Bali Part 1: Jimbaran
Visiting Bali gives you the opportunity to have whatever type of experience you’re seeking, if you simply make the right choice on where to plant yourself. It’s also extremely easy to move around the island. I am spending two weeks here, and I chose 3 very distinct places to visit, based on the things I wanted to see and do, the type of vibe I was looking for, and the fact that it’s my first time here.
My first stop in Bali was in Jimbaran. This is the place you go when you’re looking for a nice beachside area, that is laid-back and unpretentious. It’s close to the airport and makes a very convenient destination after traveling for 25 hours. I also was looking to cross a few things off my “tourist list”, and figured this would be a good place to do it from.
Here are a few of the highlights.
Day Trip to snorkel and visit Nusa Lembongan- I already blogged about this day, but it was another reason I chose to stay in this area. Jimbaran makes a trip to Nusa Lembongan easy, as it’s only 15 minutes to the dock and then about 45 minutes to great snorkeling and to see the island.
South Bali Beach Tour- There are many great beaches to explore in south Bali, so we hired a driver to take us around to a few we wanted to check out, and spend time at. By the way… “hiring a driver” is super inexpensive and a total cost effective way to see the sites. $35 for the day.
Uluwatu Temple and Fire Dance- This was on my list of tourist attractions I’d like to see and check off. It was interesting and a very unique experience. Not something I would need to see again, but I’m glad I experienced it. The chanting is still not out of my head.
Jimbaran Beach and Seafood Dining by the ocean- Jimbaran is known for their seafood restaurants by the sea. We spent the afternoon hanging out at the laid-back beach club here, and then dug our feet into the sand while we chowed down on seafood caught that morning.
Birthday Celebration- I’m pretty chill when it comes to my birthday. I started off the day with a massage (the place down the street from where we were staying was $6.50 for an hour!), and then I really just wanted a nice day by a pool with a few cocktails. So, we made our way to Cocoon Beach Club and had a day of it. Happy Birthday to me!
Tanah Lot Temple- Another one of the sites I had on my list. Not really close to Jimbaran, so we actually stopped here on our way to our next destination. Since we “hired a driver”, you can just make the day of it and do whatever interests you. This place is best viewed at sunset, but we actually came during the day and had a really awesome experience with getting a blessing from the priests with the holy water that flows through here.
This trip has been amazing so far and we are only half way through our journey! Check back to see more updates, and contact me whenever you're ready to start your own adventure in paradise!