Bali, Indonesia

Seminyak:

 A short 20-minute bike ride from Canggu, Seminyak has a range of nightlife in and around it. If you want more options, check out @thecanggupedia for more party recommendations and food promo deals. 

Day:  

Go to the Warungs in Pantai Batu Belig for promos on drinks, four or five Bintangs for the equivalent of £6.60 or two for one cocktails and class views chilling on the beanbags watching the sunset- the dream. Had a decent DJ most of the day and night.  

Night: 

Shooters: an American-themed place located in Seminyak. You’ll find 2-for-1 deals on cocktails, RnB music, and loads of activities available; ping pong, Jenga, basketball, axe throwing, a very good DJ with his old school RnB tracks, Hooga rooftop bar also had good promos, right next to a hostel in Seminyak, it’s not the most accessible but the staff are really helpful. Hooga offers £4 for a meal and a beer at selected times, £10 for a litre of spirits and unlimited mixers, and a great place to pre-drink, with even a live band and open mic some nights.

I’d go to Kuta, which is 15 minutes away from Seminyak, to Bodyboard, Bodyboarding at Kuta beach. I used my surf school in Bali, and they were great and suitable for all levels. It was my first time bodyboarding, and Kuta beach was the perfect place to start; the instructor knew my mobility and taught me the best techniques. What an experience, I can’t remember the price, but it wasn’t expensive; the board and clothing were also included, I had @photobossbali capture some class content.

Uluwatu:

Uluwatu is a place to relax, away from the fast-paced lifestyle of Canggu and Seminyak. Life here is slower and more peaceful. I would spend my day at Malasti beach snorkelling or at the Instana spa. I wasn’t able to access a lot of the waterfalls, but I used a drone to capture some nice moments, as you’ll see in my video below.

Day:

Snorkelling Malasti: I used my snorkel and water shoes, the water was very clear and so relaxing-you could see a lot of fish, as you’ll see from the video. I used a waterproof phone case on my iPhone Spas.

Uluwatu- la Joya: offer a range of massage treatments and spa deals. When I went, I paid to use the pool overlooking the ocean and spent the day on the beds. I think I paid around £15.00. La Joya is included in the video. 

Uluwatu The instana spa retreat: I wanted to share some images with you all, but they don’t allow phones as they want you to live in the moment while here I did manage to capture a small video. It is featured on my TikTok, Instagram and included in my YouTube video.

Facilities: 

1. Sauna 

2. Steam room

3. Ice bath

4. Infinity pool

It wasn’t the most accessible, but I managed. I loved the facilities and the view, it was such a nice place just outside Ulu, only £11.00. I want to do the evening session next time and be there for the sunset Morning Spa Session. You can book in for the following times –

7:00 am

9:00 am, Morning Spa Session

9:30 am

Noon, Afternoon Spa

3:00 pm 

5:30 pm and Evening Spa Session

6:00 pm

9:00 pm

Ulu cliff house: The views don’t get much better than here on Friday – two strong cocktails for £6.00, only six minutes from Padang Padang and Suluban beach.

Rituals Uluwatu: More of a VIP spot with a modern design, unreal views and many comfy areas to chill. You get what you pay for.

Sunset point: My favourite spot – you’ll see in the video. I loved having a Bintang here, with good music and a relaxing atmosphere. Unfortunately, when I was leaving, it seemed to be closed, I wasn’t sure why.

Ubud: This is where you find yourself and connect spiritually. I only spent a day or two here, visiting the temples. One of my regrets in Bali was not exploring Ubud more, as it has a lot to offer, including art, culture, and nature, as well as yoga and the Pura Tirta Empul Water Temple, where you cleanse. There is also Kopi Luwak which is a coffee that ferments after the Luwak eats it, then roasted and ground. I avoided the Monkey Forest as locals advised me that the monkeys became very aggressive due to not being fed as much over the covid period, so it didn’t appeal to me.

Jimbaran and Nusa dua: I often visited Jimbaran and Nusa dua. Jimbaran is great for seafood and one of my favourite spots for sunset was Jimbaran beach, where I’d have a seafood platter. I would go Jet Skiing and swim at Nusa dua beach with Kanze water sports. Kanze water sports have so much to do there. Located at Nusa dua beach, they offer a range of water sports from Parasailing, jet skis, snorkelling and underwater sea walking. Message +62 813-3708-3800 and let them know you’re a friend of mine – he will give you a good deal!

Getting from A to B:

I conquered my fear of going on the back of bikes, which saved me loads of money and also gave me the best view of Bali. Most Grab and Go-jek drivers would always find a way to fit me on their bikes, which I greatly appreciated, sometimes

I’d order two bikes – one for the frame and the other for me. It still worked out cheaper than a car and I loved the journeys to Jimbaran, Nusa dua and Uluwatu as I was able to take in the scenery. To travel is to be free and that’s the feeling I got in Bali.

Grab/Gojek – Download the apps

Avoid the blue taxis if you have a full day planned, it’s cheaper to hire a Local driver.

Gusto – charges 500k IDR for the day at +62 812-3943-403, Traveloka is also great, you can rent a car and then hire your driver which can work out cheaper.

Money Money Money:

For the four and a half months I spent in Bali, the currency exchange allowed me to live like a king. You can buy a good meal for as little as £1.80. On average, you’d be spending less than £10 a day for food and drinks in most places, although that depends on where you eat and drink. I would go to the high-end places twice a week and still get high-quality steak side sauces with a beer for £8.69 using the steak and wine promo at the Forge, I’ll list the details below.

1 Pound sterling equals 17,179.18 Indonesian Rupiah. This will vary, but you’ll get good value for money wherever you go in Bali. I used a Monzo and a Wise card, which helped me to get around, but I should’ve brought pounds to change in Bali, as the rates were much better than in the UK. Monzo premium helped me to keep an eye on my spending and it only starts charging interest if you spent more than £600 a month. You also get travel insurance worldwide.

Meeting people:

Whilst solo travelling I never felt the need to stay in hostels to make friends, I would just put myself out there, always confident that I would end up meeting people naturally in clubs, bars, gyms and beaches. I never had any doubts that I would end up meeting new and interesting people. From my experience, it’s all about the energy you put across and how you hold yourself. Although I had long periods alone, I never really felt alone. I always felt like my Dad was with me every day, which is why I always felt safe. I met people from all over the world, from Europe to America and a lot of locals. The perk of using a frame is you get noticed very quickly and I used that to my advantage.

More tips and tricks:

Face mask for the plane to avoid dry skin from the aircon Works for me every time.

Luggage and Packing:

I used an Osprey backpack and Amazon packing cubes which both surprisingly kept me organised with packing and unpacking. Check my travel essential packing list link here:

 Pack light clothing see my packing list link here          

Aftershave, suncream, moisturiser – I ran out of all of these towards the end of the trip and couldn’t find any nice fragrances anywhere. Also, sun cream is expensive and not good for your skin, so try to bring plenty if you’re going on a long trip like me.  

Using your phone:

The SIM card Indonesia set up made life easy. You get to keep your original number on WhatsApp but get an indonesian sim as well, so you can use apps like Gojek and Grab.

 Finding Accommodation:

Accommodation prices can go up and down depending on where you stay and for how long. It also will depend on what month you’re in Bali and how you book. I booked through Facebook or got a local to book for me to get a better deal. As mentioned above, I used Monzo premium Wise, and I also managed to set up the app OVO, which was very good for transfers, I used it to buy food and other products in Bali and around Asia.

 Language:

Learn Bahasa, simple phrases like ‘Pagi’ (Morning) ‘APA Kabar’ (how are you),

‘dari mana’ (Where are you from?), ‘Sangut bagus’ (very good), ‘Suk

Suma’ (thank you), ‘de Sini’ (here), ‘plan plan’ (slowly ‘slowly), and ‘Kamu

cantik’ (you’re beautiful) will help you show the locals respect.

 Deals:

Look out for promo deals such as the Forge, Taco Tuesdays, and two-for-one Thai meals in Bangkok hustle check out @thecanggupedia for more promo deals.

 Visas:

For Indonesian visas, I’d use Jasa Visa on +62 812 46529914. They were very efficient and reliable. I’d also use Jemmy on +62 817 788867. He’s very friendly and trustworthy. Keep an eye on @balisolve for the latest visa updates.

 Consider employing a PA:

My PA, Putri, made my life so easy, from organising accommodation for me, helping me pack and ensuring my laundry was done. She taught me Bahasa and sometimes was my councillor, helping me with the situations I got myself into. I won’t put her cost here as she was worth so much more, and we became good friends in the process. Even though she would still call me boss. If you’d like also to employ her, message her on Instagram on putridiaan_

Gym/recovery:

There are training videos from

@soma, @surya @balimma and

@bulldog gym On my Facebook and Instagram pages @theweakley, @theweakleypost

And in the video below: 

Soma fight club:

Here has got everything you need mainly for boxing/ MMA/ CrossFit. I was trained by Sandy- the best pad man I’ve had; he kept me fit and agile. I used Stephanie (Angkii) for strength & conditioning and mobility, her knowledge is unreal, and it was never an easy session. All the staff are really friendly and helpful – it felt like home being there. Facilities include: Sauna/Ice bath cafe with all macro meals and smoothies, I mainly paid daily as I’d go two/ three times a week (100k IDR per session).

 Bali MMA:

I mainly went here for jiu-jitsu once a week and loved it apart from the cut feet (Matt burns) I had most weeks. 

 Surya gym:

This was the cheapest gym I found. It’s huge value for money, good equipment friendly staff. The food and coffee are unreal. I paid around £25 for the month but the prices do change sometimes depending on the month and season.

There are many good gyms in Bali. Most of the gyms I went to were better than the UK and European gyms I’ve been to. The facilities are top class, wonderlust, bulldog and Body factory are all great but expensive, Surya and soma were my favourites and I loved Bali MMA for jujitsu. I loved having a look around as I’d meet different people along the way.

 How To Stay fresh:

Dentist:

Klinik Gigi Dents (Dentes Dental Clinic) Gunung – Contact on +62 878-3950-5552. Unbelievable service, better than anything I’ve received in the UK, they kept my smile white at £14 for a deep clean and polish.

Barbers:

Seven barbers Bali– if you’re like me and you’re fussy with your hair, then this is the place you need to go to. Rian was my go-to guy. They were all great. You can get a clean shave, hot and cold towels and a sharp fade or taper for £6.50. They also wash your hair for you. I’d also highly recommend Canggu Barbershop.

Clothing:

Walk Bali– Top class replica sneakers and top quality tees, H&M in Seminyak and Beachwalk in Kuta- has Zara, cotton on, pull and bear and many shops if you need some fresh clothing if you extend your visa a few times like me.

Laundry:

Use a laundry service you’ll see loads dotted around they pick and drop off for you made my life so easy.

Tattoos:

Bali has some of the best tattooists in the world and is so good in price and quality I used Bali’s famous ink in Kuta, which were very good. I want to get more done next time, some other artists I wish I had time to book in with are @bachtzbali, @jokydluke_luxuryink and flashinkbali.

Top food places:

Nalu bowls by Batu bolong beach- All plant-based smoothie bowls- the best in Bali in my opinion. The JBAY was my no1 choice. All smoothie bowls are £3.50- amazing value for money, filling and all organic ingredients.

Hungry Laa– Big breakfast menu, a new modern Bali cafe based in Canggu 

Warung Jawa bru Sri– In Canggu- If you want to taste Balinese food you go here for 30k (£1.70), and you get Nasi campur (rice, chicken, spicy vegetables, curry and fried tempeh. Other foods included fresh kombucha, which helps digestion.

Canggu Thai kitchen– Best Thai food in Bali everything is fresh and authentic, the green curry was my hangover cure (£2.80). Good Thai tea too.

Umalas Warung dua Umalas– they have a range of healthy tasty food, western and Asian dishes, from breakfast to evening meals, all top quality. The tiramisu is the best I’ve had in Bali. At night all display dishes are 25k from 9 to 10 am.

Mie 88 Seminyak– Authentic Chinese food, you’ll see pictures of the food and menu in my video.

Surya gym– Is a gym cafe but the food is at a different level. My go-to was the grilled chicken sauté veg and mash (£3.50). They also served great coffee and the chef would cook whatever I wanted for breakfast- my usual order was, eggs avocado mushrooms a lime juice.

Batu bolong Santorini– family-owned Greek restaurant.My favourite dish was the marinated roast chicken Greek salad and roast potatoes as well as the vegetable soup which was great for hangovers.

JIMBARAN fish market– You’ve got to go here. Buy your fish from the market, I had a big sea bass for £2.20. You take it to the market where they skin it and cook the fish in spices for you. It comes with rice and sambal, all for £1.65. like pandas food, there are many good seafood warungs in the Jimbaran district

The Forge– A Canadian place. If you want a western vibe for good quality food, good promos every day and excellent Sunday lunch if you miss home. The staff were so helpful and welcoming, always grateful for their service.

Top Beaches:

Echo beach– Echo Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Canggu for surfing., good vibes.

Batu bolong– As discussed above great spot, to chill all day watching the surfers sipping a coconut or a Bintang, Dj comes on at night the place to be.

Malasti: Is One of the beaches with a very good infrastructure. The access was easy. I went with my PA and driver we paid 18k to get in. It was worth it. The view was very good and the staff assisted me into the sea, there with white sand and friendly waves. Clearwater good snorkelling spot as seen in the video 

Bingin Beach– The access road to Bingin is narrow so only motorbikes can pass this road. Around Bingin Beach there are limestone hills which add to the extraordinary scenery. Great setting, although difficult to access. Worth it for the sunsets. Some bars and places there, a bit pricey but nice.

La plancha– Colourful experience Right on the beach, lounging in bean bags under colourful umbrellas while watching the surfers unreal at night. Will definitely be back as only managed to go once.

Nightlife/ clubs my weekly schedule:

All the clubs listed below made it easy to enter, either through easy access or the doormen would carry me downstairs, or I’d walk down with assistance. I stay fit and healthy so I can adapt and overcome any situation. If you need some assistance just ask nicely. Give them a tip if you can, it goes a long way.

Monday- Luigi’s on a Monday is a house disco tech which offers a bit of everything with the PNNY Collective boys, they run the Bali House/tech scene.

Wednesday – DA Maria is the place to be.

Genre: hip hop Afro then head to Behind green door if you need a guest list I can link you up, always arrive early as the venues get so busy.

Thursday– Lov rooftop for hip hop or PNNY

the motto is house disco featuring guests artists.

Friday– Revolver then onto Morabito Villa or at times I went to Velvet room or Behind the green door.

Saturday– Vault Bali– Underground club, Unique concept, quality sound system and staff carried me down the stairs if needed.

La Favela is also a good option on the weekend, Savaya or La Brisa have also got top DJs, or if you want some tech, I’d end up in Red Ruby, which is open till the morning. Check out @thecangupedia for guest lists and up-to-date nights. If you need a guestlist for Savaya, contact @eliotlov on Instagram.

More food:

Canguu – Chow Chow– Top quality sushi; I never liked sushi before coming here, but it is very nice and a good price. They also have promos at certain times of the day. I loved the authentic Asian decor with a projector screen playing Bruce Lee movies, a romantic setting for a nighttime date.

Uluwatu – Suka Espresso– Good place for breakfast or lunch, or dinner. They always have good food and good service, and there’s a good energy about the place, the music is sometimes a bit loud in there, but it’s good to be around and enjoy a nice coffee.

Uluwatu – The Loft – Many juices/ smoothies to pick from and Sadap (delicious ) desserts. So many choices from the menu. The staff are friendly, and the food is not overpriced. It looks western but has many Asian options on the menu. Would highly recommend it.

Places I’d visit and things I’d do next time:

I travelled around Bali, as you can see, but not as much as I would’ve liked. I got caught up in the Canggu lifestyle a bit too much, but I don’t regret anything, as Bali is a place that I will always go back to. I’m excited to return and explore more:

Gilly Islands- Gilly means Island in Bahasa- The three Gili Islands each offer something different, can’t wait to explore and see what each one has to offer.

Quad biking Ubud– who wouldn’t want to quad bike around the jungle? Of course, I’ll have someone else drive, probably.

East Bali (Kabupaten, Sideman, Munduk Ahmed)- Ahmed is known to have some of the best spots for snorkelling and diving in the world be visiting East Bali next time.

Bedugul– you’ll find a famous lake temple, cool mountain weather, ancient volcanoes, and three crater lakes. This is the mystical place called Bedugul many local drivers told me to go here; it’s on the list.

Lovina– Long coastline is known for dolphin watching, snorkelling and the scenery. My dad wrote in his poems about lovina’s sunsets, look forward to visiting.