Bali has been on my bucket list for so long! I love visiting places with a strong yoga community, so I wanted to see what it is like to be part of the yoga community here. It was very touristy, but I was so lucky that I was able to find a local Balinese studio, where I could practice and connect with the locals. Keep reading for more info!
I also did a lot of things while I was in Bali. I went surfing, did some touristy things and enjoyed the sunset! Although Bali is VERY touristy (which was a bit disappointing; I didn't know it would be THIS TOURISTY) and expensive compared to other cities in Indonesia, I think it is still worth visiting to be in Bali and have cool experiences.
Kuta
Surfing
It’s SO cheap here to learn how to surf. I’ve never surfed before and always wanted to learn. I booked with 7surfbali, which is a surfing school located by Legian Beach. The beach was walkable from downtown Kuta, Bali and it was a perfect place to surf because they had baby waves. It wasn’t intimidating at all to learn for the first time. The instructor was really helpful and supportive during my 2-hour lesson. I booked for a semi-private lesson (2 students in a group with one instructor) but the other student didn’t show up, so I ended up taking a private lesson. I recommend learning with them if you are a beginner!
7surfbali WhatsApp: +62 812‑8160‑8003
Uluwatu
I did a half-day trip to Uluwatu from Kuta, Bali to catch the sunset at the Uluwatu Temple. It was a 1-hour (one-way) Gojek ride (motorbike version of Uber) from downtown Kuta and it was totally worth it. Many people stay in Uluwatu couple of days to fully enjoy the area, but for me, I thought half-day would be enough for me, so I only spent half day there. You can borrow a sarong at the entrance if you don’t have one or if you are wearing shorts. You can watch Kecak Dance (traditional Balinese dance) at the amphitheater while watching the sunset or just walk around the temple and see monkeys. The sunset here is stunning!
Ubud
Lempuyang Temple
I arrived at Lempuyang around 10:30 am on Sunday from Ubud and waited 3 hours to get the photos taken at the Gates of Heaven. This is a trendy place for people to take Instagrammable photos so it's very typical to wait for a couple of hours. The best time to visit is to go early in the morning on Sunday as most Lempuyang tours do not operate on Sundays. Once you arrive, you will receive a number in the queue if you decide to take photos at the Gates of Heaven. Think of 5 poses while waiting for your turn since you only have 10 seconds to get your photos taken.
Tirta Gangga
Tirta Gangga is a royal palace with a very beautiful garden. I was told that it used to be a place for meditation. I wish I could meditate here every day! You can walk around the garden, feed fish, and take photos.
Entry Fee: 50K IDR for non-locals
Yoga @ Bali Swasthya Yoga Centre
I was looking for a Balinese Yoga Center where I could practice yoga, and this was a great place to be. Drop-in classes are 100k, 5 class packages are 400k. All classes are taught in English by Balinese teachers and are small group classes (less than 15 people per class). There are a lot of yoga studios that are considered "yoga factories" where yoga studios earn tons of money by holding classes back to back and having each yoga class fill up to at least 30 people. I don't like the commercialization of yoga so I decided to practice here, so I can focus on my practice.
*The most up-to-date schedule can be found by contacting the yoga centre. No reservation needed, just walk-in
WhatsApp: +62 89608689735
I also practiced at Radiantly Alive yoga studio on my own. If you practice regularly and need a space to practice on your own, Radiantly Alive offers a time slot where any community members can drop in for free to practice.
Alas Harum Bali Swing & Cretya Ubud
Alas Harum is a perfect place to swim and get your Bali Swing shots. If you pay the entrance fee, you can walk around and enjoy the rice field view, and go swimming at Cretya Ubud (make sure to bring your swim suit with you). If you want to get on the swing, you would need to pay extra. There are multiple types of swing with different prices and can check the prices (here). Dress rental is available for a fee, and you get an option to choose which dress you would like to wear. You can also hire a photographer if you are traveling by yourself. I asked a favor to Mari and he took great photos and videos of me. If you are solo traveling and would like to do the swing, come with your hostel mate or ask a stranger who can get you the photos. Staff here are not allowed to take photos for the visitors, and timers/Bluetooth cameras don't work here so you need someone who can take photos for you.
Hours: 7 am- 7 pm every day. You can go out for a walk from 7 am by the rice fields. Cretya Ubud opens at 8 am. All attractions (swings) open at 8:30 am.
Entrance Fee: 50K IDR
Attraction (including the swing): Click Here to check the swing types and prices.
Dress Rental: Price differs based on the type of dress you choose. Long dress (this is the one I chose): 202,125 IDR. You can also pay extra for accessories.
Kajeng Rice Fields & Ubud Palace
If you are looking for free things to do around Ubud, go to Kajeng Rice Fields and check out Ubud Palace. As you know already, the main staple in Indonesia is RICE! Visiting rice fields was fun and trying the local steamed rice was a great experience! Ubud Palace was a great place to explore and learn about local architecture. Highly recommend these places!
*Also, visit Campuhan Ridge to visit local cafes and enjoy the ricefield views.**
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