TRAVELGUIDE
Nikia Wells MEETTHECONTRIBUTOR
As a little girl, growing up in Holmes Rock, we had an antenna because cable television didn't make its way to our neighborhood until I was about 7 or 8 That antenna "caught" 5 channels - FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC and PBS The latter is how my mom introduced us to the world At the time I found the shows "boring" (I lived for a Saturday morning cartoon), but the travel, food, and culture shows were unknowingly having a massive impact on me.
Every time I hop on a plane and visit a "new" country, I realize how little I still know about the world. I think that has spurred my desire to constantly want to travel. More times than not, the expectation and reality do not align - in the best ways possible
It doesn't matter how much research I do or how many Tiktok videos I watch - each country hits me with that "surprise SURPRISE" And, I am frequently reminded how much my worldview has been shaped by the media
Let ‘em tell it, my lil Bahamian self swings from vines into my cozy little coconut hut at night, after a day of catching fish with my bare hands and frolicking with my dolphin
bredren But, that is far from the truth Though, with the prices of real estate that coconut hut is probably out of my price range
In short, the media doesn’t always paint a comprehensive or accurate view of life around the world There is nothing like experiencing it for yourself
I don't see each country as checking something off of a "list". It's getting to meet people and embracing new experiences.
I plan to slow down on travel a smidge (my bank account compels me) but I still want to keep learning and getting "learned" about life beyond my minute bubble And, I'm always happy to share the tidbits that I have picked up over the years
I hope you enjoy this short overview of my personal experience visiting Bali, Indonesia This is my second time visiting Bali, and I absolutely adore the island, its culture, the people, the food, and the vibe It is not comprehensive since the island is so diverse, but I hope that it can inspire your own Bali trip planning
THEBASICS
Bali is an amazing island, with lots to see and do. I havevisitedtwice,andIhavestillonlybeenableto experience a fraction of the island’s rich culture and natural beauty The following travel guide is notacomprehensiveoverviewofBali,Indonesia It just provides a snapshot based on my personal experiences that can hopefully help with your Bali tripplanning
TamanDedari Restaurant (Ubud)
GETTINGTHERE
TogettoBali,youwillhavetoflyintoDenpasarviatheIGustiNgurahRaiInternationalAirport(DPS airport code). This can be done via various routes and departure + connecting cities. The transit time will be long, so I recommend adding in a second destination if you can. Popular countries to visitonthewayto,orbackfromBaliincludeThailand,Singapore,Japan,andSouthKorea
VISA
Bahamians need a 211A visa to visit Indonesia and are not eligible for a visa on arrival This is a single-entryvisa Itcantechnicallybedoneonline,butthesitedidnotacceptanyofmycreditor debitcards,soIhadtouseavisaagenttocompletetheprocessforme IusedthecompanyBali Solve
HeadedtoThailand? Asaheadsup, if youarevisitingThailandafter Bali, applyfor aThai visain advance - it cannot be done online after you have already arrived in Indonesia A Thai visa can alsobeprocessedonlineviathecountry'sofficialimmigrationsite.However,thesiteisabitglitchy, andIhadtoprocessmineonmycellphoneinlandscapemode itwouldnotworkonmylaptop.
GEOGRAPHY
Baliismassive.Whenplanningavisit,itisimportanttounderstandthelayoftheland.Ubudisthe mostcommonareatostayinBaliandisagreatcentralpointtoexperienceatasteofeverything.If youarebookingmultiplehotelsorplantocheckoutattractionsinotherareas,besuretomapout thetransittimes.TravelingbetweenUbud,Canggu,Seminyak,NusaDua,Sanur,Jimbaran,etc.,can takehours.
Also, note that the airport is about an hour and a half to two and a half hours from Ubud, dependingonthetraffic,timeofday,andwhereyouarestaying.
TRANSPORTATION
Traffic is THICK in Bali so much so that it can be hard to estimate transit times Always give yourselfextratimetogettoagivendestination,especiallyduringpeakhours Toavoidhaggling,I recommend using the GRAB app to book cars and scooters You can pay by adding your card to theapporviacash
While the scooters may look intimidating, hopping on the back of one is the quickest way to get around
CURRENCY
The currency used in Bali is the Indonesian Rupiah. The exchange rate fluctuates daily, but one dollarisroughly15,000rupiahasofmid-October2024.
Thereareanumberofcurrencyexchangeoptionsintheairportjustafterbaggageclaim youcan eitherexchangephysicalcurrencyatanexchangekioskorwithdrawmoneyattheATM.
SIMCARDS
There are eSIM vendors in the airport just after baggage claim. However, the Airalo app worked great for me. Airalo is an app that allows users to purchase eSIM cards for a wide range of countries,andIhadnoproblemstayingconnectedthroughoutmystay.
Bubble Hotel(Kuta)
The BubbleHotel(Kuta)is an experience. It took a bitorworktofindtheproperty,whichissomewhat secluded and very tranquil. Once there, it requires some walking to get to, and you can only take a small bag with essentials into your room since the bubbles aren’t very big (you can leave your luggage in their storage area). However, it was worthittosleepunderthestarsandwakeuptothe sunrise That said, going to the bathroom at night intheoutdoorbathroomwasabitscary
Kamandalu Resort (Ubud) is perhaps one of my favorite resorts that I have stayed at It is tranquil, with stunning views of rice fields, private villas that includeacanopybedandprivateoutdoorshower, and amazing food It is also a larger luxury property In the time period between my first and secondtrips,thepriceoftheresortwentupagreat dealsoIdidn’tstaytherethistime.
Thankfully, I came across Puri Sebali Resort (Ubud),whichisamuchsmallerboutiqueproperty that is just far enough from Ubud’s city center to allow you to enjoy tranquility and peace without being extremely far from the action. For a fraction of the price of Kamandalu, you can still enjoy rice fieldviews,agreatbreakfast,complimentary
afternoon tea, and a relaxing room. I also tried the spa, which is small and intimate, and had a great massageandpetalbath.
Udaya Resort (Ubud) is known for its Kaveri Spa and petal baths. While the spa is exceptional, the resortisveryclosetoamainroadanddoesn'tfeel as tranquil as some of the other properties I have stayedat
AyanaHotels(Jimbaran,SouthKuta)-TheAyana Resorts consist of three properties and are massive Eachpropertyhasitsownvibeanddecor andrequiresatrolleyridetogetaround Istayedat the Rimba property, which was beautiful, with lots of infinity pools The breakfast restaurant buffet was also exceptional While the resort is lovely, it is verylarge,andIpreferamoreboutiqueproperty
Villas - Bali also has some amazing villas, and we stayedinseveralduringourmostrecenttrip.These aregreatforlargegroupsofpeoplewhowanttheir own rooms but also want to be able to privately hangouttogether.Ifyougothevillaroute,youwill also need to arrange meals, transportation, and spatreatmentsseparately.
Restaurants andculinary experiences
RESTAURANT
TheCaveby ChefRyanClift atTheEdge (Kuta)
Like the name suggests, the Cave Restaurant is located inside an actual cave. In addition to being a visually unique experience, the restaurant features a multicourse meal. As a pescatarian, I had one or two dishes swapped out for seafood-friendly options. While I loved the ambiance, several of the dishes were delicious; some were just OK, and one was left on my plate unfinished. They also gave us a box of sweet treats for theroad,whichweregreat,andwewereabletoclimba short flight of stairs to explore the cave a bit more.
(Reservationsrequired)
I loved this restaurant. It was whimsical, and they even had the option to ‘let the cards choose your meal’ The cards also gave a reading of your past, present, and future I do not believe in tarot cards, but I found it fun I’m a pescatarian, so I wasn’t able to eat one of my chosen dishes (each card has a number on it, so you canseewhatyouwillgetaheadoftime),sotheyletme swap it out I ended up getting the burrata as a starter, salmon as my main and a dessert that was made to look like a Balanese offering - I enjoyed them all (Reservationsrecommended)
RESTAURANT
TamanDedari Restaurant (Ubud)
Rock Bar (Jimbaran, South Kuta): The Rock Bar is located at the Ayana Resorts and offers stunning sunsetviews.Whilethereviewsarebreathtaking,sunsetseatingisverypopular,andthewaittogetin canbeverylong.Theseatsarealsointhesun,soitcangethot.Thedrinkswerealsodelicious,whilethe foodwasOK.(Reservationsrequired)
TamanDedariRestaurant(Ubud): This restaurant is very well-known for its massive statues and is a visually stunning place to dine. I loved the fried fish (Gurami Goreng Kriuk) I even ordered a second one to share with someone else. However, the consensus across the board was that no one enjoyed theirdrinks,andwhilesomeofusenjoyedourmeals,othersdidnot
AfterleavingthemischievousmonkeysofUluwatuTemple,wewenttothenearbyBeJaNa,whichwas a very chill cafe I greatly enjoyed the food here and recommend the seafood Nasi Garang (Reservationsrecommended)
ACK: A local fried chicken chain I didn’t get the chicken, but my travel crew enjoyed it I did, however, enjoythefries,sambal,andtheirlycheetea
RumahDesa BalineseHouse andCooking Studio(Marga)
RumahDesaBalineseHouseandCookingStudio(Marga) was perhaps one of my favorite activities whileinBali.RumahDesaisapropertythatisthehomeofamulti-generationalfamily.Thefamilyhas opened their home to the public, where they share lots about Balinese culture, the language, their alphabet,howtomakeofferings,theprocessofmakingcoconutoil,andanexceptionalcookingclass wherewemadeseveralauthenticBalinesedishes.Afterlearninghowtopreparethedishes,thegroup thenhadafamily-stylelunchandtookatrekovertothericefields,wherewecouldgetdownanddirty toexperiencethefullrice-growingprocess.Asaheadsup,thewalktothericefieldsisabitofatrek,but itisscenic.Theclassandlearningexperiencethenendedatanotherpropertywherethereisaverynice coffeeshop(Ihighlyrecommendtryingtheirdrinks)
Thehomewasalsonot crowdedat all, didnot feel ‘touristy,’ andit wasaveryrelaxedandwelcoming experience
MadeTeasTeaHouse(Ubud):Thisteahouseisaquaintcafelocatedonasmallherbalteafarm Imet theowneronmyfirsttripandwassadthatIdidn’tgettogobackonmymostrecentvisitduetotime constraints Ifthisisyourvibe,IrecommendcheckingouttheirrusticAfternoonTea
Thingsto see,doand experience
TrafficinBalicanbedense,andtemples/attractionscangetverycrowded,soIrecommendgettingan earlystartinanattempttobeatthecrowds.
TirtaEmpulTemple:Thisisthehomeofthewaterpurificationceremony.Youwillneedtochangeintoa sarong to enter the temple and another to enter the purifying waters. I went into the temple with an open mind, said my own personal prayer based on my own beliefs, and I left the temple feeling amazing.Asaheadsup thewateriscold.
TirtaGanggaWaterPalace:This is one of my favorite locations. It is a popular stop after the Gates of Heavenandisknownforitskoifishponds.IwasluckythatonmyfirstvisitIarrivedearly,andtherewas hardlyanyoneelsethere.
GWKCulturalPark:TheGWKCulturalParkhasseveralsightstotakein,butIreallyenjoyedtheBalinese danceperformances
GWKCultural Park(South Kuta)
ACTIVITY
SwingHeaven (Ubud)
Tegalalang Rice Fields: The rice fields are beautiful, and I highly recommend adding this to your itinerary Inadditiontobeingabletowalkdownthepathsandtakeintheviews,therearelotsofphotoworthyspotsandaswingarea
Swing Heaven: This place offers flowing dress rentals and plenty of photo-op spots There are also teammembersateachspottotakeyourphotosusingyourcellphone,andtheon-sitecafewaspretty good
GoaRajaWaterfall:Thiswaterfallisinsideacave Ittakessomeefforttogetto-thestairshadmylegs feelinglikejelly-butitwasbeautiful
CoffeeTasting:Therearemanydifferentcoffeefarmsthatofferteaandcoffeetastings.Manyofthem aresimilar(Ihavedoneseveral),butIreallyenjoythem.Thetastingsareusuallyfree,withthegoalof visitorsbuyingcoffee/teasattheend.
UbudCityCenter:Thereislotsofshopping,restaurants,art,etc.,intheUbudCityCenter.Thisisagreat place to find local crafts, souvenirs, and also check out some really nice boutique shops and enjoy a nicelunch.
Justnotethatthepricingofrestaurants/shopsintheUbudcentercanvarywildly.
ARGRICULTUREACTIVITY
Coffeetasting experience (Various Locations)
TEMPLE
GateofHeaven Lempuyang Temple
Doyourresearch (toseeifthesearerightforyou)
Nusa Penida: Getting to Nusa Penida from mainland Bali requires a boat ride, which can get hectic. Fromthere,mosttravelerscanchoosetodoawateractivity(likeswimmingwithmantarays)ortakea tour around the island to see the area ' s cliff views. The ride to the first cliff is long, with lots of winding roads While the view was beautiful, it was crowded, involved lots of hiking, and was very hot Coming fromTheBahamas,acountrysurroundedbystunningturquoisewaters,itremindedmeabitofhome Thatsaid,thetourdidn'tappealtomeduetothecrowds,heat,andlongdrives/treks
We ended up cutting the tour short and going to the Cactus Beach Club instead, which was the relaxingendofthetripthatweneeded Ithadalaid-backvibe,thedrinksweredelicious,thefoodwas good,andtheyevenofferedbeachfrontmassages
Unfortunately, getting back to Bali involved another hectic boat ride, and catching a Grab from the harborwasabitstressfulduetohagglersanddriverswhowerebookedontheapptryingtonegotiate higherratesoutsideoftheapp
GatesofHeaven:TheGatesofHeavenisaplaceofworshipformany.However,themajorityofvisitors gothereforthat‘iconic’photobetweenthepillars,whichincludesawatereffectachievedviaamirror placed below the cell phone’s camera. Getting to the Gates of Heaven usually involves a very early morning and a long drive (depending on where you stay) and then a very long wait time (multiple hours)onceyouarrive.Keepthisinmindifincludingthisonyouritinerary.
