I am just a normal girl. I am from a small town. I work a normal job. I do not make a lot of money. I did not grow up traveling.  BUT I dream of seeing all of the places. I want to explore the world. I want to do the things your neighbors say “A regular girl could never do that!”. So, that is what I set out to do this year. I wanted to see the places I have only dreamed of going and Bali was at the top of that list. I am going to tell you all about my Bali vacation and how  YOU can go the places you want to go as well! Happy reading 🙂

I started my 2019 off by writing out my goals..things I wanted to achieve.. my favorite was “Travel some place that starts with a “B””. I made sure I hit my goal before I booked the trip and as soon as I hit that goal the trip was booked.

I did not book this trip or plan this trip on my own. I really didn’t do much besides enjoy it. My good pal & co-worker decided he wanted to go to Bali as well so he ran with it. He found us an awesome travel agency, (Audley Travel). Audley is free to use and they book everything from flights and accommodations to excursions. Audley will send you a physical and digital copy of your schedule, they give you recommendations on food and will call you about a week before your trip to answer any questions you have. They are super awesome, made the trip so easy & we loved it all.

Now to talk about the pain point : price.

The price might actually surprise you! All together for 10 days I spent a total of $2,822.33.

That price includes

• Flights
• Hotels
• Food
• Souvenirs
• Activities
• Literally EVERYTHING except the uber from my apartment to the airport

So affordable.

Day 1 (Dec 3rd)

Left DFW -> Atlanta, GA

Atlanta -> South Korea

South Korea -> Bali

Day 2 (or 3 or 4 whatever) (Dec 6)

We stayed in Ubud the first few nights. Ubud is where we are able to do the majority of our exploring. We had an amazing breakfast and our first taste of Bali coffee this morning. Our driver picked us up at 9:00 and off we went.

The first thing we did was look at a temple in the middle of Ubud. It was so beautiful and had so much detail. We were so shocked to find out it only took them one year to build it! We weren’t able to actually enter this temple but we took a few pictures and enjoyed the view. At this temple we found out that women are not allowed inside if they are on their period..crazy but real.

After we left the first temple we went to a rice plantation that had the big swing!! (My dream). The rice plantation was so green and beautiful, it really blew my mind. Swinging on the swing was honestly such a dream come true for me. The views were gorgeous and bright. It was like everything was saturated. I highly suggest the big swing.

Once we finished swinging we went to a coffee plantation. I want to preface what I am about to tell you by saying Bali Coffee is literally the best coffee I have ever tasted. It is so fantastic and it is made from…..poop! The coffee is sometimes called cat poop coffee! The animals aren’t actually cats but they do look like a cat and a ferret had a baby. We were able to see how the coffee was made from start to finish and even had the chance to try all the different types. I came home with Bali coffee, chocolate coffee and vanilla coffee. Gus bought himself coffee and some tea.

Our next stop was a famous temple. This temple is always crowded and that is because everyone is allowed inside as long as you have on a sarong. We spent some time at the temple. Our guide told us about the history of the temple and the fountains that people use to cleanse themselves.

After leaving the temple we went to a local refreshment cafe. In Bali you are always served hot tea…even if you are visibly sweating..I started to miss ice tea.

After the snack we headed to a wood shop. At the wood shop we were able to see many different types of crafts and carvings. The work is so detailed you would be shocked. Gus even bought something!

Once we left the wood shop we got to stop at a third temple. This temple is known for having the largest drum in the world! The drum isn’t what caught my eye though…it was the dog wandering around.

We left the third temple and could barely keep our eyes open..It had been a very long day and the time change was starting to catch up. We had one last stop though.

Our last stop was at a local compound so we could see how the locals live. We were able to take a look at how the locals live and also see their own personal temple! It was quite amazing. This area was known for being painters so we were able to take a look at all of their paintings that were for sale.

Once we got back to the hotel we were treated to complimentary massages.

It was a great first day exploring but it was also exhausting.

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Day 5 (Dec 7)

Free Day!! On this day we once again woke up and had a fantastic breakfast. After breakfast we decided to take a walk to the monkey forest. Apparently the monkeys stay in the forest because if they leave and come back they will be beat up by the other monkeys. Crazy. Anyways, we enjoy the monkey forest even though a monkey jumped on me and tried to open my fanny pack.. which, of course, made me scream LOL.

After the monkey forest we went back to our hotel and enjoyed the pool. I read a book, had a salad and worked on my tan. I really enjoyed the relaxing part of it. Sometimes I think we go on vacation and forget to relax.

After the pool Gus enjoyed another massage and I finished my book. We then made our way to the Ubud market. While at the market we noticed something very strange. There were wooden penises everywhere. Keychains, bottle openers, all sizes and colors. It was the craziest thing ever. We did our shopping and made our way back to the hotel. The first thing I did once getting back to our room was google what the heck the wooden penises meant. Apparently they mean good luck!

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Day 6 (Dec 8)

This morning our driver and tour guide picked us up and took us to our next adventure. We traveled a few hours outside of Ubud to the Jatiluwih Rice Fields. Once we arrived here we took off on a bike ride. This bike ride was supposed to be pretty easy with only two up hill climbs. They lied. It was not easy. It was hard, and exhausting, BUT it was so beautiful. Honestly, this was probably my favorite activity. The rice fields were so green and the beauty of everything filled my heart with so much joy. After the bike ride we had a quick lunch. (At this lunch we got to FaceTime our friends who were at a wedding! Thanks Brian for always taking my calls and congrats to Jordan & Chelsea!!)

After lunch we loaded up and went to another temple. The temple was right off of a lake and this lake is actually the biggest lake in Bali. If you travel up the mountain a ways you can see two lakes at one time. It’s actually so incredible because they do not connect but they are SO close to one another.

Once leaving the lake we adventured on towards our hotel in Munduk. Munduk is so beautiful and secluded and honestly the perfect place to go for a yoga retreat or something of the sorts. Rice fields, trees, waterfalls, tree houses.. you name it and they have it! Our hotel was right in the middle of all of this.. the only thing our hotel didn’t have was…an air conditioner! It was a beautiful location though and totally worth it.

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Day 7 (Dec 9)

This day is probably Gus’ favorite day.

We were picked up from our hotel by a taxi driver in a very 70sesque car..I’m talking red leather and fur.. very interesting. He dropped us off so we could start our adventure through rural Munduk in a komodo. Gus and I shared a komodo and climbed up huge hills and rocks and it was so much fun. Our first stop was at a lake. While at the lake we we were able to witness a cremation ceremony (from a far) while canoeing around the lake. (by the way, while typing this I am literally watching Gossip Girl and Lexi, Aaron Rose’s ex, is asking for poop coffee that she had in Indonesia!!!)

Anyways, upon leaving the lake we took off again! This time stopping at an actual rain forest. While in the rain forest I learned that ginger is actually good for repelling bugs and I had a fresh strawberry. Btw, fresh strawberries straight out of the rain forest are not near as sweet.

Once we left the rain forest we had lunch and once again hot tea.

After lunch we were finally able to let loose in the komodos. We went around a track that was supposed to be muddy…and muddy it was..it was also wet. So we were soaked from our heads to our socks in muddy water. It was a lot of fun but I was actually annoyed with how wet I was.

However, we were able to clean up at a waterfall. The waterfall was secluded and very few people had access to it. Once we got to the waterfall it was nice to enjoy because we were the only people there. The water was a little cold but it felt so amazing. I think it’s so important to take advantage of all the waterfalls. They are beautiful and freeing.

After the waterfall we rode the komodos back to our hotel, laid out our wet clothes, showered and went to dinner.

All in all a great day,

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Day 8 (Dec 10)

On this day we woke up, had breakfast, packed up and off we went. Our third and final destination.

It took us a few hours but once we arrived in Jimbaran it was completely worth it. I mean, who looks at the ocean and the waves crashing in and doesn’t feel joy? Our first day in Jimbaran we just enjoyed the ocean, the sand, the salt water. The sunset was to die for. So beautiful and my heart was just so full.

I honestly don’t think we did anything besides that. And that was great, that is what vacation is all about.

Day 9 (Dec 11)

Our last full day! We woke up, had breakfast..enjoyed the waves and then I had a massage. Not just a normal massage, a two hour massage where they lathered my body in yogurt! Put me in a flower bath. Massaged my head. I can never imagine something as great as that ever happening again. Whoof, I just relaxed thinking about it.

After my massage Gus and I took a nap and then off we went. We took a cab to Ulu Watu Beach. While at the beach we got to see a lot of cute couples that were in love but also a photo-shoot happen. It was the craziest thing. They were dressed in all white and super nice clothes, in the water, I’m still confused as I type this.

Once we left the beach we went to our last temple. This temple was right on the beach. There were a few shops as well. The most popular part of this temple was the Kecak dance. The Kecak dance is very popular in Bali and tells the story of a king and his wife and a villain and a forest and a golden deer. It tells a wholeee story and you should look it up!

Once leaving the dance we had dinner on the beach. Dinner was seafood..and by seafood I mean fresh seafood that was probably caught the same day. Gus really enjoyed it, I however do not love seafood. It was so cool having dinner with sand beneath our feet and hearing the waves crashing around us.

Once we left the restaurant we walked back to our hotel, showered and went to bed.

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Day 10 (Dec 12)

Lasssst day! At this point I was ready to get home.. I was really missing Mosby & Brian. We had the majority of the day to ourselves so we started with breakfast, enjoyed the beach and packed up our hotel. We did a last dinner at the Rock Bar. Such amazing views. The waves crashed so hard and loud and the weather was so nice. That is somewhere you have to go if you ever make it to Jimbaran.

Our driver picked us up at 8:00, took us to the Bali hotel. We said our goodbyes and checked in.

Our flight loaded and we said goodbye to Indonesia.

Day 11 (Dec 13)

We landed in South Korea where we had a pretty long layover so we were able to leave the airport and take a tour of South Korea. We went to a castle (it was literally freezing) and then had a great South Korean meal, headed back to the airport. Took a nap, boarded our flight and off we went.

South Korea -> Atlanta -> DFW 🙂

RECAP

Bali was so beautiful and literally a dream come true.

My favorite things were :

• Coffee
• Beaches
• Swing
• Waterfall
• Bike ride

It was way more affordable than I could have ever imagined.

I had way too much coco-cola. The fresh fruit was incredible. I literally had the best mango while I was there.

The hardest thing about the trip was the time change and flight on the way back.

I did not take as many pictures as I thought I would have because I was honestly so busy trying to enjoy the moment. I never took my phone off of airplane mode so it only worked at hotels and restaurants. It was nice to detach from work and home for a little while. I was able to enjoy what I worked so hard for.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask me. Just know that it is so affordable and if you want to go then just GO. 🙂

I am going to link the hotels below

Ubud Hotel (Rasa Sayang)

Munduk Hotel

Jimbaran Hotel

You can follow us on Instagram to see more pictures @ https://www.instagram.com/byrdzthewordd/
https://www.instagram.com/gusolsen/