Bali - Seminyak, Nusa Lembongan, and Ubud

Ledang Bar, Legian Beach - Go see my friend Tommy for a cold Bintang!

Denpansar / Seminyak

Traveling back to Bali after my initial trip in 2017 was exciting.  There was so much I didn't see the first time, that my mind was racing with ideas for January 2020.  However, when I touched down and smelled the tropical flowers in Denpansar's airport, I became a creature of habit.  I quickly logged into the free wifi and booked a cheap room in Seminyak.  I knew the area and it was close to the beach.  Most importantly, I knew I could get a good massage right across the street!

Pool view from my balcony at Destiny Boutique Hotel, Seminyak

Getting a taxi from the DPS airport to Seminyak/Legian area should cost about 300.000 rupiah ($22 USD).  You could haggle a bit, but after three flights and the permeating heat, you just want to get to your hotel and put the backpack down.  Typically you can find great deals on Hotels.com as well as other popular hotel booking sites for Bali.  I love the rewards program for Hotels.com since I'm usually staying more than 10 nights.

There are tons of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and warungs.  Lots of shopping - from clothing and jewelry to art and home decor. The shop owners expect to haggle, so find yourself a deal!  Almost all the restaurants, coffee shops, or even the local warungs have free wi-fi. Between the accessibility when I was out and about as well as the hotel's free wi-fi, I never had to use my cellular plan or pay for a SIM card.

One thing to mention regarding the wi-fi:  download your Netflix episodes before you get to Bali!  Even though the internet is available, doesn't mean your streaming services are.  I found that once I traveled to my next destination of Nusa Lembongan, I was able to download my episodes again.  However, I could not watch regularly at all in either location.

Sanur/Nusa Lembongan

After a couple days of busy Seminyak, I was ready to slow down.  I traveled to Sanur, to the east of the airport.  Sanur is known for it's beautiful beaches showcasing the most amazing sunrises.  It's also the home to several transfer boat companies. Nusa Lembongan is a 30 minute boat ride east of Sanur.  A one-way ticket should cost from $225-250.000 rupiah ($17 USD).  This includes pick up from local Sanur area hotels and drop off to your local Lembongan hotels.

Pulling into Nusa Lembongan from Sanur

Nusa Lembongan is a lot more laid back than busy Denpansar and surrounding areas.  There are quite a few motorbikes, but few cars.  It is pretty restricted to just the taxi trucks run by the boat companies and a couple hotels.  The traffic is much more manageable and I even take to the streets on a rented scooter.  One was available at my favorite hotel, Sea View Lembongan.  They charged me 70.000 rupiah per day ($5 USD).  It was well worth it!  I got to zip all over the island and see amazing spots like Devil's Tear, Dream Beach, and Mushroom Bay.  There are also family run warungs with amazing satay and inexpensive spas to get a relaxing massage.  A Balinese 60 minute massage typically runs about 100-150.000 rupiah ($9-11 USD).

Clean, comfortable sheets and fresh tropical
flowers from the trees all over the property

My beautiful room at Sea View Lembongan

View from the porch outside my room at Sea View Lembongan

View from the pool at Sea View Lembongan

There are many dive shops as well as small local boat operators to take you out and around the islands.  Snorkeling on a small local boat shared with others is about 500.000 rupiah ($37).  They will take you out for about 3-3 1/2 hours and to 3-4 different spots.  Nusa Penida is attached to Lembongan by a big yellow bridge.  There are many amazing spots around both islands to snorkel and scuba dive.  However, the currents are strong around Penida so it's encouraged to be an intermediate or better diver with drift experience.

A little quiet beach near the mangroves on Nusa Lembongan

Ubud

Finally after a few relaxing days next to the pool and checking out all the natural wonders on Lembongan, I returned to Sanur on boat.  The boat company charged me 150.000 rupiah ($11 USD) to drop me at my Ubud hotel, about an hour away.  As we drove into Ubud, I was a little surprised.  I had always associated it with Eat, Pray, Love and yoga.  I expected it to be quiet, rural rice fields.  But instead it was a Balinese Park City.  There was a lot of traffic and buzzing with tourists.  The shopping was more upscale and catered to a more affluent crowd.  There were global businesses such as Starbucks, Billabong, and RipCurl.  There was an abundance of healthy food options, yoga, and spas.  I had chosen a cheap hotel near the market.  It was tucked back off a small dead end street and was quiet.

Courtyard and family temple at Sayong House in Ubud

Beautiful hand-carved Balinese bed at Sayong House

Gorgeous Balinese room doors at Sayong House in Ubud

Simple and delicious breakfast served to my own patio
at Sayong House in Ubud