I spent 1.5 weeks in Bali, 1 week doing Indi Pole Camp in Seminyak and half a week venturing in Ubud alone.
At the pole camp, we stayed in luxury villas in Seminyak. Check out @theislandhouses #indigirlstakebali on IG to see pictures of this villa! Our group took 3 houses. I think each house has 3 rooms and a private pool.
I didn’t get to explore Seminyak that much since pole camp was very challenging but I was very inspired after taking classes with world famous polers Daria & Fontaine!
I didn’t expect to shop in Bali but I loved the main shopping street in Seminyak! (Ubud has a similar main shopping street). The designer shops are really posh and I wanted to buy so many clothes! Prices were similar to what I would pay for in the US. I tried really hard not to shop but I couldn’t resist buying a dreamcatcher, flip flop wedges, flowy dress, crochet halter from the markets.
On our rest day, we went to Finns Beach Club (IG@finnsbeachclub), where we had a lot of fun sunbathing and playing in the pool.
On our last day, we went to La Laguna Cafe (IG@lalagunabali) in Canggu. It’s so magical, I would totally go back in the daytime!
I stayed at FuramaXclusive Villas & Spa Ubud (IG@furamavillasubud) and Kamandalu Resort Ubud (kamandalu). I think Furama has better in-room experience, but Kamandalu has a better resort outside your hotel room. I paid about USD130 a night and I had a villa to myself. As I walk into my room, there is a cute outdoor living room perfect for some staying in self care day. The bedroom was so spacious. There were 2 sinks and so much space to get ready. I had a tub and a shower. Then I walk out to my private pool and I can swim out to a lagoon that only 14 villas can access. The lagoon has a swim up bar. I wanted this to be a relaxing vacation so I went easy on the sightseeing and got the lagoon to myself for an hour. (I only saw 2 people accessing the lagoon during my stay there). I also can sunbathe in front of the lagoon. Just having a private pool and exclusive access to the lagoon is well worth the $130. I had to checkout at 6AM in order to go far out to Pura Lempuyang and the staff made me a breakfast box. So much food to last my journey!
Kamandalu cost above USD200 for the Ubud Chalet. I had a big room with a bath and outdoor shower. The view was beautiful. This is definitely one of top places I’ve stayed at and totally worth the $200+. But I was itty bitty disappointed about the room after the stay in Furama. I booked Kamandalu because of their iconic infinity pool. The view from the pool is so breathtaking. The hotel has free yoga classes which I took advantage of because Ubud is yoga retreat heaven. and after taking the class at Kamandalu, I can understand why. It has totally spoiled me and I will never settle for anything less for a yoga class.
To get around, I hired drivers for half days or full days if I’m leaving the Ubud area. There are free shuttles from the hotel to the Ubud center. I mostly ate at the Ubud center.
The first day in Ubud, I went to Tukad Cepung Waterfall. My driver (and hotel staff) didn’t actually know the way. It’s quite a hidden gem that is slowly becoming more and more touristy š¦ It’s a majestic waterfall in a cave. When I went, it was still quiet enough where I could somewhat get only myself in a photo with the waterfall.
The driver took me to another waterfall nearby. Only 1 tourist family and a group of locals were at the waterfall so I got to go in the water all by myself and enjoy the waterfall up close.
Then the driver took me to a coffee plantation. Bali is known for lewak coffee which pretty much means they have these cute animals eat the coffee beans and use their poop to make coffee. I’m not a coffee drinker so I didn’t try any. They make 15 coffees/tea/hot cocoa selections for their FREE sampler tastings for each group. I didn’t want to waste coffee so I told them I really don’t drink coffee, don’t have to make them but she made it anyway. I enjoyed the teas and hot cocoa. I bought some cocoa powder to bring home.
I had lunch at a rice terrace restaurant. Eating with breathtaking views is a common them in this Bali trip. There was another one I went to the next day where I got to eat in a private mini hut with the rice terrace view. If you went in a group of 4-6, you get to sit in those huts inside the koi pond.
On the second day, I went to Karsa Spa for a facial, flower bath, and pedicure in cute bungalows. All 3 treatments cost me USD40 total. This is by far the best experience I ever had in my life. The spa itself has gorgeous views. Almost everything they use is organic (other than the nail polish). Washed my feet with a piece of lime, scrubbed my feet with rice/Indonesian spice mix, facial with carrot and honey.
Then I went to Bali Swing because I’m a basic bitch and need them viral IG photos of me swinging out into the forest. Other than the fact that this theme park is full of pretty women with their Instagram boyfriends/husbands taking 1000 photos of them, it was a really fun experience. Totally worth the US35.
Pura Lempuyang is a 2 hour drive from Ubud and we wanted to make it there early in the morning before the crowds come in.
Tirta Gangga – This water palace is a must go for Bali! I’m just going to let these pictures do the talking. You can swim in the palace too!
Tegalalang Rice Terrace – when I went, it wasn’t the best time in the harvest cycle, so it didn’t quite look as good as the IG pictures. But it is still worth a trip. You have to make donations every now and then when walking through the terrace.
Monkey Sanctuary is a 20 min walk from the Ubud center. It was really interesting observing the cute monkeys and being so close to them. But then I realized they are a bunch of thieves, opening bookbag zippers and trying to get things out of my handbag.
Tip: It’s taboo for women to go into temples while on their periods. Yes, how would they know? But I really wanted to be respectful of their culture. I don’t want to get banned from paradise.
Final tip: Don’t get so rushed trying to hit all the spots. Take the time to smell the flowers because seriously Bali has so many flowers and they are so beautiful!
Places I would go back to Bali for:
– Pura Tirta EmpulĀ
– ocean swings at Gili IslandsĀ
– beach swing at Pandawa Beach
– water temple on Lake Beratan
– Dive into Pemuteranās underwater temple
– cave under Uluwatu Beach
Warning for Seminyak:
Bring bug spray and anti-itch cream or buy some there. I had 62 bites!
reineintheair 