Bali has the best sunsets I’ve ever seen

Here it is! It’s been 8 months since we came home from Bali. I’ve wanted to share this post with you so many times, but personal issues took over, and I just couldn’t find the energy to finish it.

Shortly after our arrival one of my friends asked about Bali as they were planning on a family trip. We shared all our recommendations, now a second couple is leaving with their 4 month baby, and a third couple is leaving this summer. So it’s about time, that I finally got something off my hands regarding our trip.

Let me just get it off my chest – this is by far the best family travel we had. I don’t think 2 weeks is enough here. Hell, 4 weeks weren’t enough for us. This place is worthy every penny, especially as a family. It’s kids friendly, great infrastructure, as the little island it is, it sure has much to offer.

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Departure

We flew with Emirates and had to make a transfer in Dubai. The next coming flight would have been an obvious choice BUT since is was late at night we actually decided to book a hotel in Dubai Airport. Then we could sleep and be rested before the next flight.

BEST DECISION EVER! – The kids fell asleep right away and so did we. When we finally arrived to Bali we weren’t that boomed as we normally are. So this is something that made our travel better. We’re planning on doing this in all long distance travels in the future.

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Arrived

We booked a hotel near the airport to make it easier, i.e. not to drive far on the first day.

Accommodation: Sakala Resort, 4-5 days.

I’m glad that this was just for a couple of days. The area was not Bali-worthy. I was so dissapointed, and the beach was not used for swimming, it was more a watersport place and boats everywhere.
Restaurants: MEADS, and Black … (Can’t remember the whole name).
Sightseeing: The Turtle Island.

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UBUD

Nexts stop was Ubud for 3 days.

We didn’t book a longer stay, as we knew that we would be ON all days. We came to see and explore everything in Ubud and places around Ubud.

Accommodation: We stayed in a private villa that we booked via Airbnb, which we usually do.

The villa has a kitchen staff, and the owners had a driver that picked us up at Sakala Resort and drove us to Ubud. The driver was polite, friendly, knew many places and we trusted him. We arranged that he should drive us for our entire stay in Bali. We have recommended him to all our friends, and I’m happy to share his info if any of you are looking for a driver in Bali 🙂

While we stayed in Ubud, we ate breakfast and dinner in the villa. During the day when we were sightseeing we ate lunch somewhere – with our dear driver. We included him in everything.

I needed a bakery, because our kids love bread in between the meals, and it’s easier to bring as snack.
In Ubud there is a delicious bakery called Bread Life – be aware, you’ll gain weight! :p

Sightseeing:

1. The Monkey Forrest.
   It’s very quite and a nice walk. Be careful! The monkeys can be dangerous. Don’t touch them, especially their little babies. They will bite! Don’t have any visible food or water bottles on you – they will rob you! ha ha…
   While I breastfeed Aydin – Zlatan and Adriana were looking at a monkey eating corns. I noticed a monkey walking in circles around me and all of the sudden it came over to our stroller, grab Adrianas water bottle and ran! Need I say, that Adriana had a meltdown and the guard started running after the monkey and got the bottle. But the monkey already had opened it and drank from it.
2. Waterfalls.
3. There are so many! I can’t remember all the names but maybe some of you can recognize them on the pictures.
4. Temple.
5. The (traditional) Market.
   You can spend hours here. There are many beautiful things and a perfect ice-cream place, Gourmet Gelato, which had italian premium ice-cream and vegan options. All organic.
6. Semar Kuning Painting.
   Our driver told us NOT to by any paintings at the traditional marked, since they don’t use quality painting etc. He drove us to this place where you can see the painters paint IRL and you can make an order or you can walk around and shop for paintings. We found a perfect painting for our new living room – I still don’t have a picture of it because it’s still not on the wall, but soon I promise.
   I need to emphasize, that although it can seem as a pitch, not to buy one place but to buy another place. It has truth. Recently we visited a store that is going to put our painting in a frame, and when we opened the roll the smell of the paint was so “right”, while the other painting we bought (at the market) was all messed up! The woman will try to fix it, but the painting was hard as a rock! The paint was cracking etc.
7. Luwak Coffee – GoaGajah farm.
   Luwak Coffee is very famous around the world, and is very expensive. It’s something all travelers have to try in Bali. For me personally, the Luwak coffee was better than the traditional balinese coffee.
   If you don’t know what it is, it is an animal that eat coffee beans, then the expelled faeces (whole beans) are used to make the luwak coffee. It’s washed of course. It wasn’t disgusting at all. We visited a farm (I think it’s called a farm) close to the hindu temple. Here we could see the process of the luwak coffee making. We even saw two luwaks. At the end of the tour we had some tastings, tea and coffee. We bought coffee for us and family to taste.

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Luwak Coffee Farm

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Lovina

It was maybe 2-2,5 hours from Ubud. As north as you can get.

Accommodation: Villa Nyoman, 12 days. Booked via Airbnb.

This villa has full equipped staff! Reception, kitchen, cleaning, drivers etc. They all became like family to us. They made us feel like family. We loved everything about it.

Lovina was without doubt the most perfect place for us! It was so relaxing, it was much warmer than in south Bali, no waves, much to see just like around Ubud.

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Villa Nyoman

Sightseeings:

1. Twin Lakes.
   What a view! Nearby there is some activity you can do. There is also swings so you can get “the blogger picture”.
2. Monkeys, close to twin lakes.
   It’s almost like rainforrest here. The monkeys are more calm and you can by bananas to feed them.
3. Buddhist Temple.
   Very pretty and I’m personally more into buddhism than hinduism. Somehow the statues in hinduism scare me, ha ha.
4. Krisna Waterpark.
   The biggest waterpark. It’s fun for kids and adults. Although the restaurant is poor. They don’t understand English and the food is not the best.
5. Menjangan Island.
   Here you’ll meet reindears. That is actually the meaning of menjangan = reindear.
   It’s the perfect place to snorkle. Be aware that you have to bring your own food, there is nothing on the island.
6. Sekumpull Waterfall and adventure.
   Jump from 5 meter, 10 meter cliff and try a waterslide in the bare nature. And much more.

Restaurants:
Spice Beach Club – It’s the same owner as the villa we rented. Amazing atmosphere. Great food, great drinks, entertainment etc.
El Greco Café & Capri.
Warun Ayun.
Akar Café.
Buda Café & Resto.

Twin Lakes

Spice Beach Club, Lovina

Menjangan Island

Menjangan Island

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Nusa Dua

Our last week was back i Nusa Dua.

Accommodation: WestIn Resort

Yes, it’s a high standard hotel with many facilities and more, but we litterly didn’t get “the Bali feeling” here. We were disappointed, and the 7 days seemed way too long. If you consider West-in make it only a 3-4 days stay. There a lots of older couples here, mainly from Australia, families with kids from Japan, China etc. The facilities for kids are great. The beach has a lot of algae and huge waves! It could also be quit windy.
Last day we experienced a smaller earthquake.

We actually didn’t do anything here – than being bored! However the kids enjoyed themselves because there was so many other kids. Adriana went to the kids spa and got herself a manicure and pedicure. She also learned how to dive! I guess, this is what happens when kids got to copy each other.

As a family with small children it’s a nice place. There are a few restaurants in the hotel, the kids have priority pass so they can have all the ice-cream they want. They receive a water bottle at the arrival and they can fill it up all they want during the day.

The resort has a couple of restaurants so we mainly ate here to avoid stress with the kids. However, there is a shopping area close by were there are some good restaurants too.

Adriana getting a pedicure 🙂

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Conclusion

We loved Bali. We stayed for 4 weeks, and we could have stayed much longer!

We planned to visit Gili islands, BUT there was bad weather on the sea so no one recommended it. There was a slow ferry that could go but since we loved it in Lovina we just prolonged our stay there.

We didn’t see any bad sides of Bali. People often talk about how tourism have destroyed areas with waste etc. We didn’t see this anywhere. The infrastructure was impressive! No bumps no nothing. Much better than in Thailand (Read about Khao Lak here and about Koh Samui here)

Now we’re constantly talking about Bali. Especially Adriana. She loves swimming. We can’t wait to go back.

If you have any questions or anything don’t hesitate to contact me.

Tak fordi du læser med.