The Experiences in Bali

Have you ever wanted to eat lunch near a crater of a volcano, take a selfie with a monkey, or stand underneath a waterfall? Well, if you answered yes to any of the above than you’ll want to visit Bali, Indonesia. Once I reached my late 20s I decided that I wanted to live a life full of new experiences. I am so happy and blessed that God allowed me to experience Bali because the views, the culture, and excursions were nothing short of amazing. Now I want to share with you some of my experiences and give you some ideas for your future trip to Bali.

Our Stay

As mentioned, in my Journey to Bali post we decided to stay at an Airbnb instead of a hotel and it was the best decision ever. The Airbnb we stayed at was considered a castle, YES, you read that correctly. It had 6 bedrooms, two pools, a karaoke room, a lobby area, security, a hostess, and it was all to ourselves. Also, we were served breakfast everyday. We honestly felt like royalty there! So due to my experience I’m going to recommend that you book with an Airbnb because you get more for your money.

The Monkey Forest

Although the monkey forest was at the top of my list of the places I wanted to see, I was nervous because the rules that they recommended you follow freaked me out. But in the end seeing monkeys walk or run right pass you was an experience I will never forget! So if you plan to visit the forest here are some important tips to follow:

DO NOT make eye contact or smile at the monkeys because there’s a possibility that they may see you as a threat to them. Showing your teeth is a sign of aggression.
DO NOT bring shiny objects such as sunglasses, earrings etc. or water bottles with you inside because they will want to play with them and they will take them from you. We saw a monkey steal a pocket knife and others chase people for their water bottles. Don’t be these people.

Honestly, if you follow the rules you’ll have so much fun here. Make sure to find an employee there so you can get that iconic selfie picture with a monkey!

Visiting the Lempuyang Temple

If you plan to visit the Lempuyang temple make sure to wear comfortable shoes because the hills you have to walk up are no joke. You can catch our experience by checking out the On the Map: For the Culture vlog. Seeing this temple was so breathtaking. I was in awe of this experience.

Important Facts to Know:

If you want to take the iconic Instagram picture in front of the Gates of Heaven, plan to wait to get there early even still you may be waiting for about 4 hours.
You will have to wear a sarong and your shoulders have to be covered. These necessities can be rented at the gate before entering the temple.

Tirta Gangaa the Water Palace

I could not get over the views when we entered the palace. It was just so gorgeous! Everywhere you turned there was water, fountains, carvings and statues. The bodies of water even had koi fish! One portion of the palace had stepping stones to stand out in the body of the water while the koi fish swim around you.

Note: if you book this through a travel company there may be a chance that the money you paid up front for the tour does not include the entry fee. We learned the hard way on several of our excursions so plan accordingly.

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Tukad Cepung Waterfall

If you plan to see a waterfall in Bali then you should visit the Tukad Cepung Waterfall, it will literally take your breath away. To get to the waterfall was quite an adventure, but it was worth all of the trouble.

What you Should Wear to the Waterfall:

As a kid I’ve always wanted to visit a volcano. I was so excited that I finally had the chance to see one up close. If you get to visit the Mount Batur volcano you’ll also have the option to eat lunch while staring at this view! This sight is truly worth seeing, and we were speechless when we saw it. You’re literally in the crater of the volcano!

Mount Batur Volcano

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Snorkeling

I am not too sure if I was ready for snorkeling as I thought. Disclosure though — I don’t know how to swim so this activity for me began as an interesting adventure when I jumped into the water and realized that my life vest wasn’t on tight enough. Luckily I have a great group of friends and everyone helped me get my life together. Once my situation was fixed I really enjoyed my snorkeling experience despite the occasional unintentional sips of salt water which made me a little nauseous — yuck! But seeing the beautiful array of fish in the Bali Sea really made it all worth it.

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What I loved about Bali is that there was so much to do! I still haven’t mentioned EVERYTHING that we did because then this post would be even longer, but I still wanted to give a quick list of other adventures you could partake in for your future trip to Bali such as :

ATV Riding
Great photo Ops at the Bali swing and/or Nest
Relax on the beach – a good pick is the Jimbaran Beach
Visit the Turtha Empul Holy Spring
Have a spa day

I have to say that my trip to Bali was the best vacay I’ve had thus far! If you are planning a trip to this beautiful destination or dream of visiting one day, please don’t hesitate to ask me any questions! I hope this experience guide was helpful!