A Comprehensive Guide to Bali After 3 Weeks of Wonder
Bali is magic. A place where you can feel the respect those around you have for the earth, other humans and a higher being. It makes you wish the entire world could be like this. If you haven’t been, I hope you will be able to go at some point in your lifetime, because it truly is a must see. If you make it, please visit responsibly with the intention of taking in all the beauty and peacefulness Bali has to offer, so hopefully it can stay this way for generations to come.
Below is the best of Bali I discovered during the three incredible weeks I spent there. I hope you’ll be inspired to explore it on your own one day!
Photos by: Andres Hernandez, Location: Bali Eco Stay
MY FAVORITE PLACES TO STAY
BALI ECO STAY
Australians John and Cath Bludstone own and host Bali Eco Stay - a nature based resort aimed at inspiring guests to live more sustainably. A place designed for guests to be “nurtured by nature”, you’ll walk away with that and much more. Its beautiful rice terraces, natural waterfalls, permaculture garden, open air bungalows and delightful staff are only some of the reasons why you can't miss the chance to stay here. You can easily spend your days walking around the grounds, enjoying an outdoor Balinese massage or relaxing with a yoga session. Whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed taking time off to reconnect with nature and yourself.
The incredible staff!
A few of the social media videos Andres Hernandez and I created for them:
When I set off for Asia in February, the only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to spend my 38th birthday in Bali in late March. I was lucky to enjoy that day surrounded by peace and nature.
ELEMENT BY WESTIN BALI UBUD
As an SPG Starwood Preferred member, I usually take a look to see what properties are available in the area I’m traveling to. It was such a nice surprise to find out an Element was opening the week I was arriving to Ubud, so I had to check it out! Located just a few minutes from the center of Ubud is the beautiful, eco-conscious Element by Westin Bali Ubud. The indoor/outdoor lobby is striking with a wooden structure capturing your attention the minute you walk in. The rooms have a clean look and are very comfortable. I enjoyed at least one meal at the hotel restaurant each day and it was always a great experience - not to mention the incredible view of the pool from the outdoor dining area. The staff even noted my birthday just passed and they surprised me one night with a birthday treat. I also visited PancaMaya Wellness where I indulged in a few heavenly treatments one day.
Overall, I really enjoyed my stay at the Element and I highly recommend it for being a beautiful resort in the heart of Ubud with stellar service.
A video we made riding around Ubud with our Element driver:
Pool day!
Video and photos by: Andres Hernandez
SEBATU SANCTUARY
Sebatu Sanctuary is one of Bali’s most sustainable eco-resorts located near the village of Sebatu, 30 minutes north of Ubud. It provides a “back to nature” experience where guests can choose to stay in a two-story Dutch Colonial Suite, a tented Villa or a Javanese Bungalow. I chose the charming Bungalow, but had the chance to tour the other two - and honestly you can’t go wrong. One of the most unique things about the resort is the natural infinity pool, with over 250 fish, that uses ecological processes to cleanse the water. I had never had the chance to swim in a natural pool before and it really was such a special experience to be surrounded by so many fish up close! The restaurant, Evecurious, serves a fusion between Thai and Indonesian cuisines (and I’ll admit I ordered the fried banana dessert every day…twice a day). Also, there are several attractions nearby such as waterfalls, rice fields, temples and Mount Batur - to name a few. My favorite thing of all, however, was the incredible misty sunrise - definitely worth waking up for. If you ever make it to Bali and are looking for a different experience, I highly recommend Sebatu Sanctuary.
A couple of the social media videos Andres Hernandez and I created for them:
MY FAVORITE PLACES TO EAT
Since I spent most of my time in Bali at eco-resorts, I didn’t eat out a lot. However, I did find a few incredible cafes in Ubud (and I’m certain there are many more).
Serving Pan-Asian cuisine along with fresh juices and coffee, Habitat Cafe is conveniently located across from the Monkey Forest - one of the top attractions in Ubud. I was especially impressed with their straws made of Cassava, a 100% bio-based material that’s biodegradable and compostable.
MILK & MADU
Milk & Madu was heaven in the middle of a long day of walking all around Ubud. The coffee and fresh juices were amazing and the architecture was clean and inviting with a mix of wood and glass. The only thing I wish is that I had made it there earlier for breakfast.
CLEAR CAFE
From the second you walk up to Clear Cafe you know you’re going to have a unique experience. From the impressive design, to the chill musical vibe and artfully decorated healthy foods - this place is chic and simple at the same time.
MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO
UBUD MONKEY FOREST
Ever thought about walking into a forest full of monkeys? You can do just that at the Ubud Monkey Forest. With over 700 Balinese monkeys of all ages, you can experience them in a natural habitat. They will interact with you (aka hop on your shoulder or lap) if you feed them bananas, but I opted to just observe and photograph them. My favorite part was watching them play in a fountain where they took turns jumping in the water after each other. If you visit, please make sure to follow their guidelines to keep the monkeys safe.
TEGENUNGAN WATERFALL
The stunning Tegenungan Waterfall is located just 20 minutes from Ubud. A viewing point located at the entrance gives you an almost bird’s eye view of this solo waterfall surrounded by luscious jungle. The short hike to the actual waterfall is well worth it so you can feel the power of the water falling in front of you.
ulun danu beratan temple
Two hours from Ubud, you’ll find a lakeside temple called Ulun Danu Beratan - one of the most famous landmarks in Bali. It’s located about 1500 meters above sea level on Lake Beratan. It was built in the 17th century in honor of the lake goddess, Dewi Danu. You can view the temple from the surrounding grounds or rent a boat and paddle up close to it. Visit early in the morning as crowds line up quickly.
GOA GAJAH (ELEPHANT CAVE)
The ancient cave Goa Gajah (also known as “Elephant Cave”) is believed to date as far back as the 11th century and built for meditation purposes. There are a few theories of where its name originated from, but it’s likely named after the Hindu God Ganesh. The cave itself is narrow, only housing 3 small statues inside, but the grounds include a pool and stone carvings.
MOUNT BATUR
You can’t visit Bali and leave without spending some time at least admiring Mount Batur (or even better hiking it if you can). This active volcano, also known as “The Kintami”, surrounds Batur caldera lake. I was lucky to at least get this incredible view of Mount Batur, but next time I’m definitely in for the hike.
my chi journey: the natural life
While at Bali Eco Stay, Andres Hernandez and I had the opportunity to participate in and create content for My Chi Journey who was hosting an experience called “The Natural Life”. The goal of the week-long workshop, led by Michael Dahdal, was to connect with nature and get back in tune with your natural state as a human being. It was truly an amazing experience on a lot of different levels. Their next workshop will be “The Intentional Life Retreat” from April 7 - 12, 2019 in Ubud. Check them out if you’re interested.
TABANAN
Probably the best memory I have from my trip to Bali is having met some locals from the town of Tabanan. They invited us to a picnic in their town that afternoon. While there, they generously offered to take us to watch the sunrise the next day, picking us up in motorcycles. The sea of colors that morning against Mount Agung was something so spectacular that if I hadn’t witnessed it myself I might doubt the pictures were real. I’ll never forget how kind and welcoming the people of Tabanan were to us. Those are the kinds of authentic experiences that don’t always come, but when they do, they’re unforgettable.
