My love affair with Bali bloomed from much more than the food and pretty cafes. With a culture so vibrant, and people so welcoming, it's no wonder that the island attracts millions of tourists every year. There's so many things to do, and so many opportunities to do nothing except bake on the sand of a beautiful beach. We tried our best to find the balance between relaxation and exploration, but we still felt like time was against us. This is a sort of photo diary (with commentary) of some of our best Bali experiences, which I hope may someday also be yours.
Barong Dance
On our way to Ubud, we stopped off to see a Barong Dance, a story-telling dance centered around the opposing forces of good and evil. The actors were incredibly skilled and visually, it was vibrant and engaging, with intricate costumes and many, many intense facial expressions.
Although the plot was a little hard to follow and the entire show was in a foreign language, I couldn't help but smiling and laughing along with the comical characters. Plus, we were provided with a handy (if somewhat confusing) outline of the story in English, so that helped. This dance is probably not for everyone, but if you want an insight into traditional Balinese culture, it has my big tick of approval.
Bebek Tepi Sawah
An outdoor restaurant in Ubud, Bebek Tepi Sawah is a sort of hybrid between between a rice field and a temple. Every table is its own private hut, meaning that the waitstaff really have to treck it to get from kitchen to table.
Unless you're a vegetarian, do not skip the duck dishes. They're what the joint is known for (and named after) and they are damn tasty. Besides the food, my favourite things about this place were the fresh air and our lovely floor cushions. There's something so comfortable and carefree about sitting cross-legged in front the table, eating with your hands, surrounded by food and friends.
Tegalalang Rice Fields
I had no idea what to expect when I got to the incredible rice fields, by some strange miracle I hadn't even seen pictures of it beforehand. Let me tell you, photos don't do them justice. The sheer scope of the fields and the greenest green just can't be fully captured by a lens (or not my lens at least).
Here are my tips for Tegalalang survival: do not wear thongs. A few of us (thankfully not me) made that mistake, and it was not fun (actually it quite funny, but not safe at all). Also, don't expect there to be proper stairs, handrails or any sort of safety equipment. We literally had to pull each other up the slopes at points. Finally, this goes without saying, but it is super hot, so take the adequate precautions. But don't get me wrong, the experience was seriously mind-boggling and well-worth it.
Ubud Art Markets
I can't say I'm much of an art critic (or one at all), but the colourful and diverse range of paintings at the Ubud Art Market are worth . There's plenty of gorgeous canvases, painted with florals, traditional patterns, portraits and even cartoons (I swear I saw Spongebob once). You'll also find a plethora of sarongs, t-shirts, shorts, bags and also, wooden genitals (with a wide range of sizes and colours available).
The stallholders can smell tourists from a mile away, and if your eyes linger on one thing for more than a second, you've been caught in their trap. When bargaining, be friendly but firm. Our driver told us to try to whittle their asking price down to a mere thirty percent (if you can manage it, please share your wisdom with me!)
Tanah Lot
For the lovers of history, scenery, the ocean and/or sunsets, Tanah Lot is a must see. It's a huge tourist attraction, so expect to be surrounded by people, especially around sunset. But even with the crowds, there was peacefulness emanating from the temple. It seemed like own ancient little ecosystem, with happy little birds flitting in and out of the greenery. Anyway, I digress.
If you want the best photos, I recommend getting there well before sunset to secure a good position. It's only about an hour out of Seminyak (depending on the traffic), and there are restaurants in the area, so don't stress about finding food. Also, look out for a guy with a massive bat nearby, which we heard was awesome to see.
Finn's Beach Club
Now for the most relaxing and sandy experience of the lot, Finn's Beach Club is the place to be when you're ready to kick back and do some well-deserved lounging. To get there, you take a sort of ski-lift (outdoor elevator? I don't know) down from the Semara Luxury Villa Resort (check out the monkeys there, but don't get too close!)
Then kick back with a cocktail on your comfy beanbag, or try some stand up paddle boarding or kayaking on the beautifully clear, calm water. The food here is a little pricey for Bali standards, but really delicious. Around sunset there's live music and after dark, a bonfire, so you can literally stay all day. Top tip: keep an eye out for reduced cocktails between specific hours!
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