The first thing I noticed driving into Ubud was the sudden lush greenery surrounding the road. It seemed to have popped up out of nowhere. The bright green jungle was so stunning, I couldn’t look away. I was also reminded that I was now in the jungle thanks to an increase in mosquito bites once I arrived at my hostel :p
Puri Garden Hostel is hands down the most popular hostel in Ubud. So many people recommended it to me and it gets sold out fast. It feels as if you are in a luxe hotel (they do have a few private rooms, but the majority are dorms) with daily housekeeping, a large pool, free yoga every morning, and a chic restaurant serving up delicious meals and specialty cocktails. The bunk beds are double beds. It was incredible to have that much space in a dorm.
My first visit to Ubud, I was very focused on my business as I was working with a new client, so most days started off with yoga and then I was hustling away in front of the pool. I knew I would be back with my mom so I didn’t put pressure on myself to see everything. I took a break one day for a few hours to go chase some waterfalls with a girl from the hostel. We used the hostel driver and told him which ones we wanted to see. Cheaper and quicker than going on an official tour with a bunch of people.
The first waterfall we explored was Tibumana. Upon arrival, we were told that a movie was being filmed just in case we wanted to forgo this one. We decided to go anyways and see what was happening. The walk down to the fall is gorgeous, filled with green trees and plants, and a baby waterfall on the side.
It wasn’t as packed as I anticipated. The crew was about 25 people and there were a few tourists around. We were still able to go swimming and marvel at the majestic falls.
I love movies so I started talking to one of the crewmembers. He told us they were filming a horror movie! I absolutely LOVE horror. It is based on an ancient Indonesian myth of a voodoo doll called Jelangkung. Such a cool cultural experience.
Next, we went to see Kanto Lampo, which is a lovely cascading waterfall over a series of rock steps. Go in the morning when the sun is hitting the fall just perfectly.
I visited this waterfall again with my mom in the afternoon and while it was still gorgeous the sun was not shining over us.
A visit to Bali is not complete without indulging in a lavish spa experience, particularly a flower bath treatment. I pampered myself at the lovely Karsa Spa hidden at the outskirts of town. I booked an hour-long massage, a 30-minute Reiki treatment, and 30 minutes in a luscious flower bath. The total cost was about $35, and that is expensive for Bali! I most definitely recommend this “splurge.”
For another day of indulgence, I hung out at The Pond, a posh pool club located near the hostel. We rented a daybed and enjoyed lunch and cocktails by the pool. It was a Monday so it wasn’t too busy. A perfect way to spend the afternoon after getting some work done.
When my mom was in town, we stayed in an airbnb. It was a simple guesthouse but had what we needed for a night. It was walking distance from the main road so we had plenty of options for food and shopping. We had lunch at Gluten Free Kitchen and it was amazing. We aren’t gluten-free, but who isn’t down for something different every now and then?!
Before we headed to Austrailia, we had to go see the famous rice terraces, Tegallalang. We arrived around 4pm after seeing some waterfalls and this is a good time because most of the tourists have already left. There were still people around but everyone had their space. It is definitely a sight to see; the gorgeous layers of green. I went on one of the swings and it was so fun. It’s an exciting way to enjoy the view, calmly cascading into the sky.
A truly special way to say goodbye to Bali. I still miss it to this day!
Stay tuned for my next post on Nusa Lembongan!
XO,
Sarah
Wandering Publicist 