Unconventional things to do in Bali, Indonesia
Bali is no stranger to Singaporeans. Whether you’ve been there or not, your Instagram feeds will be all too familiar with sunset views of Potato Head Beach Club and giant swings overlooking the rice terraces of Tegalalang.
But this listicle isn’t for the typical traveller. Have a short conversation with any local, and you’ll discover countless things to do beyond the touristy areas of Ubud and Seminyak. Here are 5 places we visited during our 3D2N trip on a $100 budget.
This article is part of The $100 Nomad series, where we explore 10 cities for Singaporeans who are time-strapped and on a budget. These 3D2N itineraries cover lodging, meals and activities but do not include flights and transportation.
1. Aling-Aling Waterfalls
Aling-Aling Waterfalls is the place for a virgin cliff jump in Bali. This enclave includes 7 different waterfalls that you can slide and jump off from. Compulsory guides will lead the way, so you can be assured that you won’t literally break a leg.
The waterfall trek is progressive. For a short trek that costs Rp 125,000 (S$11), you’ll start off with sliding down a 5-metre waterfall, before moving to the more challenging 10-metre and 15-metre jumps.
Note: It’s advisable to wear sandals as the terrain can get quite slippery.
2. Tegal Wangi Beach
A trip to Bali isn’t complete without a day spent chilling at the beach. We visited a unique beach called Tegal Wangi Beach in Jimbaran, known for its naturally formed jacuzzi pools during low tides and amazing vantage point for sunsets.
One lesson learnt after our visit there – anything trending on Instagram isn’t a true hidden gem. While quiet in the afternoon, this beach was crammed with people come nightfall. But crowds don’t gather for no reason. Here, you get to enjoy the same sunset views as Rock Bar for free and can even start up a cosy campfire.
3. Bengkala Village
A retreat in Bali offers more than the high life of atas villas and beach clubs. For those who want to explore new cultures, make the journey up north to Bengkala Village, known as the “deaf village”; everyone here speaks Kata Kolok, a unique and rural sign language.
Due to a geographically-centric recessive gene, there’s a higher than normal occurrence of deafness among the people living in Bengkala. Rather than a tragedy, the community built here embraces the issue positively and everyone learns sign language as part of their education. Our trip here opened our eyes to a culture of inclusiveness that we only wish can be spread to every part of the world, regardless of the differences that may exist between people.
4. Keramas Aero Park
Abandoned airplanes are scattered around Bali – at the randomest places from the middle of a highway to the roof of abandoned malls – becoming an unsolved mystery of sorts. But only one has been commercially revamped into a restaurant.
From left: Balinese Pizza (Rp 90,000, S$8), Chicken Melt (Rp 64,000, S$6)
Keramas Aero Park offers both “in-flight” dining in the abandoned Boeing 737-400 and outdoor seating nestled in an open rice field. You can choose from local offerings like Nasi Goreng to Western meats, pizzas and pasta. Prices of mains vary from Rp 30,000 to 90,000 (S$3 – S$8).
Read more about our experience at Keramas Aero Park here!
5. Green Village
Green Village Bali will let you have a taste of the “Crazy Rich Asians” life. This architectural wonder is made up of 12 eco-friendly, hand-constructed bamboo houses perched along the Ayung River. Everything inside from the electrical switches to door knobs and even toilet bowls are also made of bamboo!
Source: Green Village Bali
The bamboo villas are open to the public for both short-term rentals and house tours. Being on a $100 budget, we could only afford a tour of the villas but it was a true eye opener. You get to learn about the intricacies in design and need for sustainable living – there are even Bamboo Factory tours and other workshops for those who want to pick up a new skill.
Bali – an island Of Kinder Surprises
I’ve been to Bali more times than my fingers can count. But each visit never fails to surprise me with new encounters.
Explore the non-touristy areas of Bali in your own time with Klook as your travel companion. With their private car charter, you can customise your own travel itinerary without sticking to tight schedules of group tours. Beyond transport, you can also stay connected with Klook’s pocket WiFi device. All these helped make our travels a breeze, so we could focus on juicing the most out of our time there!
Watch our full adventure on Toggle here!
Find out more about Klook here!
Check out our other Bali-related articles here: