Indonesia

Bali

Alleyway just off off Jalan Danau Tamblingan

Nestled on the steps of a small temple in Sanur

After traveling throughout southern Europe, from country to country, end to end, for 4 weeks, moving from my beloved Portugal to stunning Italy to my newest flame, Greece, with a quick stopover (airport only) to quickly meet up with Singapore, I finally arrived in Denpasar, Bali, exhausted and without any more love to dispense. Or so I thought.
The 6-hour leap ahead in time from Greece to Indonesia and the 30-degree Fahrenheit spike in temperature didn’t help any. By the time I got to baggage reclaim, I was ready to reclaim my sanity, and any knowledge about why I had decided to make this trek from Western world to Eastern sphere. My body was sore from another long-haul flight in a month’s time and internally screamed at me, “Bed, bed, bed!” Keep in mind, I still had 2 online lectures to prepare for the morning, upcoming midterm papers to grade and a new business that required my execution.
Exiting the airport with baggage finally in hand, I was greeted on arrival by Ketut, the driver, who would deliver me to my bungalow in Sanur. Two quick things to note here regarding digs selection in Bali, or any tropical locale for that matter.

Bungalow versus Villa.

When considering accommodations in the tropics, take care to consider whether you might want to stay in a bungalow or a villa. Knowing little about Bali firsthand, I thought staying in an open-air bungalow would be the perfect way to happily immerse myself in Bali’s tropical climate and lifestyle. Note again, the word: “happily.” I was soon immersed in Bali’s sticky, buggy climate and, was not so happy about it. Especially at night. I was greeted by round-the-clock heat and nighttime mosquito attacks. The kitchen was well-stocked with 2 fans, but the kitchen was virtually outside in the open, as was the bathroom. The A/C in the bedroom helped to keep some of the bloodsucking fiends at bay, but no amount of cold blast or mosquito net around my bed was able to save my legs, arms and back from dozens of bites by week’s end. So, be sure to load up on bug repellant before your arrival! You can buy some on the island, but it can sometimes be hard to get spray or lotion for the body in local minimarkets. They tend to sell spray for the room itself. You can easily find the much-needed protection at the supermarket. And, of course, this will not be foolproof. In other words, expect to get bitten, and often. Alas, this is life in the jungle. Bugs and jungle creatures, of all sorts, will make their way into your living space, day and night.
While in Bali, you can expect to be greeted by both small and giant lizards, Geikos, snails, frogs and, yes, snakes, as well as a plethora of other animals who will mainly remain outside your door. That said, a bungalow tends to provide a more rural tropical experience. You may find your kitchen and bathroom are not fully protected by sealed roof or 4-walls to keep the creatures out. While a villa may also have an open-air bathroom, which is quite common and lovely to experience while in Bali, the latter is usually a bit more upscale (depending on price range) and offers you more cover and closure. Of course, there are also a long slew of upscale to midrange hotels, motels, hostels, boarding houses and surf camps from which to choose, as well. If you are able, I recommend experiencing a villa for the greatest comfort and a full tropical experience.

Sanur

I selected to begin what was originally set to be 3 weeks in Bali in this sleepy, family-friendly village. Sanur has one main beach and a gorgeous Muslim temple, Pura Blanjong, that rests in the center of town along Jalan Danau Tamblingan. You can get around pretty easily on foot or by motorbike. I say avoid driving a car here, if possible. Like Kuta, its neighbor, Sanur is close enough to the airport to allow you to quickly roll off a plane and into your bed. However, unlike Kuta, where its visitors party hard, Sanur’s visitors party soft, making it more of a restful haven for middle-aged couples, retirees, families and the slower-paced sort. Because of its slower pace, I knew I probably wouldn’t be there for long but it provided the perfect peacefully jumping off point before I began to discover the other parts of the island.
My bungalow in Sanur had many wonderful assets; chief among them was a shared pool offered to a small gaggle of bungalow owners and renters. It was set right beside my bungalow allowing for easy access and had a meditation area set right beside it. The mediation altar was a sweet touch, allowing you to get zen before taking a dip in either the pool or by venturing a few meters down the road to popular Sanur Beach.

Sanur's beach is a simple but beautiful one. Once again, it provided the perfect place for rest and relaxation away from party-heavy areas like Kuta or Seminyak. I enjoyed strolling the short boardwalk, that houses a line of restaurants and even took a moment to stop and bask in the sun right after a long weekend of rain.

When the rain stopped and everything, including me, was in bloom.

Ubud

Campuhan Ridge Walk

Resting my lenses

After 6 days in Sanur, I travelled north of Sanur to the most popular “get-your-yoga-mediation-zen-on” spot in Bali. Ubud. Initially, I was skeptical about this touristy "Eat, Pray, Love" section, but then I became enchanted and decided to extend my stay from 3 weeks to 4. Thirty days is the maximum time I was allowed to stay in Bali. On arrival, you will be granted a 30-day guest visa. If you want to stay longer, you will have to apply for a 90-day social and cultural visa when you arrive at the airport. It’s an somewhat involved process that can get costly and also will require 2 or 3 trips to the Embassy before approved.
While in Ubud, I also shifted from bungalow to villa. I was gifted with a private pool, which I enjoyed thoroughly. I took morning dips, afternoon dips and evening dips.

Villa's private pool

Villa's indoor shower

Ubud is less about beach life and more about spirituality, mediation and, yes, yoga. This cultural mecca houses most of Bali’s temples and hosts most of its cultural events and historical sites. Not to mention, it is home to some of the best cafes, restaurants and eateries — Indonesian, Western, vegan or otherwise. As a result of its increased popularity, Ubud is now one of Bali's most congested areas. Like most of Bali, it has also become highly westernized in most parts, which is a plus for some and a minus for others. I land somewhere in the middle.
Since Bali has no public transportation system, people must rely on motorbikes, scooters and cars to get around. Motorbikes are the most popular form of transportation because motorbikes are the cheapest, most efficient way to make one’s way around on the island. Cars get gridlocked on the narrow and overloaded streets, while motorbikes and scooters provide one with greater agility on the road; however, this swiftness can prove dangerous. There are many accidents that take place, most of them are the result of tourist mishaps with locals.
You will not get bored in Ubud since the list of attractions is quite long. However, if you want a zen-break so you can chase waves, as a surfer or a swimmer, and are looking for a more lively atmosphere than what is offered in Sanur, then you must make your way back down to Seminyak, Canguu or Uluwatu.