Right.
I know I said not long ago that I would most probably never return to the magical island that is called Bali.
Well, I’m happy I used the phrase “most probably”, because, not only did I return, I might go there again and again in the future.
My wife moved to Bali early this year in the middle of the night. Sorry to make it sound like she fleed to the island, but that’s basically what happened. She packed a suitcase and flew to a 30+ degree jungle, and left me and the furry babies in February Shanghai.
“Big leaver with the stupid suitcase” (Insert Joey on Chandler’s leave) aside, I am excited to have a home in a tropical island now, and when the first of May long weekend approached, me and the girls packed our bags and headed down south. Oh, one of the girls is my Papi (haha sorry not sorry Papi Diego).
I learned my lesson last time and ran to the immigration counter once we got off the plane, and it worked! I used 20 mins to get out of the airport. Last time at night, I waited in line for like 2 hours. It was crazy. So run Forest, run!
As short as it was, I am so glad we did it! It was, without a doubt, one of my best holidays ever! I like to travel solo. I did this time as well, I met up with the girls in wifey’s Villa, briefed them about the “No Zones” (Insert: Canggu, Ubud, etc. Papi accidentally mentioned Holly Spring Temple and I started to tear up, not cool.) and the #GirlsTrip adventure began.
This time, instead of writing the essays, I am going to put up a travel guide for you. Expect a lot of beach snaps coming at you, because that’s all we did.
Where to stay:
Well, I am always useless in this department, I stayed in my room technically. My wife’s beautiful villa is located in a charming little village called Ungasan. But the other day we accidentally walked into a villa that’s very close to the Badung beach. Yeah, that’s the closest help I can get for you guys, go figure it out. Haha, just kidding, but Uluwatu honestly has so many Villas, you should totally stay in one of them.
Where to eat:
Sake no Hana Bali, by Hakkasan Group, offers modern authentic Japanese cuisine with stunning panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. I am very into the interior design of the place. We were enjoying the vast ocean view through the wood crafted open-air cage while the Grand Staircase below offers an alternative more relaxed environment under the minimalist contemporary light installation which emanates a golden glow throughout the entire restaurant. The food is excellent too. Ps, look for my wife when you are there!
Address: Jl. Belimbing Sari, Banjar Tambiyak Desa Pecatu, Uluwatu, Pecatu, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80364, Indonesia
Opening Hours: 12-11pm
Phone: +62 361 8482150
Mama San Kitchen Bar & Lounge, by Sarong Group, a great place for quality South East Asian food. We traveled to Kuta for dinner and it was worth it! Staff is friendly and the atmosphere great. Marble top mah-jong tables and oversized tan leather chesterfields, in a purpose designed industrial high ceiling warehouse. Mama San in all her glory staring down at patrons while dining and ponder over a travelogue of old style photographs. Colorful displays of retro-inspiredflowers tower up to vintage clocks and a Chinese patterned mirror.
Address: Jl. Raya Kerobokan No.135, Kerobokan Kelod, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Opening Hours: 12-3pm, 6-11pm
Phone: +62 813-3942-3033
Where to have fun?!
Omnia day club Bali is right next to Sake No Hana, in fact, a lot of people wouldn’t know that there are two separate venues in there, but there they are. As I said before about Sake no Hana, Omnia is also atop of the cliff 100 meters above the Indian Ocean. We were lucky enough to arrive there on their last day of the first-anniversary celebration and Claptone was playing! I don’t know how many times I write to his tracks! Dancing to our favorite German techno next to the DJ himself under the fireworks with some of my favorite people is an indescribable feeling. We couldn’t help but repeat to each other the next day that”I wish I can relive yesterday again! ”
It was that good!
Address: Jl. Belimbing Sari, Pecatu, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80364, Indonesia
Opening Hours: 11am-10:30pm
Phone: +62 361 8482150
Single Fin is a beach club that was highly recommended by my wife:), The place is filled with surfers from down under and the music is great too. If I remember correctly, the happening nights are Wednesdays and Sundays. The bar is set on the cliff and overlooking the famous surf break, We were there at night, but I would love to come here to see the sun sinks in the Indian Ocean. It must be majestic.
Address: Pantai Suluban, Jl. Labuan Sait, Pecatu, Uluwatu, Kuta Selatan, Pecatu, Kec. Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Opening Hours: 8am-11pm
Phone: +62 361 769941
La Favela is a… I don’t know exactly how to describe it. It’s a bit of everything. It’s an underground party place. Using the words of the husband and wife team, Gonzalo and Sandra Assiego, “From the architecture to the street art. From the lighting to the music, the concept of La Favela has always been to bring to Bali the very first underground party scene. No techno, no house music. Just music that everyone loves and can dance to. Old school but never cheap.
“For me, La Favela is really underground. That is the soul of LA Favela. The party spirit. Yes, you have dined in a beautiful place – the garden is beautiful but then its like the inside of a museum that has been made with love from our own search for pieces, to things from our homes and the homes of our friends. We also wanted to recreate the ambiance of the underground 90’s party scene.”
What Papi Deigo told me is that it is just like the slums in South America. They have different bars and each bar has a different type of music. And in the middle of it all, it’s a jungle, trees and bridges, I seriously didn’t know where I was. The whole experience is just.. sureal…
Address: Jalan Laksamana Oboroi No.177X, Seminyak, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80561, Indonesia
Opening Hours: Monday- Saturday 5pm-3am, Sunday 12pm-3pm,5pm-3am
Phone: +62 818-0210-0010
Life is a beach!
Island holiday is all about beaches right? All you need to wear is bikinis and a beach bag with sunscreen and books!
Badung beach is a very quiet and serene place, which is the exact beach I like. The grandpa who we rent the tanning beds from can only speak a word of English, “Yes”, “How much are these beds?” “Yes” “The price is for two beds? ” “Yes” But he’s smiling the whole time even though he didn’t understand a word of what I was saying. What a happy island!
I finished the book <Love Begins in Winter> by Simon Van Booy and took a long nap on this beach. It was pretty chilled.
I finished the second book of this trip, <Anil’s Ghost> by Michael Ondaatje on the Pantai Melasti Beach. This beach is my wife’s favorite beach and to be honest the most beautiful one I have ever seen. It’s just 10 mins scooter ride from the house and what a view along the ride!
There are SO MANY Chinese couples having their wedding photoshoot taken on this beach, it is indeed, the most beautiful, dreamest location possible.
The current of the ocean was powerful and I got my legs cut by the rocks, but this is the best souvenir I can get from an island right? Scars and a gorgeous tan. It’s like the younger days in summer, you were at your grandparents’ in the countryside. Climbing mulberry trees and picking lotus seeds. My legs were always covered in bruises and cuts. And thanks to the summer sun, I always had tanned skin, compared to all the other kids. I guess something will never change!
On this beach, by the vast Indian Ocean, we three never felt more of Charlie’s Angles. Except maybe our Papi is way more exotic than the original Charlie!
All photos my own shot in Bali, Indonesia.