I am back to talking about my adventures in Bali! You've already seen the first two parts of the trip, and now we are going to the third part, which was in Ubud. After Gisela finished teaching English in South Korea at the end of February, we did our final Asia trip (for now). We went to Saigon, Vietnam; Can Do, Vietnam; Vung Tau, Vietnam; Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei; and then traveled all over Bali, Indonesia. Although we did Vietnam and Brunei on our own, we visited Bali through a tour group company called Wanderlands Travel, which does group tours for people ages 18-35. Gisela and I had a blast in Bali, and I am thrilled to release this article about our adventures in Ubud. So let's get started!
Gisela, her friend and roommate Lara, and I woke up at our hotel in Nusa Lembongan. That morning, we would eat breakfast, take the boat back to Bali Island, and then ride to Ubud. We packed up our things and went to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. We met up with our friends from the tour group and ordered our breakfast. Gisela and I got toasted sandwiches with tomatoes and drank black coffee. During breakfast, we also chatted with our German friends about the concept of manifestation and psychology. Then, after breakfast, Gisela and I went on a short walk around Nusa Lembogan's beach and nearby town while others either relaxed by the beach or pool, ran 5 kilometers, or finished packing.
There was a point when it was raining heavily, and Gisela opened her Mickey Mouse umbrella. It was getting more and more broken. Then we walked past a café and restaurant and were on a hotel's property. Gisela tripped on the stairs and lightly skinned her knee as we walked. She said she was okay. I said we needed to be careful on the slippery floor. We continued walking around and admiring the beach and the town. Then, it was time for our meeting time. Gisela and I picked up our heavy luggage from our room, checked out of the hotel, and rejoined the group. We also sat at the breakfast table and chatted with the people who slept in. Then we brought our heavy traveler backpacks to the part of the hotel by the beach. Our luggage would be transported separately, so we wouldn't have to worry about it on the boat. Then, it was time to go to the ship. Gisela had to take off her shoes because she didn't have flip-flops. She didn't have enough room to pack some in her already heavy backpack.
Then we all got on the boat, and one of the boatmen told Gisela to leave her shoes at the back. Since Gisela had problems with motion sickness in land vehicles, she decided to sit in the front row of the boat. What we learned was that for boats, it was the opposite. Then the ship started, and it rode violently over the sea. The waves were huge, hitting the sides of the boat and even flying through the windows. Gisela had a massive headache and put her head in her hands. The boat driver was also wondering why she was barefoot. Gisela said that she didn't have flip-flops, so her shoes were on the back of the boat. Then, suddenly, a giant cockroach leaped into the boat and crawled around. Gisela was telling it not to go near her. Then, the cockroach crawled on Harsh's backpack, and he lifted his bag to get the cockroach away. The cockroach crawled around until a man crushed it hard with his foot. So that was what needed to be done. I still felt terrible that the cockroach was violently crushed despite looking gross.
Anyway, Gisela was really not feeling well on the boat. The tour leader, Tim, told her to come to the back of the ship since the back is better for motion sickness on boats. Gisela struggled to walk down the aisle while I held onto her. Then she sat down towards the back. Gisela still felt motion sick but not as bad as when she sat in the front. The half an hour boat ride felt like two hours. Then, we finally made it back to the port in Sanur. We got off the boat and picked up our heavy backpacks at the port. Gisela felt better after being on that rough boat ride. Then, a bus and a car were waiting for us to take us to our last accommodation for the trip, the Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel. The bus couldn't fit all of us so a few people needed to take the car. Gisela and two Germans in our group, Julia and Derya, volunteered to ride the car. Gisela was going to sit in front because of her motion sickness. Then we got in the car, and the driver told us when we would arrive at the hostel. Since Gisela was in front, the car ride went smoothly for her. She thought the air conditioning was too high, so she felt cold.
After about an hour in the car, we arrived at the hostel. The lobby was inside a building that resembled a Hindu temple. We were also greeted by a statue of Lord Ganesha, the elephant god of new beginnings, luck, and wisdom. Then, we all checked in at the lobby. Our rooms were still being prepared, but there was a place in the lobby where we could leave our heavy backpacks. Gisela was relieved because her shoulders were hurting badly. I liked how the hostel property was decorated with its garden, pool, fresh green lawn, a Buddha statue peacefully and kindly overlooking the yard, and lounge chairs by the pool. Then it was time for lunch, so we went to the hostel restaurant. The restaurant had international food. Gisela and I got a falafel wrap for lunch. It was delicious and fresh. Then, after lunch, the rooms still needed to be ready.
We proceeded with our activity at Monkey Forest. It was a short walk from our hostel, which was perfect! We also stopped for water before our trip. It was boiling and humid in Bali. Then we walked to the entrance and got our tickets. The tickets were included in the total tour price. We were told to keep our valuables in our bags and to watch over our bags so the monkeys wouldn't take them. Then Tim gave us a tour of the area and informed us about the monkeys. The Ubud Monkey Forest is a nature reserve and temple complex that conserves long-tailed Macaques. There are well over 300 individual monkeys in the Monkey Forest. The forest is a tropical paradise (with about 115 tree species) with monkeys everywhere. Rangers also manage the area and ensure no trouble between the monkeys and the tourists.
Tim advised us to avoid contact with the monkeys, especially if you haven't been vaccinated for rabies. He also said that if a monkey smiled at us, the monkey would be pissed off. If a monkey crawled on us, we needed to stay calm and not annoy them. The Monkey Forest also houses the Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal (a Hindu temple), a second temple used for bathing in holy water, and a third temple for cremation. The monkeys were also freely roaming around the temples; only the rangers ensured that the monkeys (and tourists) weren't causing any damage to the temples. There were also signs telling visitors what to do or not to do when interacting with the monkeys. Tim also told us not to take the monkeys' food from the feeding areas. I thought the monkeys were adorable and was not afraid to get close to them. I poked my head from Gisela's backpack so no monkey would grab me. Gisela also kept her backpack in front, and so did the other tourists. The monkeys were adorable, especially the babies.
We also visited the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, where the nature reserve takes care of and protects injured and ill monkeys. It was unfortunate to read about the challenges that the monkeys faced. Nonetheless, I am glad that they are safe and sound. I could also tell that the monkeys are loved. At some point, Gisela was spraying bug spray, and one monkey took the cap off of her bug spray and dropped it on the ground. Gisela calmly reached out for the cap and grabbed it. While doing that, she told the monkey the cap wasn't good for them, and they could get really sick. The monkey understood. Then we saw more parts of Monkey Forest. I enjoyed riding in Gisela's backpack through the dense jungle. A monkey was also climbing on Amber's backpack. He was curious about her water bottle and the bag. Amber was not scared of the monkey. Then, the monkey crawled somewhere else for more monkey business.
Then we got to the end of the tour of Monkey Forest. Before we left and waited to reconvene, I saw two American tourists wearing shiny, shiny dresses. One of the nature reserve rangers asked them where they were from. The tourist said, "Washington DC." It seemed like the ranger did not understand her, so she repeated it rudely and eventually repeatedly said, "US." I thought she was acting rudely and entitled. Gisela and I didn't want to be affiliated with those Americans! Our German friends also found those tourists rude. Then we reconvened and left Monkey Forest. We were given free time until the evening; that was when we were going to go to the Ogoh Ogoh parade. Some people went to the hotel while others went to go shopping.
Gisela and I walked past souvenir shops by the street and decided to buy flip-flops. There was one shop that sold flip-flops. Gisela picked out a pair with her size, 39 in European sizes. Gisela may have a petite 5'5" frame but has long feet! After Gisela picked out her flip-flops, she asked how much they were. The vendor said they were 120,000 Indonesian rupiah (about 7.40 USD). Gisela made a shocked face since that seemed so much for a pair of flip-flops. Then, the vendor asked Gisela if she would like a discount, and she said yes. The vendor suggested 100,000 rupiah (about 6.16 USD). Gisela said that was fine. It was still a lot, but she wasn't going to argue. After all, buying from the shop contributes to the vendor's income, as the average salary in Bali is low. Gisela paid for the shoes, and the vendor asked if she wanted to put them on. Gisela said she wanted to wear her new shoes to avoid dealing with her wet hiking shoes. Then, the vendor gave Gisela a bag, and Gisela put her hiking shoes in the bag. Then, the vendor asked Gisela if she wanted something like a dress. Gisela said she might come back later and see and thanked the vendor.
Then, we decided to walk around and explore Ubud. We walked on the main streets and some smaller streets. Ubud was a vibrant town; people ran errands, ate, shopped, laid offerings before their houses and shops, prayed at temples, and worked. There were also many foreigners. I can see why many expats come to Ubud since it's easy to get around, it's safe, the weather is nice, and most of all, the locals are friendly. Tourism and an expat scene are good if they are not disruptive to local life and cultures. That's when it has a negative effect. Anyway, Gisela and I were enjoying the heat and wanted ice cream. We went to a place that had vegan flavors. Gisela got us a vegan graham cracker ice cream. We sat at a small table to relax and eat it.
While eating, Gisela's old English teaching job supervisor passed by. We greeted each other. Her old supervisor and trainer loved Bali so much that she visited often. It was an amusing coincidence that they would run into each other despite Bali being a relatively big island. After talking for a bit, Gisela and I finished our ice cream. Then, we continued walking around and exploring Ubud. I enjoyed going on the smaller streets and people-watching. After exploring, we went to the hostel to pick up our heavy backpacks and go to our room. Gisela and I were in a four-bed dorm with Julia, Derya, and Giulia (who was from Switzerland). That continued to be an excellent opportunity to practice German. We unpacked and then chilled on the lounge chairs outside for a bit. Many of the folks in our tour group were hanging out in the pool or going shopping. Then, it was time to reconvene as a group to walk over and see the Ogoh Ogoh parade.
We walked about ten minutes to one of the main streets of the parade. Gisela and I were chatting with different people from our tour group. Tristan, from Canada, talked about places in Europe he went to. Then Gisela said she had been to many European countries and showed the tour group people her flag emojis of countries she and I have been to. Then Gisela said, "Not to brag." The other tour group folks found that amusing. When we arrived, the sides of the streets were already crowded with people from all walks of life. So what is this ceremony about? Ogoh Ogoh takes place on the eve of Nyepi, the Balinese New Year.
During the parade, the floats consist of Ogoh Ogoh, wooden figures of demonic beings in Balinese Hinduism. The figures are purposely designed to look frightening. Gisela told me if she were a kid, she would have had nightmares. The purpose of the parade is to purify the natural environment and the living beings from evil spirits and energy. The wooden figures absorb the bad energy from the place. Then, they are burnt to ashes in a Balinese cemetery to purify the area and eliminate the dark energy for the new year. When the parade started, I saw several floats of evil demons. Many men were carrying the floats, wearing traditional sarongs and dark shirts. The women and girls wore laced white blouses and sarongs. The floats often stayed in one spot for a long time and eventually moved around Ubud.
Gisela and I wanted to see the floats from different angles, so we waded through the crowds to view them. We also got to see the people carrying the floats. It was a lot of work to lift them, and it was good many people were holding them. We were at the parade for almost two hours. Then, we needed help finding our group. The tour group said some people were getting dinner from the hotel restaurant in the group chat. Gisela and I wanted to try out a local place. We put directions towards our hostel and walked by it. Then, we found a local restaurant close to the hostel. Gisela asked for a table for one person, and the hostess led us upstairs to a table against the wall with seats for single people. Gisela saw Selina, her tour group friend from Germany. Gisela and I sat down next to her. The vegetarian menu from the restaurant looked great. Gisela and I got a tofu dish, the best one in Bali! It was awesome, especially the spicy sauce.
Selina was trying to figure out why her power bank and cord wasn't working. Her phone was going to a low battery percentage. Gisela also had issues with her portable charger. Gisela's phone was at 3%. She put her portable charger on the table. The charger worked when the phone and charger were untouched. Gisela also struggled with one of her bracelets because she put it on too tight, and her wrist hurt. The bracelet also got tangled, and getting it off was complicated. After struggling, Gisela finally got her bracelet off and put it in her fanny pack. Selina also managed to get her phone to charge somewhat. Gisela's phone also charged 30% while she ate her amazing tofu. We also chatted in German during dinner. After dinner, we paid for our meals.
Then we walked back to our hostel. Gisela's feet were hurting from her flip-flops. They gave pain to her toes and the parts of her feet under the straps. Gisela was going to need bandaids. She decided to get some the following day since the next day was Nyepi, the day of silence. That was the day when no one could leave their home or accommodation, and police were mandating the streets. The internet was also going to be turned off, and hotel payments were only made in cash. Even the airport was closed that day. The purpose of the Balinese New Year was to start the year with tranquility and meditation and bring positive energy for the new year.
Traditionally, evil spirits were said to come to the island once a year. When people didn't leave their places, the spirits assumed the island was uninhabited and wouldn't bother for another year. It's also a day for replenishment and recuperation. I was excited to sleep in and not have to get up early for activities. Gisela said she would stay occupied by going in the pool and walking around the hostel property. The hotel restaurant would also open, and the transactions would be done just in cash. Gisela and I went to our room and chatted with our roommates. We got ready for bed because we were tired from a long, exciting day. Then we went to bed.
Day 6
Gisela and I woke the following day as we allowed our bodies to naturally wake us up. We lay in bed for a bit and then got dressed. Our other roommates were still sleeping. Then Gisela and I went to breakfast and sat at a table with Tim, Serena (from the UK), Amber, and Harsh. Tim was working on getting his diving certification. I sat at the head of the table because I was the boss pug. I am also secretly Dumbledore from Harry Potter - just kidding! We ordered our breakfast from the complimentary breakfast menu. Since we heard great things about it, we ordered the vegan granola. Gisela and I also got black coffee with sugar. Then we enjoyed the granola, which was awesome! Gisela also wanted to try a detox smoothie. It wasn't part of the free menu, but we were cool with ordering it and paying. It was refreshing and helped Gisela with her digestive issues.
Since the card machines were down, we had to pay in cash. Unfortunately, Gisela did not have enough cash to cover her drink. The hotel staff let her start a tab, and she could pay the next day since the ATMs would run the next day. Gisela took a picture of the bill on the tab to track how much she had to pay. The staff also admired my cuteness and kept asking me questions. I loved being in the center of attention! The staff also petted me; one member even kissed me on the forehead. I love hanging out with new people! We returned to the breakfast table, and more folks in the tour group ordered and ate breakfast. Tim said he was going to do some workouts. Gisela went to walk around and was at the front of the lobby. She walked through a garden and looked up at the stairs leading to the higher floor of one of the buildings in the hostel complex.
One of the hotel staff smiled and told Gisela she was not allowed to be there. Gisela awkwardly smiled, apologized, and asked where she was allowed to take a walk. He said in the lawn area of the hostel. Gisela thanked him. He also said I was a cute puppy. Then, we walked many laps around the lawn area. Some people in our group were still eating breakfast, while others were relaxing by the pool. Some people were still in their rooms, sleeping in or chilling. Then Gisela joined her German friends and practiced German with them. After they finished their breakfast, they wanted to go to the pool. Gisela changed into her swimming gear and photographed me by the pool.
A large group of tourists were sitting around in a circle. They were already drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. Those tourists were loud and making a mess in their space. The hotel staff gently told them to be quiet since it was an important day. The tourists quieted down a bit but went back to being loud. They were also playing card games and drinking games. Gisela, her tour group folks, and I thought those tourists behaved disrespectfully. Then, there was a point when Gisela, Lara, Serena, and the two group members from Denmark, Mathilde and Emma, would do some workouts. We did some stretching and yoga poses. Serena was leading the workout, which was rigorous for my chunky pug body. Even though Gisela was thin, she also struggled with doing some workouts because she was stiff and not flexible. Gisela also gave up for a while while I continued because I am a persistent pug. Gisela is also a persistent human, but not when it comes to activities that require flexibility.
Then, after our workout, we all went to the pool. I sat on a floaty and was surrounded by folks from our group. Gisela dipped her foot in the water and said it was cold. Then she walked on the side of the wall across the pool. Some people in our group asked her what she was doing. Gisela said she was finding things to do. Then, there were plants getting in the way. Gisela was careful not to hurt the plants and made it to the other side of the pool without falling into the water. Then, Gisela crossed to the other side, and the circle of tourists told Gisela to jump into the water. Gisela refused, and her friends told her not to jump in the water. Then Gisela made it safely to the other side. The loud tourists also asked Gisela what my name was. I said Pastel. I was sure popular at Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel! Gisela joined us in the pool and held onto the floaty with her friends. The water was still cold. We were all chilling and having fun.
Then, after a while, it was past 1 pm. Gisela and I were hungry, so we said we would get lunch. Gisela got out of the pool and dried herself with a towel. I also got off the floaty and on a lounge chair. Then we went to the hotel restaurant for lunch, which was right by the pool. We joined other friends for lunch. The hotel staff sure liked me a lot. Then Gisela and I ordered hot chocolate with coconut milk since Amber highly recommended it. Gisela also craved vegan loaded nachos, so she ordered them. Gisela and I enjoyed munching on them. Tim was still working on his diving certification, and our tour group was chatting and eating. Gisela also went to the restaurant staff to put her lunch on a tab since she did not have enough cash to cover the meal. They added the loaded nachos and the hot chocolate to the tab. Then Gisela took another picture of the updated bill.
After eating, we rejoined our friends. Caela and Tristan, the Canadian couple on our tour group, ordered Happy Hour drinks. They could get a drink for free if one person got the same drink a second time. Caela was a big fan of espresso martinis. She asked Tristan if he wanted one, and he wanted to try another drink. Gisela said she could get the second espresso martini. Gisela and I got it, and it was tasty! The caffeine in it also made Gisela more energetic, and she was already energetic. The hotel staff said her face looked bright and energized. The staff continued petting me and asking me about my pug life. After eating and drinking, we rejoined our friends at the pool. We had fun chilling in the pool and sunbathing on the lounge chairs. Even though it was cloudy, we still had to be careful of the UV rays as they passed through the clouds.
The noise of the tourists was getting even louder, and the hotel staff had to continue gently reminding them to be quiet. I felt so bad that the hotel staff had to deal with the noisy, drunk tourists, especially on a crucial spiritual holiday. Our tour group did our best to respect the Day of Silence and were not loud with our activities. Some people in our group also played card games using a quieter voice. It was almost time for dinner after a whole afternoon of relaxing in the pool, sunbathing on the lounge chairs, and walking around the hostel property. Dinner was a Balinese barbecue for everyone. It cost 100,000 Indonesian rupiah. As Gisela did not have enough rupiah cash, she asked the hotel staff if she could put it on a tab. The staff said the barbecue was separate from the restaurant. Gisela had a lot of New Taiwanese dollars left over from our trip to Taiwan. Still, the staff wouldn't accept that currency because it was a new currency that wasn't used outside of Taiwan.
Then Gisela said she would come back later to figure out the payment. Gisela told her friends about her money situation. Her friends said they could lend her cash. Gisela felt bad. Tristan asked Gisela if she had any USD that she could use to pay the hotel staff. Gisela checked and said she only had 3 dollars. The meal was 100,000 rupiah, which was a little over 6 dollars. Tristan and Caela said they had many 1 USD bills on them and could get rid of them. They gave Gisela 4 more dollars to help her pay for dinner. Gisela thanked them and asked how she was going to pay them back. They said it wasn't a big deal since they already had a lot of USD cash for trips to the US. Gisela and I thanked them again. Then, she took her USD to the hotel staff and asked them if they took USD. The staff member said she was going to speak with the manager. Gisela also gave her the 7 USD and said this was a little more than 100,000 IDR, but the hotel could keep the change. The staff member took the cash and went to speak with the manager.
When she came back downstairs, she said that the money was accepted. Gisela got a wristband indicating that the barbecue meal was paid for. I also got a wristband for being an awesome pug! Gisela's friends said they wouldn't let her starve. Gisela thanked them once more. Then it was 6 pm, and it was time for dinner. The hotel staff brought out the trays for the buffet and said the hostel guests could get their dinner. Other than a chicken satay dish, the rest was vegetarian/vegan friendly. Gisela and I filled up our plates with awesome-looking food. We ate by the pool with our friends. Gisela and I liked the glazed tempeh, the noodles, and the vegetables. Everyone was enjoying their dinner. I loved how the Balinese barbecue wasn't meat-heavy, unlike barbecues in other parts of the globe.
After everyone got their first round and ate, Gisela and I got seconds. The hotel staff asked us how we liked the food, and we told them we had many positive comments. We also told them what we particularly liked. Then, one of the staff members made a video of me and took selfies with me. She said I was adorable. Gisela told her about my name and how it meant "cake" in Spanish. The staff member said there was a similar word for "cake" in Bahasa Indonesia. That was interesting! We also talked with the staff members about the meaning of the Day of Silence. I was so glad we got to be in Bali and learn about the local culture around that time! Gisela and I rejoined our friends, and we hung out some more. Then, it was past sundown, and it was time for us to go to our rooms. We weren't allowed to be outside past 8 because everything was dark, and the hotel staff didn't want any accidents. The loud, drunk tourists also eventually apologized for their rowdy behavior. I was glad they realized their behavior was disrespectful on a day like Nyepi. Then Tim told us the meeting time for the next day and our activity. We went to our rooms. Gisela and I got ready for bed, chatted more with our roommates, and went to bed.
Day 7
The next morning was our last full day together as a group. Gisela and I woke up early and got dressed. Our roommates also got up and were getting ready for the day. Then, we grabbed our day bags and ate breakfast at the hotel restaurant. That morning, we tried the legendary vegan banana pancakes. We also got black coffee with sugar, of course. The pancakes were as excellent as the other folks in the group described. We enjoyed our breakfast and chatting with one another. Gisela and her roommates talked about where they went to school and what they studied. They also talked about their travel and life plans after Bali. It was interesting to hear what everyone was going to do. They also thought it was impressive that Gisela did many things at a young age, such as studying abroad in three countries and working abroad in South Korea. I was glad I got to tag along with Gisela!
After breakfast, Tim rounded us up for our activities that day. Our first stop was going to be Tegenungan Falls. We hopped in a tour van to ride over there. The waterfalls were in Kemenuh, a village half an hour from Ubud. Then we arrived, exited the van, and walked to the park entrance. Our tickets were part of the total tour cost. We passed through a village to get there that had several shops, restaurants, cafés, and an ice cream store. The waterfall was a popular tourist attraction and was one of the few waterfalls in Bali that's not in the mountains. The amount of water at the waterfall is mainly dependent on rainfall. Still, there is a lot of fresh water for swimming and water holes used as sacred water.
Tegenungan Falls is a sacred site often used for ceremonies and rituals. There is a main ceremonial spring pool near the waterfall. You can also climb certain areas to see the waterfall and swim in the water at the bottom of the waterfall. We had to walk down steep steps and climb some rocks to get to the waterfall. We had to be careful since the ground was slippery from the rain last night. After all, we were towards the end of the rainy season. I rested in Gisela's backpack as we walked down. I also told Gisela when I wanted to come out for pug pictures. While walking down to get to the waterfall, I saw a cool-looking building with a swimming pool. It might have been a resort or some fancy restaurant. Then we reached the bottom of the stairs and slowly climbed down the rocks.
Some people in our group went swimming in the waterfall. Gisela did not since she did not bring her bathing suit. The water was cold for her, and she didn't want to deal with being cold and wet. Gisela and I stepped into the water to reach a rocky area to stand on. The water was knee-deep for her, so she had to be careful, and she held onto the rocks. I chilled in the backpack. Gisela also took pictures of the group members swimming in the water, and I watched over Tim's stuff. Gisela walked around other parts of the waterfalls on wooden bridges and rocks. Though there were a lot of tourists in the area, the place was still peaceful, and I enjoyed listening to the sound of the waterfall and admiring the lush jungle. Though the waterfall wasn't the most impressive, it was still pretty and a great place to spend the day. It was also an excellent place for couples and for families with kids.
We admired the fountain-like structures containing the sacred water. There were also statues of Balinese Hindu supernatural beings. After people were done swimming, they changed their bathing suits to regular clothes. We walked up a hill to see the main ceremonial spring pool fountain, the river leading to the waterfall, and a cute nest with a bench for aesthetic pictures. We also walked back to the tour van. On the way, some people stopped for ice cream. Gisela asked if they accepted credit or debit cards, but they were cash only. Gisela also remembered that she had until the evening to pay the hotel tab from the day before. She wasn't desperate for ice cream, so she was okay.
We returned to the van and went to our next destination, Uma Pakel Luwak Coffee Plantation. We would learn about Balinese coffee and sample Balinese coffee and tea. I also saw rice fields in the background and the famous swings used for aesthetic photos. To be able to ride the swing, you needed to pay a fee in cash. Gisela did not have a lot of cash, but she was okay with not riding the swing because she thought it pointless and would just be used for social media pictures. Anyway, a local guide gave us a tour of the coffee plantation and explained the coffee-making process. The name of the famous coffee was Luwak Coffee, and it comes from coffee beans that went through the digestive system of Asian Palm Civets and other civets before being officially processed.
The civets, who are nocturnal animals raised on the plantation, consume coffee berries, and they relish the pulp surrounding the berries. When the coffee berries are in the stomach, the proteolytic enzymes alter the coffee beans and add amino acids. As the beans follow the digestive tract of the civet, the shape stays precisely the same, even when it comes out as poop! Then the poop is meticulously collected, cleansed, sun-dried, roasted in a pot over a fire, and finally brewed as coffee. The guide also explained that the bitterness level was low and the coffee had a strong flavor. The coffee also had a reputation for being expensive. It was nicknamed "cat poo coffee" because of the civet resembling a cat. The civets are also unharmed in the process, and the coffee is produced year-round, regardless if it's the dry or rainy season.
While the real civets were asleep because of being nocturnal, I saw statues of civets. They looked like a hybrid of a cat, hyena, and rat. They were still cute; if a real one had been awake, I would have loved to become friends! After the tour, we went to a pavilion to sample the coffee and tea. There were two rows of 5 cups each arranged. One row had just coffee, and one had just tea. In terms of coffee, there was vanilla coffee, ginseng coffee, coconut coffee, black coffee, and avocado coffee. In terms of tea, we had ginger, spicy tea, rosella tea, lemon grass tea, and mangosteen. We sampled all of them. Gisela was a big fan of the ginseng, avocado, and coconut coffee. She also really liked the spicy tea and the rosella tea. Lara preferred the coffee that wasn't sweet. I liked everything except for the spicy tea. They burnt my pug mouth.
After having fun sampling everything, we went to the souvenir shop. Gisela decided to buy Balinese coffee for her family. She picked out coconut coffee and a spicy dark chocolate to bring back home. We noticed the coffee was made of powder but still looked good. The others were also busy figuring out what they wanted to buy. Another great thing was the shop accepted cards. Then Tim told us to meet at the van in a few minutes. People finished up their shopping and walked around more of the plantation. I also got pictures of the civets' statues and temple altars at the coffee plantation dedicated to Balinese gods. After our coffee tour, it started raining. We got in the van to head over to lunch.
It was raining heavily on the ride there. The Tegalalang Rice Terrace was also in the area, and we would tour it after lunch. We ate lunch at Coffee Club Bali, which had a swimming pool downstairs that overlooked the rice terrace. The restaurant was in a beautiful location. We ordered our food, and while we waited, we got pictures of the rice terrace in the background. Some people also went to ride the famous Ubud swing. Gisela got a beautiful smoothie and a tempeh fried rice dish. The food was rich and tasty. After we all finished eating, we paid for our meals. Giulia's card wasn't working for some reason. Gisela's turn to pay was after Giulia, and she offered to pay for her meal; Giulia would pay her back with cash. Giulia thanked Gisela. Gisela found it weird that her card wasn't working. Giulia had a travel debit card that loaded money in different currencies. Gisela also used a card like that called Wise when she traveled abroad. Most places outside the US would not accept her Discover credit card.
Anyway, after we ate, we chilled at the pool momentarily. Some folks swam in the frigid water while Gisela and I relaxed on a floating device on the side of the pool. Other people stayed in lounge chairs. Then Tim said whoever wanted to join him would do the tour of the rice terrace since the rain had stopped, and he was curious if the rain would come back. Many of us joined Tim to see the rice terrace. We had to walk on muddy grass downhill, and Gisela's flip-flop feet were getting dirty. She wished she had her hiking shoes with her.
Tim explained to us the irrigation system that was used in Bali. The terraces are intentionally in hilly and steep areas. Each plot or layer of rice fields is contained and flows into the next rice field layer. The water also travels across bamboo sleeves and pipes to get to all parts of the rice field. The irrigation method, known as subak, is related to the Balinese Hindu concept of the connection between humans and the natural environment. The system is ancient, and people still use it to this day. Many people working in the rice field start out young and continue until they are old. I also noticed that there weren't animals working in the rice fields. Tim said that only people worked in the rice fields, and the occasional chickens plotted the land. Unlike in other countries, cows were not used because they are sacred in Hinduism.
We also got to walk up the rice field and stay in designated path areas so as not to disrupt the rice cultivation. It was really muddy, but I was chilling in Gisela's arms. Gisela's feet got even more muddy. A lady also saw me and said I was cute. She also asked Gisela if I went everywhere with her. Gisela said yes. The lady also wondered if Gisela wanted a picture. Gisela said no thank you. She did not have much cash anyway in case the lady asked for a payment. We continued uphill and admired the area from the other side. It was so beautiful seeing the greenery shine despite the cloudy skies. We also got a ton of pictures. People did much work to cultivate this crucial staple food and make the terrace look perfectly sculpted. Often, people see the rice terraces as great Instagram photo spots. A lot of hard work still goes into it, which is done with a significant purpose.
After seeing the terrace, it started raining heavily again. We hiked up the hill to get back to the restaurant. That was where a few other folks were swimming. Then Tim told everyone it was time to head back to the hostel. The people who swam changed, and then we waited for the van to pick us up at the restaurant. I also got a picture of Tim's fan with a funny message. Then, we all hopped in the van and rode back to the hostel. Gisela and Amber needed things from the pharmacy. Gisela was getting huge blisters on her feet from the flip-flops. At the pharmacy, she bought band-aids. Amber also bought what she needed. The pharmacists also told us to "Stay healthy" after we paid, which I found very wholesome. Gisela told the pharmacists to stay healthy as well. Then we went back to the hostel.
Gisela went to the restaurant and asked if the tab could be paid by card. The hotel staff said the machine had expired, so she needed to pay in cash. Gisela said she was going to get some money from an ATM. She went to an ATM in a booth across the street. It looked sketchy. Then Gisela and I walked down the street and ran into Tim, who was doing his laundry professionally at a laundromat. Gisela asked about an ATM, and Tim recommended the one inside Circle K, a convenience store. He told Gisela which one was the safest to use. Gisela went there and got cash. She also ensured no one was watching as she entered her PIN number with her hands covering the keypad. After getting money, Gisela returned to the hotel restaurant and paid for what she got during Nyepi. Now that was resolved! Then Gisela went to her room.
Her roommates asked if she would do laundry at Tim's recommended laundromat. Gisela said she was. She got her stinky clothes and put them in an opaque plastic bag. As we left the hostel, the receptionists in the lobby got excited to see me. They enjoyed seeing me having fun and chatting with me. They even got pictures with me, and Gisela airdropped the photos to them. I was such a celebrity at Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel! Then Gisela and I walked over to the laundromat and showed the staff member our clothes. The laundry (washing, drying, and ironing) would be about the equivalent of 5 USD total, which was cheap considering we had so many clothes. Then the lady told us to return the next day at 3 in the afternoon. Gisela and I were still going to be in Ubud that day, so it worked out for us. After dropping off Gisela's laundry, we walked some more around Ubud.
Also, we got vegan ice cream at a popular place. It was refreshing on a hot and humid day. After walking around some more, we walked towards the hostel and saw Mathilde and Emma on the way. They were going to do some shopping before our final group dinner. We also then saw Selina on the way. She was also going to do some shopping. We talked about what we have been doing. She has been relaxing and then wanted to go shopping. Then we said we would see each other at dinner, a bar, or a club after dinner. Then we went back to the hostel. It was almost time for dinner. Emma did Amber's makeup with neon-colored eye shadow. Gisela also wanted to try that. Amber did Gisela's eyeshadow with the neon yellow color that Gisela wanted. Gisela looked really cool and funky! Being a pug, I preferred not to wear eyeshadow.
Then, we met up with Tim and the rest of the group in the lobby and walked to the restaurant for our last dinner. The restaurant was called Maha. We all sat at a long table and ordered drinks and food as usual. Gisela and I got a Monkey Forest cocktail, corn fritters as appetizers, and a tofu curry dish as our main course. The food was tasty for everyone (besides Giulia finding a staple in her chicken satay), and we had fun during dinner. The 8-day tour was going to officially end the following day. Those joining the 13-day tour would go to Gili Islands and Lombok. People had different plans. Julia and Derya would continue exploring Bali independently and then go to Japan. Giulia was going to Thailand to meet her boyfriend. Harsh would stay a few days in Bali and then return to London for work. Caela and Tristan would see more of Bali and visit Malaysian Borneo and the Papua province in Indonesia. The rest were doing the 13-day tour.
Gisela would have done the 13-day tour but spent most of her English-teaching money on travel. Plus, her mom wanted us back home soon. We paid for our meals, and the man in charge wanted to know my name. He also asked me questions about my epic pug life. After dinner, we went clubbing for our last night together. We first went to L.O.L. Bar & Restaurant. The place also had a section for karaoke. The bouncer thought I was cute and asked me my name and how I was doing. I loved being a famous blogger pug in Ubud! We went into the karaoke room, where people sang songs in Bahasa Indonesia. Some people in our group gave song requests to the DJ. Gisela and I requested the song "Show Yourself" from Frozen 2 because Gisela related a lot to the lyrics, and she wanted to sing her heart out. We also got more drinks and sang and danced. We also chilled in the lounge chairs outside the karaoke area.
Some people were tired, so they returned to the hostel. We all said our goodbyes to them and promised to keep in touch. Then we went to another club that had a karaoke section. We got more drinks and danced. That karaoke scene was livelier because more people were singing. Many people sang different songs, and they were requesting different tunes. Some British people liked how Gisela sang even though there were songs Gisela did not know well. She got the right key, though. We all had fun singing, dancing, and chatting with each other and other folks at the club. We also chilled in lounge chairs and played card games. Then, it was getting really late, and we decided to walk back to the hostel since Tim and the people going to Gili needed to get up early the next day.
We walked back a long way to the hostel. Gisela wanted to go to Monkey Forest, and I wanted to ride a motorbike. Our friends said that was not a good idea. The roads were also empty and dark as we walked back. Luckily, we were in a group. Gisela also talked about the mischievous things she did during school band practice in fourth grade. Harsh said, "So that's how your comedy career started." We had fun goofing around as we got back. Then, we made it back to our hostel. We said our final goodbyes to each other. Gisela and I also thanked Tim for the wonderful tour. Then we returned to our hostel, showered, brushed our teeth, and went to bed. We did all that quietly since all of our roommates were already asleep.
Gisela and I woke up exhausted. We knew we needed to get up to check out from this room and check in again for our extra night at Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel. Our roommates were still in the room packing up their things. They asked us how we were doing. Gisela and I said we felt dead. We came back late last night, and yesterday was a hectic day. Then we got dressed and packed up our things. Gisela's 40-liter Osprey backpack was lighter because we were still waiting for our laundry to be finished at the laundromat. Before going to the reception to check out, Gisela and I went to get breakfast. Our roommates were about to leave the hostel, so we said our final goodbyes. We also talked about how we all enjoyed getting to know each other and had fun on this trip. Gisela also enjoyed speaking German with them and felt she got a ton of practice after not talking for almost a year. The roommates said Gisela's German was excellent. Gisela wished Derya and Julia a fun trip in Japan and couldn't wait to see pictures. She also wished Giulia a great trip in Thailand and was excited about her going there.
After our goodbyes, we went and got breakfast at the hotel restaurant. The hotel staff were happy to see me. We sat down and ordered an omelet and toast from the complimentary breakfast menu. We also ordered our usual coffee. We also chatted with the rest of the group in the group chat. Tim said I sure looked hungover even though I am a stuffed toy pug. Tim also made fun of me for looking pale because I was vegetarian. We got our breakfast and savored it. It was tasty, as usual. After we ate, we grabbed our backpacks, checked the room to ensure we didn't leave anything behind, and then went to the lobby to check in and check in for our extra night.
After checking out, Gisela paid for her extra night. She made the reservation online in advance but had to pay at the property. She got a room in a 4-bed female dorm to save money. That room was 33.84 USD. After all, this was a luxurious hostel. Then, the hotel staff gave Gisela her new key and towels. They said they were going to take her to her new room. The man told Gisela the bed was not ready yet. Gisela said that was fine since she wasn't ready to sleep. She wanted to enjoy her last full day in Bali. Then he took her to her room, which was empty. Her new roommates would come later from different places. Gisela unpacked her things and then went back outside. She also ran into Harsh, Caela, and Tristan. Harsh was about to leave Puri Garden and go to his next hostel. Caela and Tristan were relaxing on the lounge chairs at the pool, and they were also going to leave later and go to their next destination. Gisela and I said our final goodbyes to our friends and wished them well.
Then, we decided to schedule a Balinese massage at the hostel. When we told the massage therapists, they said the entire day was booked, but they could do it the next day. Gisela said she would leave early the next day but thanked them. The therapists also asked me my name and thought I was cute. They wanted to know about my pug life. After our interaction, Gisela and I wanted to explore Ubud more freely. We wanted to go on a hike. Gisela found Campuhan Ridge Walk, which is within walking distance of our hostel. Then we left the hostel to explore. We walked down the busy streets, and on our way, we stopped at the Ubud Palace, a historical building officially named Puri Saren Agung.
The admission was free. The palace had gorgeous courtyards and carvings. It is the seat for the Ubud Royal Family. Even though Indonesia does not have a royal family, there is an Ubud royal family, and the king is King Sukawati. His official Balinese title is Tjokorda Putra Sukawati. It is also important to note that "Tjokorda" has a meaning resembling "prince" as opposed to "king." Although the Ubud royal family is respected, they receive little attention daily. The palace wasn't big, but a big palace does not make it better. It was still admirable and impressive. No formal dress code exists, but men and women should cover their shoulders and knees to show respect. The Ubud Palace was built in the early 1800s, and many Balinese artists contributed to its construction and design. The palace was also constructed to give Ubud a sense of order. Nowadays, the palace is used for ceremonial purposes.
After visiting the palace, we arrived at Campuhan Ridge Walk. This nature center in the heart of Ubud is known for its lush rainforests, stunning rice fields, and timeless temples. The entrance was on one of the small side roads, and we were greeted by a beautiful Balinese temple. The sign showed that the walk was about 2 kilometers, but some areas lengthen the walk, and you can explore parts of Balinese villages. The walk continues to a Balinese village, but midway, you will arrive in an area with shops, restaurants, and rice terraces. We stayed on the trail, went uphill, and admired the thick jungle full of life. Other people (both locals and tourists) were on the trail, and Gisela and I felt pretty safe (despite Gisela's mom worrying intensely). The path was dynamic and took us up and downhill as we took a breathtaking view of the tropical scenery and the sacred sites before the path led us to an area with abundant rice fields.
Although the hiking area is situated in the heart of the busy Ubud, it was very tranquil and had a ton of vegetation; I forgot that we were in a bustling town, and I felt like Gisela and I saw another layer of Bali - the one that's not so crowded. We also enjoyed passing through a village area with shops and restaurants. Gisela and I got vegan ice cream on that lovely, humid day. Though the ice cream was expensive, and there was a surcharge if paid by card (this is common in regions where cash is still king), it was enjoyable. We enjoyed seeing where the path took us without thinking about the destination. The area was peaceful, and I saw so much greenery in one place, ranging from the rice fields to the trees to the plants surrounding and protecting the temples. The road led to a Balinese village. There was an entrance fee for the town. Gisela and I decided to turn around there because we did not want to disrupt the villagers. After all, the village was where people lived and went daily. It is not meant to be a "theme park" or a tourist attraction.
Then, we returned to the entrance and continued the uphill and downhill journey. We arrived at the entrance again, and we were hungry for lunch. We settled on a local restaurant at the intersection of Jalan Raya Ubud and Gang Asoka. Gisela and I got water because we felt dehydrated. For our meal, we got a tofu noodle dish. Our waitress had her little daughter with her. She looked to be about 2 or 3 years old. The daughter was in the kitchen watching the chefs cook. Her mother did not want to leave her at home alone, and she wasn't old enough to go to school yet. We enjoyed our meal and not being in the sun at its peak hours. Then we paid for the meal, and Gisela had enough cash. It was about 2 dollars. After lunch, we returned to the hostel because the sun was getting too intense. When we arrived, the hotel staff got excited to see me and said puppy therapy was in the courtyard.
I got really excited to meet some cute puppies! Two volunteers talked about the work that they did. They were part of a local organization that adopted and cared for stray dogs. Then, they became service dogs. In Bali, families had dogs to protect their households. However, some families could not afford to care for their dogs, so many dogs became stray. In Bali, it was common to see stray dogs still wearing collars. I noticed that stray dogs often hung out at restaurants or shops, especially to get their basic needs, such as food and water. Gisela and I enjoyed petting the dogs very much. The puppies were energetic and gentle. They also liked that they were being taken care of. I enjoyed chatting with the puppies using dog language, aka barking.
After puppy therapy, Gisela needed to pick up her laundry. We went to the laundromat and gave the staff the receipt. They returned us our clean clothes. The clothes sure smelled nice! Then we returned to our hostel room to put the clothes in our backpack. Gisela's T-shirt stank, so she put on a new one. While packing our things, the hotel staff opened the door and showed the new tourists our room. Then Gisela talked to the young lady. She was in her late twenties, and she was from the UK. She finished school in the Netherlands and studied medicine. She was working to become an internal medicine doctor. Gisela talked about what she studied and how she taught English in South Korea. They also spoke about what they did on past travels and on their Bali trip. The lady visited friends in Canggu and then came to Ubud. She was traveling around Bali. Gisela talked about how she was part of a tour group, but the last full day was yesterday, so she had an extra day to explore around.
Then the lady was going to relax, and Gisela and I would check out the art museum. We left the hostel and walked to the Agung Rai Museum of Art. We went to the front desk to get our tickets. It cost 150,000 Indonesian rupiah (about 9.23 USD). Gisela gave the front desk man her Wise card, and he ran it through the card machine. The machine wasn't accepting the card. The man also tried tapping, inserting, and swiping the card. Gisela also tried her American card, but it wasn't working either. There was something wrong with the internet connection. The Wise card worked after another museum staff helped the front desk man. Then he gave Gisela her museum ticket and a map of the museum complex. He also explained the different areas of the museum. It was outdoors, but the exhibits were held in individual buildings. Then we explored the museum.
Artist Agung Rai was known for Balinese artwork, and he sold it to foreigners in the 1970s. At the same time, he also constructed and created private collections of art. Later, when the collections became a museum, the museum opened in 1996. His collection was housed in two main gallery buildings – one building housing European art of Europeans depicting Bali and another building housing traditional Balinese art. Gisela and I walked around and were confused about which building to go into. We found a gallery building, and one of the museum staff said that it was European art. He also told Gisela he recommended the building with the traditional Balinese art because the European art gave a colonialist mentality to Balinese people and culture. Gisela said she was more interested in Balinese art anyway. We saw European art but didn't spend much time looking at the paintings in the gallery. We were just walking around to see everything but not fully taking it in. We weren't allowed to take pictures in the building containing European art. The picture of the building is below.
Though some of the paintings looked beautiful, especially the picturesque landscapes, I could tell that some of the paintings elicited the idea of the Europeans "exploring exotic cultures." The paintings were also created during the Dutch colonization of Indonesia and the expansion of their control from the 17th century to the first half of the 20th century. On a more positive note, some Europeans (such as Walter Spies 1895-1942) helped develop painting schools in Bali, which impacted Balinese art's development and evolution. Then we looked around for the building with the Balinese art. We went into one open building, assuming that was it. There were drawings on the wall by a Balinese artist named I Ketut Budiana. He was born in 1950 and is known for his temple image art, creation of cremation artifacts, and depiction of Balinese supernatural beings.
One particular work stood out to me. It showed a giant civet-like creature with sharp claws and a human-like body. The beast was shedding tears of blood, and in its lap was an unclothed person lying down. The head and face resembled the Buddha, while the body appeared feminine. The creature's claws were on the person's legs; flowers protruded instead of blood. The person had their eyes closed and was smiling serenely. A lotus flower was also in their hand. Underneath the person's lower half of their legs was a Balinese demon-like creature whose sharp-clawed hands were grabbing the giant creature's tail. Though the drawing had no description, it had me thinking about different meanings. Either the massive creature was trying to protect the person with all its strength from the demon, or the giant creature and the demon were working together and trying to destroy the person, but when the vast creature scratched the person, the person was in a meditative state, and flowers came out instead of blood.
The person chose not to use violence and turned the madness into something beautiful and peaceful, which ultimately protected the person from dangerous forces. That work of art was really moving for my emotions, and I almost cried pug tears! After looking at the drawings, we found a desk and asked the staff member where the Balinese art was. She showed us on the map where the building was. We were in one of the reception buildings. Then we thanked her and found the building with the traditional Balinese art. There were three stories about traditional Balinese art. The gallery housed art from the 19th century to the present day. There were works depicting Balinese daily life, spirituality (such as gods and demons and the worlds outside our physical material world), cremation ceremonies, dances, nature landscapes, temples, and plants. We spent a lot of time in the Balinese traditional art gallery. In the basement were statues of gods and demons and offerings being made to them. I enjoyed learning more about Balinese culture and seeing how it was expressed through works of art.
After admiring all the art, we went to the museum café. Our ticket included a free coffee or tea drink at the café. Gisela asked if they had plant-based milk, but they did not have any. Gisela asked for black coffee with sugar. She also ordered a vegan chocolate dessert. The dessert wasn't part of the ticket, but it looked tasty and was inexpensive. We relaxed at the café, sipping coffee and giving our sweet teeth some food. After that, we left the café and were looking into seeing a Balinese dance performance. As we approached the museum entrance, a staff member asked us if we were interested in seeing a Balinese dance performance tonight. We said we were. He told us that the museum had a different performance each night based on the day of the week. On Wednesday, it was the Legong dance. The dance performances were at 7 each evening. Gisela and I wanted to see the performance. The fee to watch the dance was 150,000 rupiah. Gisela paid with her Wise card; thankfully, the card machine was not acting up.
Then, the museum staff member asked Gisela to return a few minutes before 7. He asked Gisela what hotel she was staying at. Gisela vaguely said in Ubud but refused to give the name. The museum staff member asked if she needed a taxi back. Gisela said it was within walking distance. After all, there were many hotels and hostels near the museum. I also didn't think the man would follow her, but it was good to be safe. I think he was more concerned about Gisela being out alone after dark. I was only a stuffed toy pug, so I could not bite crazy people. Since we were running low on time, we decided to eat dinner at a restaurant near the museum. We ate at a restaurant called Nori. Gisela and I ate a spicy curry dish and did not get any drink to save time. We also had water with us. The food came fast, and we did not have to rush to eat our delicious dinner.
After we were finished eating, Gisela asked for the check. She also told the waiter she was seeing the dance performance at the art museum at 7 and showed him the ticket. He took the card machine, and Gisela paid for our dinner. Then we thanked the restaurant staff and marched to the art museum. The museum staff checked our tickets and showed us our assigned seats. Chairs were facing a stone stage. Other visitors were seeing the Legong performance. Then the performance started. At first, a group of men of all ages played the background music on an instrument called gamelan. Then, the dancers came onto the stage.
Legong is characterized by intricate finger and arm movements, complicated foot movements, and expressive faces, especially in the eyes. The mouth remained composed and serious. Most of the dancers were females, but there were also two male dancers. The dancers played different characters in traditional stories. The main characters are the princess and prince, who are together despite many challenges. The Legong dance was historically used as royal entertainment. It reminded me of the Apsara dances of Cambodia. The music was calming, and the dancers were so beautiful. I loved their costumes and makeup. The movements were flawless and graceful. After the one-hour performance, the dancers came out on the stage. Then, the audience got to take pictures with them. Gisela got her picture with them while I watched since I was a toy pug.
After getting pictures, we talked to the museum staff about the performance and Nyepi. The museum staff thanked us for coming to Bali during such a special time. Gisela and I enjoyed it very much and learning about the culture. After talking to the museum staff, we left the museum. Gisela and I were not tired yet, so we walked around Ubud some more. We stopped at Tukies Coconut Shop to get a coconut dessert. We got this unique coconut cake with a jelly-like substance. Even though we were eating our third dessert of the day, we wanted to enjoy our last full day in Bali before leaving Asia the next day after an 8-hour layover in Hong Kong. Many people were at the shop, and we enjoyed eating the cake. Afterward, we returned to the hostel to discuss our airport transfer with the staff. We went to the lobby, and the hostel staff were happy to see me as usual.
Gisela told them that she still needed to pay for the airport transfer. The transfer was 500,000 rupiah (about 30.76 USD), and it was cash only because they were paying the driver directly. Gisela did not have enough cash, so she said she would go to the ATM for more cash. We went to the Circle K and got some more money. We also bought some water. Then, we returned to the lobby and paid for the airport transfer. The hotel staff said we needed to be at the reception at 4 in the morning for the driver to pick us up and take us to the airport. The lady also kept reminding Gisela and me to set the alarm so we wouldn't miss our flight to Hong Kong. Gisela set her alarm for 3 in the morning. Gisela said she had no issues with getting up early in the morning. Being a light sleeper, Gisela always woke up to her alarms. The receptionist said she had a hard time getting up in the morning. She also asked Gisela and me about our following plans after Bali, and we shared them.
Then we thanked the hotel staff for the wonderful stay, and we would miss Puri Garden very much. We also said goodbye to the restaurant staff and other hotel staff members we saw on our way to our room. Then, we finished packing, showering, and brushing our teeth. As we brushed our teeth, one hotel staff escorted another new tourist to our room. She was from Colorado. Gisela was excited to meet another fellow American. They spoke to each other quietly because the lady from the UK was asleep. Then we all got ready for bed and went to bed.
Gisela and I had a wonderful time in Bali and made many memories. We especially enjoyed our time on the Wanderlands Travel tour. We visited unique places and participated in various activities in Canggu, Kuta, Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida, Ubud, and other areas in the Gianyar Regency. The best part was getting to know the other travelers in the group and forming lifelong bonds with them. We are still in touch to this day on social media and on WhatsApp. Tim did an excellent job as a tour leader, giving excellent recommendations and explanations of places. I also really liked learning about Bali from the local guides we had from some of the activities we participated in.
Additionally, it was remarkable to participate in the Balinese New Year, learning about local traditions and the meaning of the new year. While the Gregorian calendar new year focused on partying and New Year resolutions that people don't stick to, the Balinese one concentrates on starting the year with meditation and tranquility, maintaining positive energy, and saying goodbye to the negative one. I highly recommend Wanderlands Travel if you are a young solo traveler or traveling as a couple. I also recommend Bali as a vacation destination. Just make sure you respect the local culture.
Unfortunately, Bali has gotten a lot of rowdy and disrespectful tourists. Don't be those tourists, please! Though tourism is helpful to the local economy, too much tourism is harmful to the local environment. I am glad the Bali tourism industry started charging tourists a 9 euro tourist levy to protect the Balinese culture and environment. I can't say enough great things about Bali. I would love to return to Indonesia and explore more parts such as Java, Sumatra, Indonesian Borneo, Sulawesi, Papua, Komodo, and the Maluku Islands. After all, Indonesia is diverse, with so much to see on its thousands of islands. I end this article by thanking Wanderlands Travel and the entire Bali area for the unforgettable experience!
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