There are over 17,000 islands that make up the country of Indonesia, but probably the most well-known island is Bali. Situated between the islands of Java (to the west) and Lombok (to the east), it has become a popular holiday destination for tourists since the 1980s. Whether you want great waves for surfing, coral reefs for snorkeling and scuba diving, mountains for hiking or mindfulness through yoga and meditation, Bali seriously has it all.
There is so much to see in Bali and I didn’t nearly get to spend enough time there- it served as more of a starting and ending point for me during my time in Indonesia. I started my trip by spending three days in Legian (on the west coast) to relax on the beach and take some surfing lessons. I will say I found the area to be very crowded and a little too much of a tourist trap, but it did have a nice beach and good waves for surfing.
When I came back to Bali at the end of my Indonesia trip, I decided to explore the area of Ubud – a little town about an hour’s drive north from the Denpasar airport. Surrounded by mountains, rice paddies and countryside, there is no question that Ubud is a beautiful area. It’s got a super healthy/vegan/yoga vibe to it and is a great place to come and relax your body and mind. Just walking the streets feels like you’re in the jungle, but wandering down side roads can lead you to beautiful rice fields for miles.
Next stop in Bali was the little west coast town of Canggu (pronounced “Chan-goo”). The surf is a bit rougher here, so only experienced surfers were out in the water. The beach wasn’t as nice to relax on as Legian, but it was nice to walk the small streets and pop in the small boutiques, surf shops and healthy cafes.
My last days in Bali were spent relaxing on the beach in Kuta, which in my opinion is the most crowded of places in Bali. It almost feels like you’re in the US with all the chain restaurants and stores- I was not a fan.
A few hours before I left for the airport to head to Australia, I headed south to a temple called Uluwatu (Pura Luhur Uluwatu), which sits on top of a steep cliff over the ocean. A majority of the people who live on Bali are Hindu while the rest of the country is mostly Muslim. The Hindus believe that the three divine powers of Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva united as one here. As a result, the temple honors Siva Rudra, the deity of all elements and aspects of life in the universe. It is also said to help protect Bali from evil sea spirits.
If you’re visiting the temple around sunset you will be fortunate enough to witness the traditional Balinese dance and music drama called Kecak. It is based on a Hindu story of the Ramayana and is an amazing performance to see.
Bali has so much culture and activities to participate in. Whether you’re planning on only visiting Bali or just using it as a stopping point for a few days, the island is worth a visit!