August 30 – September 1 : Bali – Seminyak

My plan was to be in Australia by September 1. I hadn’t intended to visit Indonesia since I’d been here earlier in my life. In fact, it was my very first solo backpacking destination back in 2015. However, the flight connections from Manila to Cairns were neither convenient nor cheap (the “best” option was a 24-hour journey with a 10-hour layover in Port Moresby for around €600), so I decided to make a stopover in Bali, from where I could eventually catch a cheap direct flight to Cairns.

With that decided, I spent a long day on August 30 alternating between airports and airplanes, but it was worth it. Upon arriving in Denpasar, I was struck by a nostalgic feeling, as if I was exactly where I was meant to be all along: a tropical paradise, full of natural and cultural wonders, wonderful people, and amazing food. It reminded me of the feeling I had when I returned to Thailand. Let’s see if I’ll feel the same nostalgy in six months when I’ll have to lreturn to a cold, rainy, and grey country…

How to get to Bali from Cebu

It is not very expensive, but it will consume a whole day. First, you fly from Cebu to Manila (there are several daily flights, usually under €100). If you’re traveling during the rainy season, be sure to fly early in the day to avoid missing your next flight due to potential delays.

The daily flight from Manila to Denpasar departs at 8 p.m. and arrives around midnight. I chose to stay in a cozy capsule at the airport hotel. This is very conveient, since you don’t even need to leave the terminal. After passing immigration and picking up your luggage (it was almost 2 a.m. by then) the capsule hotel is right there.

Seminyak

Seminyak is on par with other luxurious beaches in Bali, such as Nusa Dua and Jimbaran, to name just a few. That said, there are options to suit every budget. You can choose to stay in a high-end luxury resort, where the sky’s the limit in terms of how much you want to spend per night, or opt for something more modest, paying less than €30 a night for a stay in a very nice resort just a five-minute walk from the beach. I stayed at GrandMas Hotel and highly recommend it.

The scenery is exactly as you’d expect: long stretches of beach lined with bars and restaurants. Keep in mind that the sea here has a lot of waves, making it a surfer’s paradise but not ideal for snorkeling. If you venture away from the beach, you’ll discover a bustling town filled with tourists, featuring even more restaurants, tour operators, massage parlors, and tattoo studios. Getting around is easy with the Grab app – whether you opt for a Grab car or, if you’re traveling alone, a cheaper and faster Grab motorcycle.

PXL_20240831_034528013 — Bali temples you’ll see on every corner.

Things to do around Seminyak

Seminyak beach: enjoy the easy life, relax at the beach, eat and drink at the many bars and restaurants… how much time you spend on this is solely up to your own liking!
Explore the south of Bali: Join either a day tour or call a Grab bike to travel from one place to another (much cheaper and allows you to travel at your own pace). Visit the giant Garuda Wisnu statue, the 4th largest statue in the world. Then, head to Uluwatu Temple in the southwest. Explore some of the many beaches in the south, such as Padang Padang Beach, Pawang Beach, or the popular Nusa Dua Beach.
Tanah Lot : the picturesque temple perched on a rock offshore, is less than an hour’s drive from Seminyak. I visited it during my first trip to Bali in 2015, so I skipped it this time, but I can vouch that it is worth visiting!