Do you know the feeling of “not feeling at home” when in home but so “feel at home” travelling ?
Do you know the feeling of “restlessness” amidst success and stuff but so much “rejuvenated” amidst sand and sun…
Sometimes life is about “Attraversiamo” – a crossover journey to just Eat…Pray..Love and connect with the ethos of your life…
Crossing over the Indian ocean onto Beautiful Bali..Just Eating…Praying…Loving, I found that essence of my life…
Let me start with a beautiful quote I photographed in Bali!
My first mantra during travel is that…”Give yourself enough time in a place to let it sink into you and do its wonders…”. Travel is about experience and not about checking a bucket list of countries to visit! Plan at the least 7 days that is reasonable time to visit the highlights of Bali.
Character Bali exhibits is that of liberty which you experience through its Sumptuous food, Solemnity of people, Spirituality in art, culture and heritage and Splendor in its Spa!
A week long of exuberant life chronicled below! Its a trip my 11 year old daughter and me planned to celebrate the husband and father in our family man!
Day 1 – KUTA
Land in Ngurah rai international airport and get your visa on arrival. Most countries’ citizens can get a visa on arrival for free and check out Bali Immigration requirements to be prepared for Immigration at Bali. Head straight to Kuta and stay at a Balinese Bamboo Villa immersing yourself fully into the character of the place.
I chose to try out Airbnb for the first time and have been very pleased with the experience.
Kuta Stay : https://www.airbnb.co.in/rooms/13418672
This villa(Le Sabot Hill top) is designed and built by Eric who is the owner of this place.He moved from Europe to Bali a while ago for good. Bamboo and stone juxtaposed aesthetically and you will see every corner sing carols of his art, craft and love. On request Eric had arranged the airport pick up, a scooter to hire for us to scoot around the quiet streets of Kuta, a Balinese spa massage arranged at the villa and a chauffeur driven car to hire for our visits to various attractions in southern coast of Bali. Anything we needed as a support during our stay, Eric was there to help make the stay very pleasant!
Eat: A lot of good places around the Villa and we chose for dinner Yeyes Warung and Gift shop. Do not miss to taste Chilled Tender Coconut water, Bali style Pita bread with Hummus , Rendang(Vegetarian) and Mushrooms grilled in Bananaleaf.
After a sumptuous dinner, just lay at Padang Padang beach and to the sounds of the ocean, come in touch with your reflection.
Day-2: KUTA – Day trip to Nusa Dua and Uluwatu Temple
5 minutes drive from the Villa, for breakfast a must visit place is Bukit Cafe. Fresh, hot and innovative foods that leaves your senses satiated!
Book a chauffeur driven car for the day which is the easiest and fastest means to travel around Bali. Booking for a day will cost about 400-500K IDR.
Visit the beautiful beaches of Nusa Dua and treat yourself to what I call as a “Perfect Meditation” — Scuba Diving. Good diving crew and its a must-do adventure. We were nicely trained first on ground and then in water. Later it was time to deep dive into the oceans and swim along side fishes and beside the colourful corals. My daughter was petrified listening to the Dive team explaining us the terms of insurance and she feared a mishap to any or both her parents. I liked the way the dive team consoled her that –“No one has died here so far diving. It is safe and we are here to make this a great experience of adventure more than that of fear”. Whoa! 25 mins under water and I was alive to every moment! You experience life for what it is at its essence! Also the unexplored expanse of underwater life humbles you with the expanse of universe and the infinitude of it that remains unknown to us and will be so for our lifetime! But yet life in itself is so complete and so full for us to experience! Nusa Dua is also the luxurious part of Bali and this is home to some of the luxury beach resorts.
Then its time to head straight to Uluwatu temple. Plan to be there by 5pm so that you can catch the sunset and spend a quiet moment in prayer to experience its rejuvenating power! A spectacular temple on the coast and every sight is a wall paper.Also we found that this is one of those destination wedding places! Couple of brides with their wedding planners and photographers in endeavor to take that shot which will find its place life-size in the living room of the newly wed couple.
A note about temple visits in Bali. You are mandated to wear a sarong and it would be good to carry one handy with you during visits to temple though you can hire a sarong for free here at Uluwatu temple.
A key note about Uluwatu temple – Beware of money’s snatching your eye-wear. So avoid specacles or sunglasses. There is something so unique about these monkeys that they are fascinated by eye-wear.
After sunset, book yourself into a Balinese traditional kecak dance show usually depicting a mythological story. We had the privilege of watching a story-telling of Ramayana in kecak style.
Day-3: Ubud- Ubud Palace and Ubud Market
Ubud is about 1.5 to 2 hours drive from Le Sabot Hilltop villa. Check in into the Bennu House amidst the rice fields away from the rustle and bustle of Ubud town centre.
Stay:https://www.airbnb.co.in/rooms/3721749
Its one of the most exclusive villas you can stay and once you enter here you just don’t want to go out. But we couldn’t stay unstirred by the magnetism of Ubud organic balinese food, art, culture and heritage. We headed straight to Bali Buda Cafe for food and just gave into the chef recommendations, which paid off!
After a sumptuous meal, visit the Ubud Palace which is an artistic retreat, a must-have photo-stop.
Time of spend the evening shopping in Ubud market. If you are renovating the house or building a new one and you can afford it –for interior designs just import the hand made masterpieces from Bali. Otherwise shop to the limits of your luggage all the exclusive home decor and aromatherapy oils you can carry back. For aroma oils, it is easy to get cheated here and hence shop at http://bluestonebotanicals.com/ for natural authentic products.
Next day is a day for some sunrise trekking to Mount Batur. This can be arranged by the Villa manager Putu and also he will have breakfast packed for you.
Day-4: Ubud- Sunrise Trek, Spa and Cooking class
Start the day with sunrise trek to Mount Batur. We were picked at 2am and after a awesome trek we were back 9-30am. Even the best of photographers would not like the distraction of the camera at times and this was one such moment for me. No camera! Mount Batur, Sunrise and just us 3!
On return, we were more hungry and requested Sugi to prepare a second breakfast for us – the Balinese banana pancakes and coffee.
After a strenuous trek , listen to your body and it would cry for a balinese spa massage with aroma oils. Again this was nicely arranged by the villa manager to be done at the Villa. Get a obligatory afternoon nap after massage.
Wake up to brush up the culinary skills in the Balinese cooking class. On our request this was arranged by the Villa manager Putu. Organic food prepared with fresh herbs, spices, and home extracted coconut oil. I was taught a full 3-course meal with the menu reading(in displayed order) … Tempe Manis, Red rice, Gado Gado, Tofu Curry, Perkedel Jepang, and Sambal Matah.
Its one of the best dinners I have prepared till date! We had an early dinner and also hit the sack early for a nighty night after an eventful and fulfilling day!
Day-5: Ubud- Rice terraces, Elephant caves and day trip to Pura Besakih and Pura Kehen temple
Hire a chauffeur driven for the day and visit Bali’s Tegalalang rice terraces, Elephant caves, Besakih and Kehen temples. No words to explain the beauty of these places and pictures are worth a 1000 words.
Day-6: Seminyak – Taman Ayun and Tanah Lot
On the way from Ubud to Seminyak visit the breathtaking temples of Taman Ayun and Tanah Lot.
Check in into one of the luxurious villas close to the Seminyak Double Six beach. Another beautiful Art villa.
https://www.airbnb.co.in/rooms/12845951
So many places to eat at Seminyak and every possible cuisine you can find. We chose again a simple lunch at Sate House on Jl.Dewi Sri.
Dine at any of the beach clubs on Double Six beach. Late night cuddle up with a book – Eat Pray Love! – also made into a movie that was largely shot in Bali.
Day-7: Seminyak – Swim, Spa, Sunset, Stars
Wake up to a freshly made hot breakfast at Whale and Co cafe that’s walkable distance from the Art villa.
Towards the end of the vacation, enjoy a relaxing day with Swim at the pool in villa, Spa, Shopping at Seminyak Square, Sunset on the beach and Sleeping under the stars!
Day-8: Spill the Anamoli beans and return with memories carved in gold!
A pensive day and spill all the beans about diversified experiences over a cuppa at Anamoli Cafe!
Food, art, architecture, nature and all the attractions on one side of the scale and Bali’s beautiful people on the other, the scale is delightfully heavier on the latter! We often forget to acknowledge or take notice that it is people that go a long way in accentuating our life experiences! The stories they tell and the stories they themselves are always leaves me amazed!
Here are some portrait stories of Bali! One specific story I would like to share bout the farmer with a flute you see in the picture below!. When we were walking in the rice terraces, he saw us needing fluids especially with Bali’s tropical climate and called out to us for a refreshing tender coconut water. We followed us instincts the thirst was nicely quenched by the sweet tender coconut water he had chosen for us. He then asked if we were Hindus!. I usually do not like being asked about religion as its personal! But I said “yes geographically we stay in a place between the Himalayas and Indian oceans and if you would like to us Hindus for a geographical identity,hmmm…OK!” He started asking about gods we pray and on mention of Krishna, I said —“Krishna is inspirational..a great teacher!” He exclaimed …“Haa..Krishna! ..” He ran to little hut, took a flute and started playing for us. I had goosebumps and happy tears! He was as if I had met the enchanting flute player Krishna himself!
So many beautiful memory carved in gold but it was time to return. Every time I have to return, a recurring thought –“How I wish I could just go somewhere else and get lost…live a nomadic life giving into wander lust…”
A desire so strong…I do not know where this desire will take me…But today I still see myself swinging back to the popular practical city life!
I do not know if its the lack of courage in me or giving into altruist material mathematics or simply its the lack of self-awareness! It is a yoga I will pursue and indeed a “Attraversiamo” is needed from unawareness to self-awareness!
Written by Archana Sundareshan, Editor and Chief of Someday Nomadic
Stunning photography. Enjoyed the post thoroughly. You’ve made it so easy for anyone to plan out. Waiting to see photo-logs of your other trips around the world.