Part 2
Day 4:
We woke up later since we had been drinking the night before. We were going to wake up early to go to the local market for some mangosteen, but didn’t have the energy to get out of bed at 6 AM. Instead, we slept until 8, woke up, and got ready to leave Ubud. The previous night, we messaged a few people to figure out our plans for Uluwatu. Erin really wanted to rent mopeds, but I was a bit skeptical especially in a place we don’t know well. After hearing some prices of various drivers, we also asked the airbnb host from our Ubud experience. We learned from Putu that his whole family has a tour business that organizes the tours and experiences they offer. He is one of many drivers with the company. We asked if we could hire someone to do a day tour of Uluwatu, and luckily were matched up with Putu again! He arranged to meet us at 9 AM, so in the morning after checking out, we grabbed a smoothie bowl for breakfast at a cafe nearby. After meeting Putu, we stopped by Mcdonalds on the way to Uluwatu for a quick snack (since he was hungry). If you know me, you’ll know my love for Mcdonalds. While most menu items are classics, there are also some special menu items that are local to the area you’re in! At this Mcdonalds, they had a kids happy meal with a fried chicken drumstick and scoop of rice which I decided to try. The chicken was surprisingly delicious coming from a Mcdonalds and it was a great snack to hold us over until lunch.
Our first stop was a beach in Badung area (I forgot the name of it). The beach was located among several resort complexes. We had to pay a small parking fee to get in to the lot, but it was really cheap (maybe less than $1) if I remember correctly. The beach itself reminded me a lot of a Hawaii beach like Kaimanas. After seeing the jungle for the first days of our trip, it was nice to finally see the ocean!
After about an hour, we made our way to the next beach, Melasti Beach. Putu mentioned that this beach was fairly new. We also had to pay a small entrance fee to get in but again very minimal! As we drove down the hill, we saw several photo shoots happening where Chinese tourists were shooting their pre wedding photos. They even had a makeup/hair stand at the bottom of the hill for people to get ready!
The cliff views were stunning as we drove down. I thought the beach here was so beautiful and definitely different than a beach in Hawaii (maybe a little reminiscent of Cockroach Cove or Yokohama Beach). While Erin and I sunbathed and took turns jumping into the water, Putu hid from the sun and wandered around for an hour while we relaxed. You can pay for a beach chair and umbrella if you prefer to sit in chairs. They also have some ladies who come around offering massages. Although I really wanted to try it, we just didn’t have enough time to relax that much. Plus, it was super hot outside while we were sunbathing, so we spent a majority of the time drifting in the ocean to cool off.
For lunch, we drove back up and enjoyed some indonesian food at a local restaurant. I got the crispy duck as I heard it was a specialty in Bali! The duck was a pretty big size and packed with lots of flavor. If you’re a fan of meat, then definitely try this in Bali! Putu also mentioned that there is great Suckling Pig in Bali, both better to get in the Ubud area for the price.
After lunch, we headed to Dreamland Beach. Putu took us through a secret entrance connected to the Klapa Hotel. Normally, if you’re going to dreamland, you’ll have to park your car and walk to the beach. If you’re staying at the hotel, you have access to the beach directly from the hotel grounds. Luckily, it seemed like Putu knew a lot of the workers and got us in the “VIP” way. The hotel itself was crowded with tourists but nevertheless stunning. There is a crazy pool that overlooks the ocean and cliffs and gives you a great view of the ocean below. Hotel guests were enjoying afternoon tea by the pool and relaxing on the pool chairs as well. Next time I visit Bali, I’d definitely consider staying here!
After walking down to the beach, we set down our towels, lathered on some sunscreen, and relaxed a bit. Dreamland was definitely one of my favorites of the day. The pink Air Asia umbrellas added a vibe and pop of color to the area. You can rent beach chairs from the restaurants nearby if you prefer shade, but we opted for the cheaper route and set our towels on the beach. Like Melasti, you can also get a beach massage here too. While tempting, we had no money with us so we passed. The waves at dreamland were a bit rough so we spent a majority of the time laying on the sand and even passed out for a good thirty minutes. We were blessed with a beautiful, sunny day in Uluwatu and it couldn’t have been more perfect! Highly recommend stopping by Dreamland if you’re traveling to Uluwatu.
To end the day, we headed to Uluwatu Temple to watch the sunset. You do have to wear a sarong to enter, but they are not so strict on dress code at this temple. They have free sarongs to rent, so if you don’t have one or forgot one, no worries! The temple was probably the most crowded place we went to all day. But the sunset view from the cliffs were breathtaking and a great end to the day. Despite the crowds, you could get a clear picture and most people just sat on the side to watch the sunset. The sun was fully shining and created a magical orange tint to the sky as it set. The temple is also famous for its fire dance performance which starts around 6 PM. If you’re interested, you’ll have to buy tickets and grab seats early!
As it got dark, Putu drove us to our new hotel in Uluwatu, Padang Padang Inn. We thanked him, and paid him 800,000 IDR for the whole day tour (600,000 IDR for 8 hrs + 200,000 IDR for 2 extra hours). We tried to give him 1,000,000 IDR, honestly because we were so grateful and thought it was a fair price for the amount of driving and waiting around he did, but he didn’t accept it. Erin and I were truly lucky to find such a nice tour guide! We were so happy to see all the amazing spots that he took us to and couldn’t have asked for a better experience. We arrived to the hotel around 7 PM and did a late check in. The room was only $30 each for the night which was a steal considering the location and cleanliness of it! The hotel came with a nice pool, free breakfast, and really great staff! For dinner, we ate nearby at Kenanga Cafe which was serving a grilled seafood platter for dinner. We started with some refreshing watermelon juice and split a grilled fish and prawn plate for our meal. I was so shocked at the portions of the food we ordered. We got a whole grilled fish and 16 prawns seasoned with a delicious sweet chili sauce for super cheap. This was hands down my favorite meal in Bali and a great way to end the night. The prawns were grilled to perfection and the fish fell off the bone! The cuisine was so authentic and delicious. We were honestly considering another plate of prawns after the feast! To top it all off, the total was only 250,000 IDR which was crazy for the amount of food they gave us, especially being seafood! Bali is truly an amazing place!
Day 5:
For our last day in Bali, we woke up early to see the sunset at Padang Padang Beach. Our hotel was less than 10 minutes walking away from the beach so it was a perfect location. Since it was so early, we could skip paying an entrance fee which was great. To access the beach, you have to walk down some steps to the shore area. We were followed by a cute stray dog but we were too scared to play with him in case of diseases. He seemed so lonely and started following us around, and even sat by us on the sand! Padang Padang Beach was still and calm in the morning. There were a few surfers and boogie boarders who went out to watch the sunset as well, but the water seemed a bit reefy. Although the sunrise was on the opposite side of the beach, the sky still turned a beautiful color as the sun rose. You could see the outlines of the mountains in the background which looked like something out of a painting. The beach itself was nice in the early morning but felt a bit dirtier than the others we visited. It also had a bunch of trash (even broken glass) that washed up ashore. After the sun rose, the monkeys started to come out of their hiding spots and ran around the beach. To be completely honest, we were so scared that we got anxiety and had to leave soon after they came out. While they’re probably harmless, its better to be extra careful to not feed them, and make sure all your valuables and goods are hidden in your purse!
After our monkey encounter, we headed back to the hotel for breakfast. On the way, we experienced a series of unfortunate events. The stray dog followed us up the stairs and onto the street area where a beach worker pretended to punch him, making him really scared. Following that, a couple fell off their moped in the road and the man was crushed by his bike. His arm seemed to be dislocated and we were honestly shook at the whole situation. A bit frazzled from the events that just unraveled, we walked slowly back to the hotel to try to take our minds off of it.
For breakfast, we could choose between Indonesian, American or Continental breakfast. Erin and I both opted for the Indonesian which was Nasi Goreng or Indonesian Fried Rice. It also came with a small fresh watermelon juice, tea or coffee, and a bowl of cut fruits! The cafe area of the hotel was nicely decorated and at 7 AM, was pretty much empty for us to enjoy! After eating, we went down to the pool for a bit to stretch and relax.
After breakfast, we checked out of the hotel and made our way to Bingin Beach. Since we didn’t want to be rushed, we decided to check out early and spent our last hours in Bali, exploring whatever was left! Most tourists in the area seemed to rent scooters to travel from beach to beach. If you’re too scared (like me) than you could also rent a car, taxi, or hire a driver. Since our hotel wasn’t too far from Bingin, we decided to walk there instead. Along the way, there are several cute cafes and surf shops to stop by. We had some delicious açaí bowls from Nalu Bowls, and stopped in a few boutiques looking at the cute swimsuits and local goods. We even got some free bamboo straws to use! I loved how all the cafes in Bali were really sustainable and encouraged reusable straws and gave out reusable bags as well. It made me more motivated to change things in my life to be more sustainable and eco-friendly to protect our beautiful earth!
Finally, after walking and sweating (a lot) in the heat, we reached the start of the trail. Since the Uluwatu area is built on the cliffs, you must walk down a bit to reach the beach. Bingin Beach had a steep pathway leading down to the beach area. When we reached the shore, the tide was incredibly high and we made the mistake of trying to cross near the ocean. The path lead us down to a rocky section where most surfers just paddle out from. The sandy area of the beach is located farther to the left side, so you need to cross the beach some how. During high tide, it can be incredibly hard and if you carry valuables with you, its not recommended! We tried….and failed. Unlucky for us, we got hit by a huge wave where most of our bodies and bags got soaked by the water. So far our last day was going not as great as planned. Since we had walked so far to get there, we sat for a little and watched the surf until we were ready to head back. If you’re a surfer, this seemed like one of the best surf spots we went to so far. I would recommend against it if you’re going to tan, but they do have some restaurants that overlook the ocean if you just want to go to see the beach!
Since we had some time to spare, we enjoyed our last meal at a cafe, The Place With No Name, nearby the hotel. We each got some wraps and Erin had her second “young” coconut of the day. To end things, we headed back to the hotel where we sat by the pool and tried to dry off as best we could. My phone was still wet from the beach incident so I had a small panic that my phone was water damaged. Along with having some small cuts on my foot and a wet bag, it was definitely not the best last day we hoped for. But the sights and food were still beautiful regardless of the bad things that happened.
And with that, Putu met us to take us to the airport around 3 PM. We were so lucky to find Putu as a guide and he offered to even drive us to the airport for free. Of course, we had to refuse and paid him for the transfer plus extra tip money. We couldn’t have done this trip without him! After getting through security, we found the airport lounge and stopped by for some food. The Bali lounge is amazing, if you have perks to get in, I would use it for sure! They had a full on food buffet with entrees, fruits, desserts, and even a hot food cooking station. Upon entry, you also get three free alcoholic drinks which of course I had to take advantage of. And that was the end. It was a bittersweet goodbye. Five days was definitely not enough time to explore the beautiful island, but we will be back soon!
Just when you thought our trip was over….We landed in Kuala Lumpur again for a long layover. I really wanted to visit the Batu Caves so we arranged an overnight layover (17 hrs total) so that we could make a quick stop before heading home. The plane landed around 9 PM. The train to get to the city is pretty pricey at 55 RM per person. Instead, we got a grab for around 75 RM for two people and it took us right up to the area! The air was muggy and stiff when we stepped out of the airport. Since the city is a bit far from KLIA, you should be prepared for another hour or two before you arrive at your destination. While we were exhausted, our grab driver kept us entertained by giving us suggestions on what to do and see in the area, even for just one day. When we arrived at the airbnb, we dropped our bags, and headed to the pool for a great view of the city to end our long night!
Day 6:
As with every other day of our trip, Erin and I woke up extra early to head to Batu Caves. We woke up and got ready to leave around 6:45 AM, but no cars were available to take us that far. As a backup plan, we decided to take the first train from Putra station to Batu Caves. We had a bit of trouble finding out how to get there from the apartments were were staying at. The taxi stand at the hotel area told us it would cost 70 RM to get to Batu Caves, 20 RM to get to the nearest station and claimed that it was very far to walk. Luckily, we trusted our own judgement and found out that it was only a five minute walk! Anyway, we made our way to Batu Caves which was around 30 minutes away on train.
I was initially drawn to Batu Caves through an instagrammers post and for the colorful staircases. The caves are limestone caves filled with Hindu Temples and other smaller museums within the complex. Since we arrived early in the morning, the caves were pretty empty and only had a few people walking through. While dress code is not strictly enforced, it would be better to cover up a little bit to show respect. It was pretty muggy outside for early in the morning, but we wore long pants and some moderate tank tops to be as conservative as we could be despite the weather. I was amazed at the decor and colors of the stairs lying among the tall limestone rocks. After walking up around 200 stairs, you reach the top cave area where there are some tourist shops, a temple prayer area, and some other smaller caves. We arrived as a Hindu ceremony was starting which was interesting to observe from the outside. There is no doubt that this place is a must see in Kuala Lumpur! On our way back down, monkeys started to climb up and down the staircase so we knew it was our cue to leave.
We caught the train back to our place and rushed to take a quick dip in the pool before leaving for the airport. Google maps was not the most efficient app for checking the train times as we waited 30-40 minutes for the train to depart Batu Caves. The trains were also infrequent and kind of an inconvenience considering how limited time we had. We finally reached our place, packed our things, and rushed to the pool for some last minute pictures. The view of the city was incredible from the pool and was enough to make us want to miss our flight back to Tokyo. During the day, the blue sky shined above tall skyscrapers and other buildings! Erin and I took turns getting our photos and then rushed to catch the 10:30 train to the main station. From there, we took a airport shuttle bus (only 12 RM each) and ended our trip. Going back to Tokyo, we were delayed over an hour due to a medical issue with a passenger, we nearly missed our last buses and trains home but luckily made it just in time.
Reflecting on the trip, Bali was one of THE best places I have visited so far. I loved every day and enjoyed the food, culture, and of course the scenery. While tourism is a major industry of the island, I thought it was great how cultural and colorful the city was. It has a wonderful mix of jungle and ocean views and had a wide range of activities that can suit basically anyone. At the end of our trip, Erin and I were so sad to leave. You really need to spend at least a month on the island to explore every part of it! Erin even joked about moving to Bali permanently. Coming from Hawaii, I thought that Bali would be similar to Hawaii in a lot of ways. But everything was so different from the food to the sights to the culture. While some parts are similar to Kauai or other remote parts of Hawaii, Bali definitely has its own island charm! I had a great time exploring new areas and learning about the Balinese culture, people, and island. We’ll be back soon!!
Trip Costs (Days 3 - 5):
Bali Money Exchange - $200
Cooking Class - $29.05 https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/124922
Kuala Lumpur Money Exchange - $25
Kuala Lumpur Airbnb - $20.80 ($41.60 total) https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/27254427
Total: $274.85
Individual Costs (Paid Cash):
Uluwatu Hotel (Padang Padang Inn) - 922,500 IDR total ($32 per person): https://bit.ly/30pTCq8
Uluwatu Day Tour - 800,000 IDR total ($27.67 per person) + lunch costs
Uluwatu -> Airport Transfer - 300,000 IDR total ($10.50 per person)
