Bali or my very own “Eat, pray, love”
(Part 3. What to see & do)
WHAT TO DO
We have finally arrived to this exciting part. See what suits you and go for it.
- Try surf for the very first time
I have to start with my favorite part of the holiday. Surfing for the first time was both exciting and challenging. I was not sure I will be able to actually do it, not being the most active person, but there I was on the beach with the surf board and my little Indonesian guide by my side. The ocean was right in front of me and the waves were ready to teach me a lesson. If you are an adrenaline junkie as I am, I urge you to try. In less than one hour, there I was catching my first wave while standing on the board. What a feeling!
!Tip 1: You should first try at Kuta Beach which is the most suitable for beginners.
!Tip 2: Renting a board at Kuta Beach will cost you 50.000 IDR/hour and a private lesson with instructor 250.000 IDR/hour. If you want to get results, get an instructor for the first time and then you can exercise on your own.
- Challenge yourself with other water sports
You have a great variety of sports to choose from and the prices are more the convenient. Try www.bali4ride.com if you want to book in advance or just go on the beach and find what suits you.
- Parasailing for less than 10 EUR (135.000 IDR)
- Jet ski for 12 EUR/15 minutes (200.000 IDR)
- Banana boat for less than 8 EUR (125.000 IDR)
- Flying fish for 12 EUR/15 minutes (200.000 IDR)
- Wake boarding for less than 18 EUR/15 minutes (300.000 IDR)
- Fly boarding for 50 EUR/15 minutes (800.000 IDR)
They even have packages with promotional prices if you choose to do many sports, so again your bargaining skills are useful.
- Swing over the jungle at Bali Swing Ubud
Swing with the ultimate view just 20 minutes from Ubud. 30 minutes will cost you around 20 dollars, which is pretty much compared with other prices on the island, but when will you be able to do this again? There are 3 types of swings with different levels of difficulty, so you don’t have to be scared at all.
!Tip 1: At the most difficult, you have to wear a big ugly harness. So, for the best pictures, use the middle swing where you just have to wear a tiny rope around you.
!Tip 2: Wear something white or colorful and avoid green, blue and black so you do not blend into the trees.
- Go rafting at Ayung River
Close to Bali Swing your adventure could continue. Ayung River offers you an unforgettable white water rafting experience. Get back to nature, paddle, splash and thrill to the rhythm of the paradise river. Professional trained guides will safety maneuver you through around 10 km of exciting rafting.
- Waterfall chasing
Bali is known for having dozens of waterfalls, the most known being Git Git, Tukad Cepung and Tegenungan. I’ve just managed to see the last one even though I had at least 3 others on my list. But how could I manage to do all this in just eleven days? I recommend seeing lesser known waterfalls where you can skip the crowds and enjoy to the fullest. Try Tibumana or Kanto Lampo.
!Tip 1: If you are interested in chasing waterfalls, I recommend you to check http://mylifesamovie.com/best-bali-photo-spots/ for more tips.
- Mount Batur sunrise trekking
Mount Batur Bali is an active volcano that draws tourists in with both beauty and promise of Bali adventure tours. Climbing Mount Batur could be one hell of an experience taking into consideration that you start hiking a few hours after midnight in complete darkness, illuminating the path only with flashlights. This is for the brave ones! Still, the sunrise trekking is a popular hike for tourists in Bali. After all, you don’t get the opportunity to stand atop an ancient volcano and watch the sun come up every day.
This sounded pretty well to me and I would have signed in, but given the early hour wakeup call and the few hours I got to sleep in this holiday, I had to say pass. Instead, I booked a villa with mountain view in the middle of nowhere and watched the sunrise right from my bed. Quite an awesome alternative for the lazy ones, right?
PS: You can read all about my choices in accommodation in my first Bali blog – https://blondearoundtheworld.com/2017/08/31/bali-or-my-very-own-eat-pray-love-part-1-accommodation-tips/
- Dolphin watching at Lovina Beach
Yes, Bali offers even this. And at the incredible price of 50 EUR/2 persons, tour that includes pick-up for hotels in various places on the island, including Kuta, plus many other tourist attractions on the way back. But, again, this is not for the lazy ones given to the fact that you have to be in the northern part of Bali and already on a boat by sunrise. I love this activity because it gives you the opportunity to watch dolphins in their natural habitat, not captured in cages. Remember: free dolphins are happy dolphins!!
- Stay in a villa with private pool
Indulge yourself for at least one night and take a romantic swim with your loved one in your very own private villa. There are so many options online and the prices are more than affordable. As a plus, your breakfast will be brought to you in the villa every morning. See more about the accommodation I chose on my first Bali post: https://blondearoundtheworld.com/2017/08/31/bali-or-my-very-own-eat-pray-love-part-1-accommodation-tips/
- Take a dip in an infinity pool facing the jungle
Beach infinity pools are so overrated. In Bali they reinvented the concept and they offer you a spectacular view of the tropical jungle. You just can’t get enough of that calm and peace felt in the middle of the nature. Ubud is the perfect place for that and there are prices for every pocket. I have also touched this subject on my previous post so go there and get more info.
- Get the perfect tan on one of Bali’s beaches
Most people go to island for its fine collection of beaches. Bali beaches range from palm-fringed white sand coasts on the island’s south such as Kuta, Nusa Dua and Sanur, to the cliff-guarded ‘hidden’ shores of Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Dreamland and Bingin.
I must start by being honest with you. I have seen far more beautiful beaches than these. But if you do want to get the most of the Bali beaches, try the ones in the south. I do not include here the extremely beautiful beaches that can be found on Nusa Lembongan with its sisters Ceningan and Penida or Gili Islands.
- Watch the sunset at Seminyak beach
I do not know about you, but I am definitely a sunset chaser. I love the way the sky is different every time the sun sets. Shades of pink and purple, yellow and orange and no cloud is ever in the same place. Even if you choose to stay on the public beach or you decide to enjoy a glass of wine in an exquisite location, the experience will leave you speechless and with beautiful memories. Seminyak offers a great variety of restaurants and beach bars, from simple and cheap to luxurious and expensive. In my next post I will recommend you some locations for eating and drinking and the best places for sunset.
- Spoil yourself with a Balinese massage
I do not know about you, but I am a massage lover. And Bali is one of the best places for this. Prices start from as low as 60.000 IDR/60 minutes which means around 4 EUR. With these prices you can begin every day by spoiling yourself. As a plus, you may even find beach massage.
- Take a yoga lesson
Yoga has gain a lot of interest lately around the world. Originated in ancient India, yoga practices include posture (asana), breathing (pranayama), control of subtle forces (mudra and bandha), cleansing the body-mind (shat karma), visualizations, chanting of mantras, and many forms of meditation.
It is said that Yoga techniques facilitate balance and health and allows us to be more aware of ourselves and feel connected. As such, yoga is a process of self-discovery.
Even if you are a beginner or an experienced practitioner, you can try a Bali yoga lesson. After all, what better place to start than on the top of a cliff breathing fresh salty air and listening to the sound of the ocean? Or in the middle of the jungle in front of the infinity pool?
Prices depend on the location you choose, but there are options for every pocket.
- Take a cooking class
Balinese cooking classes have become increasingly popular nowadays because it gives tourists the chance to bring home a part of the Bali magic with some exciting recipes and newly acquired skills.
If you have never been taught to cook, you are missing out on the pure joy of making delicious food like at home. And it can be lots of fun too!
Prices vary depending on the number of hours and recipes, but you can find some good alternatives starting with 15 EUR/person.
- Scuba diving and snorkeling
I did not forget about these popular water activities. You can find some good spots around Bali as well (Amed, Padang Bay), but if you decide to include Nusa Lembongan in your itinerary (and I do recommend doing so), then you should definitely go scuba diving and snorkeling in Nusa Penida, which is a world class diving destination where you can find no less than 247 species of coral and 562 species of fish. I will soon post a blog dedicated to this piece of heaven.
I hope my „TO SEE & TO DO list” has found its way to your heart and you are now ready to plan your Bali adventure. Quite a lot of great things to do and so little time. Choose as many activities as you can, but still remember to save some time to relax and enjoy yourself. I hope I didn’t forget anything, but if you do have more questions, don’t hesitate in asking me! I will be happy to assist you in any matter.
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Till next time!
You already know by now: life is short and the world is wide…
