Indonesia

Bali Bungalow

Published on September 1, 2014May 15, 2018 by reganclem2 Comments

When I was looking for a place to stay during my few weeks in Bali, I wanted the best hospitality without separating myself from the energy and culture of the town. The White Villas, in the heart of Ubud, is a beautiful oasis fit for any intrepid traveler that gives you the best of both worlds.

During my stay, I have never felt so well taken care of and so at home. Every morning, complimentary breakfast of your choice is delivered to your door — or even better, your patio. I chose traditional options like nasi goreng paired with fresh local fruit and yogurt, which was always the perfect start to my day. Another great touch is that they have passion fruit growing in the garden that you’re welcome to pick and snack on. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Because there are only three villas on the premisis, the service has loads of personal touches and works around your schedule. The staff would help me choose great tours, like this one, and would take care of arranging all of the transportation. In addition, they would often check in to make sure I was doing well and taking advantage of all the activities and restaurants in downtown Ubud. Because I was traveling alone, they took extra care to make me feel safe and welcome, which I really appreciated.

Often times, friends and family ask where I would like to return to in Asia. While I have seen so many beautiful places, my first answer is always Ubud, and I have to credit the amazing people at The White Villas for making my experience a memorable one! If and when I return to Bali, you can bet your bottom dollar I will be staying in The White Villas again.

Monkeying Around

Published on January 23, 2014August 29, 2014 by reganclemLeave a comment

Ubud is one of those amazing places where you can walk and explore something new everyday. Whether it’s a new path through rice paddies, a great little restaurant with the most delicious papaya smoothie, or a monkey (who will try to steal your camera) you’re always guaranteed to run into something new.

When you’re in Ubud, it’s worth checking out the Monkey Forrest. Yes, it is super touristy, but how can you pass up an opportunity to hang out with a bunch of cute, little monkeys? When you go, you’ll see a lot of folks buying a bunches bananas. You can buy some as well, but there will be monkeys out and about no matter what, so it’s not necessary. There’s no time limit on how long you can stay in the monkey forrest, but you really only need an hour, so make sure to plan a few other things for the day, even if it’s just doing some yoga and hanging out reading a book.

Biking in Paradise

Published on January 15, 2014August 29, 2014 by reganclem1 Comment

While traveling alone is a great way to get some time to yourself and catch up with a good book, it’s always great to meet new people, too. One of the best ways to do that is to go on a tour, and perhaps the best one during my trip in Asia was the Bali Eco Cycling tour in Ubud. The name suggests a great deal of physical exertion, but to be honest, 90% of the tour is downhill, meaning you can enjoy the views while appreciating a constant breeze.

The tour starts early in the day with a quick drive up the moutnains to breakfast overlooking Mt. Batur and Crater Lake. After finishing up breakfast, you grab your bikes and start your journey downhill. First stop, checking out some local produce and getting to try it. Coffees and teas are prepared in small tasting flights and brewed to your liking. You also make several stops in quaint villages and get to see how Balinese neighborhoods are set up and what everday life is like. Often times tours like to make stops that seem staged , but this felt like the real deal without being intrusive to local’s homes. The final stops for the rest of the tour were different rice paddies decorated with handmade offerings for yearly Hindu celebrations.

If you want to see the rice paddies when they are in their prime with all of these decorations, I recommend heading to Bali during late October, early November. This is also the low season, meaning it’s easier to negotiate deals on lodging and you won’t have to fight the crowds.

All in all, this tour still constitutes as one of my fondest memories while in Bali. Between the informative guides, beautiful views, and the great people I met on my tour, there is no reason why you shouldn’t check Bali Eco Cycling while you are in Ubud.

Faces of Ubud

Published on November 30, 2013August 30, 2014 by reganclemLeave a comment

I’ve been home just shy of a week and the whirlwind of catching up with family and friends, sorting and organizing photos and notes, and just plain catching my breath, has been somewhat overwhelming. So I decided to relax, refocus and put together a quick post of some of my favorite photos from my travels in Indonesia. While making my selections, I noticed a theme…the photos were all of people! So, I thought I would stay on trend with the current fad of website/Facebook pages titled “People of (insert chosen location here)”, and feature the men, women and children who moved through my camera lens into my heart. I give you the people of Bali.