Angel’s Billabong, Nusa Penida
My first impression showing up to Indonesia I thought “what did I get myself into”. Traffic was buzzing, there was people everywhere, its was unbelievably hot and humid (coming from colorado i’m always in jeans) and the constant actions of taxi drivers stepping in front of you and asking “where are you going? Taxi, taxi cheap.” Thankfully the crew I was meeting up with got a pretty killer villa and had a private driver come and swoop me up from the airport. Which was a perfect way to start the trip after 30 hours of travel. Upon arrival to the villa I was kindly greeted with locked doors and the crew in Uluwatu having dinner with some other friends. The owner being no where to be found with and extra key, I quickly and quietly climbed the wall to find that on the other side was a mote full of water and fish. I had to balance on the wall and walk across the top which was only about a foots width wide to find a better place to jump into the compound. Successfully made it in grabbed a key from one of the other doors and tried to unlock it from the inside. This didn’t work but thankfully the driver was still out front, I tossed him the keys and….success! It worked from the outside. I grabbed my bags, paid the driver and told him “ Teriman Kasih” meaning thank you in Indonesian and made my self at home while I waited for the others to get back and of course….enjoyed and nice cold Bintang (the local beer).
Local grom taking to the air after the WSL contest at Keramas Beach, Bali
We stayed in Changgu, Bali for the next few nights and explored the area by scooters aka mopeds. The roads here, well what they call roads ( more like bike paths back home) were absolutely crazy! Cars and scooters everywhere along with tons of stop and go traffic. I highly recommend the you get your international drivers license (incase the cops stop you) and rent a scooter if you are comfortable on them. Makes getting around so much easier and as long as you have your helmet on the cops won’t bother you. If they do stop you the chances are that they just want money so keep all of your big bills and most of your cash in a separate pocket and only a few bills in your wallet so you can kindly tell them that what you have in your wallet is all you have. Once you learn the rules of the road, in most places there are none, just drive on the left side of the road. Other then that when in traffic you can bob, weave and if need be ride on the sidewalk haha. You didn’t hear that from me though! I highly recommend on Thursdays and Sundays you go to Pretty Poison which has a live Dj, bar and the best part….a pool for skateboarding in the back, along with great cocktails the pool is the main attraction! Follow that with a short drive down to Old Mans area for a killer beach party that stays open for as long as there are people dancing. When scooting back to you accommodations and have your phone out for navigation, make sure you hold on to it tight. As couple of my fellow friends soon figured out that people on dirt bikes way faster then yours will kindly drive by and take the phone out of your hand and before you have any time to react they will be gone! All together I feel like Changgu is fun place and think everyone should experience it for a night or two while on their bali expedition. Great food, parties, shopping and the beaches are pretty all time as well. A great place to meet people if you are open to talking to random people and exchanging life stories and tips from each of your travels.
Rice fields right below the villa. Ubud, Bali
After our stay in Changgu we packed our bags into the car and moved out way to Ubud in the center of Bali. After a two hour drive through was was some of the coolest scenery I have seen thus far in the trip, we arrived to the spot where our maps said the villa was. There was nothing there but a random staircase the led to a rice field. No villa in sight and in the middle of no where. One of the friends I was with took a walk down a paved path just wide enough for one person to walk down, across the rice fields and into the jungle. After about a five minute wait, there was a voice from up top on the stair case that said '“grab your bags its up here”. Sure enough to my surprise, across those rice fields and through the jungle was a get that opened up to one of the nicest places I have ever had the pleasure of staying in! Nestled on top of a hill in the middle of the jungle with only the sounds to hear was that of the wind and the birds chirping in the trees around us. Overlooking the jungle and rice fields below us, this place is what dreams are made of and what I like to call “paradise”. We also had a staff of 3 people to make meals for us and also go and get anything that we needed from town. All of this and split between 6 people for 4 nights was a grand total of $60 US dollars a person. The staffs hospitality was all time and the food they cooked was to die for.
We also booked a few trips like 4-wheeling through the jungle and also through some really long caves underground that were just wide enough for the quads to fit through and that’s its. I wouldn’t recommend this if you get claustrophobic easily as there are some parts where the air doesn’t feel fresh and you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, only the person in front of you. I also highly recommend you go white water rafting down the Ayung River in Ubud as well! Coming from Colorado this was child’s play but still so fun the views world class and so many waterfalls. In fact you get to stop at one and stand under it as it crashes down from the cliffs above, which was so powerful it was hard not to fall over! While in Ubud also check out the monkey forest. It is so cool to see all of the monkeys swinging from the trees and running around. Just don’t try to feed them as they will try to bite your finger off! I know this from experience, it barely broke the skin and didn’t really draw blood because I pulled my had out of its mouth before it had a solid chance to chomp down! They have a medical clinic on property for people like me. I went in and showed them the damage and they just laughed made me wash my hands with soap and water and put some iodine and such on it and said “you’re all good, our monkeys don’t have rabies” like really how do you know? Do they come get a check up every week? Im still alive and not foaming from the mouth so it must be true. Moral of the story, follow the rules and don’t feed the monkeys.
The roar of Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida. I first came to this island on a day trip with the crew I was staying in Ubud with. We were supposed to go to 4 different places on the tour Angels Billabong, Broken Beach Crystal Bay and Kelingking Beach. Our driver/tour guide took us to the first spot with was Angels Billabong and Broken Beach which are right next to each other only about a 10 minute walk. Angels Billabong is a tide pool right in-between som cliffs and is known to be extremely dangerous to swim in because at anytime a wave from the ocean could come ripping in and suck you out to sea never to be seen again! Despite the staircase being roped off and as most photographers would do, threw cation to the wind and told myself “ its easier to ask for forgiveness then for permission and that rules are more of guide lines” ducked the rope and was rewarded with some killer shots that I will release on a later date. Next on the list was broken beach. This place is beautiful and if you are willing to risk your drone, you will be rewarded with on of the coolest shots flying through a cave that opens up to a beach of crystal clear water with the only downside being that both of these places are always surrounded but hundreds of humans. Kelingking beach on the other had is what weens out the weak from the strong or brave I should say. This is the infamous beach that looks like a dinosaur head that you see in almost every Bali photo. From the top it is an absolutely beautiful view in every direction but, that’s where all of the humans stay. The hidden gem about this place is the beach that lays 400 feet below you at the bottom of the cliff. In order to get down to this beach is a short 30 minute hike that is not for the faint of heart! By this I mean you will be climbing down a ridge for the first half where if you were to fall or slip it would surly be your last. From there you get to a little flat spot to rest before continuing down with is no longer hiking but I would consider it more of scaling and or rock climbing down. This is where I saw a lot of people turn around and go back or so frightened that they were shaking and couldn’t move. As long as you can beat the situation in your head, trust yourself and know you're going to be just fine, the reward at the bottom is worth every step. Once you get down to the beach the waves roar like the dinosaur it surrounds and the sand is so fine it gets into everything and melts under your feet as the waves take it back into the sea. We only had a couple of hours there because we were on a day trip and at this moment I knew I would be back to this island. This island is where I had some of my best times, views and experiences. This is one island whenever i’m in the area ill be back to again and again before it get over ran with people.
Uluwatu sunsets.
Last but not least Uluwatu. This was not of my all time places to stay on main land Bali. Incredible surf, beaches, bars and home the the best mozzarella sticks on the planet earth. I was introduced to the Mango Tree Cafe after a killer sunset at Sunset Point. Sunset Point is a quick scooter ride out of town and down a white dirt road. The ride is through the woods and opens up to a meadow on a cliff side over looking the ocean and a amazing surf break, which normally has people ripping until the sun goes down. It is also accompanied by a full service bar, a shop for all of you ladies to pick up some killer cloths and a terrace covered with bean bags right on the cliff side to enjoy an ice cold Bintang or cocktail whilst trying to not get distracted by the local puppies running around. Yes actual puppies. After a couple beers and some good conversation, hop back on the scooters and head to Mango Tree Cafe. This place serves some of the best food I have had the opportunity to eat! A must stop on your Bali trip, You are greeted with open arms, big smiles and everyone including the kitchen (if they aren’t slammed) yelling “WELCOME”. For a starter I highly Recommend the mozzarella sticks for a reason you will just have to find out for yourself. Main course the chicken enchiladas. I haven’t had enchiladas in Mexico but I’m sure this plate will give them a run for their money! If you haven’t unbuttoned your shorts yet from the amount of food and have room for more, then all you need to know is cheese cake. If you love cheese cake you will not be disappointed. The coffee is all time with a full time barista on hand and live music three days a week from a few extremely talented locals that will sing almost any song you request. To cap the night off hop back on the scooters a putt on down the road to the one and only Single Fin Club. Posted up right on the cliffs with and incredible view. The drinks are a bit pricey but the dancing and experience make it all worth it! Basically I don’t have any near death experiences in Uluwatu, instead I had an extremely relaxing time with amazing surf, food and accommodations.
The people I have met on this trip to Indonesia I can say are life long friends and shared some of the best experiences and memories with. If it wasn’t for all of you this trip wouldn’t have been the same! Thank you for the company, laughs, beers, stories and most of all the laughs that will last a life time! Stoked to come visit y’all and see what your countries have in store! Thank you all again. Im now off to Thailand for a few weeks but also just found out the its monsoon season. Thats what I get for just going with the flow and not doing much research. Exactly the reason why I do it. I never know what I’m going to get into or what the future holds. All I know is that I’m taking a step into the unknown and the unknown is what I live for! Take the step and join me for the next adventure!