(alternate title : eat, pray, bali)
This is probably one of the best unplanned trips ever — because of how stressful, but successful, chill, but packed.
Before the Eid Holidays, we had a whole group trip planned to Austria — change of plans for Carlo because his family’s dates to come over had changed. Vince ended up planning to go to Boston, and I decided to push through (I explain it in length on the vlog [at the end of this post], with tangents, because you’re not listening to me speak if I don’t go in tangents).
Funnily enough, two days prior our individual flights, I spoke to Vince about how I wished it was a ‘calmer’ trip, as I wasn’t really in the mood to do a lot of walking and exploring (was very drained) — we decided last minute to ditch our solo trips to go on a chill, bestfriend trip, initially to the Maldives.
On Saturday evening, en route to the airport (lol), we decide to change our destination to Bali — don’t ask … lololol.
Anyway, after getting out of several pickles thanks to Carlo’s + Vince’s help and patience (hahaha), we find a way to get to Bali that isn’t fully booked, which is to stop-over at Bangkok, we landed early Sunday evening — it was an interesting 11 hours there, technically overnight (with me and my runny nose and sore throat), shame that I could not even taste my dinner — Vince said they were all hits!
On Monday morning, we finally arrive in Bali. It was barely an hour in through the drive to Tabanan when we decided we would be coming back.
So happy that we opted to stay in a village 40mins away from Canggu where it’s calmer and quieter. I was quite sickly flying out of Dubai, so I needed at least a day and a half to nurse myself back to a decent, functional state. I spent the entire time in the room, sleeping — knocked out by my sniffle meds (but I can’t say I didn’t make the most out of napping on that glorious bed). Props to Vince for being one of the bestest ever for accommodating just that — he made use of the time by hanging out by the beach, the pool, getting a massage — his Taurus sun was thriving.
The goal of this whole trip was to get some proper R&R. We needed to shut down. We needed a reset, and we gave ourselves nothing less (with the perfect balance of exploring on the side).
When I was feeling better, we decided to head over to Canggu to stretch our legs and get our steps in. The weather wasn’t great (it is a tropical country), so during peak hours (noon time), expect the humidity to feel a thousand times worse.
We had so much fun walking around and exploring. Our friend Michal recommended a couple of places to check out, we ended up heading over to La Brisa for lunch, coffee, and dessert.
We head back to Tabanan by 3.00pm and caught a glimpse of one of the prettiest sunsets I’ve ever seen in my life, ever.
One of the things I appreciate about getting to witness sceneries like this is that I don’t ever compare it with sunsets I’ve seen anywhere else (there’s nothing to gain there, and it ruins the experience). You take what it gives you and hold it close to your heart alongside the gratitude of knowing what it means to live through that moment.
Enjoy this series of unfiltered photos (even my selfie, lol).
We make use of one day to tour. We had the sweetest guide, Karen — who Vince got a hold of via GetYour Guide. She’s new to ‘the game’ but is so accommodating!
Our first stop during the tour was one of the infamous Bali Swings (which I immediately regretted because my Aquarius placements abhor extremely ‘tourist’ tings, lol — but we gave in anyway because we were there … and the photographers were so good). We didn’t opt for any of the swings, just the photo stops.
Our next stop was the Batuan Temple. If it weren’t for the heat and humidity, we would have stayed and walked around longer.
Then we went to the Tegenungan Waterfalls. No shade, but if you’re from any of the tropical countries, this is something you could skip, IMO.
We went to the Rice Terraces, and this is where we decide to have lunch.
Overall, a great day. “Touring” is something I’d suggest you do once. Make the most out of your time by immersing yourself more in the culture. We also made a stop at the Satria Coffee Plantation (no photos there as I took a handful of videos, on the vlog that is at the end of this post), and the Luwaks are the cutest.
We weren’t able to go to two stops in Ubud because of the traffic, and Karen (our guide) came up with other alternatives to take us to, but we decided to head back to Tabanan instead (good call), but not without making a stop at one of the IndoMarts to grab some snackies.
We chill at the pool and hopped over to the Resort restaurant just in time to listen to live Balinese music, which was a treat!
We went to Canggu the day after and decide to book a later pick-up time (free shuttle is at 3.00pm) so we could maximise the day, which we scheduled at 7.00pm.
We started off in Motel Mexicola, where we opted to go for the Set Menu. Ambience was great, food was good and filling! I hear it’s party central circa 9.00pm, I can imagine how intense this whole street would be at night, as Mexicola is right across Old Man’s.
Vince and I made the painful walk under the sun to head over to Quiet Ink Studios, where he got his first three tattoos (two of them inspired by me, he shan’t dare deny, lol).
We make a pit stop at a nearby coffee shop before trekking over to Stacked by Celeste where I get my first in-person 30min Tarot reading and I get a Flat Piercing (LOVED EVERYTHING). Won’t disclose what my reading said (🧿 which I loved 🧿, thank you Bon Bon for that) — Maya knows, lol.
Then we skip over to Rustic Sun where I get my BIAB Gel Manicure and Regular pedicure, and the girls are amazing and such a joy to talk to.
We walk a bit more around Canggu to kill time before we head back to Tabanan, I stock on a few more crystals (grabbed a couple on our first day at Canggu), and then we called it a day.
Mr. Ketut , who picked us up from the airport, shared so much of Balinese culture and customs on our way to Tabanan. One of the things he mentioned was the cremation that was taking place on Saturday in the Village.
Since it was our last full day in Bali, Vince and I decide to go for it — we made our way over to the venue which was close to the Resort (a good 30min walk, I would say — the weather was pleasant so it wasn’t uncomfortable). The Resort guard was kind enough to make sure we were going the right way as he followed us on his motorbike.
I read more about it on this extremely informative blog post by Anna, which I came across when I was googling proper etiquette in attending a Ngaben (the Balinese Hindu cremation).
You can take photos and videos as long as you ask for permission, but it didn’t feel right for us to do, so we didn’t. There was a solid 10 minutes where Vince and I stood there in silence, in self-reflection.
There was live music and close friends and family sat in a half-crescent formation, properly scattered around the body. No one was chit-chatting amongst themselves (apart from the ceremony ushers, who were stood quite a distance).
I read that [Balinese Hindu] cremations in Bali are more of a celebration of life — in an extremely respectful manner, the energy felt just like that. It wasn’t a party, but it was a party, you know what I mean? I looked at the close friends and family sitting and contemplating and could feel their grief in the form of gratitude.
Life isn’t just life, but it also is — and that’s what makes it so beautiful. We carry so much weight, but we are all too fragile and frail. So strong, but so breakable … and we’re all just here in passing. We owe it to each other, and most importantly, to ourselves … to make sure we acknowledge the walking paradoxes we are, and that we are living our lives according to our own, and bringing glory to the Higher Being we most resonate with.
We head back to the Resort and scheduled a pedi (Vince) and a Trad Balinese massage (me) after some quiet time in the room.
It was a day of going inward and healing, somewhat. I don’t think I’ll get over that day, not for awhile, there still is … quite a lot to process.
On the day of our flight, we were granted late check-out (yay). I make the most out of it by lounging in the pool. Man, I miss it so much.
Bonus videos :
+ bonus food photos, because this is important stuff :
Bali is magical. Nevermind the tourist spots, when you immerse yourself in their culture, their beliefs, how strongly they protect the sanctity of their ways, you can’t help but want to be part of it somehow by honouring it whichever way you can. I feel so strongly about countries that hold their own deeply (like Japan).
I’ve fallen in love with this place … there’s something about speaking with the locals who were deeply rooted in who they were that it rubs off on you — they are proud, but not arrogant. They know the ways of the world is changing and are willing to adjust, but they do not compromise the core of who they are, I have so much respect for it. The kindest people with the biggest hearts, God bless them.
What I loved most about staying in Tabanan is that you get to stay next to locals in this quaint village. I love seeing their daily offerings on the road, the home and village temples, I love getting to see the fishermen in their boats out in the morning, or by the shore. I love to see them teach surfing lessons to tourists who drive all the way [to Tabanan], I love seeing their stores open in the morning, I love seeing the elderly do their daily morning walks — it was life all around me.
I love seeing them strongly practice and hold on to their faith. It was extremely grounding to be surrounded by people who carried on with their ancestral rituals.
The Ogoh-Ogoh, for example, was something that resonated with me when Mr. Ketut was explaining the statues we’d see as we drove our way to the Village. I googled it and it shook me, pun intended — because Ogoh-Ogoh means “to shake“, or “to shake something“.
Sourcing from WikiPedia, it says that “This tradition is part of the Tawur Kesanga procession, a Hindu Balinese ritual aimed at neutralizing negative forces in the surrounding environment and “appeasing” beings from the lower realms before the turn of the Saka Year. During the Pangrupukan parade, ogoh-ogoh symbolizes the evils of human nature or negativity in the universe. Therefore, after the parade ends, ogoh-ogoh is eventually burned as a representation of eliminating those negative traits. The burning usually takes place in the village cemetery field.”
How poetic.
It was … extremely healing, being there. Tabanan, specifically being the source of such comforting energy. I cannot wait to go back.
Vince, my bestie — one of the best travel buddies ever. Our Water + Earth placements complimenting each other best when needed (and they say astrology isn’t real) — our second besticle holiday together and we’ve done such a good job! I love you so much, Vincyeah!
Carlo, thank you so much for being so accommodating with everything! We love you so much!
And of course, this comes with a Video Blog :
See you soon, Bali! Already counting the days.
thatgirlabbie.com 
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