Love Shack






Atman Kafe


Kecak






Nungnung Waterfall


Bebek Bengil


Bali Bohemia

April 11 - 16, 2017

Five nights in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia in the Love Shack at the Onion Collective was $115. This was my second time staying there and I’m a big fan of the restaurant/homestay/co-working space. The location is central, the people are kind, and the accommodations are fun + comfortable. The room I stayed in this time didn’t have a/c but was comfortable with a fan, and it was noisy because it was by the kitchen. Other rooms I’ve stayed in there were cooler and quieter.  

I’ll admit that I read and watched Eat, Pray, Love and I see the influence of Ubud on the book. I can only imagine that it’s had a reverse effect as well, as it’s easy to meet many visitors there enlightened by the yoga, spirituality, and healthy food. Bali is packed with tourists but I still love it, whether I’m having a “touristy” experience or trying to connect with the local culture. The Balinese people I’ve met are very genuine and open. They are very proud of their culture and happy to share if you show interest or ask questions. 

I suggest that you discover the local warungs (restaurants), but also treat/spoil yourself with the popular restaurants and a massage (or two or three…).

• I recommend a massage or beauty treatment at Sang Spa or Taksu. 

• Some friends talked me into getting reiki healing for the first time. Reiki healing is a transfer of energy from the universe and to the seven chakras in your body. Karsa Spa is highly recommended but you have to book early. I went to Yeh Spa for Reiki and shaman healing. Shaman healing is also a transfer of energy to the chakras but a translator will allow you to have a conversation with a local healer ([email protected]) to work on specific problems or personal conflicts with energy. I want to believe in chakras and energy but I honestly don’t know much about it. I paid RP500K per healing and was also up-sold into buying an agate bracelet (RP184K), Varash oil (RP250K), and genitri bracelet (RP50K). The fruit genitri or rudaksa is believed by those who embrace the Hindu faith as a sacred fruit because it is believed that the fruit is formed by the tears of Lord Shiva.
• I also visited the Liyer House (which the writer of Eat, Pray, Love went to) where you can get Wiweka Healing (extraordinary Balinese healing). You can book a private session online for $75 or schedule a free healing a month prior.
• There are so many healthy cafes to go to but I especially like Atman Kafe. I love the juices, dessert balls, and continuous brew kombucha.
• 9 Angels was a fun place to disconnect. No booze, no wifi. Get time in the hammock or swing if you can. Food and beverages are self-serve, pay in jars at the table, and wash your own dishes. They also accept clothes donations 9 am to 10 pm. 
• I watched the Kecak Fire & Trance Dance (RP75K). It’s a Balinese dance that is performed primarily by men, but was formed into a drama by Walter Spies (German painter and musician) in the 1930s, intended for Western tourist audiences. The setting is evocative and the dance is pretty mesmerizing. What I found especially cool was that the accompanying “music” is a chorus of human voices. Do you know of the movie, The Fall?
• I rented crap scooters from Erlangga because they were conveniently located. The man working there charged me RP100K/day last year, but I talked him down to RP55K/day this year. I still feel like he overcharged me. Those scooters are really old and in terrible condition! (I’m also too lazy to go somewhere else.)
• Our friend, Nik Wood, led our pack of scooters to the Sangeh Monkey Park (RP15K a person). This place is worth the trip. The guides are helpful and the monkeys relatively chill. Don’t pet them and feed them with your palms open. Then, we continued to Nungnung Waterfall, which is apparently the best waterfall in the area to swim around. Well worth the scooter ride and stairs down-and-up!
• I never expected my favorite meal in Ubud to be at a vegan buffet, but so it is. I really enjoyed Sawobali, a delicious buffet that doubles as a bakery and triples as a museum. No garlic or onions. Price is RP50K a person.