We always get a few days off for Eid, but in the past because of the pandemic we just stayed in Jakarta. This year, with restrictions lifting, we decided to check out Uluwatu in Bali. Since Bali is largely Hindu, most things are still open, unlike in more Muslim areas of Indonesia. Uluwatu is known for its tall cliffs overlooking the sea, and gnarly waves for experienced surfers only. We decided to take advantage of the gorgeous sunsets offered by hotels along the western-facing clifftops and booked in at Mu Bungalows for the week.
The hotel was fantastic, with a restaurant that served tasty French-influenced food. It did have a bit of a monkey problem, however, which is common for hotels in Uluwatu. Macaque monkeys hang around all over this part of Bali, invading to steal food, bite electronics, and just generally wreak havoc. The only downside of our clifftop bungalow was the troops of monkeys that would occasionally trap us inside it, or leave us stuck in the hotel’s common area waiting for them to pass.
We did a lot of hanging around the hotel’s infinity pool and reading, but we did explore the area a bit. Jimbaran Beach is the only place on the peninsula where the waves are calm enough for easy swimming. We’d also heard it has great beachside fish restaurants, since the local fishermen launch from the beach’s calm waters.
We did find a fish restaurant, and had a great meal of fried fish with sambal and veggies, all while sitting with our feet in the sand. We also booked in a sunset cruise in a traditional-style fishing boat with the Black Pearl. We sailed out past the amazing cliffs of Uluwatu and watched surfers catching waves.
The ride was beautiful and calm, and we marveled at the crazy clifftop hotels. With a bit of time to spare before sunset, we moored in a calm-ish spot and went for a swim. It was so refreshing to cool off in the blue, crystal-clear water. The sunset was a muted series of golds; a gorgeous end to a day of exploring.
The other beach we explored was Nyang Nyang. It is located at the bottom of a super steep cliff that technically you can ride a scooter down. The ride is not for the faint of heart. We had rented a beat up old Honda Scoopy that felt like it barely had enough oomph to get up any hill, so we only drove halfway down and walked the rest.
We found ourselves enjoying a nearly-empty beach. The difficulty of reaching the beach and its wicked water seem to deter most people from going there. But the views were beautiful, and we loved walking along the shore, even if we didn’t dare venture too far into the water.
Nyang Nyang was the last stop of this Bali visit. This was a very relaxed trip, perfect for nearly the end of the semester in yet another year where things were far from normal.
