It’s time for the second half of our trip. We are traveling from our jungle hideout to our relaxing beach stay. Be sure to check out Part 1 of our Bali adventure if you haven’t already!
Day 5: Connection Tour to Amed. We woke early and anxious to begin the next leg of our trip to the northeast side of the island. For transportation, we hired the host of our next villa to pick us up from Ubud and drive us across the island, hitting some sights along the way to Amed.
Batur Volcano Hot Springs – This upscale spa includes man-made pools where natural hot spring water flows. Lockers are available to store belongings while you soak in warm hot springs and bask in the views of the volcanoes.
Address: Toya Bungkah Kintamani Desa Pekraman Batur, Songan B, Kintamani, Kabupaten Bangli, Bali 80612, Indonesia
Sari Mountain View Restaurant – Fill up at this delicious buffet with all the comfort food you need for a busy day. We chose from an arrangement of Indian foods but there were Balinese and American food options as well.
Address: Jl. Raya Penelokan 888 Br Masem, Batur Selatan, Kintamani, Batur Sel., Kintamani, Kabupaten Bangli, Bali 80652, Indonesia
Temple Besakih- If you visit the east side of the island near Batur volcano, be sure to stop and visit Temple Besakih. It is the mother temple and the largest in Bali, meaning all other temples in Bali are built facing Temple Besakih. As a matter of respect, all visitors are required to cover their legs and shoulders, so pack your own sarong or borrow one outside the temple entrance. The grounds are beautiful and gradually rise to the top of a hill where you can see for miles.
Address: Besakih, Rendang, Karangasem Regency, Bali 80863, Indonesia
Driving through Bali- We spent much of the day in the car while our driver narrated the sights we passed as well as some history about the island. Look at the photos above and the vibrancy of the land!
Amed- We arrive in Amed shortly before sunset, just in time to watch dusk set over the sea. We quickly realized we picked the most chill, laid-back beach town for our stay, and our villa was located at the top of a cliff reaching out from a point that juts out into the ocean along the sealine. When standing at the edge of the property, we could see water surrounding us in our periphery from North to South. After sunset, Amed welcomed us with an immense dark sky overflowing with bright stars and a clear milky way.
Villa Aqua Marine – our villa in Amed!
Day 6: We spent day six and seven hopping back and forth from pool relaxation to ocean swims. You can see us as little dots snorkeling in the sea right outside our villa in the top left photo below. For breakfast each morning, we stuck with a fruit and toast routine. Then, we rented motorbikes and cruised the coast! This was one of the most invigorating, fun activities we experienced. The ride felt surreal cruising the beautiful coastline with fresh air and sunshine flowing through our hair!
Sama Sama– This is the first place in town we tried for lunch; I picked a flavorful curry rice dish. Hot out or not, try the curry!
Address: Jl. Raya Amed, Jemeluk, Purwa Kerthi, Abang, Purwakerti, Kec. Karangasem, Kabupaten Karangasem, Bali 80852, Indonesia
The Meeting Place- When we rode past this cafe, we found it too cute not to stop in. Customers can grab a quick pick-me-up with many delicious coffee or tea options or choose a snack or lunch from their menu of sandwiches and salads. The interior is fresh and inviting, the perfect escape from the heat.
Address: Jl. I Ketut Natih, Amed, Abang, Indonesia
Villa dinner- At the end of the day, our host cooked us a homemade meal from our own kitchen. If your host offers this option to you, we recommend trying at least one homemade, traditional Balinese dinner. I chose a Balinese dish called Sayur Urab: green beans chopped finely, rice, shredded coconut, and tons of delicious spices (middle left photo above). Another group favorite that we ordered several times during our trip was called Mi Goreng: a traditional Balinese meal made with rice noodles, tofu, vegetables, and spices (bottom left photo below).
Day 7: After a good night’s rest, we rented snorkel gear from our host and headed to Good Karma Beach where we enjoyed a private cabana and snorkeled until we worked up an appetite for lunch.
Blue Moon Restaurant- I don’t know if it was our hunger, but we LOVED this lunch spot. The restaurant sits on top of a hill overlooking the ocean and its open-air seating allowed the ocean breeze to surround us. The food was fresh and filling while the service was on-point.
Address: Selang Beach, Amed, Bunutan, Abang, Bunutan, Abang, Kabupaten Karangasem, Bali 80852, Indonesia
Day 8: We woke early to spend more time by the pool overlooking the sea and thanking Bali for our wonderful stay. It’s always bittersweet to leave such a wonderful vacation. We all felt forever changed as we reminisced our trip on the way to the airport.
Thank you, Bali for opening our eyes and hearts to your beauty and truly one-of-a-kind nature.
Must-Dos’ in Bali:
- Try Bintang and Two Islands wine
- Drink fresh coconut water from coconuts
- Find a bag of Cornitos tortilla chips at a grocery store and enjoy them with fresh salsa!
- Rent motorbikes when you are in rural areas rather in the city…You’ll see why.
- Visit a temple
- Live in the moment and don’t live through your phone
- Learn about the culture by asking Balinese locals and hosts about their daily practices
- Keep a daily journal about your Balinese adventure so the memories will stay with you forever
Things To Be Mindful Of:
- One of Bali’s most popular attractions is to drink Kopi luwak also known as “cat poop” coffee. The “cats” are actually animals called palm civets. They eat the coffee beans which are partially digested and after they poop, humans collect and process it to drink. We fully intended on trying this local (and expensive) delicacy as it is marketed as the world’s best coffee, but due to its popularity, some farmers have begun to cage and forcefully overfeed the animals to produce more coffee instead of letting them naturally feed in free-range spaces. Reporters have gone to these sites and found the animals to be ill and showing signs of depression. As animal lovers not willing to support this action, we decided not to partake. Of course, that decision is up to you, but I wanted to bring such inhumane practices to your attention. Don’t worry, there are plenty of non-poop coffee shops too!
- Rupiahs (Balinese currency) go quickly, so withdraw more than you think you’ll need when you go to the ATM. Learn the conversion before you arrive as it will help you realize how far the US dollar stretches.
- Tip generously because Balinese people in tourism and hospitality deserve it; you will find they work very hard to make your experience exceptional.
Other Plant-Based Restaurants to Look For in Ubud:
- Siboghana Wareong
- Veggie Karma
- Lazy Cat’s Cafe
- La Pacha Mama
- Sawobali Vegan Buffet
- Alchemy
Most importantly, travel to Bali, spend your millions of Rupiah, and have a blast! You will eat well and have the adventure of your life. I hope you enjoyed this read and feel inspired to take a trip to one of the most beautiful, most friendly, and most adventurous countries in the world!
Embrace the moment, enjoy the moment, live in the moment!
If you would like to rent a villa or purchase an experience from Airbnb.com, use this link to get $20 off of your first stay or $15 off of your first experience!
Write me any questions you may have in comments below. I am happy to talk about Bali with you!
