Breath of Medley Bali

“The Lord is my Shepard; I have all that I need.” ~ Psalm 23:1

I made the decision years ago that every year I was going to travel to somewhere new. However, the actualization of this desire sometimes was dependent on who could come with me. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve also gotten bolder in trying new things on my own. Going to Bali last year, wasn’t as crazy as moving to an entire continent on my own, but came in close. It wasn’t until I booked my flight a couple of weeks before leaving, did this once-theoretical plan become a reality. My advice is to do your research before going. Something as simple as organizing transport, banking, or communication channels is important. Also, speaking to other people who have been to the same destination, makes the difference. For solo travelers, always have someone you check in with regularly.

For those who know me, my idea of a vacation is an adventure! I want to try the food, hit all the tourist sites, do a crazy activity like bungee jumping, and immerse myself in the culture as much as possible. My thought pattern is, that if I am spending all this money to be here, I will maximize the experience. I only had six days, so every day had its activity. I am not a travel blogger, but here is a summary of my trip!

Day 1: I arrived in the evening so after sorting out my phone, and visa at the airport, I went to my hotel and called it a day. I stayed at a place called Bali Relaxing Resort and Spa and let me tell you, the service was fantastic! I was greeted with a “refreshing drink,” randomly upgraded to a bigger suite, and escorted to my room with someone assisting me with my bags. The hotel was right on the beach as well, which made for a breathtaking view! I purposely chose a place with breakfast included to ensure that at least my first meal was sorted daily.

Day 2: After having breakfast, which was an all-you-can-eat buffet, I decided to explore the area around my hotel. Given it was a common tourist area, and at the beach, there were multiple vendors around, offering activities such as jet skiing, parasailing, and snorkeling. I kept it simple and got a massage at the hotel, although after speaking to others, it was more expensive than the typical price at other local places. Later I went for dinner at this highly recommended place called Waroeng Bernadette, known for its Indonesian cuisine. I had the lumpia goreng as a starter, with their famous beef rendang as my main, and finally a carrot cake for dessert. All of which tasted fantastic! Overall, they had excellent customer service and were patient while walking me through the menu.

Day 3: I decided to visit the Uluwatu Temple and see the traditional Kecak fire dance at sunset. The Uluwatu temple is one of Bali’s six key temples, located at the edge of the sea cliff top which makes the views breathtaking. Monkeys inhabit the temple therefore, you are more than likely to encounter one and they are not shy. I had one who grabbed my dress and refused to let go for a while. While internally panicked, I was advised to keep walking and eventually, they’ll get bored. They are harmless, however, keep your phones, keys, and sunglasses away, for they will grab those too! At sunset, was the Kecak fire dance.

Day 4: I went jet skiing and parasailing on this day. It was my one “active day” and I was intentional about maximizing my experience. Since I had never been jet skiing or operated a jet ski, I thought I would get a walk-through with at least a test drive with the teacher, but my lessons were over in 5 minutes! In all honestly, there wasn’t much to it anyway, just needed to be aware of where the break and gas were. The entire experience was exhilarating! One of the highlights of my trip! After that, I went parasailing, and the views from above were worth it. I decided to treat myself to another fabulous dinner at a place called the Wok Spices (which is a restaurant attached to a different hotel). I started with a shrimp avocado cocktail and cleansed my palate with some type of strawberry concussion drink. Next, I had the Balinese seafood stew with basil rice as my main and finished up with a traditional Balinese dessert, which tasted like fried plantain/banana with ice cream.

Day 5: I decided to cap it off with a Best of Ubud tour! This was a long day here is a summary of what the day included:

Balinese House Compound Visit
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Tegalalang Rice Terrace
D Alas Warung Resturant
Tirta Empul Holy Water Temple
Tegenungan Waterfall

There were other extra’s my tour guide included such as Pemulan Bali Coffee Plantation, markets, and visiting local jewelry stores, however, I would have to say the highlight of this day was my tour guide! Not only was he very knowledgeable, kind, and hospitable, but also had excellent photography and bargaining skills. The whole day still brings a smile to my face, even now.

I left Bali refreshed, and glad I challenged myself to do this on my own. So there you have it! Where have you traveled to recently? Where should be the next destination for me?

Until next time,

IdyC.