For First-Timers & Digital Nomads

The smell of burning incense and the sound of xylophones continue to fill the air. The layered sound of buzzing mopeds and endless mix of honks fill my memory. I can still taste the food—the spices, the sauces. But most of all, I won’t forget the hospitality—or the driver who made the experience what it was.

It’s the sensory experience that Bali provides. This Indonesian island in the Indian Ocean is just one of many across the country, but it’s the only Hindu-majority island in Indonesia.

I went in with some reservations. This is a destination that’s heavily hyped online—by influencers, snake oil salesmen, and digital nomads. Are they here? Yeah, they are. I mean, there’s even a “Russian city” in Bali—Nuanu Creative City.

But once you tune out the noise, you can start to feel what I’d call the heartbeat of the island—its raison d’être. Some people say the culture is lost to overtourism. But I’m here to tell you: if you actually integrate yourself into the culture, it’s still very much alive.

I’ll show you what I liked about Bali as a newcomer, and a well seasoned traveler. I chose Canggu as my home base as an American remote worker. I found very few others in my shoes—so maybe this quick guide can help you plan.

One thing you should know: working on U.S. time zones here is rough. That means you’re starting your workday at midnight or 1 AM Bali time to align with PST. So your morning routine will look very different from your typical Australian or UK-based nomads.

Oh, and I’ll share something no one else talks about: be prepared for the dogs. And I mean a lot of dogs. People warned me about stray dogs in Mauritius—nah. Not even close to the level of Bali.

Also, our driver said, “Bali is like chicken, and Nusa Penida is like poop.” Keep scrolling—I’ll tell you why he said that. But it has nothing to do with the dogs. 

I’ll also share which places I wouldn’t recommend, and a few I’d say to skip entirely. But the real question—is 14 days enough to experience Bali? Short answer: yes and no. Long answer: no. The breadth and diversity of scenery will leave you wanting more, constantly searching for your own happy place that really resonates with you.

Let’s get started!

 

TRIP OVERVIEW & HIGHLIGHTS

📍 HOME BASES:

• Canggu (TRIBAL Coworking): 4 nights
• Pererenan (Villa Kirana): 6 nights
• Berawa (Lv8 Resort): 3 nights

I chose Canggu as my initial base for exploring Bali. If it’s your first time and you’ve just traveled over 24 hours to reach this island, I recommend easing into your experience.

You’ll encounter many travelers from Australia, followed by Germany, the United Kingdom, and other European countries. It’s a much shorter trip for them to get to the island.

As a remote worker, you need some familiarity and structure—especially if you’re working for a company that requires regular meetings and calls. Backpacking may not be an option when you need reliable connectivity and a proper workspace.

That’s why Canggu, despite being touristy, offers Western amenities as you familiarize yourself with the island. Consider this trip a dry run for a more adventurous journey in the future.

Exploring different areas around Southern Bali made sense, which is why I chose Canggu, Pererenan, and Berawa. I’ll show you what went well, what went wrong, and what you should avoid.

📌 TOP EXPERIENCES:

• Must-Visit Beach: Lovina Beach (North Bali) – far from tourist crowds with authentic local interactions
• Best Sunset Spot: Uluwatu Beach – breathtaking cliff views and surf breaks
• Favorite Restaurant: Ulekan – exceptional Balinese cuisine with live gamelan music
• Most Surprising Discovery: Playing pétanque with a French expat on Lovina Beach while drinking local moonshine

Gear Used

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PRACTICAL INFORMATION

🗓️ BEST TIME TO VISIT

Coming from the States, is there a best time to visit? I planned my trip for late February and early March. Bali’s dry season runs April to October, with the rainy season from November to March.

The February-March range is technically rainy season—and in the Indian Ocean, that’s cyclone season. But there are benefits: fewer tourists, lower prices, and still plenty of sunny days.

For the most part, this proved true. Even though it wasn’t peak season, I still met Australians, British travelers, and visitors from France, Estonia, and China.

Flights from the United States were reasonable for an international destination—around $1,200 USD on Delta (Korean Air), which I covered with points. If you book during high season, prices skyrocket. With some searching, you can find off-season flights for as low as $890 round trip from the West Coast (and some good deals from Chicago’s ORD and NYC airports).

💸 CURRENCY & PAYMENTS

• Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
• Exchange Rate: $1 USD = ~16,000 IDR (as of Mar 2025)
• Payment Tips: You can use American Express at many establishments, but have Mastercard or Visa as backup. Gojek (Uber equivalent) works with AmEx. You won’t need much cash, but it’s helpful when paying smaller vendors or your personal driver.

🛂 VISA INFORMATION

• Tourist Visa: B1 Visa on Arrival recommended for short visits
• Length of Stay: 30 Days (valid for 3 months from date of issue)

For most Americans, this process online is straightforward. I recommend completing the approval process online to save time at the airport. It took just a few minutes from submission to receiving the PDF confirmation.

Note: If you stay beyond 30 days, you’ll need to provide your device’s IMEI number.

🗣️ LANGUAGE

• Official Languages: Balinese, Indonesian
• English Proficiency: Medium (Greater concentration of English speakers in tourist areas like Canggu)

Most people speak English in popular spots like Canggu and Ubud. Once you venture north or west—on single-lane roads—it’s less likely you’ll find English speakers.

Nevertheless, I did find these Balinese phrases particularly helpful:

• “Suksma”: Thank you
• “Mawali”: You’re welcome (I kept pronouncing this as “Malawi”—don’t make that mistake!)

🚗 TRANSPORTATION GUIDE

There are three types of transportation to understand as a first-timer:

1. Airport Transfers: If you book through Booking.com, you may get a driver included as a promotional perk. TRIBAL Bali offered this, which was extremely helpful.
2. City Navigation: Use Gojek, a ride-share app similar to Uber/Uber Eats, or rent a scooter. I don’t recommend riding a scooter, especially if you have a high-profile tech job or upcoming commitments where injuries would be problematic.
3. Island Exploration: For longer distances, you can use Gojek, which charges very reasonable rates. However, drivers may decline if they see you’re going far away, as they won’t be paid for the return trip. I recommend finding a private driver. It might take a few tries to find one you trust, but once you do, a whole new world opens up.
   

Transport Options:

• Airport Transfer: Made Agus (+62 819-1625-7355)
• Scooter Rental: IDR 80,000/day ($5 | €4.80)
• Private Driver (Day Trip): IDR 700,000-850,000 ($44-53)
• My Driver: Gus (+62 878-6222-4115). Highly recommend
• Ride-hailing App: Gojek (works like Uber)

DAILY ITINERARY

PART 1: ARRIVAL & CANGGU BASE ✈️

DAY 0-1: THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Getting to Paradise via Seoul

✈️ Travel Route:

• SEA to ICN: Delta
  • Duration: 12h 31m, non-stop
  • Cost: $1,218.21 (Amex Points: 121,821) → IDR 19,440,000 | €1,120
• ICN to DPS: Korean Air
  • Duration: 7h 15m
  • Land DPS at 11:55 PM

🚗 Airport Transfer:

• Private driver through Booking.com
• Cost: IDR 350,000 ($22 | €20)

Booking.com made this process stress-free, providing a private transfer from the airport to TRIBAL Coworking Bali. For more information on airport arrival, click here.

Pro Tip: As soon as you exit the airport, you’ll encounter numerous taxi drivers offering random prices. Have your transportation arranged beforehand to avoid this situation.

🏠 Check-in:

• TRIBAL Coworking Bali (4 nights)
• Cost: Rp 7,160,000 total ($451 | €414) for two private rooms

I selected this open-air hostel for its combination of social atmosphere and hotel amenities, including a built-in café, restaurant, and pool.

However, the arrival experience was disappointing. A straight ZERO. Their credit card payment system was down, and they would only accept us staying if we surrendered our passports—not copies, the actual passports. They wouldn’t take alternatives like an American Express card as collateral, and staff seemed unconcerned about our midnight arrival with nowhere else to go.

The staff should have taken photocopies of our passports rather than keeping the original documents. I was alarmed to discover my passport was casually stored under the checkout desk overhang—not in a secure location. While the overall stay experience was pleasant, this left a sour impression.

It’s due to these reservations during the check-in process, that I hesitate to recommend this property, despite its pleasant demeanor. 

DAY 2: ADJUST & REMOTE WORK

Digital Nomad Setup

☕ Morning:

• Breakfast at TRIBAL Coworking Bali (at least coffee)
• Walk to Pererenan Beach

💻 Afternoon:

• Brunch and Bintang at Jempinis Beach Bar: A good area to view surfers, but watch out for dogs.
• Grab snacks from Circle K (right next to hostel)
• Lunch at Crate Café (recommend the Chik Chik Boom Salad)
• Run out of contacts? Do an emergency run at Yava Optical (a lifesaver when I forgot replacement contacts)

Pro Tip: Use Gojek for transportation around Canggu. I mistakenly thought Crate Café was within walking distance. While technically true, Bali roads aren’t pedestrian-friendly like in Europe. It’s cheaper to Gojek anywhere in the city than comparable rides in Seattle, NYC, or Boston.

Watch Out: Some drivers recognize tourists and may message you asking for IDR 150K directly instead of the Gojek price of IDR 20K. This happened when I was leaving Crate Café.

🍽️ Evening:

• Gojek to Seseh Beach for a beer at Thalassa Sunset Restaurant (skip the food)
• Stop by Bali Direct an organic health food store (recommend their Heart-Beat cold-pressed drink and Bali Kombucha)
• Light snack at Island Wok Pererenan
• Dinner at La Brisa (not recommended) – La Brisa is a cesspool of modern-day capitalism disguised as a restaurant. It operates more like a food-producing Tinderbox than a genuine dining experience. The seating is paid—even when the place is half empty—and prices range from IDR 800K to 1.9 million depending on how close you sit to the water. 

DAY 3: CANGGU BEACH DAY

Ocean & Sunset Vibes

🍳 Morning:

• Breakfast at TRIBAL Coworking Bali (coffee & croissants recommended)
• Workout at Wrong Gym (just around the corner): This gym is close to the hostel. However, a lot of equipment has rust (exterior) and it has very few machines compared to Nirvana.
• Grab extra snacks at Circle K (next to Working Gym)

🌊 Afternoon:

• Lunch at TRIBAL Coworking Bali (Bubur Ayam with sambal hot sauce recommended)
• Gojek to Sunnyday clothing store for quality Bali t-shirts. Good place to get gifts. 
• Walk to Warung Bu Mi – “Warung” means local restaurant in Indonesian
  • Must Try: Chicken Curry, Eggplant (Terong Balado), Crispy Chicken (Ayam Krispi), and Noodles (Mie Goreng)
  • Their sambal hot sauce was one of the best I tried besides Warung Sika, a Warung we’d visit later, and my friend said their peanut sauce was the best he had on the trip

🍹 Evening:

• Sunset: Fries and beer at Black Sand Brewery
• Stop across the street to buy a “Make Nasi Goreng Great Again” t-shirt at HARSH Stuff. They have other comical shirts and a great sense of humor. Trust me—by the end of the trip, you’ll be craving Nasi Goreng. I loved it so much, I even adopted it into my daily vocabulary, constantly repeating: ‘Nasi Goreng.’
• Pick up local snacks at the grocery store
• Dinner and drinks at Deus Ex Machina (on Tuesdays they offer FREE tattoos—people were actually taking them up on this!)

Remote Work Experience: Working from TRIBAL was challenging. Despite having a private room, the WiFi signal was poor in the rooms, forcing me to work in open areas. In Bali, when you work US hours, it’s nighttime locally, which meant swatting mosquitos and dealing with translucent geckos making noise in the background. I had to find well-lit areas, use a white background, and rely on wired headphones with a boom microphone.

The first night working was particularly difficult with poor connectivity, wildlife sounds (even with a microphone), and insects attracted to my laptop screen. For future trips, I’d invest in a WiFi extender. I used StarVPN with my GL.iNet Beryl AX travel router for work throughout the trip.

DAY 4: EXPLORE LOCAL CANGGU

Work & Local Culture

💻 Morning:

• Coffee and breakfast at TRIBAL Coworking Bali (Bubur Ayam with sambal hot sauce recommended)
• Walk to Pererenan Beach
• Brunch and Bintang at Jempinis Beach Bar (watch out for stray dogs)

🛍️ Afternoon:

• Lunch at Warung Sika (no food labels, so go with your instinct or try noodles and fried chicken with sambal and peanut sauce)
• Sandals ripped? Visit the GriPP Sandal Store for local Indonesian sandals
• Visit Canggu Beach
• Check out YUKI Canggu Japanese restaurant

💆 Evening:

• Visit Pantai Batu Bolong Beach
• Get ice cream at Nalu
• Dinner at Black Sand Brewery (Odd that I’m saying this, get the pasta—the founders are Italian and have brought quality non-beer options to this brewpub)
• Remote work from TRIBAL Coworking Bali

It’s night. You’re sitting on the corner of 7hungry, drinking your Bintang. Then all of a sudden, you see a Gojek driver zooming by with an Aussie passenger on the back of their moped. They’re punching the driver under the rib cage, visibly harder and harder each time for not following this drunk passenger’s instructions. Still, the Gojek driver—with more to lose—keeps his eyes focused on the road as he turns the corner closest to me, possibly heading to the drunk’s hostel or bar. That’s Canggu. See more here >

PART 2: PERERENAN VILLA EXPERIENCE 🌴

DAY 5: TRANSITION

Settling In

🏠 Morning:

• Breakfast at TRIBAL Coworking Bali (Bubur Ayam with EXTRA sambal hot sauce)
• Check out of TRIBAL (ask the hostel to hold your luggage while exploring)
• Coffee at ST. ALi Cafe (An Australian cafe, but try Indonesian coffee varieties—what better way to experience local beans than from the source?)
• Check into Villa Kirana, Pererenan (6 nights)
• Cost: Part of Airbnb stay, approx. $700 total → IDR 11,200,000 | €642 (for two people)

The villa featured two spacious rooms that weren’t directly connected, offering privacy. The large bathrooms were a plus, and the property included refillable water. While the pool wasn’t particularly clean, that wasn’t our priority.

Pererenan, despite being close to Canggu, provided a very different experience—quieter with fewer mopeds whipping around. It felt like we could enjoy tourist amenities while being just removed enough from the busiest areas.

It was interesting to visit during March as people were preparing for Nyepi (Day of Silence), and we saw various preparations taking place.

🛍️ Afternoon:

• Lunch at K&A Grill Barbecue Restaurant
  • Warning: While the food was delicious, sanitation standards were questionable. I witnessed a worker (not the cook) touch BBQ pork with bare hands, then lick her fingers before serving the dish to the patron.
• Stop by Bali Direct organic food store for their Protein Butter Cup, Sixers Bar, and Bounty Bar—surprisingly amazing desserts. I visited multiple times and was disappointed I couldn’t return on our last day in Canggu.

💆 Evening:

• Little Havana Club (NOT RECOMMENDED) – Overpriced with a IDR 100K minimum and expensive drinks. The DJ was decent, but with noise levels of 95.7-98.9 dB (yes, I measured), conversation was impossible.
• Instead, we went to Old Man’s bar for Bintang (still loud at 97.2 dB but with a better atmosphere)
• Walk to Pantai Batu Bolong after Old Man’s to see the nighttime tide
• Dinner and drinks at The Bench Sports (a relaxed environment with American sports, F1 racing, and a pool table)
• Late night at 7Hungry convenience store—This spot was our spot. This bootleg 7/11. I mean, it felt straight out of a Korean drama—where people grab snacks and drinks at night, sit outside, and just vibe while people-watching. This is that spot.
  • You’re right on the main road leading to the nightlife scene, so you’ll see everyone pass by. It’s one of those rare places where you can meet people from all over the world—without even trying.
  • Pro Tip: Stock up on Autan or Soffel mosquito repellent, which you’ll need daily

Remote Work at the Villa: Working from the villa presented its own challenges. Why? Despite reading about power outages, I crossed my fingers that I wouldn’t run into that situation—until it happened. 

Yes—the power went out for an undetermined amount of time… which included the AC (for over two hours). I mean, luckily I didn’t have any meetings or anything where I had to explain what was going on. No awkward “Sorry, my power just died” moments. 

However, the problem that kept happening was the one I couldn’t control: limited battery power. The laptop was dying fast. The internet was dead.

I ended up running Wi-Fi off my iPhone using AT&T hotspot, and then connecting OpenVPN from my desktop using StarVPN. That meant my whole remote setup was running hot.

But guess what else happened?

SCREECH!

Not only did I see my monitor’s glow attracting every mosquito and bug imaginable, but I also heard the distinct sound of a gecko somewhere on the wall. I could NOT  see it—but I could definitely hear it. They usually don’t come out in daylight… but here we are in the dark of night.

Like I mentioned earlier, there are some things you just gotta experience—but not being able to access electricity or internet? That’s a real liability.

If you have a limited internet plan or you’re just bumming hotel Wi-Fi, and you actually have a real tech job, the infrastructure here is rough. Villas might be beautiful, but they might not all be built for uptime, whereas hotels often have generators. I’d beg for a hotel until I realized that hotel was pretty bad. See below. 

Nevertheless, infrastructure reliability in Bali is a significant challenge for serious remote work. The only thing I could’ve done better—besides already having my Anker magnetic power brick (which I used non-stop)—was bringing a larger external charger that could handle a full laptop charge (especially one without USB-C).

A few lessons learned:

• Bring an Anker magnetic power brick (lifesaver).
  
• Invest in a high-capacity external charger that can juice your full laptop—especially if you’re not using USB-C.
  
• BUT be warned: bringing that kind of charger adds bulk to your carry-on, possibly raises security flags during check-in, and eats up valuable space in your bag.

Bottom line: Bali villas are beautiful—but remote work comes with its own kind of jungle.

DAY 6: UBUD DAY TRIP

Cultural Exploration

🚗 Morning:

• Coffee from Another F*cking Cafe
• Drive to Ubud via Gojek:
  • Cost: IDR 165,500 outbound / IDR 61,000 to Wedja / IDR 144,500 return to villa

🐒 Afternoon/Evening:

• Visit Monkey Forest Ubud
  • Tip: Find the cage with injured monkeys Bapang, Lanan, Nelson, and Tumist. Also look up in the open-air space to spot bats flying—an overlooked attraction. (You know another country with bats? Mauritius)
• Lunch in Ubud: Try Bebek (Balinese duck)
  • WARNING: Avoid Bebek Bengil / Dirty Duck Diner.  I think it was Andrew Zimmern who said: “Go where there are people and lines.” This place had neither—no locals, barely any tourists (always a bad sign). Paid IDR 463,420 for two Bebek Timbugan dishes, tea, coffee, and water—a complete rip-off. It reminded me of one of those washed-up restaurants in Honolulu that just caters to clueless tourists. And yep—we were the clueless tourists.
  • Better options: Kebun Bistro, Simply Social, Bebek Tepi Sawah, and Wedja

We wanted authentic Bebek duck in Ubud but knew we were heading to a tourist trap. Later, we redeemed our day with delicious food at Wedja after enjoying local beers.

🍺 Craft Beer & Dinner:

• Craft beer stop at Anything Brew – I love a good microbrewery spot—and this one was tucked away with a surprisingly solid selection. Might even give Black Sands Brewery a run for its money on a few pours. Ran into a passing Aussie who stopped just because he saw us posted up—ended up having a great random chit-chat. (He said, If you’re in Vietnam, also check out: Malt Saigon Bar – highly recommended.) Breweries are always a vibe—less pressure than a bar and way easier to meet new people.
  • Recommend: Citralicious Triple IPA or Belgian Quad—refreshing in the heat
• Dinner at Wedja – excellent Balinese food
  • Try: Bebek Timbungan (duck cooked with Balinese spices) at IDR 150K or Ayam Kampung Timbungan (local chicken in Balinese spices) at IDR 138K—already cheaper than Dirty Duck Diner
• If staying longer, check out The Yoga Barn, The Artist Nyoman Jendra (Artist Painting Gallery), and Asia Ceramic

🏠 Evening:

• Drive back to Pererenan via Gojek (~1.5 hrs)
• Late night snack at 7Hungry convenience store

DAY 7: EXPLORING SOUTH BALI & ULUWATU BEACH

Coastal Adventure

🏄 Morning/Afternoon:

• Drive to Jimbaran Beach (Queen Beach)
  • Gojek costs: Jimbaran IDR 133,000 / Bukit Cafe (Uluwatu) IDR 87,000 / Uluwatu Beach IDR 54,000 / Return to villa IDR 283,000
• Eat at Bendesa Cafe Jimbaran (recommend fresh fish)
  • Unexpected experience: Witnessed high tide bringing fish to shore, prompting staff from every beachfront restaurant to rush out with baskets, inviting us to join the impromptu fishing party

🏖️ Uluwatu Exploration:

• Stop by Bukit Cafe for coffee and fresh cold coconut
  • Pro Tip: Always ask if coconuts are refrigerated—makes a huge difference in the heat
• Visit Uluwatu Beach (mixed review—rocky with surf breaks but found broken glass. I avoided swimming while nursing a foot injury)
• Grab a beer at Salin Cafe while climbing back up from the beach—excellent views of the water and surfers while enjoying a San Miguel Beer instead of my usual Bintang
• Stop at honest vendors on the way back from the beach—unlike some aggressive sellers near the entrance

Cultural Insight: All in all, I thought the road to Uluwatu was beautiful—you could see people just living everyday lives.

My only gripe came when we hit the tourist areas—especially around Uluwatu Beach.

I’ve realized there are “good tourists” and there are “tolerated tourists.” And in Uluwatu, especially at Salin Cafe, I felt like the latter.

For one, you had tourists—usually an occasional EU traveler—asking the classic, “Do you have pizza?”

Which, honestly, felt kind of blasphemous.

Here you have such amazing Balinese food! Why pizza? Why here? We weren’t even in proper Uluwatu—we were halfway up a maze of steps from the beach to the road. You really want that Pizza?

What made it worse was that—even with the beautiful views, swimming, and that whole scene—people didn’t want to spend anything.

Everyone wanted the view. Everyone wanted to watch the surfers. But nobody wanted to actually order. Barely one person in the group got a beer. And of course, someone was the first to ask, “What’s the Wi-Fi password?”

Still, Uluwatu gave me that sense of freshness.—that feeling of being alive. Just the view from those steps a Salin Cafe, I have that memory etched in my mind. 

Only downside to trekking from Pererenan to Uluwatu? Some Gojek drivers see how far you are from Canggu and hesitate to take the trip back. But honestly, since Canggu’s so popular, getting a ride back to your villa isn’t too bad.

🍹 Evening:

• Drive back to Pererenan (~1hr 30 mins)
• Dinner at Penny Lane (NOT RECOMMENDED) – Instagram-worthy appearance but disappointing food
• Second dinner at BeachGarden Bar & Restaurant – better experience with live music and open-air seating
• Visit Old Man’s bar and club – I was just amazed to see a bunch of Australians and Indonesians vibing to and singing the song lyrics, effortless switching from music from Pop Smoke and Chief Keef to country music, going from “B***hes Love Sosa” to John Denver’s “Country Roads“
• Late night chill at 7Hungry convenience store

DAY 8: WEST BALI ROAD TRIP

Coastal Exploration

🚗 Morning:

• Coffee from M Mart (the real deal, unlike Indomart which feels inefficient, like visiting the DMV here in the States)
• Drive to Balian Beach (1hr 20mins)
  • Cost: IDR 255,000 via Gojek outbound / IDR 300,000 for remainder of day with private driver (including Tanah Lot)
• Visit Balian Beach
• Early snack or coffee at Pondok Pitaya Hotel (Surfing and Yoga) on the beach

Scenic Route: The drive to West Bali offers beautiful views—especially if your driver takes less traveled roads. You’ll pass small towns and rice terraces that rival the famous Jatiluwih Rice Terraces but with fewer tourists.

I recommend driving toward the Western Coast, passing Pantai Pasut Beach where you’ll find WaroengTT. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you cross an extremely narrow bridge that barely fits a mid-size car.

🏖️ Afternoon:

• Lunch at Deki’s Warung (skip the coffee—it was gritty and tar-like)
  • The food was decent, but the view is spectacular with front-row seats to watch surfers
  • Safety note: Be aware of the nearby river mouth with reported shark sightings
• Drive to and explore Tanah Lot
  • Entrance fee: IDR 150K
  • Tourist trap warning: Very commercialized area with Ralph Lauren store and overpriced souvenirs, though the religious sites are worth seeing

🍹 Evening:

• Drive back to Pererenan via Gojek
• Dinner at Varuna Warung
• Dessert and snacks at LowCal Cheatery Bar health food restaurant—a unique spot offering live music alongside healthy options, a welcome break from continuous Nasi Goreng
• Late night chill at 7Hungry convenience store

DAY 9: NORTH BALI EXCURSION

Mountains & Sacred Sites

⛰️ Full Day Trip:

• Coffee from Another F*cking Cafe
• Drive to Northern Bali via private driver
• Scenic stops along mountain roads with beautiful rice terraces
• Arrive at Jatiluwih Rice Terraces (UNESCO site)
  • Entrance fee: IDR 50K per person (IDR 100K for two)

Off-the-beaten-path beauty: While driving to Northern Bali on narrow roads, we discovered some of the most beautiful rice terraces and mountain views. Don’t hesitate to stop for photos along the way. We also noticed fascinating roundabout symbolism promoting driver safety.

The UNESCO rice terraces are beautiful, but as mentioned earlier, you’ll find equally stunning terraces throughout the island if you take less traveled roads. The tiny one-lane bridges that barely fit an SUV lead to raw, unspoiled nature that’s out there.

🏞️ Temple Visit:

• Drive to Danau Beratan Caldera Lake (en route to Ulun Danu Beratan Temple)
• Lunch at Mentari Restaurant (NOT RECOMMENDED)
  • This is a tourist trap where guides get kickbacks. I watched multiple tour guides eating freely while their passengers dined. There are plenty of authentic warungs nearby instead.
• Visit Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
  • This is the famous temple featured in travel brochures. I was surprised by its small size, having expected something larger based on promotional images.
  • The temple is beautiful when framed against the lake with mountain backdrop, but be prepared for crowds of tourists and influencers posing.
  • Commercialization warning: The historical religious site now includes tourist activities like “Feed the fish” or posing with owls (for a fee), creating a Disneyland-like atmosphere that contrasts with its spiritual significance.

🌊 Evening at Lovina:

• Drive to Lovina Beach
• Play pétanque on the beach with locals (or Frenchman)
• Drive back to Pererenan
• Dinner at Burger Brothers (NOT RECOMMENDED) – While the workers were efficient, friendly, and quick. The downside? When we arrived, the workers were on their phones—and immediately sprang into action. Nothing wrong with that, right? The problem was, they went straight into cooking without washing their hands. No gloves. Just straight-up handling lettuce and going through the whole food prep process bare-handed. I looked at my friend, bit my lip, and was like “Damn, man… I hope we don’t get Bali belly.”So far we were good at this point in the trip.

Memorable Moments: I will say, the most memorable moments—in no particular order—were Lovina Beach and Ulun Danu Beratan Temple. Both were breathtaking in their own right.

Lovina Beach was amazing in that it wasn’t spectacular in any traditional way. The only reason we even went there was because I asked an employee at a health food store for local recommendations. She mentioned Lovina and Amed Beach in East Bali.

Lovina Beach—when we arrived—was dead. So dead, in fact, that a hustler came up offering to sell us magic mushrooms. And when he saw we gave him even a little attention, he got more persistent.

I told him, “You know, that guy over there looks like a better bet,” or “Go check out all those other tourists.”

When we said we were from Quebec, it immediately changed the vibe—fewer questions, and suddenly they were trying their hand at French.

And yet—lo and behold—not only did I meet a Frenchman playing a classic game of pétanque in a nearby field, but I also ran into a group of four French travelers who were in Lovina for its most famous activity: dolphin watching.

Crazy, right? We kind of have that in the Pacific Northwest too. But here, they also have bioluminescent plankton tours. (Note: There will be vendors out on the beach offering to sign you up).

But the part that stuck with me most was meeting the Frenchman, Jean-Jacques, standing near that cracked-out, creepy dolphin statue Lovina is known for—and just talking for hours as he taught me a game I’ve always wanted to learn while growing up in Paris: pétanque.

Meanwhile, he casually threw out that I was “Mexique-Français” and that I was “café, not black man.”

He was so out of pocket that the four French tourists around us were all visibly shocked. One girl even said she couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

But the thing was—he wasn’t trying to be offensive. He just was.

It was also the same place we got offered arak, a strong Indonesian moonshine-style drink… straight out of a stranger’s bottle.

Drink out of a stranger’s bottle on first offer? Sure, why not.

Lovina is what made me love Bali.

A random suggestion to visit a place. The place being almost dead. A chance encounter—all because a Frenchman was playing a game and speaking in French to his Indonesian friend who barely understood him.

And we stayed just a few minutes longer.

We were literally about to leave. But we paused for a beer.

What would you call that?

And then—just like that—you’re speaking in a language you never expected to use again, reliving your childhood memories… in the middle of Southeast Asia, on a remote beach in Northern Bali.

C’est quoi les chances? C’est étonnant, non?

DAY 10: RELAXATION DAY

Recovery & Wellness

☕ Morning:

• Snacks at M Mart
• Coffee and gym day pass at Nirvana Life Fitness & Wellness Club
  • A comprehensive facility with open-air gym, shower, and then lounge by the pool while working remotely. It’s also located near their poolside restaurant—or their café by the entrance/road.
  • Note: It can take up to 10 minutes to get a simple latte (yes, I timed it). On top of that, I asked for a latte with an extra shot and got a cappuccino instead.

🧖 Afternoon:

• Smoothies at Nirvana Life Fitness & Wellness Club
• Dinner at Nirvana Life Fitness & Wellness Club (recommend their refreshing Watermelon Lime drink)

🍽️ Evening:

• Dinner at LACALITA Mexican Restaurant – decent food with excellent sauces. Surprisingly good Mexican food in Bali.
• Late night socializing at 7Hungry convenience store, meeting travelers from Estonia, Birmingham (UK), and China

Bali, Indonesia

Tips, Tricks, and Logistics

• ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Ensure your passport is valid for 6+ months with blank pages (even minor damage can cause entry issues).
• DRIVER RELATIONSHIPS: The best way to find a Gojek (Uber) driver as a personal driver is to connect with one you vibe with. When you grab a Gojek for a short ride, feel it out. Do you share the same sense of humor? Can you communicate easily? They’ll likely offer their personal driver services. Make sure you’re comfortable spending 8+ hours with them. After a bad experience, I went through my contacts to find the driver who made me feel good. The result? We booked him again and even invited him to our dinners. Be sure to exchange WhatsApp contacts. Budget IDR 700K-850K for full-day rates. For short distances, use Gojek but beware of drivers suggesting higher off-app prices.
• ACCOMMODATION STRATEGY: Start in tourist-friendly Canggu to acclimate, then explore quieter areas like Pererenan. Choose properties with generator backup if working remotely. Avoid paying with your passport as collateral—insist on a room hold via credit card or photocopy.
• REMOTE WORK INFRASTRUCTURE: Pack essential backups: power bank (20,000+ mAh), international data plan for hotspot, travel router, and reliable VPN (StarVPN worked best). For focused work, TRIBAL and The Farm Hostel offer structured environments, while Ducat Cafe and Nirvana Life provide more casual settings.
• CULTURAL AWARENESS: Research Balinese customs before arrival—cover shoulders/knees at temples and be mindful during religious ceremonies. If visiting in March 2025, plan around Nyepi (Day of Silence) on March 29 when the entire island shuts down for 24 hours.
• FOOD & DRINK SAFETY: Stick to bottled water, be cautious with ice in less reputable establishments, and eat freshly cooked food. For authentic Balinese cuisine, try Warung Bu Mi for the best sambal sauce and avoid tourist traps like Bebek Bengil. Ease into spicy foods gradually to avoid stomach issues.
• MONEY & PAYMENTS: While AmEx works at larger establishments, always carry Mastercard/Visa as backup. ATMs are available but some charge hefty fees—M Mart has more reliable options than Indomart. When changing money, use reputable exchangers (avoid “no commission” signs) and carefully count bills before leaving the counter. Always maintain situational awareness when withdrawing cash in a public area, including M Mart /Indomarts.

Trip Soundtrack

Because every adventure needs a soundtrack, each of my trips comes with a theme song. And for this trip's anthem? Well, it's...

Gamelan Semara Ratih of Ubud, Bali, Indonesia - Manuk Anguci (Gamelan)

PART 3: BEACHFRONT LUXURY & DEPARTURE 🌅

DAY 11: ACCOMMODATION CHANGE

Beach Luxury Begins (Sort Of)

🏠 Morning:

• Check out of Villa Kirana
• Check in at Lv8 Resort Hotel (3 nights) – NOT RECOMMENDED
  • Cost: $482 total = IDR 7,712,000 | €442 (for two people)
  • One of the least desirable hotels I’ve experienced worldwide—showing significant wear and neglect
  • Slight mildew smell throughout, poor upkeep in the lobby
  • Essentially a former 5-star hotel that belongs in a post-apocalyptic film with its long, empty hallways
• Breakfast and coffee at Ducat Cafe (with coworking space above)
  • Cynthia provided excellent restaurant recommendations and food suggestions

🛍️ Afternoon Exploration:

• Get frozen yogurt at Yogurt Republic (short walk from Ducat Cafe)
• Explore ISHA cosmetics for local handmade Bali soaps, lotion, and fragrance
  • Recommend: Liquid Castille Soap + Shea Butter
• Visit Riviera Gelato across the street
  • Try: Popcorn flavor (trust me) and Yuzu Chocolate
• Get custom local Bali clothing at Atilla & Co.

🍽️ Evening:

• Dinner at Ulekan – the best dining experience in Bali
  • Sit outside for ambiance and live gamelan performance
  • Special thanks to Wydia, an amazing host and server who even shared a sambal recipe
  • This restaurant demonstrated authentic, high-quality Balinese hospitality

Hotel Disappointment: The Lv8 Resort Hotel proved that luxury branding doesn’t guarantee quality. Despite marketing itself as five-star accommodation, it offered worse value than both the hostel and villa.

The pool was in poor condition, with the sound of clacking water pipes creating an eerie atmosphere. With approximately 20% occupancy, they still placed us in a remote corridor 15 minutes from the lobby. The only positive was reliable WiFi, which allowed for successful work meetings using a GL.iNet GL-MT3000 (Beryl AX) router on StarVPN.

DAY 12: WELLNESS DAY

Mind & Body Rejuvenation

☕ Morning:

• Coffee, overnight oats, and gym day pass at Nirvana Life Fitness & Wellness Club
• Workout and relaxation on poolside deck chairs

Facility Review: While Nirvana’s facilities are excellent, their management systems need improvement. Their day pass system is inconsistent—they limit the number of passes and may change availability without notice—sometimes even day by day. 

Their coordination and overall system just reek of disorganization. Honestly, all it would take is someone with programming experience to fix the gym management process across the island—and just like that, you’d have a new business opportunity.

At one point, we were told that day passes could only be used starting the next day.

Why not just create a third type of pass? Something like a “Balance” pass with a 100K minimum spend at the café? Between the two of us, we probably spent around IDR 1.2 million at the property.

Greed and mismanagement breed discontent.

🧘 Afternoon:

• 5:00 PM – 6:15 PM: Breathwork & Meditation Session
• Location: Nirvana Garden Studio
• Cost: IDR 250,000 ($16 | €15)

Unexpected Experience: I had shunned so many items of the resort and spa experience. However, with this pass, I had to take a class—and I picked the one with the least amount of work. I mean, I didn’t want to go to the gym at Nirvana, then do work, and then know I had to be up working late in a U.S. time zone.

But this class was something else. I’m not into woo-woo kind of stuff. But as someone who meditates, I saw different aspects of this process.

My grandmother, who I had traveled with to Japan, has since passed. But during this breathwork session, I saw my Grandma making me her famous beans and soul food. It felt like I was there. I saw a gateway with light shining through it. Then I saw a visual split screen—on one side, a super round, circular shape like the Guggenheim Museum in Los Angeles. On the other side, it had a dark, medieval-type look—something you’d see in Better Homes & Garden or Architectural Digest magazines if it were made for the Greyjoys from Game of Thrones. And in there was a tower with an upper-level walkway, all in a dark gray hue—like the walkway in the Alhambra of Sevilla. It was dark and uncertain, but it had a gate.

I finished the session perplexed, full of emotion. What was I supposed to think of that? I mean… aren’t I at a tourist spot? Do I believe in breathwork? Do I have to, if I already believe in meditation?

Tourist or not, the very idea of travel is for this kind of purpose. Whether it’s a session at a gym or food that serves as the impetus—it’s the same. The impetus is the impetus.

In the end, it’s you who guides this journey and makes the choices you make.

After all—it’s you who brought you here, to Bali.

🍽️ Evening:

• Dinner at MILU by Nook (NOT RECOMMENDED) – disappointing meal with minimal protein (only about 7 tiny pieces of chicken in the entire bowl), especially after the previous night’s experience at Ulekan
• Late night socializing at 7Hungry convenience store with travelers from Estonia, Birmingham (UK), and China. That was fun!
• Run away because of crazy conversations and end up getting a burger at BOSSMAN Burgers

DAY 13:  ULUWATU ROUND TWO & FINAL BALI DAY

Last Memories

🏊 Morning:

• Nasi Goreng and coffee at Ducat Cafe with local Balinese crew (you can’t go wrong with Indonesian food here—it’s homemade)
• Private driver to Uluwatu
• Remote work from the back seat during the ride
• Coffee and fresh, cold coconut at Bukit Cafe in Uluwatu
• Ice cream at Mad Pops in Uluwatu

🛍️ Afternoon/Evening:

• Get cash at an ATM (Monkey Beach is cash-only, and ATMs are limited)
• Visit Padang Padang Beach in Uluwatu (warnings about monkeys posted, though I didn’t see many)
• Grab beer and snacks on the beach
• Final night dinner at Ulu Fish Market with our amazing driver Gus (recommend any seafood option)

Reflections: With the last day in tow, it’s a sad closing, but that doesn’t mean it’s over. The journey continues.

And our driver—who I’m glad we brought back—we picked the right one. Picking the right driver is the most important thing of them all.

Being a Bali native, he gave deep insights into the daily prayers that are done across the island, as well as demonstrating the importance of Nyepi. It was like having a sociological, historical expert plus a tour guide—plus someone who could blend into our settings while we played on the beach.

It’s for that reason Bali felt very homey—and with it, it felt like a home away from home.

What I can’t deny is that within minutes, you can have a fusion—for better or worse—of tourists from France, the UK, Australia, China, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine, either at the same time or in a matter of hours. That’s very hard to do with a U.S. destination—or even Hawaii, the island that I love.

All I can think of is cleaning up my schedule for next time and staying two days or longer in Uluwatu, just to hear the waves crash. Just to get that cheap beer, looking down on Uluwatu Beach, and smell the ocean breeze. Think about reflections. And just write.

And in those moments, I can’t help but wonder: as a traveler—especially here—where do I fit in? Am I also part of the cause of destruction that I see in front of my very eyes?

On Padang Padang Beach, I sipped my Bintang under the shade and looked out at the travel-goers on the beach. I saw overly sunburnt, fair-skinned travelers whose skin had turned into raisins, and local Balinese rushing back and forth offering support, carrying heavy items—I even saw an older woman, maybe someone’s grandma, carrying something.

They ran criss-cross over beachgoers who were reading The Illusion of Money by Kyle Cease, looking for insight, some of them covered in appropriated Balinese tattoos.

But who am I to judge?

I couldn’t help but think: is it not all an entertainment circus?

Everything is an “entertainment circus”—the haves and the have-nots, working and catering to the well-fed beast of Western tourism and the skimpy loincloths they call clothing.

The locals, fully dressed, drenched in sweat, emaciated—serving individuals the very shoes they themselves cannot afford to buy. The teeth and frames that could benefit more from what they are serving than the consumers themselves.

The pig.

The beast of commercial travel, propagated by whoever the dominant powers are—and their citizens, who can afford to travel.

And yet—even if we’re all part of this downward cycle—Bali’s culture is one of uniqueness and deserves preservation.

What it can do is bring people—near and far—into the randomness of life. And few things capture that better than this:

Even as you are so far away—whether you’re at the club Old Man’s on the beach in Canggu or on a small beach on the other side of the island, chair in the sand, drinking Bintang from old, banged-up coolers—you will hear:

“Country roads… take me home… to the place I belong… West Virginia…”

The only difference is: at Old Man’s, a bunch of kids—mostly non-American—are singing it.

While at the small beach, you’re singing it.

You’re humming it.

No matter where you are—home is there.

We associate meaning to the most random things. The most random moments. The most random interactions. The most random—and most strange—people.

We humans are, therefore, ourselves random.
Random in the elements of the earth and the air. The cells that make us.

We are random.

But okay—that’s enough reflection. I know what I need to do next time. Or at least what I would do: Grab more sambal!

Surprise? There are tons of sambal varieties!

Just what I don’t want to hear. More things I have to consume in their entirety. Otherwise, how else would I taste them?

P.S. Earlier I mentioned that our driver said, “Bali is like chicken, and Nusa Penida is like poop.”

Here’s what he meant: if you sketch out the shape of Bali, the island roughly resembles a chicken. And if that chicken’s head is facing west, then Nusa Penida—positioned southeast—would be the dropping.

Here’s a good Reddit image that shows it visually: see here.

DAY 14: HOMEWARD BOUND | LEAVING BALI AIRPORT

The Journey Home via Seoul

✈️ Travel Route:

• DPS → ICN @ 1:20 AM (Korean Air)
• ICN → SEA @ 8:05 PM → Arrive 1:35 PM local time (Delta Airlines)

✅ Tip: Sleep as much as you can on the ICN → SEA segment. You can relax at Korean Air’s Prestige Lounge at Incheon.

🛍️ Evening:

• Stop by KFC in Jambaran. I swear I keep randomly stopping at KFC (most recently in Mauritius) 
• Then, head to Denpasar Airport (DPS)

When getting ready for departure, make sure to arrive with enough time to get through passport control, baggage scans, and customs. The lines can vary depending on how they’re roped off.

Also, make sure you’re free of sand and pack extra clothes for what will likely be a cold, temperature-controlled flight. After days of running around in cut-off t-shirts—typical Bali style—you’ll need something much warmer to survive a long-haul to Seoul, a layover, and then the final flight back to the States.

Get ready to head home!