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Bali, Indonesia - Part 1

July 19, 2025

🌴 Day 1: Bali Adventure Begins – Arrival, Food, and Culture

Bali is a tropical paradise in Indonesia, famous for its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and spiritual charm. From breathtaking coastlines to traditional temples and cultural performances, Bali offers a perfect blend of relaxation, adventure, and discovery.

I visited Bali from June 15–19, 2025, and booked the trip as early as 2024—yes, another solo adventure. My airfare with Cebu Pacific cost ₱3,603.32, plus ₱1,620 for the travel tax. But here’s the twist: during my Mt. Apo hike last February (Read my Mt. Apo Hike here: https://mjtravels.blog/mt-apo-part-1/ ). I met a fellow traveler—an architect who also loves to explore. As we talked about our shared love for travel, I mentioned my Bali plans. Since June is her birth month, she was instantly interested and decided to join me. She booked her flight around April, and just like that, I had a travel buddy.

✈️ Pre-Trip Planning

Weeks before the trip, we had a few calls to plan the itinerary, accommodations, and tours. We booked our stay via Agoda and scheduled most of our tours through Klook. I highly recommend booking your accommodation and activities ahead of time—it saves so much stress when you arrive.

🌙 Departure from Manila

My flight was scheduled in the early hours of June 15, so I arrived at NAIA around midnight to allow enough time for check-in and currency exchange. I exchanged Philippine pesos to Indonesian rupiah at the airport. While many travelers say it’s better to exchange currency in the Philippines than in Bali, I still found it a bit challenging—several booths had limited rupiah in stock, so it’s best to prepare ahead.

I’ve also read that some ATMs in Bali offer good exchange rates with minimal markup, but to be safe, I chose to exchange my money here before departure.

The flight took off at 4:00 AM and lasted around three hours. By 7:00 AM, I had landed in Bali. My friend, who had a layover in another country, wasn’t on the same flight, so I waited for her at the airport. She arrived around 1:00 PM, and we finally reunited—right there in beautiful Indonesia.

🍜 Lunch at the Airport

We had lunch at Two Dragons inside the airport. I opted for something familiar—chicken laksa (IDR 104,546.00), which turned out to be a great choice. It was flavorful and had just the right kick. My friend went for a sampler plate of various local dishes (IDR 235,454.00) but didn’t enjoy it as much. Sometimes, it’s safer to go with familiar tastes on the first day. Our overall bill is IDR 410,652.00, including tax and additional charges.

📱 Travel Tip: Internet Access in Bali

Public WiFi is rare in Bali. We connected to the airport’s WiFi for the time being, but I highly suggest getting an eSIM for reliable data access during your stay. Just ensure your phone is unlocked/open line, or the eSIM won’t work.

WhatsApp is the most common messaging application use in Bali. So better, install one ahead.

🚖 Hotel Transfer and Local Transport

We found a driver offering transport across the street from the airport for IDR 70,000, which was cheaper than Grab’s IDR 110,000 fare. The drive to our accommodation took around 30 minutes. Bali traffic felt familiar—similar to the Philippines. Note: vehicles in Bali are right side drive, like in Thailand.

Our driver was friendly and even asked about our plans for the afternoon. We told him we had a 4:00 PM reservation at Malini Uluwatu and would be watching the Kecak Dance at Melasti Beach afterward. He offered to be our driver for the day, with pickup and drop-off included, at a reasonable price—so we agreed!

🏨 Check-in at Tekuni Dua

Our accommodation, Tekuni Dua, exceeded expectations. The property had a peaceful atmosphere, a pool in front of our room, and a spacious layout. It was quiet and budget-friendly—definitely a gem. For our 4nights stay it only costs Php 11,105.37, more or less Php 2700.00 per night.

Note: Bring a power adapter. Bali outlets differ from those in the Philippines. We had to borrow one from the front desk before charging our devices. After freshening up and resting for a bit, we headed out for our scheduled activities.

🍝 Malini Uluwatu Experience

Thankfully, we made an online reservation at Malini Uluwatu—the place was packed, with a long line for walk-ins. (Click the link for the online reservation: https://dishcult.com/restaurant/maliniuluwatu?sortOrder=0&page=1 ). Their staff was very accommodating. We were led straight to our table, which had an amazing view. The restaurant is located on a cliffside, and its architecture and ocean views explain why it’s so popular.

We ordered pasta and drinks (Total Bill: IDR 415,800.00) and, of course, took lots of photos. There were many other tourists enjoying the scenery too. A quick note from the staff: beware of monkeys. They advised us to keep our belongings close. We only saw one during our visit, and the staff immediately shooed it away.

The breeze was strong, and the view of the vast ocean from up high was breathtaking.

💃 Kecak Dance at Melasti Beach

Next, we went to Melasti Beach for the Kecak Dance performance, which we also booked through Klook for Php 424.85 per pax. The Kecak Dance is one of Bali’s most iconic and mesmerizing traditional performances. Often referred to as the “Ramayana Monkey Chant,” this dance is a dramatic retelling of a segment from the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana, particularly the part where Prince Rama rescues Princess Sita from the demon king Ravana.

What sets the Kecak Dance apart is that it is performed without musical instruments. Instead, a group of 50 to 100 male performers form a circle and chant rhythmic “cak, cak, cak” sounds in perfect harmony while swaying their bodies, creating a powerful and trance-like atmosphere. Their chanting serves as the musical backdrop of the entire show.

The venue was a bit off the main highway and located right beside the beach. There was a large circular stage surrounded by bleachers where the audience sat.

We sat near the top for a good view, far enough from the fire elements used in the performance. Upon entry, we were given a script to follow the storyline. I couldn’t understand it at first, but as the show progressed, I was completely drawn in.

The performance was spectacular—each actor portrayed their role with precision, and even the group scenes were well-coordinated. There were moments where performers walked on fire barefoot, and the choreography was just stunning. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to take photos with the cast after the show since the lines were very long. Still, the Kecak Dance is a must-see when in Bali.

🛒 Essentials Run and Rest

On the way back, we stopped at Indomaret (similar to Alfamart in the Philippines; there’s no 7-Eleven in Bali). We bought essentials like a gallon of mineral water (it’s advised not to drink tap water in Bali, even for brushing teeth), soap, shampoo, and snacks.

We also stopped by Bali Bakery to grab a few pastries.