Since we got to our place so late from Nusa we didn’t do much our first day. So the next day we got up early to take a taxi to Seminyak (only about 20 miles away but it took an hour to get there with the roads and traffic). We went to Seminyak to watch the Broncos first game of the season (against the now LA Chargers), which started out great but got a little too close for comfort for me. While in town we did some other errands like souvenir and grocery shopping. Also on the way back from Seminyak we stopped by Kuta to get Japanese rail passes for our last adventure before heading back to Uluwatu.
While back in Uluwatu we decided to go to the Outside Corner for Tijuana Tuesday (not to be confused with Taco Tuesday!), which included $1.5 chicken, pulled pork or fish tacos, and 2 for 1 margaritas! We tried all three types of tacos but I think the chicken were the best. Afterwards we decided to go by a place called Summer for some live Reggae music by the Uluwatu Roots. The stage was downstairs in an area surrounded by forest and we felt a little dirty hippyish so after the first set we headed back to the hotel.
Uluwatu is known for it’s surfing and the next day we went to the famous Padang Padang Beach for some sun and relaxing. You have to pay a small fee to enter the beach and then you head pass a temple before going down some steep stairs between two giant boulders. The beach itself is gorgeous and there were tons of people offering surfing instructions though neither of us took them up on the offer. We did however venture out into the water and braved the rocks to cool down.
That evening we went to the Uluwatu Temple before sunset and although it was covered in people we got some great photos and some great views. While walking along the cliff we also got to see lots more of monkeys and great statues outside of the temple.
Oh and Drew had to wear a skirt (he claims it’s a sarong!). Right before sunset we headed to the theatre for the Kecak & Fire Dance. The dance is actually part of the Bali Hinduism culture and tells the story of Rama and his wife Sita who is abducted by the evil Ravana, King of the Demons.
The Monkey King helps Rama try to get Sita back and he was definitely one of the best characters of the whole story! He made fun of the real monkeys and stole one of the spectator’s sunglasses. The entire Kecak is narrated via a group of men singing and the end includes the Monkey King setting Ravana’s house on fire and they actually use real fire!
The next day we did some errands and then headed over to Single Fin for lunch – an awesome poke bowl and some great chicken nachos. We were lucky enough to get some great seats and got to watch tons of beautiful waves and amazing surfers! We decided to head down to Pantai Uluwatu beach which entailed climbing down some rickety stairs past tons of cafes and stores.
When we finally made it down to the beach there wasn’t a whole lot of space for getting some sun but there were gorgeous cliff views and tons of surfers getting ready to head out. While Drew took more photos of monkeys eating some chips I decided to explore and found a secret beach through a tunnel.
After going around a rock in the water the beach opened up and there was cool a shipwreck on the beach. We decided to spend some time relaxing on the beach and enjoying the water.
When the tide started to come in we decided to head up to the Delphi café, which sits on a island rock in the ocean for a beer. Then while Drew continued to take beach and surf photos I went and enjoyed a relaxing Balinese massage.
To end the evening we met up at the Single Fin for what Drew called ‘the BEST sunset he’s ever seen’! Upon further reflection he thinks he may have gotten a little carried away after I reminded him of Sorrento and Santorini. Needless to say, the pictures speak for themselves and we’ve been blessed with some amazing sunsets this trip!
Our final full day we decided to enjoy the amazing pool and views that our hotel had to offer. We relaxed poolside, did some laps and then went and got an awesome hot rock massage. It was a great day and the views were awesome!
The next morning we had to check out of our hotel but our flight wasn’t until late in the evening so Drew scored us an awesome poolside pagoda – complete with electrical outlets! We hung out there most of the day reading, watching TV on our tablets and swimming. I also got a manicure, pedicure and massage – I mean with the prices how could I not?!
That evening we headed to the airport and again there was tons of traffic, which made leaving beautiful Bali a little bit easier.
Clapp Radical Sabbatical 