Bali: Island of the Gods
I visited Bali in February 2018 for nine days. Considering that Bali is a small island, one week to nine days is more than enough time for a discovery tour of this Indonesian island. Indonesia is a pluralistic society, with several ethnic and religious groups. Over 100 languages are spoken on the island archipelago. Majority Hindu Bali is Indonesia’s most visited island and offers a great variety of temples, mountainous forests and volcanoes, beach resorts, shopping and entertainment.
The Ulun Danu Beratan Temple Sits in the Middle of a Lake
Uluwatu: Cliffside Paradise
I flew into Denpasar Airport on a direct 9-hour flight from Dubai. Denpasar is the busy capital city of Bali which does not offer much to tourists. Most resorts and tourist locations are concentrated in Nusa Dua, Seminyak, Ubud, Kuta and Jimbaran/Uluwatu.
I took a 45-minute taxi ride from the airport south to Uluwatu, my first stop during this solo trip. Uluwatu is famous for two things: the Cliffside Uluwatu temple and attracting surfers from all over the world. I am not much of a surfer, so I chose to just relax at my bungalow at La Cabane resort, where I had booked for two nights. This small resort has a collection of less than 10 bungalows and villas surrounded by a round infinity pool. My bungalow was gorgeously decorated natural stones and wood in true ‘boho-chic’ style. It also had a large en-suite outdoor bathroom with a hot tub big enough for 5 people.
La Cabane is also adjacent to the larger La Joya Resort, which has direct access to Balangan beach and a terrace overlooking the beach and surrounding cliffs. I spent the day just sitting on the deck enjoying the sight of massive waves crashing against the rocks.
I started the next morning early with a visit to the nearby Uluwatu Temple. This legendary Hindu temple sits alone on top of a giant canyon-like hills overlooking the sea. It is a really spectacular setting which offers an immersive view of the sea and is perfect for an early morning hike to watch the sunrise. Shortly after my arrival, it started raining very heavily, so I was left with no choice but to head back. I spent the rest of the morning and the afternoon at the resort. The town of Uluwatu itself does not offer much in terms of attractions, and most activities are focused around the beach. In the evening, I booked a ride to Jimbaran beach to watch the sunset.
The Views from the Uluwatu Cliff Temple
Jimbaran Beach is a famous tourist attraction in Bali. It is a strip of restaurants with outdoor seats along the beach. I found the place to be truly overrated and overpriced in true tourist trap fashion, plus the beach was littered with garbage throughout. I decided to catch the sunset from the deck of the Joya Resort right by my bungalow instead.
Dinner with a View, La Joya Resort in Uluwatu
Seminyak: The Fun Side of Bali
Seminyak is Packed with Australian Tourists
Seminyak is the most developed and touristy side of Bali. Located within close proximity to the airport, this seaside town grew very quickly as tourists started flocking into Bali. I booked 3 nights at The Haven Seminyak and got a room upgrade, with featured a large living room with 2 massive balconies. It is a large resort which is centrally located, and offers one of the best spa experiences that I have had. I highly recommend checking out The Haven to visitors to Seminyak and Bali.
Seminyak is mostly centered on beach clubs, shopping and nightlife. It doesn’t offer much in terms of cultural activities, but makes up for it with high-end restaurants and bars, and features several strips with shopping malls, Western chains and local boutiques. It is also within very close proximity to the town of Kuta, another tourist favourite, while somewhat less upscale.
All in all, my 3-night stay in Seminyak was fairly pleasant. I was able to walk to most places to enjoy beach club drinks and sunsets at La Plancha club, explore the local shops and the nightlife.
Ubud: Authentically Balinese
Ubud is about a 1.5 hour drive from the coast. I hired a private driver, and made two stops along the way. We headed out early in the morning and visited the Tanah Lot temple. It is one of the most popular temples in Bali, and is situated right on the beach. It is on the smaller side, yet full of tourists. As we headed up the hills, we also made a stop at the Taman Ayun temple. It is a very impressive Hindu Temple that has several section. Each of those features a courtyard surrounded by many bell tall towers. It was an absolute pleasure walking around those walled courtyards on a cloudy day.
Soon afterwards, we arrived in the mountainous Ubud, the cultural capital of Bali.
The Puri Sunya Resort in Ubud
I had booked my stay in Ubud at the Puri Sunya Resort. It’s a relatively small bungalow-style resort that is located about a 10 minute drive from the town center. This meant that I had had to hire a taxi every time I wanted to do most activities which is probably the only downside to staying at the hotel. It also was not very busy there, and having been the only person to dine at the hotel restaurant, it would feel lonely for a solo traveller to stay there.
The town, and surrounding area of Ubud, is one of the major tourist attractions to Bali and has no shortage of things to do. As more of a cultural and nature destination, it attracts a more tranquil type of tourist than the beachside towns. The crowds here are more mature and relaxed. While there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area, it does not offer much of a party ambiance, but is perfect for early risers.
The next day, I had a booked private tour for the Ulun Danu temple, which is about an hour’s drive to Ubud. This temple is relatively small, however it sits right on the edge of a lake, giving visitors an optical illusion of a floating temple. It is one of the most spectacular structures I have visited and would definitely count as one of the highlights of my trip.
On our way there, we also got to stop at some of Ubud’s famous rice terraces. Given that it was still rainy season, the fields were very green and looked just like they do in Bali travel guides.
In the evening, I booked a seat at the town’s main theatre to watch a traditional Balinese Lagong dance show. The costumes were very dramatic and the dancers had very measured movements and expressive eye gestures.
Locals Balinese Villagers Sharing Smiles after a Celebration
The following day, I visited the Don Antonio Blanco museum. The museum is dedicated to the Spanish artist who married a Balinese dancer resided in Ubud. It is surrounded by a gorgeous garden with many parrots, and is housed in a mansion that looks like something from a children’s book. Inside, visitors can check out 300 of Blanco’s work, which employs very vivid colors and is very reminiscent of Salvador Dali’s art.
My last few days in Bali were less focused on sightseeing and mostly centered around exploring the cafes, restaurants, central arts and crafts market and boutiques of Ubud. For lovers of souvenirs and unique locally-designed homeware and clothing (especially Batik), Ubud has tons of places to shop.
Bali, Indonesia Pros:
Small and offers diversity (beach, temples, mountains)
Lots of culture
Good food
Vegan friendly
Solo traveler friendly and easy to make new friends
Bali, Indonesia Cons:
Far from most points of origin
Can be too busy during high season
