Finding a Place to Begin
How did we pick Indonesia, or better yet, Canggu? We first visited Bali in 2019. That was my trip of “firsts”. I had done quite a bit of travelling but never to such a far and exotic place. My first long haul flight, PHX-SFO-HKG-DSP, over 24hrs, my first taste of real street food and seeing how other people lived outside the USA. On that quick trip we visited Sanur, Nusa Penida and Ubud. This time around we wanted to experience others parts of the island, especially having more time now. After a lot of research, we decided on Canggu. A bustling part of Bali that has a lot to offer.
Our Experience in Canggu
After spending a month there, and now having something to compare it to, I can make an honest assessment of our time there.
Location: .We were in the perfect spot. Centrally located, very walkable(even though it was at times scary). It seems not many people walk in this area and I can see why, there are no real sidewalks and tons of scooters and cars. But, we hit the streets and learned how to maneuver around.
Homestay: At the time we didn’t know it, but we picked the perfect place! It was a simple room with AC, a mini fridge and a bathroom. They cleaned twice a week, too! The best part was there was a kitchen area(not that we used it much) a swimming pool that I did use and the best part was a rooftop work space. They had tables, outlets, a nice breeze and good wi-fi. Looking back, this place was amazing! Sure, the bed wasn’t the best but that’s life on the road.
Food: We really got spoiled! We had so many options: warungs, western restaurants, convenience stores and Grab Eats, which we didn’t need to use. Having so many options within walking distance is imperative! We learned this along the way. We had our favorites and frequented them almost daily. The owners/staff were always so friendly. Even if there was a communication barrier at times, a smile doesn’t need translating.
Laundry: 1 minute walk and we could drop off our clothes. They washed, dryed, folded and were done the same day!! They were always so friendly and even remembered my name, and got it right, LOL!!! We did laundry once a week and for 4 weeks it cost us $9.00. So worth it!
Gym: Movement of any kind is super important. But, building and keeping muscle is imperative as we age. Canggu had tons of gyms but most were geared toward the “younger, beautiful generation” LOL. We just needed the basics: weights, some machines, easy. Lucky for us, we found a great spot only 5 minutes from our place! Yes, it was small, but if we got there early enough, we could do everything we needed. It was a bit more than we would have liked, $40 per person for the month, but for us, it was used almost daily! Remember, you are no good to anyone without your health!
Boredom
This is a question I have been asked by many people. What do you do all day? Aren’t you bored? Happily, I can say we are not bored! Yes, we still wake up early, our internal clocks are just programmed that way and there are roosters everywhere! We would walk to the gym, get a good workout and then head to our favorite breakfast spot for iced coffee and eggs. Our afternoons consisted of doing some work for our YouTube channel and social medias, exploring the area and on a few occasions taking a tour/excursion. A quick lunch and then relaxation. Then we’d head out for dinner and the day was done! Time truly does fly.
Canggu Videos
Curious?
Want to see more of Canggu, Indonesia? Check out our videos about all things Canggu on our YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/@InkedNomadsWorldwide
Would We Recommend Canggu?
Yes! It is a great place to explore Bali! They have all different price ranges of accommodations for every type of traveler.
You can stay beach side or more locally(like we did).
Other points of interest, towns, cities are not too far away. Very easy to hire a tour guide or book a tour.
People were very friendly.
Easy to get around.
Tons of food options.
Bali does not have the best sewer systems so be warned of the smells. You will find this in most bathrooms, even in hotels. I have a very keen sense of smell so for me, at times, it can be a lot. I used incense in the bathrooms and always kept the door shut. It can help!
Stray dogs and cats…… everywhere!!! Luckily, we did not have any run ins with any of them. Most didn’t even look at us. But, they are everywhere so be warned!
Bali is still a developing country. So, in some areas you will see a lot of garbage on the ground. They do not have the types of systems in place, yet, as let’s say the USA.
This newsletter is giving our honest opinions of life on the road. The good, the bad and perhaps the ugly. It is our experiences and we hope to share it all with you. If you ever have any questions, please reach out! We would love to share and help as we can.
Maybe we can inspire you to grab your passport and hit the road. The world is a big place and there is so much to explore!
Until next time :)
