I really cannot say what caused me to choose Bali as the destination for my first solo trip to another country other than I simply felt drawn to go there. A consensus that I found while doing research was that Bali was generally considered to be a safe place to travel alone, a factor that was very important to me as a single female in my late 20’s.
Coming from the United States I didn’t know if the people there would speak English, but I assumed there would be enough signs in English, or I would come across enough people who spoke English that I would be able to get around okay. What I ended up finding was that every single Balinese person I came across spoke English to some degree. I did not meet any local person that spoke perfect English, but at the same time, I also did not meet one person who did not speak English to some extent—a contrast I found quite interesting. It later made sense after I learned from some of the locals that tourism is a main source of industry and livelihood in Bali.
I arrived in Bali with only the hotel I was staying at for the first portion of my trip booked, and a list of ideas of things I wanted to see and do written down on a sheet of yellow lined paper. While I had some idea of what I wanted to do, and things I could not miss, my activities ended up being based on what I felt like doing each day. My informal plans turned out to be an ideal way to travel because it was easy for me to book all my tours while actually being in Bali, and I wasn’t forced to follow a pre-set itinerary. This worked out well considering the first day of my trip I spent laying out at the beach, and then ended up with a significant sunburn, which caused me to have to adjust my activities in the days that followed until I recovered.
I learned the most about Bali’s culture from the drivers and guides I met by asking as many questions as I could, and from the locals I encountered while exploring. For instance, while walking through the Ubud Monkey Forest, I came across a cemetery and noticed all the graves were fairly recent judging by the dates inscribed on the grave stones. How odd I thought, that there were no older gravestones. I approached a man who was working there and asked him the reason for it. He informed me that the graves were only there temporarily, and every so often there was a mass cremation, which was more affordable for people than having their loved ones cremated individually at the time of their passing. I learned about daily life activities, the compounds many families lived in, and that the Balinese are very spiritual, which is something that is quite prominent in Balinese culture.
I loved seeing the beautifully prepared offerings that were set out daily, multiple times per day. I learned the offerings placed on the ground were to appease the “lower” spirits while those placed up higher, such as on ledges, were for the positive or “higher” spirits. People would place offerings on the sand at the beach, on the streets throughout the town, on alters, and just about anywhere really. It was a beautiful sight.
A lovely woman who let me take her picture while she was putting out her daily offerings
Balinese women gathered together inside temple grounds preparing offerings
Download a currency conversion app
With regard to currency, I downloaded a free currency converter app on my phone, a definite must-have when traveling. I can’t recommend this enough because it made it so easy to make purchases. I would enter the price in the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), and the app would tell me exactly how much I was spending in U.S. dollars. There was no guesswork involved, and that way I was always aware of exactly how much I was spending.
I knew that the U.S. dollar (USD) went farther in Bali, and I definitely noticed this when I purchased meals. For instance, one of my favorite meals was an amazing noodle plate accompanied by a refreshing beer at a restaurant I just happened to come across one evening while exploring the town in the area near my hotel. Upon walking up a staircase in what looked like a small seafood restaurant I arrived at a second story area that had an open view of the street below, and the appearance of a completely different restaurant. There were bar stool chairs along the railing, which was perfect for me as a solo diner. I had the best meal, and was able to watch the coming and goings of the people passing by in the street below. The portions were large and the food was delicious. My whole check came to around $7.00 USD, which for a fantastic meal, an adult beverage, and the ambiance of the restaurant, was pretty spectacular.
Afterwards, I walked across the street to a small grocery mart to stock up on water (you only want to drink bottled water in Bali). The restaurant I had just eaten at was visible from the store windows, and I asked the clerk if they had ever eaten there. I was surprised by the response I received, as the cashier explained they had not eaten there because it was “too expensive.” I had not been expecting that response, and in that moment I developed a greater awareness that caused me to reflect even more on the economic differences between the United States and Bali.
Another similar moment occurred during a conversation with a Balinese driver I met, a man who appeared to be in his 40’s, who was asking me questions about traveling. During our conversation he mentioned that he would never be able to afford to travel to the United States, or other similar destinations in his lifetime. As I thought about the gravity of what he said I found it difficult to imagine what it must be like to really want to travel somewhere and think that it would never be possible. It caused me to really reflect on his words.
Coffee Anyone?
In the United States, I was used to having iced coffees, and it seems like there is a Starbucks on every corner in Southern California where I’m from. One morning I was determined to get an iced coffee. I set out on foot and headed to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, a coffee shop chain I recognized from back home. That’s weird I thought, in Bali? However, I didn’t question it too much. Like I said, I wanted an iced coffee. First off, I noticed the coffee shop was all outdoors which was different, but hey, I was in another country after all. I ordered an iced coffee off the menu, and the girl that worked there told me they were out of ice and it would be about 10 minutes for someone to bring some. A place that sold iced coffee was out of ice? It seemed unusual, but I wasn’t going to forgo my coffee. So I paid, and at that point I was committed. While I waited, I decided to browse the outdoor markets across the street and look for souvenirs.
After about 15 minutes I returned to the coffee shop. Just as I approached the counter a woman on a motorcycle rode up onto the sidewalk next to me and got off the motorcycle carrying a large black plastic trash bag in one hand. She subsequently handed the trash bag over to the coffee shop employee, and that’s when I realized that I had just witnessed my ice being delivered! Needless to say, at that point I began to seriously question my decision to order an iced coffee in the first place. However, I really wanted one and had come this far so I thanked her, tipped, and yes, drank the iced coffee–very skeptically. As it turned out, everything was fine (I think you know where I’m going with this). However, I chose not to indulge in any future iced coffees during my stay.
I had started my trip in the area of Legian/Kuta. I stayed at the Legian Beach Hotel due to its location being next to the ocean and its easy access to the beach which was right across the street.
The hotel was resort like, but in a way that felt authentic to my destination, not grandiose.
One of the things I really loved about Bali was all the fresh juice that was served in the mornings. Fresh juices were complimentary with the breakfasts at both hotels I stayed at. You just don’t get that in the United States because juice is commonly accompanied with preservatives, or expensive for fresh squeezed juice, so it was a real treat. My favorite was the passion fruit juice. In fact, one of the many reasons I chose the hotels I did, were due to the complimentary breakfasts, which I factored into the cost of the daily rate, and the convenience of not having to search for breakfast every morning.
Bali’s Temples
I had planned to take a lot of day trips from Kuta and relax by the pool or beach on days when I didn’t have any pre-planned adventures. At the top of my must-see list were Bali’s gorgeous and mystical looking temples! One of the most beautiful in my opinion was Ulun Danu Beratan, with the mist rolling in across the water the morning I visited. The all popular Tanah Lot located at the edge of the ocean also makes my list, and on a smaller scale I enjoyed Goa Gajah (also known as the Elephant Cave). But in my opinion the ultimate must see was Pura Tirtha Empul, otherwise known as “The Water Temple.” It felt like a special place, and was definitely a sight worth seeing.
Ulun Danu Beratan
Tanah Lot
Goa Gajah
Note: Many of the temples require you to wear a sarong before entering, which they let you borrow while you explore the temple grounds, but you can also bring your own if you prefer.
Pura Tirtha Empul
Pura Puseh Desa Batuan
Arriving in Ubud
Bali Rice Terraces
For the second part of my journey I made my way inland to Ubud, which was known for being a particularly spiritual area, and also where I would find Cokorda Rai, a well-known Balinese healer (this was at the top of my to do list). In Ubud I stayed at the Champlung Sari Hotel, near the monkey forest. For around $50 USD per night my accommodation was a private bungalow style room with a large bathroom that had a natural feel to it because although the bathroom roof was fully covered it also had openings just under the roof that allowed the outside air in.
I spent my first night there, and when I woke up in the morning, I opened the curtains to quite a surprise…
As I looked through the double glass front doors (the only entry and exit point) there were monkeys all over the floor and walls surrounding the narrow pathway to and from my bungalow! I sat there looking at them, debating in my mind whether I could walk past them without incident. I imagined trying to walk past them untouched but there wasn’t much walking room, and after eyeballing some of the larger monkeys, I decided that I could not leave my hotel room. However, I was hungry and wanted to take advantage of the complimentary morning breakfast buffet before it ended, so I was presented with a real dilemma.
I finally came up with a solution: shut the curtains and wait it out. I didn’t know if it would work, but it was the only solution I could think of, so I went with it. It turned out that my decision paid off because about an hour later when I re-opened the curtains the monkeys were gone! All of them, and breakfast was mine! Once I discovered the secret was all about the timing, my morning routine over the next few days became to wake up, get ready, allow the monkeys to disperse, and then make a smooth exit. That plan seemed to work out well. My hotel was across the street from the Ubud Monkey Forest, which was in part why I picked the hotel, yet was also the reason for the daily monkey gatherings outside my front door each morning.
A few of the monkeys still lingering around
Ubud Monkey Forest
Visiting the monkey forest in Ubud was a very cool adventure. It was only about a minute or two walk from my hotel. The monkey forest spanned over a very large area, and had walking paths, lots of vegetation, some parts of the trails had running water, and of course there were plenty of monkeys!
Inside the monkey forest I saw baby monkeys, mid-size, and large adult monkeys. The monkeys roam around freely and can leave the property if they choose to. Some brave souls allowed the monkeys to sit on their shoulders, and fed them (fruits and vegetables are sold inside the monkey forest). I didn’t want to run the risk of having my finger bit off in a foreign country so I opted not to personally feed the monkeys, and instead watched others do so. The monkey forest was enchanting and unlike anything I had previously experienced. When visiting Ubud I highly recommend making a point to visit the monkey forest, you will be glad that you did.
Meeting a Traditional Balinese Healer
One of the things at the top of my Bali bucket list was to visit a traditional and well known Balinese spiritual healer. I had done research online and knew I wanted to meet Cokorda Rai. Part of my interest for this was due to reading the ultra well-known book by Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, which many people might simply know by the movie title, Eat Pray Love. However, even if I hadn’t read the book or seen the movie, it still would have rung high on my must-do list because even back home in the U.S. I’ve always enjoyed getting intuitive readings and having energy work done, as well as practicing the intuitive arts myself. That’s why I was definitely not going to miss the rare opportunity to visit a reputable healer on my journey to Bali. Plus, after twenty-three hours on an airplane one way, who knew when I’d be back again.
I had done my research prior to arriving in Bali, and what I discovered was that there were no specific directions regarding how to get to the location of this healer or make appointments. From my research, I discovered that I would have to wing it and find someone to ask in Ubud when I got there, and someone would likely know how to get to him. I had a phone number to reach him (or whoever answered for him), and the front desk staff at my hotel were kind enough to call it.
I learned that I could come by the next day to see him. None of the hotel staff knew how to get there, but one of them headed down to a row of taxis parked in the street nearby, and found a taxi driver that had taken someone to see him before, and knew how to get there! Success! The taxi driver and I agreed to meet the following morning. I was excited everything had worked out so nicely. You can’t plan every detail. Sometimes you just have to trust that things will work out.
The next morning I met up with the taxi driver at our agreed upon time. As we drove through the streets of Ubud I took in the sights. There were lots of fields of greenery and vegetation, and I observed the people of Ubud going about their everyday lives. Eventually we pulled up to Cokorda Rai’s home, otherwise known as a compound. I was assuming we would walk up to the front doors, but thankfully the taxi driver guided me in the right direction. We bypassed the front entry doors entirely and walked around to the side of the compound into an open outdoor area. As we continued walking an outdoor temple platform with a small group of people sitting on it appeared before us, and there was Cokorda Rai doing a healing on someone! I was so excited I had found him! I took a seat with the seven or so other people already sitting there patiently waiting for their turn. I sat there excited and in awe as I watched the others receive their healings, while I waited for my own turn. There was a group of women from Australia who received healings, and then a couple from India. And then it was my turn!
I started off by sitting on the ground while Cokorda Rai sat behind me in a chair. He began touching my head, and around my ears, almost in a massaging type of way.
Next, I laid down on a large mat on the floor, and Cokorda Rai began poking various points on my toes with a stick like object. I had watched him poke the feet and toes of the others who went before me, so I knew what was coming. For each person, a different point on their toes or feet would hurt, which appeared to correlate with whatever issue they were experiencing. Once Cokorda Rai found that point he could work to address the issue. As he poked my toes and feet, I felt pressure but nothing more…until he got to one particular spot on one of my toes, and I cried out in discomfort! Aha, he had found my ailment. He spoke to his assistant who began to do what I believe was some type of energy work on me. Intuitively some part of me knew it was celestial, or of the stars, on some level that I can’t quite explain. After the healing work was done, Cokorda Rai had a message for me, and whispered in my ear.
He told me to use passion and desire to make my decisions in life. A beautiful message, and one that rang true for me on many different levels. As I walked away I looked at him and he looked at me, and I felt this unspoken connection between us. After that session, I felt different. I felt happier. I felt laughter and joy bubbling up from deep inside me. I felt more like myself; my true self, how I remember feeling before all the pressures and stressors of life set in. That experience was one that will always be a cherished memory of mine.
Canyoning
At the top of my bucket list of things I wanted to experience during my trip to Bali was canyoning. I saved this adventure for my last full day in Bali. I hadn’t made reservations in advance, something I later realized I probably should have done. Two days before I planned to go it dawned on me that it would be a good idea to call and make an appointment. I called the canyoning company and asked to make a reservation. The man who answered my call told me he did not know if there were any spots available on the date I wanted, and asked me to call back the next day. I began to feel nervous that I might not get to go on the canyoning adventure, but I held the belief that it would work out, and I called back the next day with the intention that I was going to get on a canyoning trip. I briefly spoke with the man on the phone, and he asked me one question, “Can you swim?” “Yes,” I replied. “Okay, you can go,” he said. I then proceeded to ask about the beginner canyoning trip as I had no prior experience and was aware there were beginner, intermediate, and advanced options. “Beginner is full,” he said. Apparently all that was left was the intermediate. “Okay,” I agreed. After all, what choice did I have? And that was that. He arranged for someone to pick me up the following morning from my hotel.
The next morning the driver arrived as scheduled. We stopped at another hotel close by and picked up a couple who appeared to be around my same age. They were from Britain and dished out classic British humor, which I very much enjoyed. I learned they both quit their jobs and were traveling full time. I was excited for them because that was something I longed to do. They would be heading to Australia after their stay in Bali, to work for a few months and save up money before traveling to South America.
The drive up to the top of the mountain where we would be starting our repelling trip took a couple of hours. When we arrived at our destination we were met by the rest of the group, which consisted of four young men from India, and two young men and one young woman from a nearby island. We had an authentic home cooked Balinese breakfast, and then we geared up with wetsuits, helmets, boots, and harnesses for our trek.
We were driven a short way to our starting destination, and began by hiking down a mountain until we reached a small body of water. We were then given a basic lesson in repelling by wadding down a small waterfall to become familiar with the process. That would be the smallest of any of the waterfalls on our trip to come. As we traveled along the body of water, we encountered pools of water several inches deep to many that were so deep they could only be swam across.
The canyoning trip consisted of climbing over rocks into pools of water, sliding down natural rock slides, jumping off rocks into the water below, and repelling down waterfalls. It was a lot of fun, and definitely got my adrenaline pumping. Let’s just say I’m not exactly an adrenaline junky, so there were points where I was terrified, while others in the group probably found the same experience exciting. At the mid-point of our trip we reached a natural hot spring where we were able to sit and rest in the warm water for a bit and have tea and snacks the guides brought for us. This was also the point where those doing the beginner portion of the trip departed from the rest of the group and those doing the intermediate portion continued along on the journey.
I can safely say the second half of the canyoning trip was sufficiently more intense than the first half. The waterfalls grew larger, and harder to maneuver. While descending one of the last waterfalls of the trip I lost my footing on the slippery rock surface. I was dangling in the air halfway up and halfway down the waterfall, desperately attempting to regain my footing, while being pummeled by water shooting down upon me and all around me. In that moment, my mind was racing while I attempted to figure out my next step. As I was suspended there mid-waterfall, by myself, with the water pounding down on me, I distinctly remember having the loud thought that this was as much adventure as I could possibly handle. I had been looking for adventure, and I had found it. I knew I had quite literally reached my adventure threshold. It was an intense, yet memorable feeling, and I feel lucky to have felt that way.
As I was trying to figure out what to do I began listening to my groupmates shouting advice and words of encouragement from above and below me. Somehow I regained my footing and made it down to the pool of water gathered at the base of the waterfall, and I felt a great sense of relief. I had done it!
Shortly thereafter, we reached the end of the canyoning trip and arrived at a destination where we were in the cliffs above a popular swimming hole where many people were swimming down below. That’s great, I thought, now everybody would get to watch us as we struggled to descend this final challenging cliff! What made this particular part of the trek so difficult was that prior to descending, there was little to no ledge to stand on. We basically had to hang off the cliff by holding on to almost nothing, adding to not only the physical, but also the mental challenge of it all. However, after getting through that initial challenging portion of the descent the final repel down the cliff was smooth sailing. Since there was a large pool of water down below we could unhook ourselves early, and drop into the cool water below. Once that happened, we knew we had made it!
After reaching the end of the experience, as you might imagine, myself and the rest of my groupmates were all on a high. We had truly had an adventure in Bali, one that challenged us, excited us, and would leave us with a lasting memory that would not, and could not ever be forgotten. I truly felt like I accomplished something that day. I had come to a new country by myself, such a huge geographical distance from my home in the United States. I not only challenged myself the entire trip by traveling solo for the first time, but then further challenged myself by trying new things, like canyoning, for the first time. I had sought out an adventure, and I had found it! As the popular saying goes, “Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone.” I can confidently say that I understand its meaning now.
Concluding Thoughts
I truly believe that with every new traveling experience we learn and grow. Traveling offers an incredible learning opportunity, and the memories we make from the experiences we have forever change us for the better. Even after the physical experience is gone, we have the memories for the rest of our lives, and the gifts of transformation from our experiences. For anyone interested in, or thinking about traveling solo, I say do it. Traveling with a companion is great, but if you have a desire, a longing to go somewhere, to experience a place, know that desire is there for a reason. Don’t hold back. Challenge yourself, and rise to the occasion! If there is an adventure in your heart or some destination you have been longing to journey to, trust that part of yourself. You might just be surprised by what you find.
Shout out to the Adventure & Spirit canyoning team!
As an interesting follow up to this experience…I was having an Akashic Record (or all that is, was, and will be) reading, and with only a few minutes left of the session I heard my inner voice directing me to ask about Bali. I didn’t know if we would have enough time, but if my intuition was coming through that strong, I knew I had to ask. So I did. The lady doing my reading was able to share with me that I in fact did have a past lifetime in Bali, where I was a fat, happy, Balinese man, living a traditional Balinese life. I lived in a hut, fished, and gardened. Life was simple, but good. She described that I had what I needed, the sun was shining down on my face, and I was happy. That simple but profound description meant so much to me. At the time my job was particularly challenging as were some other details in my life, and things seemed like a struggle. I found it very comforting to hear that I had a life that was simple, easy, and happy. I was grateful for the information. I can’t say that I was surprised to learn that I had a past life in Bali, because I feel that was the reason I was called to go there, to that location, on a truly experiential solo adventure.