As we left Ubud and traveled towards Kuta, it was quite clear that we were headed back to city life.  With a short drive through rush hour, we saw several buses, cars, dump trucks and a large number of motorbikes. Soon we arrived in the city of Kuta with its beachfront hotels and upscale restaurants.

Since I wasn’t sure how long I would be staying in northern Bali, I did not make hotel reservations for the latter part of my vacation.  Arriving in Kuta, I stopped by the Hard Rock Hotel where I stayed the first night, but unfortunately, there were no rooms available for a short term stay.  Hotels in Kuta book up fast, even in the off-season.

I was hoping to find a place where I could relax and hang out by a pool, so my friend Wayan suggested we try the bungalows located around the corner.  With a setting of solace and quiet, I was happy that the Kuta Puri Bungalows had space available.  The property and location was perfect and happened to be one of the best accommodations I had ever experienced, staying a few nights in the Luxury Bungalow.

Waking early, I enjoyed the hotel’s complimentary breakfast and decided to make plans for seeing more of South Bali.  I wanted to visit the Uluwatu Temple, known for its spectacular ocean views and resident monkeys but my friends had already left to go back to Lovina Beach.  With the help of the hotel, I was able to find a local driver who would take me to the temple, wait with me until I had completed my tour and could recommend a seafood lunch on Jimbaran Beach.

As my driver dropped me off at the temple, I was welcomed by a troop of monkeys.  I watched them as they eagerly taunted a group of visitors, stealing their belongings in the parking lot.

Before entering the temple, I wrapped the sarong around my waste to cover my knees.  Many of the Hindu temples are strict about the dress of visitors and require that the shoulders and knees are covered prior to entering.  Several of them loan out sarongs as a cover-up which can be returned at the end of their visit.

It was windy outside with overcast skies, and I was excited to visit one of the most dramatic temples of Bali, perched on a cliff high above the sea.   

A pathway following along the coast led me past a steep cliff before arriving at the temple.  I could hear the faint sound of waves crashing against the rocky bluff.   The crystal blue waters with their white foam disappeared into the cave-like tunnels beneath the craggy rocks.

The temple was closing in and I could hardly see the tourists in the distance.  I was nervous in anticipation as I thought about standing along the edge of the cliff.  Climbing higher, the wind began to pick up so I started to hang on tightly to the railing until I reached the top.  The view of the ocean extended for miles and looking down made me weak in the knees.  What an exhilarating experience!  

I slowly wandered to an adjacent open-air building where monkeys were playing, begging from visitors and sharing their food with their friends. Tourists were tossing fruit and coconuts towards them and those that had their fill went back to playing around and grooming each other affectionately.

While the adult monkeys were eating, it was the baby monkeys that stole the show.  Tumbling over each other and playing a lively game of tag, their energy was adorable. Their big brown eyes and tiny features made them all the more lovable.   I could have stayed here for hours but it was time for lunch along the beach and I was looking forward to sampling some of the Iocal seafood.

Jimbaran Beach was not far from the temple and the wind was beginning to die down.  I was looking forward to having lunch outside along the beach, enjoying the scenic view of the coast.   A large selection of restaurants lined the shore so I trusted my driver to provide a recommendation.  He suggested the Bawang Merah Beachfront Restaurant where I ordered the red snapper with rice.

Blackened and grilled, my red snapper arrived and I could smell the heat from the spices.  The fish was tender and the rice prepared perfectly.  Enjoying my meal, I reflected on my Balinese vacation over the past two weeks and the amazing memories I had made in such a short period of time.  Sitting along the beach, I thought about how much this opportunity taught me culturally, physically and spiritually.  I made a mental note to take in the scenery at this very moment and promised myself never to take for granted this spectacular journey of a lifetime and promised myself that one day I would return.

What was your most recent journey that made a huge impact on you where you wanted to return again soon?  I would love to hear your experience, so kindly leave a summary in the comments section below!  Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Uluwatu Temple
Pecatu, South Kuta
Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia

• Admission Fee: 35,000 Rupiah (IDR) to enter the temple and 50,000 Rupiah (IDR) for the kecak performance;  $5 per car or $1 per person for pedestrians, cash only
• Hours:  Open daily from 9AM to 6PM.
• Amenities:  Sarong rental to ensure appropriate dress, kecak fire dancing performances in the evening,
• Scenic View:   Spectacular views of the temple on the cliffside and of the ocean below
• Length of the Hike:  1 to 2 hours
• Tips for Your Visit:  Please be aware of the monkeys at the temple.  They may try to steal your belongings, so ensure that your sunglasses, hats, water bottles, etc. are secure in your possession.  Hiking up to the temple, stay on the pathway as there are dangerous cliffs around.   This is an amazing location to watch the sun set.

Where to Stay:

Kuta Puri Bungalows
Jalan Pantai Kuta
Poppies Lane 1
Kuta, Kubupaten, Badung, Bali, 80361, Indonesia
Telephone: +62 361 751903

Where to Eat: 

Bawang Merah Beachfront Restaurant
Kelan, Jimbaran Bay, Bali, 80361, Indonesia
Telephone:  +62 361 770210

I ordered the grilled, blackened red snapper which was incredibly fresh and absolutely delicious!

What to Eat: 

• Babi Guling:  Suckling pig, which is similar to BBQ pork in the US.
• Bakso Soup:  Indonesian soup made with meatballs, noodles, spices, vegetables and broth
• Gado-Gado:  A cold salad of vegetables served with a peanut sauce
• Nasi Goreng:  Fried noodles with lots of vegetables and a choice of meat, topped with peanuts and an egg.
• Pisang Goreng:  Fried Bananas, served with palm sugar, honey, flaked coconut or ice cream
• Sate Ayam:  Chicken on a stick usually served with a peanut sauce
• Spring Rolls:  Crispy pastry filled with minced meat and mixed vegetables and then fried, usually served with a chili sauce

What to Read:

• Balilicious, by Becky Wicks
• Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert
• A House in Bali, by Colin McPhee
• Love and Death in Bali, by Vicky Baum
• Snowing in Bali, by Kathryn Bonella
• Under the Volcano: A story of Bali, by Cameron Forbes

Photo Guide for South Bali:

• The Edge Hotel in Uluwatu, Bali is amazing for spectacular cliff views.
• Rock Bar Bali is the perfect location to watch the sunset over Uluwatu
• Ulu Cliff House is a beach club located in Uluwatu that provides incredible views of the coastline
• OMNIA Bali’s infinity pool
• Gili Trawangan Swings at Ombak Sunset
• The Ayana Pool at Ayana Resort
• Sea Circus in Seminyak for breakfast
• La Brisa Bali located in Canggu is the popular location to watch the sunset
• Tegenungan Waterfall in Ubud
• Tegalalang Rice Fields for the gorgeous scenery and the Love Bali sign
• Thomas Beach Uluwatu
• Bingin Beach Uluwatu
• Motel Mexicola for its colorful exterior
• Bambu Indah Hotel in gorgeous Ubud
• The Monkey Forest in Ubud
• Hidden Hills Villas
• Nusa Penida for the cliffside views
• La Laguna Bali in Canggu
• Mt. Batur for its sunrise (north Bali)
• Crate Cafe at Canggu