my bali guide

dec 1 - 16 2017

rainy season, post mt agung volcano & airport closure 

APPROXIMATE TOTAL COST - $3,000

Accommodations 4 + starts -$1,500 | Flight with EVA air - $600 ($500 covered by points) | Spending money - less than $1,000

nice to knows

life savers 

GENERAL 

• Peak season is June- August
• It was rainy season but only got caught in two downpours. and they didn't last more than 10-15 minutes. 
• Female Solo traveller 
• I only booked my first five nights because i wanted the flexibility. Accommodations were easy to find due to rainy season and airport closure from volcano activity  
• Do not need to tip 
• Locals are super nice and friendly
• I felt safe the entire time I was there, only experienced one negative situation with a local in a rice field. 

TRANSPORTATION 

• Book your airport transfer before you arrive with your hotel or one of the drivers recommended below. 
• Taxi's will be the most expensive, I recommend going with a private driver. 
• Locals on the street will ask you if you need a ride, agree on a price before you get in the car. 

MONEY

• Exchange money at the airport. most money exchange places will not take old USD bills or will give you a lower exchange rate. Ask for smaller bills as some places sometimes don't have change. 
• $100,000 IDR is roughly $10USD. Good way to quickly do the exchange rate when bargaining.

 

COMMUNICATION 

• Everyone communicates through whatsapp, even businesses. Download it before you go. 
• Purchase a SIM card at any shop on the street. Unlimited 14GBS for about $30-$40US 
• WIfi is everywhere so you could get away without a SIM card 
• Download Google Maps offline. Some areas especially on the islands have spotty signal 

FOOD 

• Try cat poo coffee, all over Bali 
• Must try local fish
• Beware of Bali Belly 
  • Be careful with fruits and raw vegetables 
  • Be cautious of cold drinks with ice 
  • Only drink unopened bottled water 
  • Don't drink or rinse your mouth with tap water 
  • Take probiotics 
  • Charcoal pills can be brought at any pharmacy and worked well for me 

 

transportation

Flight with Eva Air with layover in Taipei from Vancouver, BC

• 12.5 hours to Taipei, 4.5 hour layover, and 5.5 hour flight to Bali. 
• 5.5 hours to Taipei, 2 hour layover, 9.5 hour flight to Vancouver. 
• Flight change cost $91, extended my stay.
• Meals included and lots of options for alternative diets 

Personal Driver will cost $600,000 IDR for a full day. The driver will wait for you at each stop, some guides are also wiling to come in with you to take photos. Staff at attractions can also help with taking photos. Connect with the drivers I used. 

• Bali -> Tomi @agutomi553
• Bali -> Gede @balitrekkingexploration whatsapp +62 812-4675-7200 
• Nusa Penida -> Agus @cuitagus

Boat transfer with Rocky Fast Cruise to Nusa Lembongan will cost $450,000 IDR

Scooters everywhere, the roads are organized chaos. if you feel comfortable, I would recommend renting a scooter. Honking is used as a communication tool. 

jimbaran

first stop

• Two nights at Jimbaran Bay Beach
• Holiday package with S2S Crossfit for $445 with unlimited access to gym and classes. Included accommodation, lunch , goodie bag and local support.
• Rooftop patio 
• Across from the beach 
• Quiet, not much around 
• Close to the airport 
• Five minute walk to S2S Crossfit 

south kuta

day trip

• Recommended place to stay would be Uluwatu
• Most expensive area in Bali is Nusa Dua with a lot of resorts and gated areas. 
• Water Blow - couldn't find it but didn't look too hard. 
• Pandawa Beach 
• Uluwatu Temple - cliff side 
• Pantai Tegal Wangi - sunset & natural jacuzzi (didn't get to see this) 
• Rock Bar - sunset (didn't go)

canggu

second stop

• Three nights at Koasurfer Hotel
  • Approximately $50 per night 
  • 4 start hotel , Rooftop Pool , Just outside of one of the main roads but walkable and/or take a scooter, Surfer Vibe 
• Commuting: Scooter or walking. Look fo the Canggu shortcut, a single lane road cutting across a rice field 
• Two main strips parallel to each other , access through the beach or shortcut. 
• Night life: Finn's Beach Club & Old Man's
• Food: Crate Cafe, Cafe Organic Bali,  Cugh House, Bali Bowls & Smoothies 
• Yoga: Ariel yoga at Serenity Bali, The Practice
• Cycling: BaliBikeHire  with guide Wayan @gunarta_issi whatsapp +62 813 5337-9934

seminyak

day trip

• Similar to Ubud 
• Beach wasn't very nice 
• Very tourist, developed area with nice boutique shops
• Food: Sister Fields Bali, Revolver Espresso

south of ubud

third stop

• One night at Yana Villas Kemenuh
  • Approximately $38 per night
  • Six villas with a pool 
• Tegenungan Waterfall
• Spiritual Healer - Corkoda Rai (son of healer in the Book Eat, Pray, Love) 
• Hidden Canyon Beji Guwang with guide Arika @arikcapocino  whatsapp +62 857-3828-6346

mt batur

fourth stop

• Overnight camping sunset & sunrise trip on top of Mt Batur with Bali Trekking Exploration
• Approximately $120 USD per person 
• All gear is packed for you, snacks, dinner and breakfast included 
• Pack warmer clothes, it's cold at the top. Rain jacket, hoodie and long sleeve and socks 
• Hike took 1.5 hours and 900M elevation gain 

lovina beach

fifth stop 

• One night at Purisa On Lovina
• Approximately $50 per night 
• Resort on Beach 
• Quiet area 

ubud

sixth stop

• Two nights at Max One Hotel
  • Approximately $50 per night 
  • Rooftop pool, just outside of the main strips but walkable
• Monkey Forest
• Bali Swing
• Tegallalang Rice Terraces 
• Campuhan Ridge Walk - sunset 
• The Yoga Barn
• Ubud Market - everyone is selling the same thing, make sure you bargain on price. it's a maze, don't get lost. 
• Food: Clear Cafe Bali, Sayuri Cafe, Bali Buddha, Clear Cafe, Sari Organik 

chasing waterfalls

day trip

• Alingaling Waterfall - trek down stairs, wear runners and bathing suit. 
  • natural waterslide, cliff jumping 
• NungNung Waterfall - trek down stairs, wear runners and bathing suit.
• Ulun Danu Beratan Temple - temple on the water 

Nusa Lembongan

seventh & final stop 

• 30 minute boat ride from Sanur Port. 
• Two nights at Lembongan Sanctuary Villas
  • Approximately $120 per night 
  • Farther out from the main strip 
  • Private villa with ocean view and infinity pool or private plunge pool, full kitchen, amazing staff & service. 
• Two nights at Dnusa Resort
  • Approximately $96 per night 
  • On the main strip
  • Private gym, hotel or private villas, beach front 
• Very small and safe island. 
• Commute by scooter, you can bike around the island but I do not recommend it. 
• Yellow Bridge connects Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan 
• Diving: Lembongan Dive Adventure
  • Staff: Fernando 
  • $135CAD for a discovery dive with 3 spots and lunch included. Underwater Buddha, Manta Bay and Crystal Bay Point 
• If you don't go scuba diving, I recommend doing something out on the water, the view of the island from the water is breathtaking, huge cliffs. 
• Dream Beach 
• Devil's Tear 
• Mangroove 
• Food: The Deck, Blue Corner Bar, LemonGrass, Bali Eco Deli, The Sampan, Pisang-Pisang. Must try their local sweet potato fries (cassava)

nusa pendia

day trip 

• 30 minute boat ride from Nusa Lembongan 
• Biggest island out of the three Nusa's 
• Approximate day trip cost was $500,000 IDR for scooter guide, $700,000 IDR for car with AC. 
  • Recommend going with the car, got heat stroke. 
• Broken Beach 
• Angel's Billabong 
• Kelingking Beach (Must do, hike down to beach, bring lots of water, difficult climb/hike down) 
• Crystal Bay 

recommendations

for the next trip 

I would do this trip again in an heartbeat. The people, the place, the culture and the lifestyle was amazing. It felt like home. 

PLACES I WOULD SPEND MORE TIME IN

• Canggu 
• Nusa Lembongan
• Nusa Penida

PLACES I WOULD GO 

• Nusa Ceningan: Driftwood Bar Dan Zipline, Blue Lagoon Cliff Jumping
• Gilli Islands 
• Lombok: Three day hike on Mt Rinjani