In the beginning of April, I embarked on my second international solo trip (my first was to Kyoto, Japan). This time it was to Bali, the beautiful tropical island located in Indonesia, with a population of just over four million people. After weeks of research and one reschedule of the trip due to my gallbladder betraying me, I set out on my solo tropical adventure.

Before You Go:

Apply for your evisa before you arrive to save time at the airport. Make sure you carefully fill out every detail accurately (including your middle name) or they can refuse it at immigration and send you back to the visa desk to have another one created (this happened to several people in front of me in line). Immigration lines there move very slowly so having your visa ahead of time and entertainment while you wait in line is recommended. You can apply for the visa here, and make sure you print it out for your trip: https://molina.imigrasi.go.id
Download Grab, this app will allow you to request a taxi and order food throughout the island (it’s also used in many Southeastern Asian countries including Vietnam) but make sure you have local currency on hand to pay the driver.
Consider hiring a driver for your time on the island. It’s not super expensive and the driver will act as a guide and typically you have them for up to eight hours a day for roughly $40 USD depending on car size. You can also hire one when you arrive, I just found it easier to pre-book one through Bali Hire Drivers online. They will only rent motorbikes or scooters if you have an international driver’s license (apply through AAA in the US), but if you plan on venturing across the island, a car is your best option for the longer treks.

Being a devoted Sky team member whenever possible, I flew Korean Air on a direct flight from Incheon into Denpasar and arrived around 11:30 PM. I finally cleared immigration close to 2:00 AM and hopped into the car that had been sent by the hotel I had booked close to the airport, Amnaya Hotel. I immediately crashed into the plush king size bed after a quick shower. Originally, I had grandiose plans to start my first day in Bali at sunrise, but as I stood in line longer and longer at immigration and felt exhaustion overtaking over my body, I messaged my driver for the week and let him know that an 8:30 AM start was a little more realistic.

I had roughly sketched out what I wanted to see prior to going to Bali and divided it up by the area on the island where things were located, but was also open to suggestions from locals while I was there. When I hopped in my driver’s car, he asked me what I wanted to see that day and I let him know. We had some time so he asked if I had ever seen Balinese dancers or if I would be interested in catching a show that morning on the way out of town—sure thing, let’s do it. The show at Barong Tanah Kilap was so much fun, and I was mesmerized by the colorful costumes, movement and traditional Balinese music that was played by a live band sitting off to the side of the stage. After the show we stopped at a beautiful art gallery built into an old temple and I added a small canvas to my growing art collection from around the world.

Tradtional Balinese Dance at Barong Tanah Kilap

For the remainder of my week in Bali, I chose to stay in Ubud, which is located centrally on the island and filled with amazing restaurants, art and endless energy. I found the best Air BnB called Wooden Ganeca Villas (honestly there are so many great options out there) on the Tegallalang Rice Fields. It came with an outdoor bathroom and shower, a pool overlooking the rice fields and top-notch customer service. One of the options while staying there was to have a massage in your room or on your deck, so I happily opted to do so. To be honest, I didn’t really look at the price, I just booked it the first day, but after doing the conversion and realizing my 90-minute massage cost $16, I splurged and booked a second one for later in the week. When in Bali, right?

Views from above my private villa at Wooden Geneca Villas

The week was filled with exploring temples, tasting Luwak coffee, hiking waterfalls and taking in a local cooking class. I cannot recommend taking a cooking class highly enough, it is truly one of the best ways to immerse yourself in local culture and learn more about their history through cuisine. Because of just having surgery, major hikes were off the table and anything where I would be submerged in water for long periods of time, so I didn’t really see any of the beach areas or hike mountains during the trip.

By far my favorite temple that I visited during the trip was Besakih Temple because of its rich history and deep cultural ties to Bali. Besakih Temple is the largest and holiest temple in Bali: The complex has 23 temples within it and sits on an active volcano (Mount Agung) that last erupted in 1963. The majority of the lava flowed down the opposite side of the mountain sparing the temple, but they were inundated with intense smoke from the eruption. The sparing of the temple led the Balinese people to believe it was the gods way of demonstrating their power, but a miracle in the sparing of the temple. My guide mentioned that no one lives near the temple anymore due to the possibility of the volcano erupting again.

My guide then explained that within Besakih there are dedicated temples within the complex for people to pray at depending on their livelihood, such as temples for farmers, blacksmiths and of course royalty. There are three different sections of temples and colors representing the three gods (Trimurti): Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Brahma, the Creator is represented in red, Shiva the Destroyer in white and Vishnu the Preserver in black.

I visited during the Ida Bhatara Turun Kabeh ritual ceremony, which occurs once a year in the tenth month of the Balinese calendar and lasts 21 days. People come from all over the island to place their offerings and pray during this time. Throughout my week, I saw hundreds of caravans and groups making their way to the temple for the ritual, and even drove past a truck filled with locals in the back casually sitting with a cow. Another day we drove by an older Balinese woman bathing nude in a temple fountain on the side of a very public road- I did a double take while my driver remained completely unphased, so I told myself “Be cool Erin, be cool.”

For women reading this and wondering if it’s safe to travel solo, yes, it very much is and if you can, I highly encourage it. Asia is a great place to start if you are interested in venturing out on your own because of how safe it is. I got into solo traveling when we moved here, honestly, because of my husband. We are both avid travelers, and he has lived in Asia before so he has already traveled to many of the nearby countries. I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that I have an incredible partner who also takes on all the kid’s care responsibilities when I go and fully supports me in every way.

Not sure where to start or if solo travel is for you? Start small. There are so many places in Korea you can venture to, even if it’s just hopping the train to Seoul solo for a day, visiting a local temple or getting used to going to a restaurant or coffee shop alone. I have found it so empowering to venture out on my own and am growing in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Growing up I was considered an extrovert, but as I get older, I am finding solace in the time I have alone to reflect, meditate and reset.

Bali Highlights and Sights to See:

Barong Tanah Kilap for Balinese Dance (located in Denpasar) (150,00 RP/person)
Explore the Tegallalang Rice Fields (they have the giant swings you can hop in that swing over the rice fields)
Besakih Temple
Tirta Ganga
Ulun Danu Beratan Temple (75,000 RP per person)
Leke Leke waterfall
Nungnung Waterfall (500 steep steps down)
Tegenungan Waterfall (20,000 RP to enter)
Luwak coffee tasting (several places throughout the island)
Pura Tirta Temple
Monkey Forest (the one in Ubud is the largest and busiest, don’t wear a dress unless you want tiny monkeys to scale it)
Take a cooking class. This was one of my favorite things that I did while in Bali, I took mine from Bali Farm Cooking School. You take a shuttle out to their farm from Ubud, pick your ingredients and then make several Balinese dishes there on site then sit and enjoy your culinary work.
Do a 30 minute or 1 hour photoshoot with a local photographer through Flytographer. Use code ERINHENDERSON at checkout to save $25 on your first shoot!
Explore Ubud on foot