When I hear the song “Kuta” by Andre Hehanussa, the image of Kuta Beach instantly comes to mind. I’ve dreamed for years of vacationing on the Island of the Gods, and I smile to myself while singing along. Bali is Indonesia’s number one tourist destination, so it’s no surprise that many dream of visiting this paradise.
Two months before my trip, I started preparing my Bali holiday. The first step was searching for flight tickets. I diligently monitored the websites of various airlines to find promotional fares. After a month, I finally found an incredibly cheap ticket, a promotion from Citilink.
I chose the route from Batam to Jakarta, then Jakarta to Bali. The cost for both the round-trip flights was amazingly affordable. It was so cheap that it didn’t even make a dent in my wallet. After securing my flights, I turned my attention to finding an inexpensive hotel in the Kuta area. Kuta was my main destination because it’s an iconic part of Bali, known worldwide. Naturally, I was curious. With a heart full of excitement, I set off. But before stepping foot on the beach famous for its sunsets, I made a stop in Jakarta.
In Jakarta, I explored the backpacker haven known as Jalan Jaksa, which is close to both Gambir Station and the National Monument (Monas). You can easily walk from Jalan Jaksa to Monas or Gambir Station, or take a bajaj for just Rp10,000, depending on your haggling skills. After enjoying the nightlife in Jalan Jaksa and wandering around Monas, I continued my journey to Bali the next day.
Upon arriving at Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali in the evening, I immediately took a taxi to Kuta for Rp65,000. I checked into a hotel with a rate of Rp150,000 and rested for a bit before starting my Bali adventure. The bustling areas of Legian, Kuta, and Seminyak were my first stops. It felt like being in another country, with foreigners blending seamlessly with local tourists on the streets. Pubs and restaurants were alive with music. While soaking in the vibrant nightlife, I couldn’t miss visiting the Bali Bombing Memorial. The names of the victims, mostly from Australia, are engraved there. Tourists were taking photos in front of the monument, coming and going until the early hours.
The next day, it wouldn’t feel right not to visit Kuta Beach. By around 10 AM, the beach was already crowded. Tourists were basking in the brown sand or surfing the waves. For those wanting to learn to surf, instructors were available.
In the afternoon, I headed to Padang Bai. I bought a travel ticket easily in Kuta. Padang Bai is a well-known destination in Bali, located in the Manggis district, around 53 km from Denpasar or 30 km from Amlapura. It takes about 2.5 hours to get there from Kuta. The area is strategically located on the Klungkung-Karangasem route, and it’s a peaceful fishing village and port. Tourists often use it as a stopover on their way to Lombok.
Padang Bai is famous for its beautiful white sand beaches, stunning natural surroundings, and vibrant underwater life. The area’s beaches are great for snorkeling, especially Padang Kurungan, known for its colorful fish and soft corals. There’s also the Blue Lagoon, where many tourists enjoy snorkeling. On the west side, there’s Bias Tugel Beach, with its vast expanse of white sand and crystal-clear water, where visitors swim until sunset. The Blue Lagoon and Bias Tugel are close to each other and can easily be visited together.
While exploring the area, I passed several temples, including the sacred Pura Silayukti and Pura Tanjung Sari. Near Padang Bai, there’s also the Pura Agung temple.
I spent two days exploring the beauty of Padang Bai, and then visited the traditional villages of Sibetan, Selat, Muncan, Rendang, and Tungkup. In Sibetan, I saw vast exotic salak orchards—salak (snake fruit) that is native to Bali. I also passed through lush rice fields irrigated by the traditional Subak system, which UNESCO recognized as part of Indonesia’s cultural heritage in 2012.
After enjoying the natural beauty, I couldn’t leave without bringing back some souvenirs. I went to Sukawati Market, which is world-famous for its arts and crafts. Located about 30 km from Denpasar and 40 minutes from Kuta, the market offers everything from wooden statues, paintings, t-shirts, shorts, bags, sandals, and sarongs—all with unique Balinese designs. Everything here can be bargained for, so haggling is key. Thanks to the affordable prices, I ended up with two large bags full of souvenirs to bring home.