Last Stop in Indonesia…South Bali

For our last few days in Indonesia, we found ourselves back in Bali. This time, we decided to explore South Bali and landed on Bingin Beach, located in the Pecatu Village. Bingin is a stunning beach with amazing views of the Indian Ocean. This hidden gem isn’t overcrowded with tourist and the waves here make it one of the most demanded surfing points by many surfers (especially professionals!). Bingin is nestled between busy tourist destinations, Jimbaran and Uluwatu, making it very quiet and relaxing for a day at the beach. Side note: you MUST eat at Kelly’s Warung if ever at Bingin Beach…the passionfruit bowl is to die for!

We took advantage of the inexpensive scooter rental and explored the neighboring beaches of Jimbaran & Uluwatu. Jimbaran is home to some GORGEOUS Bali resorts and is therefore filled with couples & families on vacation. We spent our last night in Bali eating a DELICIOUS dinner right on Jimbaran beach. It’s a MUST if ever in South Bali, all the restaurants on the beach set out tables so you can eat & watch the sunset with your toes in the sand!

Uluwatu is best known for the popular Uluwatu Temple, also know as the Pura Luhur Uluwatu. If you google Uluwatu, more than half the pictures that pop up are either the views from this temple or the temple itself. This temple is one of the six key temples believed to be Bali’s spiritual pillars. It is known for its breathtaking location, perched on top of a cliff above the Indian Ocean.

Uluwatu Temple, although swarming with tourists from all over the world, is one of THE most breathtaking places I have ever been to. After visiting our fair share of busy temples the past few weeks (most of which require a small fee to enter), we debated if the iconic Uluwatu Temple would be worth spending nearly double the normal entry fee (still only $2.27 USD). Most of the temples you see in articles are overcrowded with picture snapping, selfie taking tourists, making it hard at times to really appreciate and take in the sacred place that surrounds you. Uluwatu Temple is definitely not an exception, but boy are the views TOTALLY worth all that patience!

Once in the temple, we were in awe at how big it actually was and the fact that the ENTIRE thing was made of limestone. As we worked our way through the temple, walking along the pathway filled with tourist, we could start to catch a glimpse of the popular view. After (politely) nudging my way into a small opening of tourists lined along the stone wall at the edge of the cliff, I was able to really take in the magic of this place. I stood there looking out into the Indian Ocean & watched the rolling waves come crashing in on the mound of rocks below me…one after the other… In that moment, as I took in this once in a lifetime view, everything around me disappeared…the noises of chattering tourists (in every language imaginable)…the selfie sticks nearly smacking me in the head…and the intense humidity. It was all gone for those few minutes where I let myself be completely present in the moment.