When we were deciding where to go on our honeymoon, Bali was my frontrunner. Italy was Eric’s. And while I cannot wait to make my way to Italy one say, I talked Eric into Bali and here’s why:
1. It’s harder to get to, and I know the older we get, the harder it’ll be to travel across the world. So let’s go now!
2. It’s exotic. Adventurous. Gorgeous.
3. It’s quintessential honeymoon destination.
And so, we found ourselves booking a 34-hour flight (one way) to Indonesia. 😉
We decided to spend 10 days in “The Island of a Thousand Temples” with first leg of our trip in the serene jungles of Ubud and the second leg of our trip taking in the the breathtaking ocean-side beauty of Uluwatu.
First, we can’t talk about Bali without talking about the travel there and back. If you want to visit Bali – as a western hemisphere resident anyway – you have to really want to visit Bali. It’s a journeyyyyy. For us, it was 34 hours one way, including layovers in Dallas and Qatar. I think it was 100% worth it. I know they say the journey is the destination: but I’m not gonna sugarcoat it: those flights are not for the faint of heart.
FIRST LEG: UBUD
Day 1: A Delayed Start but a Warm Welcome
Our Indonesian odyssey kicked off with a charming little twist when, much to our chagrin, my luggage failed to show up at the airport. As much travel as I do, I was probably overdue for a “my luggage never showed up” moment, and here it was: on my honeymoon.
The employees wrote my name and hotel on a piece of paper. That was their system. There is no way my luggage is showing up in Bali. Time for a mental mind shift…and a shopping spree.
That’s a good segue into one of my first observations about Bali: the people. They were incredibly warm, kind and welcoming.
Day 2: Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Gold and Silver Jewelry, and Woodworking Tour
We checked into Royal Pita Maha, where we rented a private pool overlooking a lush jungle valley and I’m gonna be honest: we were blown away. It was absolutely stunning.
We made our way to the Tegalalang Rice Terrace and afterward, partook in tours of gold and silver jewelry craftsmanship and traditional woodworking.
Day 3: Kintamani Barong and Monkey Forest Tour
A private tour introduced us to the enchanting Barong dance in Kintamani. Later, we ventured into the Monkey Forest with a private tour guide to learn about the cheeky little long-tailed macaques.
Day 3 came with a surprise in our lobby: My luggage! There it was: my beat up black Ted Baker suitcase with the rose gold wheels. Scuffed up, she had clearly had really ‘been through it’ but she was there still standing tall, ready to experience Bali with me. Crisis(mostly) averted!
Day 4: Lunch at Mt. Batur and a Luwak Coffee Tasting
Neither Eric nor I had ever been to an active volcano. And Bali’s got a few of ’em so we decided to book a driver to take a couple hours outside of Ubud to experience lunch at Mt. Batur and Lake Batur.
After our volcano lunch, we made a last-minute decision to stop by for a Luwak coffee tasting, which is the most expensive coffee in the world. As an avid coffee drinker I was super impressed. Eric’s not even a coffee drinker and he enjoyed this pitstop too!
Day 5: Tegenungan Waterfall and Suspension Bridge Adventure
Tegenungan Waterfall, though popular with tourists, left us in awe. Crossing a suspension bridge on the way back from the falls was an adventurous highlight, but to be honest, I’m not sure I’d do that one again – ha!
Day 6: Spa Day
Eric’s one request was that we partake in spa day. I didn’t argue. So we signed up for a day of pampering, and we found it in the form of two-hour massages at the resort’s spa. It. Was. Life-changing.
Day 7: Campuhan Ridge Walk
We didn’t really have any plans for our last day in Ubud, so we decided to spend a couple hours embarking on the Campuhan Ridge Walk, which took us on a lovely little jaunt around the outskirts of town.
From here, we drove about two hours from Ubud to Uluwatu to experience a different kind of island vibe in Bali…
PART 2: ULUWATU
Day 8: Uluwatu Sunset Dinner at Jimbaran
Transitioning to Uluwatu led us to the sleek and stylish Anantara Uluwatu Bali resort, where we were greeted by infinity pools and stunning sunsets. Bali’s legendary traffic, however, meant our sunset dinner at Jimbaran was in fact going to be a seafood feast at dusk instead.
Day 9: Essence of Bali Temple and Blessing Tour at Uluwatu Temple
The Uluwatu Temple, perched dramatically on a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean, was the epitome of Bali. The views here are absolutely breathtaking, and naturally, I forgot my camera battery back at the hotel 🙁 Beware of the thieving monkeys here at Uluwatu Temple though. We witnessed many of them stealing hats, sunglasses and food from tourists!
Day 10: GWK Statue – An Unexpected Discovery of Love
Though not initially on our itinerary, we couldn’t resist the allure of the giant Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) statue. Standing as the largest statue in Indonesia, it really it a sight to see.
Our 10-day honeymoon adventure in Bali was a romantic sojourn through natural beauty, cultural experiences, and luxurious escapes. Ubud and Uluwatu, with their perfect blend of relaxation and exploration. Bali will forever hold a very special place in our hearts. The genuine warmth of the Balinese people and the beauty of the island itself made our honeymoon an unforgettable trip.
Thank you to Abigael Striker of Striker Travel Group for helping us plan our dream honeymoon!
