busy with traffic, so allow for extra time when travelling to and from the venue.

Parasailing in Nusa Dua 🛥️

On the Sunday we went for the day to Nusa Dua, about an hour by car from Kuta. It's known for it's luxury resorts, golf courses and fine dining, but we were there for watersports. We had a go at parasailing and the 'donut' boat ride, which where both good fun. There's also jet skis and a host of other inflatables. Nusa Dua is easy to get to from Kuta by taxi, with the highway over the water avoiding most the traffic that is heading towards Denpasar Airport.

Gili Trawangan 🏝️

The great thing about solo travelling is that even if you don't have plans for the coming weekend, you'll soon have some! I hadn't planned anything in advance for NYE, but after talking to some friends in my volunteer hostel we decided to go to Gili Trawangan over the new year weekend. Gili Trawangan (or 'Gili T' for short) is one of 3 Gili Islands, just off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia. About a 2 hour ferry from mainland Bali (35km away), the islands are very small in comparison. Gili T is 7km in perimeter.

Gili T is also motor free - meaning to get around you walk, cycle or use horse-drawn carriages (called a cidomo). We opted to rent bikes for the weekend due to concerns about the treatment of the horses on the island. There are plenty of places to stay on Gili T for all budgets, with the majority of development on the eastern side of the island.

Snorkelling 🐢

On the Saturday we decided to do a private snorkelling tour of 3 spots around the coast. It took us to various locations, including underwater statues and the chance to swim with sea turtles! The water is pristine around Gili, so visibility is great. A private tour also came with the added bonus of a guide using a GoPro to take some snaps of us.

Sunrise Vinyasa Yoga 🧘‍♂️

The morning after snorkelling, a 5am wake up and short cycle ride took me to the beach in time for a vinyasa yoga session. It was a beginner friendly lesson, and was nice to be out in the sun before it got too hot.

Scuba Diving 🤿

The big event for the last day of 2023 was a beginner scuba diving course, which I was very excited for. Trawangan Dive school offered a half day introductory course, which included one pool session with the equipment before going on an open water dive.

Following a small briefing, we hopped in the pool and learnt the basics of scuba - how to equalise pressure as you descend, the use of breathing to raise or lower yourself in the water, and how to remove water that gets in your mask. After lunch, we got on the boat and drove to the Helik dive site, in the north of the island.

The dive took me to a depth of 12m, and we were under for about 46 minutes. I saw a huge variety of sea life - clownfish, blue tangs, coral and more turtles! A surreal experience, not having done anything like this before. You get a sense of hyperfocus as you're swimming around, only focussed on the task at hand and nothing else. Scuba diving was a great way to end 2023, and would definitely do it again!

And with that concludes the majority of my exploration of Bali and surrounding islands. Whilst writing this blog I realised how much I had actually done in the space of 4 weeks, and the variety of activities and experiences I had. If you do ever find yourself in Bali and this blog was of use, I'd love to hear from you!

PS: If you enjoyed this, why not consider subscribing for free here? (Just remember to click the verification link in your emails to confirm, and mark the email as not spam!)