Days 1 + 2 - Waking Up in Ubud: Temples, Coffee, and a Splash of Rain
It´s easier with both days in one blog.
Monday:
A Slow Start in Paradise
I’m not sure what woke us up first—a barking dog, chirping birds, or the hum of the air conditioner. By 6:45 AM, I was awake. After lingering for a few minutes, I wandered upstairs to Denise’s bed. Yes, we sleep in separate beds. Why? Because I snore… and according to Denise, it sounds like “a chainsaw from hell.” Personally, I’d describe it more like a gentle electric carving knife from the 90s. Either way, I slept like a rock—but not quite long enough to feel fully rested.
Monday was easygoing: a relaxed breakfast, some basic grocery shopping, and picking up a SIM card. No way was I risking another €1,000 phone bill! For around 21€, I grabbed a 56 GB SIM for our 4G hotspot. That should keep us connected for the next two weeks.
Our Villa in Ubud
We’re staying in a villa at Budhi Ayu Villas—the same hotel I stayed at seven years ago. It’s close to Ubud’s cultural center yet tucked away enough to feel peaceful. Denise is a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), something I hadn’t even heard of before meeting her. For her, loud noises and big crowds can be overwhelming, so balancing activities is important.
The villa itself is gorgeous: a traditional Balinese swing door framed by volcanic stone, two floors, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a terrace, and yes—a private pool. There’s also an outdoor kitchen and cozy spots to relax. Perfect for our mix of exploration and downtime.
Practicing My Swimming (And Fighting My Fears)
Here’s the truth: I swim about as gracefully as a stone tied to a rope. I learned as a kid, but fear kept me from ever getting comfortable. This trip, I want to change that. My plan: spend time in the pool, stay calm in deep water, and finally swim “correctly.” Spoiler alert: when Denise said the water felt like a “lukewarm ocean” the night before, she lied. It was cold! But I jumped in anyway.
The rest of Monday was quiet—reading, relaxing, and wandering like zombies and lunch at an Sri Lankan place (Galle Club).
A Rainy Adventure: Pura Tirta Empul
Tuesday rolled in with no plans. Typical me: wanting to do something, just not sure what. Eventually, we settled on visiting Pura Tirta Empul, a sacred water temple in Tampaksiring known for its holy spring and purification rituals. If you’ve seen Bali on Instagram, you’ve seen this temple. It was packed, of course.
We arrived with sarongs—mandatory attire—and despite ripping mine (ouch), I managed. The temple itself is beautiful, though I admit many around Ubud look similar. Still, the energy here is unique, with people from all over the world taking part in cleansing rituals.
The temple must have some connection to one of the volcanos.
Coffee, Rain, and Luwak Cats
On our way back, our driver, Anak, suggested stopping at a Luwak coffee plantation. Then came the rain—torrential, as only Asia can deliver. We grabbed umbrellas and followed a guide through lush greenery, spotting cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric along the way.
The coffee tasting was excellent, but seeing Luwak cats in cages left me uneasy. They claim each animal stays only a week, but still, captivity is captivity. We sampled teas and coffee (including Luwak coffee—yes, the famous “poop coffee”), bought some tea for home, and returned to Ubud.
Ending the Day at Sage
Before heading back to our villa, we stopped at Sage, my favorite vegan spot from 2018. I ordered my old fauvorite—the Teriyaki Bowl with sesame tempeh sticks—and it was just as good as I remembered. I want to, again as much as possible, avoid meat and eat vegan or at least vegetarian for these 2 weeks. That however didn’t work out at all already on the first mornings breakfast. I had ham, eggs :D.
We ended the day in the pool before relaxing in the villa, ordering dinner in, and calling it a night.