I think of Bali and it quickly gives me this refreshing feeling. Imagine an island not so far from home where you can escape from the concrete jungle and do countless activities while spending less?  Now that budget travel sounds more like a fad sometimes, this one takes it to a whole new level by infusing the concept of “share economy“, i.e. AirBnB and Uber.  

Four years ago, I spent my birthday in this island and while I avoid as much as possible, not to repeat the same destination I’ve previously been to, I’d have to admit that I have a soft spot for Bali.  Also, the island is just too big (so many things to see and do, I still have a few to tick off my list in case I ever return). There are two main reasons why a lot of people keep on coming back to Bali — it’s accessible and cheap.

 

AirBnb.  Initially, I’ve been utilizing this when traveling to distant destinations (hotels in Europe are quite a sore).  But now that it’s been proliferated even in Southeast Asian countries, there are more benefits to using this than you could imagine. For one, you could actually feel how to live as a local.  Also, it somehow stirs the economy in such a way that income goes to the Airbnb owners/locals rather than patronizing hotels.

Uber.  Amazing how technology brings you convenience and helps you cut costs.  Who would have thought that riding a car for almost 2.5 hours from airport to Tegallalang (even farther than Ubud) would only cost S$ 19?  That would even save you from being ripped off from airport taxis and and could spare you from being fooled by taxi drivers.

 

Things to do:

1. Go to Ubud and find out what real relaxation is about. From the airport, go up north and move away for the hustle and bustle. (How to get to Ubud conveniently? See details on Uber above) Wander around with a scooter and get a glimpse of the lovely Tegallalang Rice Terraces that you’d see just across the highway.

 

2. Visit a 9th century temple just near Ubud.  Through the years, I’ve become less fond of temples so I would usually pick just few unique ones to see.

3) Try yoga.. not indoor but one that’s close to nature.  Wake up early, attend a yoga class that focuses more on breathing and posture and I assure you that you’ve never felt so much  better for the rest of the day 🙂

 

4) Beach, please! How could this be not part of the list?  There are just so many amazing beaches in Bali (that can come close to ours in Phils, haha!), and the great thing is that they aren’t too far from each other.

5) See the Uluwatu Temple and chase the sunset.

Wanna go for a sunset tour? Try KLOOK’s Tanah Lot Sunset Tour.  Use the link below to earn Klook credits:

https://www.klook.com/activity/152-tanah-lot-sunset-tour-bali/?aid=2262

 

Recommendations:

Accommodation near Ubud:

AirBnB (search for: KUPU-KUPU #2 New House, Rice Paddy). The whole house costs only 41 SGD/night

Situated in the midst of relaxing rice fields, you have the villa all to yourself for a very cheap price — a stunning outdoor bathroom, a nice kitchen (with bread and coffee), a beautiful, and a very hospitable host who’d welcome you with fresh coconut juice and banana muffin. Note that this isn’t in the Ubud proper, so it’s best to go around by scooter.

 

Accommodation near Airport and beaches:

AirBnB (search for: OneLove Villa, Garden & Pool (Room 1) -Bali Vibe). The room costs only 42 SGD/night

I wanted to find a place that’s close to the airport just to be sure that we wouldn’t miss our morning flight back to SG, and well, this Bali-themed villa is just perfect (17 mins going to airport in the morning without traffic).  Not just that, it’s in South Kuta so it’s close the beautiful beaches and Uluwatu temple.  The host provided a very comprehensive Bali travel guide that has everything you need and want for your trip.

 

Food:

Warung Biah Biah (Ubud) – They serve authentic Indonesian dishes at very cheap price. I just love their Dadar Gulung (sweet coconut pancake). Nasi goreng, mie goreng and lawar babi are also highly recommended.

Bali Buda (Ubud) – Their bread is FTW.  This health food shop sells goodies at reasonable price.

Money Changer:

PT Dirgahayu Valuta Prima – They have the best rate so far and are proliferated in Bali.

 

Total Expenses for 4 Days/3 Nights in SGD

accommodation	62
SG to Bali ticket (return)	204
pocket money	135
2 Uber rides	11.5
Total	412.5 (about PhP14,300)

One thing I realized about this trip is that travel helps me evolve as a person.  I have come to terms of appreciating each experience at its very core, as though I’m slowly moving away from trivial things. Before I knew it, I’ve been taking less photos, ignoring which outfit to wear, making sure to bring just the essentials and just living for the moment.  It felt so real that I can still vividly remember how life-changing every travel experience becomes.