Morning, all! Hope your Labor Days were filled with lots of sunshine and friends. We’ve sure got a healthy dose of both today with this beautiful story: After experiencing a broken engagement, Nabila finally realized that she needed a little time away to heal and help let go. After a quick two weeks of planning, she headed to Bali with 8 of her friends for the trip of a lifetime. Seriously, how cool is that?! Videographer Wade Koch was one of those lucky 8 and we’re sure happy he sent Nabila’s inspirational story our way…
Nabila agreed to share the deets of her amaze trip with us today, along with lots of travel tips for those of you thinking of doing a little jetsetting yourselves. Thanks to Hazmiljapilus Photography for all the pictures below.
For the first two days, the crew stayed in Kuta, a busy town brimming with both tourists + locals. Then it was off to more peaceful Uluwata for the next week. Nabila says, Airbnb was definitely a lifesaver. I knew that I didn’t want to stay in a hotel during this trip and I wanted to be somewhere that felt like home. We chose to stay in a three-bedroom villa in Uluwatu, Villa Bingin.
Some highlights of Uluwatu, from Nabila:
Uluwatu Temple. One of the 6 most important temples in Bali, it’s located at the southernmost point of Bali (Bukit Peninsula).
Kecak Dance. Held daily at sunset, it’s a performance of the Ramayana epic.
Uluwatu beaches. Nabila says, I remember going to one of many beautiful beaches in Uluwatu, Padang Padang beach. We arrived at this café right before sunset and it has the most breathtaking view of the ocean. I remember my friends and I just sitting there and not saying a word, just staring at the ocean, soaking it in and remembering how calm and peaceful everything is. At that moment I decided to let go of all my worries and just enjoy the moment that was in front of me. It was then I realized that I will be okay.
One of the highlights of the trip was definitely going cliff jumping with my friends. We didn’t even think about doing a cliff jump until Wade suggested it! We asked the locals and surprisingly nobody knew where it was. We searched high and low and did some research and we finally found out the nearest cliff-jumping place is in this remote island called Nusa Lembongan. Our driver, Ketut, arranged everything for us and drove us to the jetty and from there we hired a boat to bring us to Nusa Lembongan. The boat ride was approximately 30 minutes from mainland Bali. The island’s lack of commercial influences made me fall in love with it even more and for $5 you can jump from a limestone cliff (13 meter leap or 6 meter – depending how brave you are!) into the most amazingly blue waters you have ever seen. I don’t know if I will ever do it again, but it was definitely an amazing bonding experience between my friends and I.
They then rented a 2 bedroom villa in the serene town of Ubud and woke up to amazing views of paddy fields, breakfast, and even a traditional Bali massage that only cost $10 for 1.5 hours. (Um, yes please!)
What to see in Ubud:
Monkey forest sanctuary. Visitors can feed the monkeys roaming around the temple.
THE Ketut Liyer. Nabila and her friends met Ketut Liyer, a traditional healer or “medicine man” (Eat Pray Love, anyone?) at the suggestion of their driver. He read each of their palms and gave advice on life, love, and health. Nabila’s reading: “Just let go of the past, and everything will be okay. Let go and you will be happy again.” Needless to say, I was quite taken aback with what he said, and my mind began to think about what I went through a few months ago.
Villa Sungai in Ubud
Traveling to Bali, I brought two things with me – a backpack and an open mind. Bali was indeed everything I imagined it to be and so much more. The sense of calmness that exudes from the beautiful quaint town and the gentle way of life from the Balinese people taught me to appreciate the beauty of simplicity. Most importantly, what this journey has taught me is to never underestimate my own strength as a person. I am definitely stronger than I often give myself credit for. For that reason, this trip will forever be etched in my heart and I will always feel homesick for Bali.
Thanks for taking us on your incredible journey Nabila! xo.
Photographer: Hazmiljapilus Photography / Videographer: Wade Koch
