Bali & Lombok- Six weeks in Paradise
- muse7699
- Jan 16
- 5 min read
October - November 2024
When you think of Indonesia what comes to mind. Rich cultural heritage, beautiful beaches and forests, friendly local peoples, diverse landscape of lakes and volcanoes. It was that and so much more. Yes, parts of Bali are touristy, crowded and noisy, filled with European and Australian expats. But you come away with such an appreciation for the people and culture that its worth a visit. I spent six weeks in Indonesia splitting my time between Sanur and Ubud in Bali and Gili Air in Lombok.
Fun facts about Bali
There are over 18,000 islands that make up the Indonesian Archipelago, and the island of Bali is just one of them
The word Bali means “sacrifice”
The island of Bali is a mix of Buddhism and Hinduism. Bali is the only Hindu-majority Island in all of Indonesia. Balinese Hinduism is inspired by Indian Hinduism but has evolved into a very distinct set of practices that are not the same as those found in India.
The oldest evidence of human culture on this island are some stone tools that date back 202,000 years.
My first stop in Bali was Sanur, a seaside town on the southeastern coast. The family friendly beaches, mega resort hotels, shopping and dining draw expat retirees, mostly from Australia. Sanur is also home to the Icon Mall, the only mall on the island of Bali. Days were filled bargain shopping on the main street, relaxing on the beach and listening to live music in one of the many nightclubs.
Sanur is also home to one of the three main ports for island hopping where I hopped on a speed boat for the 45-minute journey to the Instagram worthy island of Nusa Penida. From Bali: Nusa Penida Private Snorkeling Tour with Lunch. We snorkeled from Manta Bay and Secret Bay where we followed turtles and caught glimpses of mantas rays from the boat. After lunch, we drove to Kelingking Beach, an iconic viewpoint known for its breathtaking views and pristine white sand.
The Balinese people live very simple lives. Religion is extremely important in fact, there are over 10,000 temples on Bali. Each one is unique and important to Balinese life and culture. Food is an artform. Eating at local restaurants called warungs is an experience. Music and dance in the form of kecak performances is a must.
One of the best places to see the Kecak performance is at the Uluwatu Temple. This 1,000-year-old Bali temple is one of the island’s most famous sights because of its impressive cliffs and sunset views. Pura Uluwatu was thought to be a portal to heaven, and the Balinese Hindus today still consider it one of the most important temples on the island. At the heart of the Kecak and Fire Dance lies the timeless Indian epic, Ramayana. This ancient tale narrates the heroic journey of Prince Rama in his quest to rescue his wife, Princess Sita, who was abducted by the demon king Ravana. Uluwatu Sunset, Kecak Dance.
From Sanur it's an easy ferry ride to Lombok and the three Gili Islands. My one week spent on Gili Air was pure magic. After the noise, people and motorbikes in Sanur, the car free island of Gili Air was bliss. I decided this was the perfect time for a self-directed yoga and writing retreat. I highly recommend H20 yoga for its amazing yogi teachers and relaxed atmosphere. H2O Yoga And Meditation. Snorkeling is also amazing on Gili Air. Especially to swim with turtles and see the underwater sculptures. And when the sun goes down, I headed off for live music on the beach.
After a magical week, it was time to head to Ubud, the political and religious hub of Bali. Known for art and strong spiritual presence it was a great place to connect with the soul of Bali. I split my days between yoga classes and temple hopping / sightseeing and the nights trying out local foods and listening to live music.
Spiritual Cleansing at Tirta Empul. This Hindu temple dedicated to the God Vishnu, the God of Water, has several holy springs which are said to be blessed water that could purify those who bathe in them. It is considered one of the five most holy temples in all of Bali and is considered one of the holiest water sources in Bali. Bali: Full-Day Spiritual Cleansing and Shamanic Healing Tour
Another fun afternoon was a trip to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is home to over 1260 long-tailed macaques, who are considered sacred by the local Balinese people. Dating back to the 14th century, it has been regarded as a sacred place, housing spiritual forces and guardian spirits.
Food is an important part of Balinese culture. Most foods are based on rice. The main dish is Nasi Goreng, the Indonesian version of fried rice with a fried egg on top. I had a chance to get together with other nomads for dinner where we sampled local foods at Warung Sunny. I also took part in a cooking class where we made a seven-course meal. From Ubud: Authentic Cooking Class in a Local Village.
Temple and waterfall day trips are an easy fun filled way to see many of the sites on Bali.
Day Trip # 1. Quick Access: The Bali Instagram Small Group Tour 2025.
Tegalalang Rice Terraces - Tegalalang is known as one of the most popular rice fields in Ubud and deeply entrenched around a popular Balinese traditional mode of irrigation named Subak, dating back to the 9th century.
Goa Raja Waterfall - a waterfall in a big natural cave
Lempuyang Temple aka The Gates of Heaven- One of the island’s oldest and most revered temples overlooking Mount Agung.
Tirta Gangga - Engraved stone lilypads speckle the serene waters of this former royal residence. Landscaped gardens, Hindu temples, and koi carp made a great way to end the day
Tegenungan Waterfall - With a height of 15 meters, it makes Tegenungan Waterfall as the highest waterfall around the Ubud area.
Goa Gajah aka the Elephant Cave - With a narrow path leading into a cave where you’ll find Hindu incense baskets burning. The temple’s doorway is a bizarre and cool sight, resembling a rock monster’s belly.
Beji Guwang Hidden Canyon - This is the reason why I booked this tour. Hidden Canyon is a sacred place according to locals. Guwang means holy in Balinese. The water from the canyon is used for the religious ceremony. Swimming, rock climbing, scrambling it had it all.
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