We lived in Indonesia for 4 years and had the pleasure of traveling to different islands in the world’s largest archipelago comprised of over 17,000 islands.

• Good to know before traveling to Indonesia
• Did you know that we once partied on a US Warship off the coast of Bali? it was UNREAL

Bali

Of course the most famous is Bali and I think it was the place we visited the most. You don’t go to Bali for the beach unless you are a surfer because the waves are huge and the undertows are very strong. Anytime there are red flags, it means you are not allowed to swim coz it’s too dangerous. The sand is also not white or very fine. For us we went for the food and the culture!

On our first time in the island as a young couple, it was great to stay in happening Seminyak and then just rent a car to outlet shop and watch the famous Ke Cak dance in Uluwatu. You can walk to many places in Seminyak.

Good to Know

• My Bali HITLIST recommendations for best of the best experiences
• Our first time in Bali our first impressions of the island
• Indonesian Beauty Secret: Lulur Body Scrub & which is my recommended brand

SEMINYAK – KUTA – ULUWATU

Hotels

• The Harmony Hotel budget hotel in Seminyak, but older so check google reviews
• HARRIS Hotel Kuta Tuban

Best Sunset Cocktails

• Sunset cocktails at Ku De Ta Seminyak with swimming pool
• The Rock Bar Sunset Cocktails the chicest & most glam sunset cocktails in the world
• The Bar at Bulgari Hotel went for Afternoon Tea, but fab for cocktails too!

Bites:

• Made’s Warung Seminyak a Balinese institution still going strong all these years
• Bale Udang Mang Enking in Kuta eat in a traditional hut over serene ponds
• Ikan Bakar Jimbaran Grilled seafood by the beach + Sambal Butter Corn while waiting
  • Menega Cafe Dinner our favorite for grilled seafood in Jimbaran coz of their Lombok counterpart
  • We also tried Menega Cafe for lunch and it was so nice, more chill & you can see your food
  • Nyoman’s Cafe Jimbaran we went here coz Menega closed early
  • Bawang Merah in a quieter place, higher quality & more upscale, recommended by a friend
  • Radja Cafe Ikan Bakar Ikan bakar translates to grilled seafood & is a must in Bali
  • Ganesha Cafe Tourist trap warning!
  • New Moon Cafe The food was literally rotten.
• Warung Italia our cheapest meal in Bali
• The Balcony Surfer Breakfast finally some real American style breakfast with crispy pork bacon

To Dos:

• Roxy & Ripcurl Outlet Shopping
• Cheap Souvenirs at Krisna
• Kecak Dance in Uluwatu a must do when you go to Bali, read for tips so you don’t lose belongings
• Jenggala Ceramic Bali in Uluwatu for world famous handmade ceramics, especially in Japan
  • Jenggala Factory Outlet for cheaper 2nd quality pieces
  • Jenggala now delivers to the Philippines

UBUD

We went back to Ubud and stayed in Gaya Villas which sadly no longer exists. But you can see the super cute room, delicious breakfasts, the funny experience I had in their spa, the fabulous art space, their gelateria run by Italians, Gaya Fusion resto & the ceramic store that still exists today.

• Ubud Day Trip to eat lechon and shop!
• Gaya Ceramic stunning ceramic homeware shop & ceramic center in Ubud
• Shopping for silver in Ubud
• Cinta Grill Baby Back Ribs
• Warung Babi Guling Ibu Oka 2 they have 3 locations coz the roast sucking pig is so popular

NUSA DUA

• Courtyard by Marriott Bali if you want to stay in quieter Nusa Dua this is good value for money
  • Breakfast Buffet
  • Lagoon Pool
  • MoMo Cafe
• Back in Marriott Courtyard
• Exploring Bali Collection
• Bicycling Around Nusa Dua
• Eight Degrees South Conrad a luxury dinner date with TD

SANUR

This is possibly my favorite underrated area in Bali because it’s so chill and most people visiting are retirees so there no pressure to look a certain way.

• Batujimbar Cafe one of my most memorable brunches, especially coz of their teacup droplights and other ceramics

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

• Organic Jatiluwih Red Rice Terraces

Yogyakarta

Good to Know

• Yogyakarta Hitlist
• Yogyakarta Modes of Transportation

Hotels

• Breathtaking Hyatt Regency Hotel one of the most stunning places I’ve ever stayed in!
• Historical Phoenix Hotel a smaller but oh so fabulous hotel
  • Phoenix Hotel a fab welcome
  • Phoenix Hotel Room photos
  • Sate Buffet at Paprika my first & only sate buffet experience
  • My Spa Pedicure
  • Paprika High Tea

Shopping & Activities

• Borobudur Temple Yogyakarta the biggest single-structure temple in the world
• Yogyakarta Art find local art and negotiate as a bundle or group.
• Shopping for Art in Yogyakarta a wild goose chase for art in Becaks, a local experience. One of my photos here won a photography contest!
• Imam Art Gallery Yogyakarta see the art that we bought when we finally found the gallery

Bites

• Ikan Bakar Jimbaran if you love seafood then this is a classic
• Villa Hanis Belgian Chicken one of the best roast chicken we’ve ever had, the villa is nice too

Lombok

• Garuda Airlines and Lombok Airport
• The Oberoi serene luxury resor in Lombok
• Ikan Bakar Warung Menega really the best grilled seafood of my life, and I’ve eaten plenty! The clams were *chef’s kiss* a placed that locals love

Medan

• Pre-departure Travel Research
• JW Marriott Hotel
  • Marriot Cafe breakfast buffet
  • Jade Restaurant’s Delicious Dimsum
  • Lounging by the JW Marriott pool
• Day 1
• Our lady of Good Health unlike any other Catholic church
• Masjid Raya see the clothing restrictions for visiting the Great Mosque + the workaround
• Cemara Asri Buddhist Temple a lovely and massive temple
• Babi merah a must in Medan. The best pork char siew of my life
• More Pork at Warung 31