traveler

Bali, My Ultimate Favorite Place for a Health and Wellness Getaway

Bali, what a place. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked what my favorite place in the world is and it’s always a tie between Spain and Bali. I’m often asked but why? What makes you love Bali? And my answer is always, EVERYTHING.

I love everything about Bali. From its unending picturesque beaches, exotic waterfalls, terraced rice fields, delicious vegan food, adorable cafes and shops, and its captivating spiritual energy. There is something for everyone in Bali, especially for those that are looking to recharge their mind, body and soul while on vacation. Bali is the perfect destination to deepen your yoga practice, enjoy vibrant color healthy food, get pampered at the most incredible spas and relax among spectacular jungle and mountain views.

During my last trip to Bali, I visited Seminyak and Ubud, but Uluwatu and Canggu are also great places to put on your “must see” list. There is so much to uncover and explore in Bali,but I have gathered some of my favorite spots from my travels. I also recommend being open to driving a motorbike when you visit.. Traffic is insane on the island and it takes a long time to get from place to place. It’s a bit scary at first, but once you get started, you’ll love it. If I can do it, I’m pretty sure you can too. When exploring in moto, with all the locals, you get a true and authentic experience while immersing yourself in the culture of Bali.

Seminyak

Seminyak is one of the most popular tourist places in Bali. It’s buzzing with people and things to do. Start your day in Seminyak with a trip to an amazing coffee shop in town to sample colorful, fresh-squeezed juices or discover your favorite local caffeine fix. During my stay at a Seminyak AirBnB, our hosts made us breakfast every morning, but we were sure to take advantage of everything this quaint town offered. One of my favorite Seminyak experiences was relaxing with a famous Balinese massage followed by an afternoon of endless shopping, and of course, eating. The beaches are also a dream and you can easily spend an entire day at the beach ending with a sunset cocktail in one of their popular shoreline bars or restaurants.

Where to Eat

Sisterfields– Australians do it best?! Yup. They do. This restaurant was so good that I never forgot about it. Go there, pick anything that suits you and ENJOY.

Kynd Community– This place is definitely not boring. Their plant-based menu is massive with lots to choose from. I wanted to try everything and I hope you do your best to do so too. Not only is everything on the menu delicious, but whatever you choose will be the most colorful and beautiful dish you’ve eaten in a while.

Earth Cafe & Market Seminyak– One of my last meals in Seminyak was a blissful surprise. When you are in Bali, you’re surrounded by healthy influences and you’ll want to partake in the all fresh, healthy cuisine options the community has to offer. The Balinese make it incredibly easy with places like Earth Cafe, to nourish your body and your soul.. Earth Cafe is committed to serving the best quality, freshest and most nutritious food while also tailoring to individual diet needs and/or allergy requirements. After eating your meal of choice, make sure to take something home with you! The market is filled with healthy and nutritious bites you’ll want to snack on while exploring the rest of the town.

Sunset Views

La Plancha Bali– Bali sunsets are so pure and magical. You’ll definitely want to go to La Plancha and grab a colorful bean bag chair while slipping away into sunset bliss as dusk begins to settle. Grab a cocktail, a small bite, whatever you choose to do, just take the day’s end slow with a breathtaking view.

Ku Te Da– Luxury, sophistication and zen all in one location. Ku Te Da is everything to remember, from world class dining, perfect sunset views and amazing live music as you transition from day to night. Remember to plan accordingly, because you might just fall in love and never want to leave.

Surf

Kuta– A short 10-20 minute drive outside of Seminyak, boasts the ultimate surf spot for beginners. If you want to surf solo, you’ll find your perfect waves in Kuta. In addition to chasing swells, Kuta has an array of surf shops and instructors to help you gear-up and become a surf pro in no time. The Balinese are incredibly nice and love to help travelers experience Bali surf. They’ll be sure to get you up on that board at least once to ride that perfect wave. Here are a few surf spots and surf schools to consider:

Drifter Surf Shop
Bali Green Surf School
Santai Surf School Bali

Ubud

Ubud is probably one of my favorite little towns that I have ever been to. Filled with rice fields, monkey jungles, waterfalls, cute cafes and restaurants, temples and the most charming street markets you’ll ever see. I had the opportunity to practice yoga, stretch my mind and body, and dip myself in the famous flower balinese spa bath. The energy here is something that words cannot explain, everything is so honest and spiritual. You feel so empowered and wanting more when you leave this magical place. Some of my all time favorite memories happened here because there is so much to see and do that create unforgettable memories for your whole being.

Things to Do

Tegallalang Rice Terrace– Positioned in a valley, the Tegalalang Rice Terraces offer extremely scenic lookouts over the rice fields and surrounding green landscape. Once you get to the fields, you’ll instantly fall in love and want to explore. I recommend getting to the Rice Terrace early in the morning because it can get incredibly hot and humid later on in the day. If you want to make the trip even more special, don’t forget to ride the swing over the fields for that perfect photo. There’s no other place like this one.

Yoga– Ubud; every yogi’s heaven. This part of Bali has so much yoga to choose from, you’ll find styles that suit you from spiritual practices to fast paced vinyasa and power flows. Studios here are so beautiful, no yoga sesh has ever come close to the scenery and vibe that I had here. Studios are well equipped and many are tucked away in Ubud’s most tranquil places, with views for days. So zen and so beautiful, these were my favorites:

Ubud Yoga House
The Yoga Barn
Taksu Yoga
Yoga Saraswati

Waterfalls

One of my favorite things other than oceans and sunsets are waterfalls, and Bali definitely has plenty of waterfalls. Another reason why I recommend using moto as transportation is because you can go visit multiple places and waterfalls without waiting too long in traffic or tours. The waterfalls in Bali are all unique and each hold a very special and magical feel that will inspire you to explore them all. However, make sure when visiting you are ready to walk, hike, and get wet. Here are some of my favorites

Tegenungan Waterfall– The Tegenungan waterfall is one of the closest and most popular to Ubud. Surrounded by a lush forest of jungle trees and exotic greenery, this enormous waterfall is absolutely breathtaking and it is well worth the trip. Make sure you take advantage of the natural shower the waterfall provides and take a quick dip in the rock pool after an amazing hike to the top of the fall. This is an experience you will never forget.

Tukad Cepung – Tukad Cepung is a waterfall for those truly seeking adventure. Nestled inside of a cave, the Tukad Cepung Waterfall is complemented by light beams shining through the cracks of the cave walls. This natural beauty is something to see. The Tukad Cepung waterfall has grown in popularity over the years and there’s a chance there might be quite a line to get to the waterfall. This might not be Ubud’s best kept secret anymore, but it is absolutely worth it. This is definitely a top waterfall to see, so put it on your “must do” list.

Spas

Bali is my ultimate choice for a vacation that is sprinkled with health and wellness. The Bali way of living and the perspective on life is something that makes you feel good inside and out. They don’t call Bali the “Island of the Gods” for nothing. You’ll experience wellness and a sense of inner-peace l without even trying. You’ll return home feeling rejuvenated and awakened and ready to take on life’s everyday challenges as you remember your restful and exciting journey in Bali

Taksu Spa– This place is the definition of everything zen. The serene tropical surroundings transport you to that perfect relaxing state. The moment you walk into the spa, you are greeted by incredibly sweet, professional, and talented staff. I booked a massage and had the privilege of adding a turmeric galangal exfoliating body scrub. The scrub removes dead skin and boosts circulation. After getting my massage and scrub, my continual relaxation was enhanced by a tranquil outdoor shower followed by a Balinese flower bath.

The Balinese flower bath is also called a celebration of flowers. There are many different benefits to a flower bath depending on the types of flowers used. For example, roses are used to help hydrate your skin, lavender has a calming effect and helps to relieve stress, and lotus flowers are used to soften the skin. These flowers are designed within the bath like a beautiful art exhibit ready for you to take the perfect soak. Be sure to snap a quick picture of your bath design, this is certainly something you’ll want to remember.

My entire stay at Taksu Spa is one of the most amazing spa experiences of my life. There are so many spa options to choose from, but make sure you do your research. Here are some more highly recommended spas:

The Kaveri Spa at The Udaya

Maya Ubud
Karsa Spa

My time in Bali was truly awakening and I’m so grateful for the wonderful experiences and memories I created there. Without a doubt, I’m counting down the days until my next adventure to Bali. Regardless of where I go, my travels always help me grow and appreciate the world around me. I treasure my Bali experiences, from the people, the food, the culture, and the lifestyle.If you have the opportunity to go to a destination that has a little bit of everything like Bali, I highly recommend it.

More about me and my adventures @carlaloren X

MY TOP PRE TRAVEL TIPS

There is nothing like that feeling before heading out on our travels. I learned a lot this past year while I was traveling for six months around the globe that I wish I knew before I left. I constantly get asked various questions by followers and friends on what they should expect, what to bring, what are must have apps, etc. So here they are:

♥ Contact your bank and phone provider letting them know you will be out traveling. The last thing you want is any blocked transactions on your trip!

♥ I love who ever invented Sanitizer Wipes. Honestly they are crucial for flying. Yes I am that girl. Have some handy on your carry on to wipe down your whole area. Seats, windows, tray, monitors and please wipe down the head rest! 🙂 Planes are one of the most germ infested places you can be so put these on top of your list.

♥ Adaptors, adaptors, adaptors. Even though most hotels have them, hostels and airbnb’s usually don’t. You want to make sure you are all set when it comes to having fully charged electronics and appliances for your day/night out. 😉 I got mine on Amazon and couldn’t have been more happy with it.

♥ Make sure your passport doesn’t expire within the 6 months of travel. Some countries will not let you fly if so. I had a friend that couldn’t go on his travels that he planned with his buddies for months ahead of time because of this.

♥ Even though English is spoken in almost every country locals do appreciate it when travelers try to speak their native tongue. Download the Google translation app or Duolingo for even a better experience.

♥ Make sure to take all your favorite products that you might not find overseas. Shampoo, face wash, toothpaste, razors, medications/vitamins and your favorite snacks! (protein bars are my fav)

♥ Make a copy of your passport and driver license. You never know when you will need to show your documentation so it’s better to have several copies with you then wasting time finding a printing/copy place in a city you don’t really know your way around. This helped me a lot when our Airbnb and a bank overseas needed this info.

♥ When you finally know where you are staying take a couple of minutes to know where the closest hospital or urgent care is just in case of emergencies.

♥ My favorite thing to do is favorite/star all the places I want to visit in that country or city on my google maps app. You can organize it by type of place so it’s easily accessible and with you at all times. I loved this for all the sights, restaurants, activities that were top on my must do’s. Another reason why I love this is that you can send it to your fellow travelers and friends so they have them too!

♥ Wifi…not being connected for a while might seem amazing but we all know it’s crucial. Make sure that your accommodation has wifi. Even though most places do, it’s very important to double check before hand.

♥ Make sure you know all the airline rules and regulations before you fly. Weigh your bags before hand so if you are planning to purchase overseas you’ll be prepared when you come back.

Safe travels!

CP x

EUROTRIP

Being that I have not traveled internationally for over a year I started to get a travel bug pretty hard. When my boyfriend passed away I really needed to take some time to get away. Thankfully, my best friend from Austin, AKA TheHungryChronicles texted me and called me asking if I would go on a River Cruise to Budapest, Vienna, and Nuremberg I immediately said YES. No questions asked.

We had the most amazing time that we will never forget. We spent two nights in Budapest so we got to see everything that city had to offer, it was my big city fav! The entire cruise was a total of seven days so we were abroad for ten, which I wouldn’t have minded if we stayed a little longer. We rented bikes which was the best idea we could have done. If you ever go there I would definitely recommend doing that because it’s so easy to get around and it’s a great bike friendly city. I had no idea we would also be seeing the most beautiful tiniest cities in between the others. The city of Passau blew my mind. It was so charming and cute and just perfect. I could definitely live there as well and go back and spend more time there. Our trip was filled with incredible history, art, bike rides through the cutest towns and vineyards, amazing beer/wine and food, sauerkraut and picturesque towns that will be on my mind forever.

Our boat was the Viking Cruise, which was perfect to say the least. Everyone is incredibly nice, great food, comfortable beds beautiful boat and they make you feel like family the whole time. They truly care about you and your time with them. What made this trip even more special was meeting all the special people that worked on the boat as well as the people that were on vacation with us. That’s what makes traveling so special. You meet people from all over the world and sometimes so close to where you’re from but you connect across the globe and share moments that you can cherish forever. I live for travel. It’s what keeps me alive. It’s what leaves you speechless, then it turns you into a storyteller. For more pictures of our trip, make sure to check out my IG @carlaloren.