Bali & Gili Islands

I chose Bali as my final destination for two reasons: the weather is warm and there is plenty of cheap wellness. Also I can do some easy sports like yoga, enjoy diverse nature trips if I wish and eat healthy.

One of my best friends friend Saskia lives here since three years close to Bukit on a South peninsula known for great surf spots. I moved into a place called Mangga Wangga Living, quiet and comfortable, and Saskia knows the manager. This was my home for the next three days.

First thing in the morning just a five minute walk I enjoyed breakfast at Bali Badu, fresh and healthy. Longing for a massage I walked down one of the two main roads and quickly found a spa place. Two hours later my feet and muscles were renewed.
In the afternoon Saskia took me to her favourite surf beach, Pandawa in the South East. For a couple of hours together with her friends we remained lazy until sunset...no pictures needed ;).
For dinner we all met up again at a kind of local food market, 10 minutes by scooter from the hotel. Cheap but delicious sushi, a beer and we were tired.

To at least see something outside of this town, I wanted to rent a scooter but an Indian guy joined to share. I was glad that I didn't have to drive myself...never had done it before.
So we took the loop towards the West coast, visiting Uluwatu beach and hung out at Sunset Point with pool and chill out area.

By the time we got back it was dark, I quickly showered and off we were, invited to a barbecue at Saskias friend. Another girl from Germany had arrived that day and also joined. What a relaxed place with cute garden, delicious burgers, beer and great company...again no pictures needed for remembering quality time...

Although it's meant to be a typical tourist destination, I wanted to see it anyway: Nusa Penida. So I moved to Sanur in the East, where the tour departed from. Before the driver of the hotel picked me up after midday, I had a lady come over to do sugar waxing. A natural paste of sugar, lime and water, that is applied cold and removes all hair, leaving a smooth feeling on the skin.
As I arrived to Sanur in the afternoon, I continued the wellness procedures with a massage, yoga and facial....now I was completely renewed and relaxed.

I took a Gojek (local scooter taxi) to Sanur harbour, where the tour left at 8am. After one hour boat ride we arrived on the island and the driver basically dropped us for picture time at Angels Billabong, Broxen Beach and Klieking...no time to explore. Instead he gave us almost 2 hours at Crystal Bay, an over-crowded beach and not really worth mentioning. Anyway it was ok to come here, but not worth the money.

In return I treated myself the way I wanted it for the evening: a massage and grilled Mahi Mahi fish.

From a taxi driver on my first day I got offered a special price to travel to Gili. Hotel pick up in Sanur to go to Padangbai harbour, return ferry tickets and upon return a ride to my next destination...in total 800k, which was ok. The first ferry took me in 1,5 hours to Gili T. Drop off was directly on the beach since the pier had collapsed last year from an earthquake. I collected by bag and walked only five minutes to my hostel, a quiet place focused on diving. The receptionist and one of their dive instructors gave me just the information I needed: directions within the village and all about diving in the area. Next morning I was booked in for my first dive.

There is not that much to do here except walk from bar to shop to restaurant to café and finally spa. Also Yoga was a great easy but intense workout I wanted to be part of. Class started at 5.30pm, by the end it was dark, so quick shower and some fresh fish at the food market close by. The local beer at the Raeggea bar wasn't that enjoyable by myself even with live music.

Only five minutes from the hostel we got on the boat and another five minutes later we reached the dive site. Only my guide and I descended and enjoyed almost one hour of marine zoo, even with sharks. No pictures, but the best memory.

Another chilled afternoon with quite the same program of yoga, food and a beer...just enough for an early rest to go diving again next morning.
Same procedure, but different site, this time Turtle Heaven. A huge pinnacle starting on about 12m depth going down on smooth slopes, home to lots of creatures. Some of them could be captured.

For the rest of the day I had to rest since some bad food got to me and knocked me out...that happens on travels.

After in total 6 hours journey, first by boat to Padangbai and then shared taxi for only 7€ each but 3 hours drive to Canggu exhausted me quite a bit. Luckily I arrived at the Serenity Eco Guesthouse. After some food and moving into my room I could attend my first yoga class. There are ten classes per day, from which you can choose. For house guest even cheaper, not even 7€ per class. 

Some dinner in the vegan restaurant as part of the guesthouse and I needed some rest.

Breakfast wasn't quite my taste, but ok for which it was included. The yoga classes of my choice today were arial yoga and core strength, one starting at noon. In the meantime I walked around the area close to the beach and also found myself in a nice bazar market. 

The classes were both really tough, second especially, so I needed contrast...some friends came over from Bukit. The party started at a house and ended on the beach with electronic music and rain...

Little hangovered, but good avo-egg-on-toast breakfast in a superfood café next door saved me...sending me right back to the hotel for a massage and nap. A vinyasa yoga class late afternoon brought all the toxic sweat out and the hangover luckily disappeared.

Coming to places like Bali you find yourself struggeling with options what to do, at least me. Should I join a touristy group and go to the most popular places around Ubud or just leave it out? After researching several websites, I almost gave up not willing to pay over 60€ for the day. I remembered a driver from Saskia's friend, that also did such tours. He offered the same tour half price, so I decided to do so.

We started with the rice terrace North of Ubud. Little entrance fee, but way too expensive for the famous swing, I thought. So I walked around, had a coffee and enjoyed the views.

At a coffee plantation I could try 7 different coffee and 3 different tea, from which in the end I bought some of the traditional one. The famous Luwak coffee was also offered, but not my taste. It is made of coffee beans, that a certain animal doesn't digest when eating, so it comes out again...you know what I mean without mentioning. Anyway it's only the fermentation process inside the animals stomach that gives the special aroma, but the beans in their seed stay the way they are.

In monkey forest I had a bit time to walk around and relax...not for long until my not-favorite animals, one of them, jumped on my back and tried to steel my sunglasses, he had opened my bag! Another girl somehow chased it away. I just and still don't like the monkeys. My bag was then carried in front of me and a little walk was still possible.

Last stop at the Tegenungan waterfall was a bit disappointing...smaller than expected and way too many people swimming in the natural pool, that the waterfall created.

Back in Canggu I needed some action as a contrast to the yoga, so joined a boxing class. Exhausted but happy fell into bed after dinner.