Originally, Cheryl and I were to stay in Kuta only. Hotel and flight booked - non refundable as well, because, why would we change our minds and not go on this trip? Right ... Turns out Kuta is more of a California, dirty/sketchy surfer town. We were NOT wanting this to be our style of vacationing. Well Cheryl was open to just get away, so I took the initiative to alter our plans. Thankfully she was on board for whatever I wanted. This made things sooooo much easier for me!
With great persistence and borderline harassment, I was able to have our hotel room completely refunded. I called the booking agency daily to have them call and I even had a local Balinese man phone on my behalf. I think the hotel was just so sick of hearing from us that they allowed us to cancel. And really, they would have no trouble selling the room as it was over the Christmas and New Years holidays. PLUS they wouldn't have to sell it at the reduced rate we had been given.
Upon receiving the 'okay' to our refund I booked our much improved rooms at various locations.
We started in Ubud, staying at Sania's House. It is such a charming location. Quiet and quaint. I would recommend not staying in the bottom level suite as our belongings quickly started to smell like moist, moldy Ubud. This smell did not leave a majority of our clothing until we returned to Korea and washed our things here.
Luckily, there was a traditional dance on our first night there. Good thing we asked immediately if there was anything going on while we were staying there. Besides this, there was not much else occurring in Ubud. It is a beautiful place. Much smaller than I anticipated! But it was a little like a retirement town - the streets were more or less pitch black and empty, minus the dogs, by 10.
I completed the sunrise Betur volcao mountain hike. Not as spectacular as I had anticipated. Plus, it was too foggy to see the sunrise. Poo poo! Afterwards, we stopped in at a coffee plantation where I saw the luwak which makes the really expensive coffee - it poops it out if you are unfamiliar with this animal.
We toured through the famous Monkey Forest as well.
We toured through the famous Monkey Forest as well.
On our last evening there we found an open air bar with live music. We stumbled in a group of friendly people and even met some Balinese gangsters - mom and dad don't worry. Oh my, this night was a bit ridonkulous to say the least.
For breakfast on our last day, we sat at Tukmak coffee place as awaiting the morning offerings. Such a beautiful thing to observe.
I was even able to try a yoga class while there. So happy.
This place immediately lifted my spirits. It was warm, and even though it was the rainy season it was clear and sunny for the vast majority of our stay. Everything was lush and colour. Everyone was so friendly, warm, smiley, and good looking. All of this is the complete opposite of how Korea is! What a nice change. Oh and the food was so flavorful. Plus there was always fresh fruit! Yum!
Next, we traversed north to the Abing Terrace Yoga Resort/Retreat Hotel. It is off the beaten path and not really near much at all, but the view is beyond incredible! We were able to see the rice terraces up close and personal. I took the time to have a morning meditation on their open air yoga area.
This resort often has yoga teacher training here and yoga retreats as well. Mayhaps one day I will either hold one here or attend one here. We became friends with one of the staff and still converse with him.
Our driver took us to a temple where we washed ourselves at fountains making wishes at each one. I think we smitted the gods as we were not explained the necessary protocol - offerings and the sarong - oops!
We took our next evening to the Mara River Safari Lodge Hotel. This place did not feel like Bali at all. I thought I was in Africa. They had lions, tigers, zebras, wilda beast, rhino's ... it was insane. A bit sad as they looked unhappy and underfed. Such a neat experience though for sure.
Our driver Wayan, of which I HIGHLY recommend - he can be found on Facebook at: Wayan Jhon Mudika Seriously. Look. Him. Up. He took us to a museum type place, and to Uluwatu to see the fire dance. INCREDIBLE yet again! We even tried some local cuisine. Cheryl wasn't such a fan, but when in "Rome," why not?! Oh and we saw Tanah Lot too!
Our final destination was Seminyak. This was a surfer/Christina Lake type town, but in a nice, relaxing, chill environment compared to what Kuta sounded like. The streets were packed and pumping with music. Our hotel, favehotel Seminyak, was small and not really the best, but it was clean. It did the job for us.
Finally! We had found the beach. All of Bali felt like there should be a beach just around the corner, but we did not see one until our last stop. The sand felt so good between my toes. I even swam in the Indian Ocean. BOOM!
Upon doing some more exploring and observing our surroundings, I quickly realized we were in le village of Bali. Gay boys be like e'rywhere! So fun though. We ended up at two gay bars with drag shows. Cheryl had never been before. And these were a little ridonk! There were boys dancing on the bar in speedos. There was even a shower that they danced naked in. OMG!
At the second bar a couple (I thought they were brother and sister) kept buying us drinks and taking pictures with us. Instantly they uploaded these to instagram; Cheryl was a little perturbed that they wouldn't add it. It was so bizarre!
The two of us ended up befriending three gay Aussie boys. Thankfully for me, they were planning on attending the same NYE party as us. Cheryl took sick that night and I met up with the boys. It was a great night. Don't ask me how I made the flight. I could have stayed out dancing until noon the next day!
In the words of one gay Aussie boys, "This place is amaze-balls."
