New years in Bali? Yes please!
I had heard so much hype about Bali, specifically about Uluwatu, the temples, and Ubud, and luckily, those were the destinations we decided to check out.
Our trip started in Ubud, a village located mainland, known for its artists. We stayed at the Three Dewis, a really nice guesthouse right off of Jalan Bisma. The decor is exactly what you’d expect to see in Bali, absolutely beautiful. And the owners, Made and his family, are the sweetest people, willing to bend over backwards to do their best at helping you out with whatever you need.
Ubud came as a huge shock to me. I don’t know what I was expecting (besides lots of rice terraces), but the busy town and foreign accents everywhere were quite the surprise. I’d say that if you’re looking to go to Indonesia to embrace new cultures and dive in deep to “local life,” skip Ubud. I haven’t been to Kuta yet (I leave today), but I think you could say the same of it. (NOTE: the same goes for Kuta)
Ubud was about an hour and a half drive from Kuta, and when we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised. I had expected Kuta to be Ubud on steroids, but I actually found it calmer. Yes, there are still crowds and traffic, but it’s less concentrated than in Ubud.
Kuta is a fun place to be, with the beach, endless food, and endless drinks. The sunsets here are prime; I haven’t seen a beautiful sunset like the ones here since traveling to Fiji.
There is an endless amount of activity along the beach. Surfing is quite popular along Kuta beach. Make sure you go on a day where the surf is good, otherwise standing up will be 10 times more difficult than it should be! There are people willing to give surf lessons and plenty of surf schools along the beach to choose from.
As for beach clubs, try out Potato Head in Seminyak! It’s a beautiful place with a beautiful pool to cool off in! PH opens at 11am, but the lines for the cabanas start forming at 10:15 am outside. We waited for 2 hours, but during that time, ordered yummy food and drinks from the bar.
Lastly, I think that everyone in Bali should have a beachside dinner or cocktail whilst watching the sunset. It’s the most beautiful view with a really great ambiance, and you can pick from a bunch of seaside restaurants. The food isn’t the absolute best, but the sunset should be the main reason for going!
Our trip to Bali was filled with plenty of beach time and sunshine, and was definitely a wonderful way to welcome in 2016.
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