Bali
Mini blog series - Motivation
Changing it slightly from last week.
This blog isn’t about a person but a place that inspires me.
Have you ever been to Bali? If not then put it on your bucket list and I promise, you won’t regret it. Obviously you will need to wait until COVID restrictions are lifted but make it one of the first places you go.
What a magical place it is.
I have been to Bali twice now and spent the whole time soaking up as much as I could.
The first time I visited, we spent about a week there and we spent that time in Canggu. The second visit was a 2 week holiday spent in Ubud, Canggu and Jimbaran.
All places are just as beautiful as each other but sooooo different.
Ubud is more forest like. Greenery EVERYWHERE.
It is the home base for yoga. A yoga studio on almost every corner. It is home to The Yoga Barn and Radiantly Alive Yoga - both studios being very well known.
If you wanted to see the Monkey Forest it is also located in Ubud.
Canguu. My favourite.
More beaches but still beautiful greenery, cool cafes, Finns Beach Club and Old Mans (cool outdoor seated bar), live music every weekend, beach events just some really cool sociable stuff.
Jimbaran. I loved this place. I found that we spent a lot of time in our villa while we were here as we were a quite a bit a way from things.
Good thing was the Villa was INSANE.
We still drove to see some beautiful views and do some incredible walks but it did include a driver and a little while in the car.
We visited Sundays Beach Club when we were in Jimbaran and OMG it has to be one of the best experiences of the whole holiday.
We arrived basically at the top of a cliff.
We checked in, paid, got our towels and got taken down the cliff side to the beach club by cable car.
Got given a lovely row of sun loungers looking straight out to the ocean.
Until 5pm you were allowed to use their Watersport equipment including paddle boards snorkels and kayaking.
After our adventure in the water we got dried and changed, drank some delicious cocktails and headed over to the campfire.
YES I said it, campfire.
As it gets dark the staff will close down the watersports and build campfires along the beach.
They give you sticks and marshmallows to indulge in…..YUM!!!
Once settled we ordered some pizza and more cocktails and enjoyed the live DJ until it was time to go.
Everything was included apart from the food and drinks.
It was buy one get one free on cocktails so obviously I took it too far, haha.
So much to see and completely different vibes but the one thing that was the same throughout, was the people. They are so kind, so generous, happy go lucky and loved getting to know us. We loved getting to know them and this is why Bali inspires me so much.
These people live in poverty - in comparison to us - YET unlike us, are always seeing the best in everything.
It's funny isn’t it.
In the UK we are privileged with the houses we live in, the food we eat, the places we can spend time with friends, good jobs, good incomes, technology.
Yet alot of us live with the feeling of wanting more. We want more money, more likes on an instagram post, we want the newest phone, the latest trending outfit etc etc.
People in Bali don’t have a lot of these luxuries yet would do anything for anyone. They would go out their way to help you and are so kind and gentle in the way they talk to you.
They love communicating and listening. They are patient and they are AMAZING.
Now I don’t mean to generalise but you have to admit - and I’m including myself in this - that we are so impatient.
We want everything to of happened yesterday.
I personally think that’s because of the Internet, smart phones and just general technology.
If something doesn’t load in a millisecond we automatically assume something is wrong or complain our wifi isn’t working.
It's funny, we have more material things yet some of us are unhappy with life. In Bali they have less material things and have a happier way of life.
Food for thought.
Everyday they make offerings. Making offerings is meant as a selfless action.
The purpose of the ritual is first to give back what you have received; it is a gesture of gratitude to maintain a good relationship between human and spirit, to appease spirit and bring good health to the family.
It is a simple offering, usually just some cooked rice and pieces of meat or vegetables placed on a small banana leaf. The Balinese usually do this three times a day, after they cook a meal.
The offerings are usually placed on the stove, the family shrines, and the front door.
Another thing that inspires me about Bali is the food. OMG the fooooood. If you know me at all you will know how much of a foodie I am.
I am plant based and in Bali the vegan options are genuinely the best I have ever had. The little cafes are insane and caters to so many food types.
It’s so easy to eat healthily there.
Don’t get me wrong, if you really wanted a McDonalds or some sort of fast food then its also easy to get.
How does this inspire me? It makes me want to get more creative with food, try new recipes, eat healthier.
Food is our fuel and I found eating in Bali made me more creative in the way I was cooking my food and the food I was eating.
And last but not least the surroundings. No matter where you go it’s either beautiful big trees or long white sandy beaches. Sometimes both at the same time.
The scenery is without a doubt magical and would inspire you any time of the day.
In all honesty my dream would be to live there at some point in my life. Or at least spend a month or 2 working over there, building content and just living my dream really.
This is what I am working towards right now.
As you can tell I am very much in love with Bali and the Balinese people and I would highly recommend this breathtaking place for a holiday. There is so much to see and do. There is so much you can learn from a place like this and its beautiful people.
I hope this blog inspires you to go and see for yourself just how beautiful it really is.
Peace and Love
Jen
xxx