TRAVEL May 17 2016  Comment

— A THROWBACK TO MY LAST TRIP TO BALI —

I usually don’t go on vacation to the same destination twice but after my first trip to Bali it was clear: this was HEAVEN and I had to go back. Two years later I went again :).

Together with my husband I enjoyed three divine weeks in May and visited 5 places that were all different from our first trip (except for Ubud). This is what our itinerary looked like:

• 1st trip: Ubud – Candidasa – Gili Islands – Tanjung Benoa
• 2nd trip: Seminyak – Pemuteran – Ubud – Nusa Lembongan – Sanur

Scroll down to read more…

Photography by Danique Bauer / © WhatIWouldBuy

In 3 weeks we experienced the ultimate relaxed vacation and were also able to visit multiple places. How we did it: we chose 4 to 5 places that we wanted to visit, booked all of our accommodation in advance (advantage: less stress on the spot), drove from A to B in max two hours and stayed 4 to 5 nights in every place. That way you have multiple mini holidays in one. If you travel like this it will feel like you’ve been away for much longer than 3 weeks!

The places we visited were all one of a kind and all had their own relaxed vibe. It’s hard to decide which place I liked best… UBUD is the center of Bali and has a spiritual energy flowing around. Here you can find everything; beautiful nature, arts & crafts, superb food and great shopping and wellness. If you are into ‘organic’, then this is the place to be.

CANDIDASA is completely different. It is a quiet place and doesn’t really have a center where you can stroll around. It’s by the sea but the coastline is pretty rugged and there are no beaches but you can do some really nice snorkeling and diving here. Plus it’s a good base to start your day trips from.

THE GILI ISLANDS are very laid back and have that typical ‘don’t worry be happy’ vibe. There are no cars and no scooters, only bicycles and some horse carriages. The snorkeling and diving is great, escpecially when you hire a boat and go to Gili Meno. Around 6 PM the main street of Gili Trawangan transforms into a BBQ heaven where the smell of freshly grilled fish and seafood will make your mouth water. Don’t forget to grab a bike when you’re on this island and head over to the other side to watch the sunset with an icecold Bintang beer in your hand.

When you just got used to the pearly white sand and the clear blue water of the Gili islands, TANJUNG BENOA might be a bit of a disappointment. The sand and water are not as beautiful as on The Gili’s, but it’s still a nice place to stay. From here you can easily go to Jimbaran (famous for it’s dining on the beach) and the temples Uluwatu and Tanah Lot. Especially at sunset it’s nice to bring a visit to Uluwatu and see the ‘Kecak’ dance performance on top of the cliff.

SEMINYAK is a more western oriented place with lots of restaurants and up scale boutiques. Here you can do a lot of shopping (note that most prices are fixed). We didn’t stay in Seminyak itself but 15 minutes away from it, in Kerobokan. When a town has too many tourists like in Seminyak, I prefer to stay just outside of it. That way I can enjoy tranquillity and still be close to the bustle of the city.

In PEMUTERAN nature is the main attraction. The area is absolutely stunning and is situated next to West Bali National Park (a.k.a. Bali Barat National Park). Go on a mangrove tour or jungle trekking and spot black monkeys, barking deer, flying foxes, leopard cats and so on. A must-do is a snorkeling or diving trip to Menjangan Island. People from all over the world come here to dive the steep walls of Menjangan Island. Also nice to visit is the ‘BioRock’ coral project. Where they grow coral (5x faster than mother nature does!) on electrified cages and you can snorkel your way around.

NUSA LEMBONGAN is the place to go when you want a more authentic island experience. It’s not so big, super laid back, and invites you to go explore on a scooter. If you want to go places, the scooter is your only option. And yes, the roads consists of nothing more than loose asphalt… But you’ll get used to it ;). Go to Dream Beach where big waves come rolling in or take the bumpy ride to ‘Secret Point’, a surfers paradise tucked away in a corner on neighbour island Nusa Ceningan. If you never tried to SUP (Stand Up Paddle) you should really give it a try at Mushroom Beach or Jungut Batu Beach. Don’t forget to put sunblock on your body!

In SANUR we spent our last three nights. Again you’ll find lots of little shops and plenty of bars, cafe’s and restaurants. It was our final destination on Bali and we didn’t do much here besides relaxing. Well that’s not totally true, because we also spent an afternoon in a big shopping mall and some big surf outlets around Denpasar, but that’s about it. I always prefer to end my vacation in a  place where there are no real must-sees or must-do’s. That way you can relax and mentally prepare for your trip back home ;).

Now I’m home again, I’m already thinking about planning my 3rd trip to Bali :). If you are also planning to go to Bali, check out my Bali Travel Tips:

UBUD

Sari Organic – A beautiful walk through the rice fields with a rewarding organic lunch or diner once you get there.

Villa Amrita – Where we stayed for 5 nights. 20 minutes from the centre of Ubud but SO beautiful!

The Spa at Maya Ubud – It’s quite a walk to the end of the resort where the spa is located, but we had an amazing treatment in a lush tropical setting next to the river with an original organic lunch afterwards in the River Cafe.

Mozaic Restaurant – You go here when you have something to celebrate, and in our case it was our one year wedding anniversary! You will be escorted to a private table in a romantically lit garden and you will be served a gastronomic 5 course dinner. The friendly hostesses will tell you each course about the main ingredient that’s been used. We had a lovely culinary evening, accompanied by some great cocktails!

GILI TRAWANGAN

Villa Ombak – Luxurious lumbung suites were we stayed three years ago.

Sunset Bar – Grab a bike to the other side of the island and witness the sunset with a cocktail or Bintang in your hand.

Gili Air and Gili Meno – Hire a boat and go snorkeling here!

Scallywags Bar & Grill – Lovely organic lunches.

SEMINYAK

Oazia Spa Villa’s – Three gorgeous private villas in Kerobokan (just outside Seminyak) that all come with their own swimming pool. We stayed in Villa Orchid, our own private-hippie-chic-peace-of-heaven. ‘Organic’ is the rule over here and the holistic Spa is absolutely AMAZING!

Cafe Bali – Nice restaurant, good price, lot’s of choice.

SpaVodka Lobster Bar – Also from the Oazia Brand. The place is brandnew, the food is great and the original cocktails with silver and gold leafs are awfully tasty!

Anna Michielan – A lovely person. She designs jewelry with healing crystals. Also tailor made!

Restaurant Sardine – Have a relaxed lunch or dinner with a beautiful view over the rice fields.

PEMUTERAN

Naya Gawana – Just outside Pemuteran. We stayed here for 5 nights. Lovely two storey Lumbung Suites, much privacy and beautiful Bali West National Park within reach. So peaceful!

Bio Rock Project – Where you can snorkel your way around electrified cages where they grow coral 5 times faster than normal!

Manggrove Tour – Visit the large area of mangrove forests by boat and see wild monkeys and many bird species.

Menjangan Island – Diving or snorkeling here is a must!

NUSA LEMBONGAN

Twin Island Villas – Three super laid back villas where we stayed for 5 nights. Take a plunge in your own little pool-for-two and enjoy your view at the sea and neighbor island Nusa Ceningan. This place is run by Kim, a lovely Aussie!

The Beach Club – Good food and a relaxed atmosphere with a nice breeze through your hair. Go in the afternoon, take a dip in the pool, order some cocktails and finish with dinner.

Warung Happy Family – Cute little warung that just opened in May with an amazing cook! It’s not on the menu, but ask for the ‘caramel chicken’. To die for! It’s located before the bridge to Nusa Ceningan.

Secret Point – This is where the surfers catch their waves. Take your scooter and go to Nusa Ceningan, turn right after you’ve crossed the bridge and keep going. You will see some signs that lead you there.

Manta Point – At this diving spot I had (three!) encounters with the No.1 of my list: manta rays! It’s breathtaking to see them ‘fly’ through the water.

SANUR

Sudamala Resorts – Our last three nights were spent here. Very peaceful and modern hotel. You can take a free bike from the resort when you’re into exploring Sanur.

Glo Day Spa – You don’t go here for a real luxurious experience but for a very good mani/pedi you’re at the right place!

Charming – Although the staff may be a bit too much “at your service”, it’s a romantic restaurant and your bag gets it’s own little mini chair. How cute!

Photography by Danique Bauer / © WhatIWouldBuy