Selamat Pagi!🙏🏻

…Or hello, in Indonesia!

When was the last time you invested in something that revitalized your spirit? Rekindled your passion? Reminded you of a goal? 

I recently left for 10 days in Bali to attend the Bali Blogger Bootcamp. I came with my heart open, and my mind determined. I’ve been on the waiting list for 2 years and I was finally able to invest in this aspect of growing my blog.

2019 is my year of learning.
2020 will be my year of earning.

Between workshops, photoshoots, and one-on-one coaching, I was able to explore the island of Bali alongside 6 other bloggers and entrepreneurs. While there’s many ways to see a place, I wanted to share my own “how to” guide to Bali! If you’re interested in how I got to this island refuge, I shared my journey in a separate blog post (Getting to Bali: A Standby Story).

HOW TO BALI LIKE A BLOGGER

Three essential parts of any trip are food, activities, and “Instagrammable” moments. Sprinkled throughout the week, our excursions allowed us to experience the beauty of Bali. Glo, who hosted our retreat, had set up for us to have drivers. So transportation was taken care of!

STEP 1: EAT LIKE AN INDONESIAN

Glo treated us to an in-house chef and team. Every morning, we woke up to fresh coffee and a plate full of organic, locally-sourced foods. The chef was incredibly knowledgable, and every meal was accompanied with an explanation of how he cooked the dish, and why he used the spices / sides that he did.

My favorite Balinese food was Nasi Goreng. Pictured below, it’s fried rice and veggies with a fried egg on top. It’s heaven-sent. I enjoyed this particular dish with an Alben’s cider.

• 

One of the highlights of the trip was our last morning. Glo had arranged for us to do a photoshoot with a quintessential Bali experience: the floating breakfast.

While this photo was taken out of the water, I took plenty of pictures with it in the water. I share this one, because I love how happy I look in this photo. Bali is such revitalizing environment, and I can see that when I look back through my photos. And yes, the farmer’s tan is unavoidable.😉

• 

STEP 2: PLAY HARDER THAN YOU WORK

For us bloggers, that looks like horseback riding at sunset, a helicopter ride over Denpasar and the Indonesian coast, and a private tour by boat around a Hindu temple.

For me, the most impactful experience was horseback riding, as this had been a fear of mine for years. I shared my feelings on Instagram, but I thought I’d add the story here too:

“Around age 14, I attended a “Boy Scout” summer camp. We did everything from white water rafting, to mountain biking, to horseback riding.

That list is likely to raise some eyebrows, as I don’t typically find these types of activities “fun.” Nevertheless, I found myself at this camp.

I remember arriving at the stables; seeing how tall the horses were. I remember trying to make sense of their neighs. I remember the fear gripping my chest when I was hoisted up into the saddle. And most vividly, I remember the feeling of being powerless when my horse broke off from the group and the guides did nothing but yell at me.

I remember crying as I walked back to the stables.
I remember vowing to never ride a horse again.

The night I arrived in Bali, I received the week’s itinerary.
There it was: “Horseback Ride in Canggu.”

I have a tendency to avoid a problem until it’s literally unavoidable (anyone else do this?). So 4 days later, I found myself again at a stable. But this time, the horses didn’t seem so tall and their neighs seemed like soft chatter.

The guides walked alongside us, an echo of “hati hati” (slowly slowly) could be heard as we made our way through the rice paddies. My feeling of fear slowly subsided, returning occasionally when my horse would unexpectedly speed up.

This experience taught me that fear is fluid, it can ebb and flow. With time, we gain new perspectives. When we encounter old fears, we may be more ready than we anticipate.”

• 

The helicopter ride was also especially exciting for me – as I work in the sky. I had never been in a helicopter though, so I was GLOWING at the idea of climbing up a few thousand feet to take in the beauty of Bali from above.

• 

On a more spiritual note, we traveled several hours north to the Puru Ulun Temple. This Hindu temple is nestled inland among mountains, hugging the shores of Lake Danau Beratan.

Our guide gently glided is through the waters until we could dock ourselves just to one side of the temple. We could hear the monk chanting and beating their drums on the shore. It was a special place that I will never forget.

• 

STEP 3: SNAP THE “INSTAGRAMMABLE” MOMENTS

While Bali is an island, it can take up to several hours between spots as the roads wind in and out of the jungle and single-line traffic is serious. Which means early mornings and late nights. But boooyyyy was it worth it.

Bali is one of those places where around every corner is another breathtaking view, colorful backdrop, or awe-inspiring experience. While there’s many places that could qualify for this category, I want to cover my 3 favorites: the Tegalalang Rice Terraces, the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, and La Brisa Beach Club.

Tegalalang is located halfway between the coast (Seminyak / Canggu) and Ubud (more central). Don’t be fooled by our smiles – it’s a HIKE. We spent at least 4 hours trekking up and down the terraces to find all the photogenic spots. But it is COMPLETELY worth it!

*Tip: Bring cash to take photos in the cute spots like the one below. The locals charge and act as bouncers so you can’t really sneak in.

• 

Visiting the monkey forest is also one of the most unique experiences. The forest has little pockets of feeding areas, where tourists will gather in large groups and the monkeys tend to be more agitated.

It’s better to find a quieter area; the monkeys will be older, calmer, and arguably “easier” to photograph. I cozied up to a monkey with the help of some food we bought from the caretakers. Feeling the weight of the monkey on my shoulders and sharing his space was a truly remarkable moment that I will always cherish.

• 

If you’re looking for the perfect spot to spend an evening, I highly recommend a local beach club (more like a open-air restaurant) called La Brisa. Built by a Spanish expat, it’s the epitome of “Instagram-able.” We had a wonderful evening sharing laughs, drinks, and THE most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen. 

• 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t remark how impressed I was with the kindness of the Balinese people. Throughout my entire stay in Bali, they were beyond accommodating, patient, and welcoming. I would love to return and spend more time in Ubud, and explore some of the surrounding islands.

If anyone has any recommendations for Bali, please share them in the comments. 🙂

• 

If you’re wondering who the heck is this amazing woman Glo who planned my trip, and how you can follow her?
Read her blog!
Follower her on Instagram!
Subscribe to her YouTube Channel!

If you’re curious to see other places I’ve been recently, you can check out my monthly article series.

Until next time, I’m sending you all my best wishes from 35,000 feet.,

Keep Reading: My Top 5 Tips For New Bloggers