Bali is just...incredible.
We had heard great things about Bali from a couple of friends who had traveled there a few months ago (as well as a rave reviews from a random guy we met on a tour in Mendoza), so we were really excited about this portion of the trip. But I would say without a doubt that Bali exceeded all of my expectations. Just a few reasons why: the beaches are gorgeous (and in my opinion, Kuta Beach boasts one of the world's most beautiful sunsets, along with Costa Rica and Santorini), the people for the most part are very friendly and respectful, the food is delicious and relatively cheap, and the landscapes are stunning. And no matter what your interests are, there seems to be something for everyone. If you're outdoorsy, there are tons of ways you can be active (rafting, scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, etc). If you love sightseeing and want to soak up local culture, there are plenty of temples to see and tours you can go on. But if you'd rather do nothing and just relax and be lazy, there are lots of glorious beaches where you can lay back, sunbathe, and watch surfers with a cold beer in hand.
We spent a little over a week in Bali, visiting three areas in the southern part of the island: Kuta, Ubud and Seminyak. Each were really unique in their own way. Kuta is the quintessential beach town (and quite toursity), with lots of cute surf shops, tons of vendors selling handmade goods and offering massages on the beach, and is the perfect place to take surfing lessons and watch the sunset. Ubud is further from the beach, but has a much more chill/less touristy vibe than Kuta. We had a great night there having dinner and watching an amazing live band play in an open-air bar. And Seminyak is close to the beach, but comparatively trendier and a little more upscale (but not in a pretentious way) than Kuta.
Some highlights of our trip:
-Taking surfing lessons at Kuta Beach. We both got up on the board!
-Going to the Monkey Sanctuary in Ubud, where the monkeys roam wild but are accustomed to humans, so they aren't skittish or aggressive. The best part for me was when Michael sat his water bottle down on the ledge of a bridge to take a picture, and a monkey lept right at it Matrix-style and knocked it in the bushes below, then ran away seemingly very pleased with himself. The rest of the day, I teased Michael about how he got punked by a monkey.
-White-water rafting on the Ayung River, and getting the chance to take a quick photo under a waterfall. So fun!
-Drinking luwak coffee, a local specialty. It's made from coffee beans that are eaten by the luwak (kind of a mix between a ferret/cat/monkey), who then - bear with me - poops out the beans. The beans are sanitized and roasted, and the coffee has a rich, earthy flavor. Pretty good!
-Watching a traditional fire and kecak dance at Uluwatu Temple, which is right on the water, with the sun setting in the background. It was stunning, and dare I say it, a little magical.
There is still so much to see of Bali (and Indonesia overall), that I'm sure we'll be back someday!
