Time has been flying by on this trip. Today, we are heading to our fourth country. At times, it’s a bit difficult to keep up with the writing. So rather than giving a play-by-play of every single moment, I’d rather just share some highlights of the last eight days in Bali.
Let’s start with exploring Nusa Penida on a moped and underwater:
When we arrived in Denespar, I was too stressed over missing the last ferry to Nusa Penida to note first impressions of Bali. I passed out the entire ride over to Nusa Penida and didn’t realize how special this island was until it was 7 PM. By then, we were drinking Bintangs and listening to live music at a restaurant across the street from our Airbnb. Was I in a dream?
The next morning, we enjoyed our free breakfast with fresh, local fruits. By 9 AM, we had the keys to our $5/day moped, and we were off exploring the island. Somehow, the guy did not seem concerned when I asked to clarify which one the throttle was.
My expectations for the roads were pretty low. Numerous people told me not to rent a motorbike because of the dangerous roads. Maybe my mountain bike just prepared me well because I didn’t think it was bad at all. I mean sure there was the occasional pothole or time I started driving on the wrong side of the road…We hit all the famous spots including Diamond Beach, Kelingking Beach, and Broken Beach. We took a lunch break for some mie goreng and Bintangs before booking our scuba dive for the next morning.
We had quite the crew from across the world. Two Bali locals, two Spaniards, a Polish girl, a couple of Norwegians, and two American girls headed on a dive boat out to Manta Point. The great energy from the boat followed us underwater where we were greeted by sting rays, turtles, many species of fish, and vibrant, soft corals. The visibility was spectacular and stoke levels were high.
Kuta was our next stop in Bali, and it was more bustling than the slow, relaxed atmosphere of Nusa Penida. On every corner, someone was offering something. We spent our few days here shopping at the markets, relaxing at the beach, trying new food, and taking a day trip to Uluwatu. Dreamland Beach was definitely a highlight. For only $7, we rented surfboards and enjoyed the rolling waves while chasing turtles around during breaks between sets.
Ubud was one of those places where I had so many preconceptions. I heard it all: Yoga paradise, crazy monkeys, extravagant pool clubs, everyone seeming like they’re on magic mushrooms…I guess most of that is somewhat true.
Nonetheless, Ubud blew me away. I was somewhat hesitant to be away from the ocean when we were surrounded by some of the most spectacular scuba diving and surfing. However, time seemed to move slower when we spent our mornings taking vinyasa flow classes or going to free coffee tastings. We wandered through the rice terraces during our afternoon walks and ate delicious Sumatran Street Food.
My vegetarianism was tested when ordering at places where vendors spoke very limited English.
At night, we easily found places with live music and cheap beer. We even made friends with some band members one night. While it was a bit busier than I expected, the calming, zen aura engulfed Ubud. Maybe next year I’ll bring my parents back to Michael Franti’s resort.
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