I’m sitting at my desk in Vancouver, listening to the soft hum of my air purifier and watching the leaves of my little Money Tree sway in the breeze. The calm makes it easier to finally write about this trip to Bali, a trip so beautiful I kept putting it off.
We spent 4 days in Bali: two in the mountains around Ubud and two by the sea before heading back to Vietnam, where I said goodbye to my family and returned to Canada.
Post-vacation blues are real, but I guess sharing this adventure feels like the next best thing to going back.
Arrival at the airport
The process at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport is easy to follow. After going downstairs with the flow of people, we scanned a QR code, filled in basic travel details, and received a confirmation email with our own QR code. Immigration was standard with a passport check and photo, then a final checkpoint scanned the QR before we stepped outside to a swirl of drivers and taxis.
What stood out most was how the airport itself feels like Bali greeting you. Tropical plants fill open courtyards, stone statues of Hindu gods stand quietly in corners, and intricate carvings decorate walls and ceilings.
It is a modern entry point wrapped in Balinese tradition, which I think it gives visitors an early taste of the island’s culture.
Mountain air and sunrise Jeeps
From the airport, our pre-booked driver navigated Bali’s famously busy roads to Aryaswara Villa Ubud, a lush retreat filled with trees, flowers, and traditional wood décor. The staff even gave mom, sis, and me a mini Balinese dance lesson and our teacher moved with incredible grace!
We came here mainly to see Mount Batur at sunrise. A Jeep tour took us from the base to the volcano’s summit around 4 am. It was foggy so no dramatic sunrise sadly, but the view was still breathtaking. Bring a thick jacket with you because it’s colder than you might expect. Blanket rentals cost about 50K IDR at the base and double at the top.
I underestimated the chill, and after 1 hour of waiting for the sunrise, I ended up paying the higher price..
Climbing onto the Jeep roof for photos felt scary at first, but if you look around, it is actually a common thing with hundreds of Jeeps on the mountain and many people doing it. Just make sure to watch your step. After sunrise, daylight revealed farms and villages we had missed on the dark, zigzag drive up. It was beautiful.
Most tours include a coffee tasting stop on the way back. Ours visited Cantik Agriculture Luwak Coffee where we learned about local tea and coffee making and sampled several blends for free. We left with bags of coffee and tea to bring home and share with friends.
Unfortunately, I carried my sister and brother-in-law’s bag along with mine, and when I got home I gave them the wrong one because both were black bags. Lesson learned: mark your items properly and maybe don’t volunteer to pack your family’s things in your own luggage if you can help it, lol.
Ubud town strolls
Back in Ubud town, we explored the Ubud Water Palace, a serene spot of lotus ponds and stone carvings. Stepping stones lead across shallow pools, fountains ripple around statues, and layers of tropical greenery create a natural canopy overhead. It is a peaceful place to slow down and take in the rich Balinese architecture.
We also shopped for summer Bali clothes and tasted excellent chocolates. Do not miss the matcha chocolate at Sacred Cacao – Raw Bali Chocolate Store!
Jimbaran and the sea
For the final two days we moved to the coast and stayed in a residence inside AYANA Resort, a budget-friendly way to enjoy the property’s grand grounds.
We booked a dinner at Kisik Seafood Bar & Grill to catch the sunset. The seafood was fresh, but the walk through the sprawling garden to the destination is very long and confusing for first-time visitors.. and can be a bit off-putting.
We also stopped by SAKA Museum, a beautiful gallery inside AYANA that shares Bali’s traditions in a creative way. The exhibits touch on themes like Nyepi (the Balinese Day of Silence), Tri Hita Karana, and the five elements that weave together stories of spirituality and nature.
After that, we grabbed matcha drinks at the ASAI Café. I admired the hand-painted murals right outside of the cafe’s window that celebrate traditional Balinese life. Inside, ASAI’s warm terracotta walls and sculptural lights create a modern yet cozy vibe. Their shakshuka, served in a cast-iron pan, is rich and perfectly spiced and makes a great brunch stop.
Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park
Our last big stop was Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Cultural Park where myth and landscape blend into something unforgettable. Towering limestone cliffs frame winding paths, their weathered faces streaked with vines and mineral colours.
You can buy a ticket from the base entrance up to the Garuda, and another mini bus ticket from the Garuda to the cliffs. I recommend stopping at the cliffs for photos because this is where you see the full Garuda statue.
The massive figure perfectly framed between the cliffs is breathtaking.
The park offers more than the main monument. Smaller statues of Hindu deities and peaceful gardens invite you to wander and take in the atmosphere. We also picked out a bracelet for my mom that was said to be made from volcano soil. I’m not sure how true that claim is, but it was her birthday month and seeing how excited she was made me happy too.
This Bali trip was a special break from my usual Vancouver life. Do you have a destination that left you thinking about your next visit before you even got home? Share it in the comments, I’d love to hear!
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