BACK TO BALI - pt. 1
so i was in australia and dan was going to singapore.. i was over the $22 cocktails and aussie accents (no offence aussies lol).. and there were a few things on my se asia bucket list i still wanted to check off. so in true #peaceplaypassion style - BALI I’M BACK BABY!!!
thursday feb 22:arrive 12am, go to Linda’s homestay in Sanur where the most DELISH chocolate coconut cake was waiting. wake up to stunning pool surrounded by lush bushes and balinese music playing. birds chirping. SO HAPPY TO BE BACK.
fri feb 23:Linda and i rent a driver ($50 for the day - if anyone is reading this and needs a hookup let me know!) and basically go on an instagram tour of bali. sooo breathtaking.stop 1 Ulun Danu Temple, very peaceful right on the lake. clouds are rolling over the mountains. beautiful.
stop 2 the cutest swing and weird eggshell thing overlooking the twin lakes. $1 for these photo opps; hey, good for them for jumping on the capitalism bandwagon.stop 3 Banyumala Twin Waterfalls - down a bumpy “road” but SO WORTH IT. not overcrowded (read: solo photo opps), 2 giant falls crashing down with mist spraying all around. was soooo beautiful!!
dinner & dancing at my fave club that lets me dance on tables and basically my reason for coming to Bali, SKY GARDEN lol everyone go here please. $10 all you can eat and drink until 9pm. no brainer.oh i stayed at the Kuta Bali Resort thanks to a $25 hotel voucher from jetstar, GOD BLESSSSSS. king sized bed. gorg pool with swim up bar. so happy to take a break from hostel life. but had no time to waste sitting in a hotel room!!sat feb 24: strolling through Kuta which is cute but then also tourist-scammy and there are piles of garbage on the beach. would not surf in that. but i was happy to check out a new hood, just soaking Bali in minute by minute.check into my fave hostel in the entire world, Capsule Hostel New Seminyak. that’s the one that asks you song requests at check in and played all my faves in a row. havana, glorious, never be the same, all the drake. rooms are clean, private capsule beds. staff is awesome. EVERYONE STAY HERE.ubered to Canggu - Loop Pool Bar but didn’t stay cause was $15; wandering through Canggu and falling a lil bit in love. cutest shops, everything is healthy, organic. smoothie bowls left right and center. The Lawn is a cute pool bar looking onto the sea.. walked along beach (so many casual surfer beach bars) to Finns and had my third banana blended drink of the day, this one with alcohol. was loling at tom’s texts; dont even remember what they said but i love being that solo loling girl in public.OKAY. it’s saturday so i have to rally, i stayed at Capsule specifically to go to La Favela. but first off to Motel Mexicola - was debating asking some hostel people because everyone is super chatty and friendly at the bar. but no one seemed SUPER cool so i decided to head to mexicola solo, hoping it would be the right decision.IT WAS.best place ever. reminds me of señor frogs. made friends with an aussie couple right away, then jumped up on the stage and kicked my feet and joined in a congo line around the restaurant. danced my ASS off and became bffs with some guys from the philippines, mikkel apollo marco etc, had the best night ever and loved that it was all platonic. they were so nice and such good dancers. wearing appolo’s double lens glasses, dancing on tables to all the classics, loving it. then off to la favela; the guys were wearing flip flops so werent allowed in, so i went on a solo mish. 2am. met people immediately, danced some more. best night.
sun feb 25: …. let’s maybe not talk about this? lol? had flight to Labuan Bajo in Flores, arrived at airport 3 hours early cause traffic can take 40 mins or it can take 2.5 hrs. 2pm they tell us our flight is delayed 3 hours. i spent SIX HOURS in an airport daze, and somewhere in that time they switched my gate and i did not hear anything. missed my freaking flight.shed a tear, then my uber let me play my own music, got to my trusty Capsule hostel and Felipe from Colombia and our other hostel friends had vodka waiting. bless them.silver lining: flight was only $50, i was able to get my backpack (was worried it was on the plane), had another night in balithe key: DO NOT WALLOW, DISCOURAGED TRAVELLERS. onward to make the most of my night!!chilled at Capsule Bar to my fave song requests, went to meet up with the philippines friends at their gorg perfect ballin villa in Canggu. then - back to La Favela, which Apollo said he knew was coming when i showed up lol. fave line: “i thought Mikkel booked a villa in Canggu, oh thats cool so we’re just going to chill, have a relaxing weekend.” they went to la favela ¾ nights LOL
okay i’ve been asked by a few people for some bali recos, so here are a few notes on the areas i’ve been so far:Kuta - wouldn’t stay here unless you’re looking to be walking distance from sky garden (which i was lol) but it’s kind of the old bali central that’s now overrun with tourist souvenir shops and people trying to hustle you “YEESSS? SHOPPING? DREESSS? TRANSPORT TRANSPORT?”Seminyak - nicer, amaze shopping (like beach stores, cute macrame home decor), colourful beach bag chairs on the beach. obv stay at Capsule Hostel New Seminyak & walk to La Favela & Motel Mexicola. also Potato Head pool bar.Nusa Dua - nicer beaches, expens resorts. water sports like snorkelling diving (not great though) banana boatsUluwatu - go here for the temple & balinese dancing at sunset. beware the terrorist monkeys ripping off your shoes/all your belongingsUbud - the heart - zen, yoga retreats, rice fields and more of the peaceful rural Bali. shopping too. stay near Yoga Barn. Puri Garden hostel is AMAZING - comfiest hostel beds ever. TWO. PILLOWS. do a bike ride through the countryside for a look at authentic Balinese lifestyle - but haggle the price down!!Jimbaran - come here for a fresh seafood dinner on the beach, it’s cute. also Rock Bar is your classic breathtaking bali bar on a cliff.Canggu - healthy, organic, chill, cute, surfer vibes. rice fields interspersed between cafes & beautiful villas. pool bars The Lawn & Finns for sunset, and other going out spots are Old Mans and any of the beach bars. hostels are Lay Day and The Farm.Gili - 3 islands (Gili T, Gili Meno, Gili Air) ~2hr boat ride from Bali. beautiful (but rocky) beaches, horse carriages + bikes not motor vehicles, AMAZING diving with turtles. reggae music & just general island vibes. party hostels are Gili Castle & Gili Mansion, and i heard mbox is good. dive at Blue Marlin and say hi to Mat and Egy for me!!!!