Good morning beautiful souls
As promised here's the latest update from our Bali adventure. Go grab yourself a brew and settle in for this one! Yesterday was an action-packed adventure exploring some of Bali’s most iconic highlights and I can’t wait to share it all with you!
We started the day as is becoming the norm, with an early breakfast, then it was off to meet our guide, Sumo, in the hotel lobby at 8:30am. Walking up to Lobby Jason realised he'd forgotten his sunglasses so went back then while I went ahead to meet Sumo....you can guess what's coming up can't you 
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I met Sumo in the Lobby and we sat chatting while we waited ...and waited ....and waited for Jason to catch up (he says now that he wasn't lost, he just went the way he knew, which he describes as the long way.....personally I'd call it the wrong way.
Sumo was a wealth of knowledge, and his insights really brought Bali’s culture and traditions to life for us. Our first stop was a traditional batik demonstration, where we watched the intricate process of drawing patterns with wax onto fabric. I tried doing batik myself a few years ago and loved how meditative it was, so it was fascinating to see the professionals at work. It's even given me an idea...could batik mindfulness workshops be a thing? Mmmm 
....Watch this space!
Next, we visited a silversmith workshop, where we saw talented artisans crafting Bali’s famous jewellery. Of course, I couldn't’ resist picking up a little memento. I chose a tiny bell charm set with the traditional tiny silver balls of silver into a delicate Balinese flower. It’s small but beautiful, and a lovely reminder of this trip.
Our next stop was an artist’s studio for a demonstration of traditional Balinese painting. This was next-level artistry! The painter was creating an incredible full moon scene using nothing but a toothpick. We were mesmerised watching the scene take shape, and after browsing through the gallery, we couldn’t leave without choosing a piece to bring home. I can’t wait to hang it up as a little slice of Bali in our house.
The next stop of the tour was a village temple, which turned out to be one of the highlights of the entire day for me. Sumo explained so much about the Balinese way of life and the Hindu beliefs that underpin it. From the idea of balance and harmony within the body to the importance of grounding barefoot, everything he shared felt so meaningful and resonated with my own energy beliefs and healing work.
We learned about rituals like placing rice on the forehead for clear thinking and on the throat for good speaking, and the full moon water ceremony for cleansing and renewal. He also explained the trinity of fire, water, and wind in Hinduism, representing creation, preservation, and destruction. It was fascinating, and I was left feeling inspired and more connected to this beautiful place.
From there, we headed to the Monkey Forest in Ubud. The journey took us through Ubud centre and it gave us a sneaky peek of what to expect when we move to our Ubud Villa next week. I can’t wait to explore the area properly! While I wouldn’t have gone out of my way to visit the Monkey Forest, it was just part and parcel of the tour, it actually turned out to be a pleasant hour. The monkeys were typical monkeys with their funny and mischievous antics and the cute babies were very entertaining but the real highlight for me was the forest itself. The towering trees and lush greenery were absolutely stunning, and I felt so connected to nature and earth's energy in this place. True to form though, as we headed back to our transport the clouds began to close in and huge rain sploshes started to drop just as we got into the car!
Next up were the iconic rice terraces, but unfortunately, the rain made things a bit tricky. Armed with umbrellas, we managed to see them from the top viewing point, but it was too wet and slippery to venture further. Even so, they were an incredible sight. Very lush, green, and so beautifully layered.
We then travelled up the mountains to a viewpoint overlooking Bali’s three highest ranges, including the active volcanoes Mount Agung and Mount Batur. When we arrived, the view was completely obscured by mist, but as we sat down to enjoy a late Balinese lunch, the mist started to clear. Slowly but surely, the peaks emerged, and honestly, the mist swirling around them made the scene even more magical. Sometimes, things not going to plan leads to something even better.
After lunch, we visited a coffee plantation, and this was definitely a memorable stop. The setting was peaceful and serene, with a calming energy that instantly put us at ease. We were treated to a tour of the plantation, seeing the whole process from growing and roasting to brewing. At the end we were treated to tasting a selection of the different coffees and teas grown and brewed by the plantation.... Then came the big moment, Jason tried Kopi Luwak, or as it’s cheekily nicknamed, "Catpooccino." Yes, it’s 'that' coffee, Jack Nicholson's favourite from The Bucket List! (Look it up 
) To be fair though, the roasted beans smelt amazing when we were given the tour, even if they are from the poo of the cover cat 
and to my surprise I even took a sip. I have to admit it was pretty good but I'm not sure my head would allow me manage to get past a quick sip for the 'bucket list'! (If you're tempted to try it yourself make sure it's ethically sourced and that it's from wild civets)
Our final stop of the day was Tegenungan Waterfall. Sadly, it wasn’t looking its best after all the rain, as the water had turned a murky brown. Even so, it was still an impressive sight, with its sheer power and lush surroundings. We managed to snap a few photos before calling it a day and heading back to the hotel.
We arrived back happy, exhausted, and ready to collapse into bed after such a full-on day. Yesterday was everything we’d hoped for, filled with culture, nature, and plenty of surprises. Today, we’re taking a much needed break to soak up the sunshine on Sanur Beach, but don’t worry, there are plenty more adventures to come!
Until next time, sending you all love and sunshine from Bali.
Love Jayne