Exploring Bali: Family Style
- Jetta Allen
- Apr 30, 2024
- 13 min read
Bali, the center of the universe, mystifies travelers from all over the world! The verdant valleys full of rice, forest with mischievous monkeys, and ancient temples make Bali a once in a lifetime adventure! Our family decided we just had to experience it last December! Although the wet season is from November to April, and the dry season from May to October, we encountered only light showers one evening and into the night during our trip. December was an absolutely perfect time to visit Bali as a family.
We started our adventure by learning about Balinese cultural sights and must-see places through travel blogs and groups on social media. To sightsee and fully take advantage of our vacation by adding in time to relax, we found out we wanted to be there for about a week. Orbitz, Expedia, and Agoda are great websites to book airfare and accommodations. You can choose to rent a house, apartment, traditional hotel or resort, or a villa which is a private space to yourself. The dates for our flights and our accommodations were set! Aria Villas in Ubud would be our home away from home and Korean Air would take us there!
Our countdown to vacation was filled with necessary preparations. Gathering or purchasing our must have vacation items had begun. The pile grew as the week went on, but we didn’t want to forget anything! Getting an e-Visa for Indonesia is an option, but we found the website very tricky. We opted to fill out on arrival. Transportation would also be a need, again to the travel blogs! “Book Bali Driver” worked for us! Communicating through WhatsApp, we shared our must-see places and they created a custom itinerary, shared times for pick-up and how much we would have at each location, and a cost for a driver in an SUV for the 3 days we would sightsee. Transportation is priced very reasonably. It was around $40-$45 USD each day for a driver all day. Drivers don’t just drive, they are your eyes and ears to the local scenes, best money exchange places, a translator, and they will even book your lunch and dinner reservations for you! Need groceries or a pharmacy, they will take you there too. Travel made easy!
Flight day arrived!
Korean Air boarding was seamless and our late night arrival into Denpasar was magical. The terminal was filled with welcoming Balinese and Indonesian art and facts. The line for a visa took about 15 minutes. A 30 day Tourist Visa For Indonesia is IDR 500,000 about $35 USD per person, if you pay in USD cash, they will give you IDR in return at the daily rate. Customs would not be as quick. Expect about an hour or more in the customs line. Bring snacks for you and your family and something to do. After customs, pick up your bags, fill out your declaration forms, pass the forms off, and WELCOME TO BALI!
Aria Villas staff picked us up and we dozed off on the hour and a half drive to the villa in Ubud from Denpasar. We stepped out of the car, no longer in the big city, but in a tropical jungle with our own room, small backyard, patio for breakfast and meals, and our own private pool overlooking a valley filled with tropical plant life. The outdoor shower was spacious and the tub allowed you to see the stars! The night arrival left us pretty tired, so the comfy beds welcomed us with open arms!
Family Walking Tour
After our late night flight, we slept in for our first day and enjoyed a lazy morning with breakfast on our villa patio poolside. We video chatted with friends and family showing them the rainforest. Our villa was close to the Ubud Art Market and Ubud Palace, so we took off walking in the afternoon. The streets require a lot of caution for little ones, but the stunning views of traditional Balinese houses and temples take your breath away. I remember telling my husband, it feels like we are walking through a museum.
It was an art lover's dream and a photographer's paradise!
The Ubud Art Market and Arjuna Art Market offer many popular Balinese souvenirs. Here you can find hand carved wooden masks and animals, batik sarongs, religious items, clothes of all kinds, and so much more. Spend time looking first at all the shops, then buy after comparing prices. We made our way to Ubud Palace for pictures and found you can buy tickets to a nighty fire dance. We chose a different venue for this in our trip, but it is still an amazing option! We walked home and used Grab to order some delivery and enjoyed our night as family with a night swim and games.
Silver, Temples, Monkeys and More
Day two was our first day with our driver from “Book Bali Driver”. Suta would first take us to Celuk to see how silver jewelry is made and to Artika’s Gallery. Silver making is an art form in Balinese culture with a distinct style of dots, swirls, and madalla like motifs. At Artika’s we learned about the process of making silver jewelry and a showroom filled with stunning items. Some of the jewelry was a bit pricey so we headed to a wholesale place called SSS Silver. We found amazing pieces for everyone in the family!
Pura Puseh Desa Batuan Temple in Batuan Village, was our next destination. Historical records for this temple go back 1,000 years, with a founding in 1020 AD. Before entering, we rented sarongs and a sash around the waist. This is a requirement for entry, along with a modest shirt. The bright red brick with the contrasting darker brick made this temple stand out. The temples in Bali were nothing like the temples in South Korea, but they had similarities, art, culture, and history was everywhere the eyes could see! The grounds are expansive with ponds, sculptures, offerings, paintings, pictures made from cast concrete, and musical instruments for ceremonies and festivals.
The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary or Monkey Forest Ubud left us speechless! The forest looks like a scene from Indian Jones: Temple of Doom. Vines hanging, expansive trees,ancient temples, mossy covered statutes, and the main attraction, free roaming monkeys! Entrance fees range in price from weekend to weekdays and for adults and children, but expect to pay no more than $8 USD per person.
This is a destination where you can easily spend half of your day exploring the trails through the forest, the cafes and museums, the many temples on the grounds, posing with many statues, and of course watching the monkeys!
Monkey Forest Ubud is home to over 1200 macaque monkeys ranging from infants to adults. The staff regularly feed the monkeys at feed areas every few hundred feet as well as monitor for the patron's safety. The rules posted for safety, when followed, will ensure a safe visit. We started going over these rules a few days before to help our child understand the rules and be comfortable around the monkey.
On Saturdays there is also a free live performance for visitors called The Story of Lubdaka. Children and adults in costume put on a performance that is interactive and even includes cast members sitting and mingling with the audience. This performance had live music with drums, chimes, xylophones, cymbals, and so many other percussion instruments I’ve never seen. The most interesting was a hand carved wooden turtle that sat in the ground. On its back, 4-6 cymbals were mounted for the performer to hit to make a sound. It was so intricate and beautiful! The dancers had amazing costumes as well.
Lunch was in order after and our driver Suta made us a reservation at Tebasari Resto, Bar & Lounge. We sat at a private table by a pond overlooking fields and forests. Their menus consist of Balinese favorites and western food as well. The “health” drink with lime, coconut, basil, and rosemary was so uniquely delicious. The Ayan Goreng which is crispy chicken with rice, Balinese vegetables, and lemongrass was my favorite. As a traveler with stomach issues, Bali treated me well!
Food is mostly organic, fresh, free range, and bought daily at markets, having less preservatives, fillers, and other “junk” ingredients found in western food.
Tegallalang Rice Terraces in Ubud is one of the greenest places I’ve ever seen! The green rice terraces, sprawling forests, walkways, swings, photo opportunities, and cafes make this a must see destination! While we didn’t swing, we took advantage of all the fun photo opportunities and just relaxed and took in the view as the evening rain slowly blew in.
Solo Day for Mom, Father and Son Bonding
Vacations are meant to be a respite from your daily life and provide you with what you need. I needed a day exploring but the boys wanted to chill at the villa and play poolside, that meant, solo day for me on our third day of travel! Suta was a great guide and I felt perfectly safe traveling with him alone.
A Hindu purification water temple called Tirta Empul Temple in Ubud, a temple built in the 10th century would be our morning stop. Located near the town of Tampaksiring, the temple compound consists of a petirtaan or bathing structure, famous for its holy spring water, where Balinese Hindus go to for a ritual purification called Melukat that is said to cleanse the body, spirit, and mind. There was a Hindu holiday the day I went, so lots of people. I absolutely loved seeing the architecture and atmosphere. I don’t fully understand everything about the Hindu religion or the practices, but I did try to be as respectful as possible during the holy day event.
Traditional housing and living was something I wanted to see. Much like Korea’s folk villages, Umah Bali Kuno House spotlights life in Bali without modern technology.
The Umah Bali Kuno compound is a working farm and forest with people still living in traditional communal huts!
On the property the families grow all kinds of fruits, rice, make chocolate from the cocoa plant, and Luwak coffee made from digested coffee cherries from a civet. Many of the items grown are used for their teas as well.
Here you can explore Bali life, culture, and farming without the influence of modern machinery and technology.
A kind lady even taught me about Hindi offerings, the meaning behind each item, and how to make them! When you visit, you have a choice of a coffee or tea tasting, I opted for tea. I tried rosella, turmeric, lemongrass, cocoa, mangosteen, lemon, and ginger teas. The favorite being mangosteen which had fruity, floral notes. The farm sells tea, coffee, and the best chocolate in Bali! Try them all and buy many! The storefront takes paper money or cards, but the guides and farm run purely on paper/cash donations. Support Bali eco-tourism by visiting here.
Nulu Petanu Waterfall in Kedisan gave me a great cool down after the forest adventure at the farm. This was a great stop on a very humid day, definitely worth the 25,000 IDR or roughly $1.50 USD! The hike down isn’t even really a hike, just a few flights of stairs. Here you can swim, stick your feet in, or walk up and down the river created by this waterfall. The rocks are lush with moss and greenery. Parts of the waterfall area have closed ponds and fountains with koi fish. It’s so very beautiful! The sound of the waterfall was so peaceful. Next time I’d definitely bring a lunch to enjoy!
Known not only for its Instagram worthy photo opportunities, Sari Timbul Glass Factory makes hand carved wooden sculptures and items made with blown glass. You can watch artisans make them right in front of you! If you wish to see the garden, it will cost 25,000 IDR, around $1.50 USD. If you don’t want to see the garden but just shop, the shop is on the street to the right of the garden entrance and has amazing items for every budget!
The day’s last stop was one I had prepared for in advance. Pusering Jagat Temple is one of the oldest temples in Bali. I found the temple dogs a familiar feeling like in Korea! For many, this temple is considered the center of the universe which is also what the name means! This temple is not like many tourist temples, which is why I desperately wanted to see it. There are no sarongs to rent or gate keeper so you must come prepared with the appropriate attire. I wore a sarong and an elbow length shirt. Since it is not a “tourist attraction” there was no one there but a kind caretaker who gave me the juiciest mangosteen. Neither of us knew each other’s language, but a respectful bow and smile go a long way! Pusering Jagat is very old and like many of the articles I read, the architecture is very different. Things seem bigger and more pronounced. I also noticed there weren’t as many lush gardens as this nestled in a modern, city community, in a concrete jungle rather than a forest.
It was a great spot to mediate and recenter from all the stress of our daily life. It was the perfect solo day for this Mom! When I returned, it was more family time poolside!
Family Day in Ubud
Ubud had so much to offer, that we went out again on our fourth day exploring markets, shops, and food. We found the neatest little shop with intricate wood carvings. I bought our son Joshua a winged dragon to hang from the ceiling that disassembled with expertly carved and painted tongue and groove parts for easy travel! Balinese lunch at Tropical Restaurant in Ubud would have amazing spring rolls, great services, and cold drinks of all kinds! It was a great easy family day!
Headed South: Boats, Snorkeling, Temples, and Fire Dancing
Early rising was needed on day five as we headed south to Kutan Selatan with Suta as our driver. Kutan Selatan has “beach clubs” that have tons of water sport options along with restrooms and showers for after. A glass bottom boat to check out the fish and go snorkeling was our choice! The bay wasn’t as clear as we’d have liked but we did see lots of fish, so many boats, and being near the international airport, Joshua had a blast seeing the planes! This was our first experience snorkeling in deep water, not along a beach. The coral reef was a host to so many little fishes, feeding them will be a memory I will never forget. Snorkeling was my husband's favorite part of the trip! Kids can participate or stay in the boat with the captain.
We cleaned up and headed further south to Uluwatu, home of a Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple, a monkey forest, and location for the sunset Kecak Fire Dance! Entrance to the forest and temple area is 50,000 IDR for adults and 30,000 IDR for children, making it less than $3.50 USD per person. Tickets for the dance are 100,000 IDR, about $6.50 USD. The grounds again had free roaming monkeys, not as tame as the Monkey Forest in Ubud. Make sure your children wear shoes that are firmly secured to their feet, monkeys apparently love Crocs and we saw several stolen right from children’s feet as parents picked up their child. Here the rules for safe monkey interaction need to really be followed, no eating and drinking in the open, keep your glasses and earrings in bags, and be mindful. There are no caretakers to ensure safety here, so consider paying for a “bodyguard” at the entrance.Your driver can come with you, but consider having them stand in line for tickets for the fire dance while you explore. The ticket book opens in the afternoon and lines start forming at noon with dozens of tour guides buying tickets for their customers.
On the grounds of Uluwatu Temple is an amphitheater for performances that are held every evening at sunset on a cliff that overlooks the temple! No monkeys are allowed in this area. A performance group of men of all ages with no instruments create music by chanting and singing different parts of the chorus.
It is a unique sound that seems to round the amphitheater and resonate through the audience.
Many of the cast wear masks of different characters and interact with the guests. My son shared that it was funny to see the White Monkey King jumping on fences and climbing poles. Highly recommend this experience. Seating starts at 4pm and the show begins at 6pm. Get there early for first come first seating once you have your ticket. Bring an umbrella and water to beat the sun while you wait. Have a few snacks too if you want! For young children, sit half-way up to avoid heat or smoke from the fire. My twelve year old smiled the whole dance and gave it a thumbs up. The dance ends when it is dark and many find dinner on the beach at seafood restaurants.
Art, Walks, and Goodbye
Our fast few days were spent relaxing in our villa, taking long walks in Ubud, and discovering local artists. On a random street in Ubud we stopped to buy a cold beverage at a small shop of sorts. From the street it looked like one counter of snacks and one cooler of drinks. We approached hoping for a cooldown.
Instead of a drink, we were given an art tour!
We met an artist named Ni Ketut who lives there in Ubud with a disability. Because of her disability, she can’t walk to the local market to sell her art. She lives with her family, helps run the small, family owned convenience store. Behind the convenience store counter, she welcomed us to her art gallery. We talked about life, where we are from and found she has an amazing outlook on life and international connections through a common media, art. We learned she paints and draws in her spare time and has an amazing talent for recreating traditional art that showcases Indonesian religion and living. I left Bali with a piece from her gallery. A hand carved frame surrounds a draw picture of Barong, a mythological creature of Bali, host of good spirits. Connecting with people from around the world is truly one of the best parts of being a military family. Ni Ketut Rauh can be found on Facebook at Ketut Ubud.
Our trip to Bali was perfect for our family. Families in Korea should put Bali on their list of must-see places. Make Bali what you need it to be, fun, relaxing, or a complete adventure, the possibilities are endless!
Tips for Success
Join “Bali Indonesia for Travelers” Facebook Group
Download WhatsApp to communicate with your hotel or villa staff
Download Grab to order food and a taxi from nearly anywhere
Complete your E-visa ahead of time
Request to have the same driver if staying with the same company
Bali economy runs on tip culture, ensure you tip when you have good service, especially your tour guides
Packing List “Must Haves”
Bug spray
Swimsuits, sun hats, sun glasses, reef friendly sunblock, aloe
Umbrella for rain and sunshade
Tablets/phones and charging blocks for entertainment
Snacks for kids (bring their favorites)
Imodium for stomach issues due to water
Tabletop games: Uno, Phase 10, Left-Right-Center
2-prong appliances and chargers
Backpack for airport and island travel
Sandals for rugged wet terrain
Important Notice for Those on With Medical Need
If taking medication, check customs requirements, some medication for ADHD, other mental health needs (psychotropics), or pain management medication will need a letter from your doctor, on official letterhead, with your name, name of medication, dosage, frequency, and why you need it. Keep this on your person during flight, entry, and exit of Bali. Take only what you need for your trip, not the whole bottle. The local military treatment facility can help you with this, but prepare for this early!
Bring allergy medication if you have allergies and throat lozenges. Lozenges aren’t really a “thing” in Bali. If you can find them, they are very expensive!
Best Souvenirs
Wood carved masks, animals, and signs
Local art
Batik sarongs
Shell and ratan purses
Indonesian grown cashews and granola
Bali chocolate and teas
Silver and abalone jewelry
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