Indonesia

5 Things to do in Yogyakarta

Dec 27, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Yogyakarta (Yogya or Jogja for short) offers a very different view of Indonesia, one that is the complete opposite of what you would experience in Bali.

Baker family in Borobudur — Baker Family at the temple of Borobudur

Sharing an island with Jakarta, the more laid back Yogyakarta is the soul of Indonesia, keeping the spirit in perfect balance and harmony. Jakarta we are told, is the business centre of Indonesia, powering the economy and the industries.

Jogja offers the most authentic variation of the Javanese language, arts, traditions, culture and even landscape as many of it is untouched by tourism with the exception of Borobudur and Prambanan.

We planned on two full days in Yogyakarta with one of those days exploring the temples. We soon learned we could have easily spent more time exploring both the city and beyond.

Check out our 5 Things to do in Yogyakarta.

Borobudur Temple

One hour out of Jogja, high on a mountain, sits Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world, built in the 8th and 9th Century AD. It was built 300 years before Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

This magnificent temple is built in three tiers and outshines any temples you will see in Bali.

Beginning the decent up Borobudur — From the bottom of Borobudur you can’t see the stupas at the top | Wanda Baker Photo

The first tier is a pyramid base with five concentric square terraces. Second tier the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and the top tier is a monumental stupa.

Magnificent Borobudur — So many stories carved into the stones in the Borobudur Temple

Laid out in the form of a lotus, the sacred flower of Buddha, Buddhist belief states the closer you are to Heaven, the closer you are to the gods. For many reasons I have been drawn to the Buddhist beliefs and felt very at peace here which could have intuitively lead me to choosing the Lotus Flower for my tattoo.

As you climb the steps up the temple, the lush green landscape of Indonesia reveals itself in every direction leaving you feeling quite connected to the ethereal beauty of Borobudur and the stunning view that surrounds it.

Stunning views from the top of Borobudur — Me and my boy in the temple of Borobudur | Wanda Baker Photo

While there are many tours available that get you going early so you can get to Borobudur to see the sunrise, we were quite content visiting the temple during the day. Determine what matters to you and go for it.

Borobudur is listed as a World Heritage Unesco Site.

Jogja Tips:

There are friendly security guards everywhere and they will not allow you to climb on the temple’s stupas to touch the Budha’s hands inside the cone. Apparently this is a thing with tourists hopeful a wish will be granted. It can actually damage the temple.

Malioboro Road

The street called Jalan Malioboro straddles a line from Mount Merapi in the north to Parangtritis Beach in the south. It’s known as a shopping destination for those looking to fully immerse themselves in the Indonesian culture.

An interesting mix of architecture awaits you including Dutch colonial-era architecture, modern building architecture mixed with contemporary commercial areas and a strong Chinese shopping district.

China Town off Mairboro Street — China Town off Malioboro Street | Wanda Baker Photo

If shopping is your thing be sure to start at one end and wear some comfortable shoes. This street goes on for miles and is crammed on each side with kiosks, department stores and markets selling batiks, traditional Javanese sculpture, artwork, and food.

A visit to the Sultan’s Palace (Kraton) is not far away and another sight to see if venturing down Malioboro Road.

Jogja Tips

The best way to get around Yogyakarta is by downloading the GOJEK App and ordering a GO-CAR. These cars are the Uber of Yogyakarta and are very cheap. A 30 minute ride cost us $2-3 Canadian dollars.

Prambanan Temple

Prambanan Temple is the largest Hindu temple in South-East Asia comprised of several temples including the main ones (Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma). It was built 50 years after Borobudur and is about a 1 hour 20 minute drive from Borobudur.

Prambanan in Indonesia | Wanda Baker Photo

Built in the 10th century, this temple represents a masterpiece of human creative genius with it’s architecture illustrating a significant stage in human history and dedication to Shiva.

Inside a Prambanan temple | Wanda Baker Photo

In 2006 an earthquake struck Yogyakarta leaving major damage to Prambanan.

It took 9 years of research and restoration to fully restore Prambanan Temple and even now there are many temples still in pieces waiting to be reconstructed.

In total Prambanan is a complex made up of 240 temples, several hundred of which remain in pieces. Still a sight to behold.

Jogja Tips:

Many smaller temples have been destroyed by earthquakes, volcanoes and time. Many still remain in their original spots with the crumbed stones surrounding them.

Prambanan is listed as a World Heritage Unesco Site.

Kraton Palace (Sultans Palace)

Yogyakarta is the only region in Indonesia governed by a hereditary monarchy.

The Kraton is home to the Sultan, Hamengkubuwono X but is also a centre for Javanese performing arts, and a living museum featuring both contemporary Indonesian history and the royal line of Yogyakarta.

Entering the Sultan's Palace in Jogja — Entering the Sultan’s Palace in Jogja | Wanda Baker Photo

The total area of the Kraton covers the equivalent of three football fields, however the main cultural area for tourists is known as the Kedaton and is only a small portion of the palace.

Viewing historical artifacts from the past | Wanda Baker Photo

At the palace, there are many cultural performances to take in such as a puppet shadow play, Javanese orchestra, and Javanese dance. We had the opportunity to take in a Gamelan performance.

Gamelan, Javanese Orchestra at the Sultan’s Palace

Jogja Tips:

The entire tour should take only 2 – 3 hours at a leisurely pace. You may find friendly Indonesians approach you and ask to take your photo, interview you or want to be in the photo with you.

Get some Ink

There are many prominent and well known tattoo artists throughout Indonesia as getting some ink is apparently a very popular experience to have while there.

Doing the research in advance is key to ensuring you get a reputable artist known for a clean studio and tools. You further will want to read the reviews, view their portfolio, and have an idea of what you want when you arrive for your appointment.

Lotus Tattoo — A powerful spiritual symbol, the Lotus Flower has its roots in the mud, at the bottom of streams and ponds. It grows to become the most beautiful flower despite it’s origins. The seed symbolizes spiritual growth and development and the ability to rise above obstacles while on our journey to enlightenment.

My first tattoo was in the 1990’s before tattoos were popular. I went in looking for a story to tell, a piece of art to represent an adventure or the place I was at that point in my life. To this day this is still how I still choose my tattoos.

A tattoo is a very personal and individual experience. It’s a good idea to google and find several ideas you like and have some sort of idea when you arrive.

Your tattoo artist is an artist and they will not copy anyone’s design and they shouldn’t. These artists should take the concept and make it their own design. Having an idea of what you want makes their job easier.

We knew as soon as we settled on traveling to Bali, the souvenirs Rob and I would leave with would be tattoos.

Triquetra, Celtic Triangle or Trinity Knot: This tattoo represents a three way unity

We made the appointment, showed up with the kids who were entirely fascinated we were doing this (we did not tell them in advance) and they both watched Rob and I get tattooed at the same time.

Having done this before, I had no doubt our experience would be good. We would recommend Eric at the Jolly Roger Tattoo in Yogyakarta if you are looking to get some ink while there.

Jogja Tips

It’s really important to do your research when looking for a reputable tattoo artist and follow the instructions once you have your tattoo, ie: no salt water. This will ensure you have the best tattoo experience and it heals up nicely.

The Final Word

We only booked two full days in Jogja but could easily have stayed longer as there was much more to see considering our first plan was to visit Jakarta.

Experiences for next time: explore secret beaches like Watu Lumbung Beach or Wedi Ombo Beach in Gunungkidu,visit the lazy river at the Goa Pindul, see the Taman Sari, visit some waterfalls to see how they compare to Canadian waterfalls.

Want to read more about our adventure? Check out these posts:

5 Things to do in Ubud
15 Experiences to have in Bali
Souvenirs You Should Buy in Bali
Foods to try in Indonesia
Cooking with Bali Manggang in Indonesia
Traveling to Bali with Kids

5 Things to do in Ubud

Dec 20, 2018 · Leave a Comment

What Ubud lacks in sandy beaches and coastlines, it makes up for with green lush valleys, nature adventures, historical sites, an arts district and a groovy shopping scene.

Start your Ubud Bali adventure wandering along the Jalan Raya Ubud main road and be sure to stop along all the side streets you will encounter in search of hidden gems and coffee shops.

Surrounding villages offer adventures of a new kind including cascading rice paddies, sacred water temples, archaeological sites, master painters, woodcarvers and goldsmiths.

Ubud is more than a day trip, it is a place so laid back you could totally stay awhile. From yoga retreats and spas to the mysterious and magical, a trip to Bali is not complete without a visit to Ubud.

Here are our Top 5 things to do in Ubud.

Ubud Monkey Forest

The Sacred Monkey Forest is located in the village of Padangtegal, and fun fact; the forest is also owned by this village. There are several points of interest beyond the 700 monkeys who roam the forest including 186 species of trees and several interesting statues to admire.

We learned in advance the monkey’s can bite, and be brats, and since they are wild animals, their behaviour is not surprising.

These critters are smart so if you are brave enough to have food, water or anything of attraction available on your person, you will become a monkey target too.

Monkey Forest Ubud — See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil – 3 wise monkey’s

Since the Monkey Forest is mostly shaded with trees it’s a nice day experience to have as it allows a reprieve from the hot Bali sun.

Spending a day at the Sacred Monkey Forest observing how the monkey’s interact with themselves and tourists is definitely an experience one must have while visiting Ubud.

Ubud Tips:

Do your research before you go, be prepared and always be on alert

Stroll through Tegalalang Rice Fields

The cultural landscape of Bali has been listed as one of Indonesia’s eight unique Unesco World Heritage sites with five rice terraces and their water temples covering 19,500 ha.

The cooperative water management system of canals and weirs, known as subak, dates back to the 9th century. Tegallalang Rice Fields was created using a subak, the traditional Balinese irrigation system.

This system, according to the Balinese, signifies the connections that exist between the human, spirit and natural worlds.

Tegalalang Rice Fields is one of Bali’s most popular tourist locations and it can get busy, but it’s really more than that.

The ancient valley offers a timeless quality and slightly larger than life experience.

The out skirts of the rice fields provides cafes for a beverage break, restaurants if hungry, art market vendors for souvenirs and is only about a 30 minute drive from Ubud.

Ubud Tips:

The steps taking you down through the fields are steep and one will need to be prepared to make the trek.

Goa Gajah Elephant Caves

Discovered in 1922, Goa Gajah dates back to the 11th century and is known as the elephant temple created as a spiritual place for meditation.

The cave itself is small and your tour through the grounds will not take very long. It is however an archeological attraction showcasing the Hindu temple, statues, ponds and fountains.

When you first arrive you must pass a myriad of vendors trying to sell you their wares and locals acting as tour guides.

A tour guide is not required to explore the grounds and if you pre-purchased sarongs as we suggested in another post, you will not need to buy one here. Best advice, blow right past the vendors, the guides and do your own self guided tour.

Once you have experienced the cave, wander around the pool and follow a narrow path leading deep into the jungle and down a ravine. You will see waferfalls, an ancient forest, caves, giant bamboo trees and additional ruins left in their resting place.

Ubud Tips:

You are required to wear a sarong to enter Goa Gajah

Ubud Art Market

In the heart of Ubud you will find the Ubud market place sure to awaken all your senses and give you the full Balinese cultural experience.

Shopping in this traditional market is not necessarily about the purchase, but more about the bargaining process and careful viewing of unique craftsmanship and artistry of the Balinese people.

The shopping here is very different than what you would find in Kuta, Seminyak, Sanur or any of the other touristy shopping areas. It’s more authentic and it feels more like the real deal as you chat with the vendors about their products.

The sights, colours and people of the Ubud Art Market

Here you will find many things like beautiful silk scarves, sarongs and dresses, lightweight shirts, handmade woven bags, baskets or hats; statues, kites, wooden boards, hand painted figurines and many other hand-crafted goods.

Our kids learned the art of bartering and the skills of negotiating and conversing with the locals. This experience is something they will always be able to reflect upon.

Ubud Tips:

Learning to barter is a skill that can take a few times to get right. The vendors are fun to barter with and will typically only drop in price until they can no longer offer a deal. Enjoy the experience!

Go Treasure Hunting

A unique experience for kids of all ages includes Geocaching. We’ve geocached our way through Western Canada for the last 10 years and it never gets old.

Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Treasure hunters (us) navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the hidden geocache or treasure typically found in any size of container hidden at that particular location.

It’s as simple as visiting geocaching.com to create an account and then finding a cache near you.

Some times it involves taking something from the cache (box), mostly when the kids are young as there are small toys you can take if you leave an item behind. Signing the log book and leaving tips or hints online is a fun part of the process.

We totally switch modes when we are geocaching and become quite competitive with each other while trying to find the cache.

Both my boys are involved with Scouts Canada as both a Scout and Leader so finding a cache while in Bali was a high priority.

We successfully found a cache while in Ubud, dropped a trackable and a few Scouts Canada Badges, returned the cache and were on our way to find a new adventure.

Other notable mentions:

Take a cooking class while in Ubud. We took one and wrote about it here Cooking with Bali Manggang in Indonesia.

Local food experiences we loved: Three Monkeys Cafe Bali, visiting French cafe, Daily Baguette for cheese, bread, and sandwiches, eat with locals and discover Warungs, try local pizza at Umah Pizza, chill out at Atman Cafe, Frozen Yogi – need I say more.

Experiences on our radar for next time Campuhan Ridge Walk, visit the Neka Art Museum or Antonio Blanco Museum, Lotus pond at Saraswati temple and visiting a medicine man.

Enjoyed reading about our trip? See also:

15 Experiences to have in Bali
5 Things to do in Yogyakarta
5 Things to do in Ubud
Souvenirs You Should Buy in Bali
Foods to try in Indonesia
Cooking with Bali Manggang in Indonesia
Traveling to Bali with Kids

What experience would you like to have in Ubud?

15 Experiences to have in Bali

Dec 13, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Visiting South East Asia is not something many people in Canada consider during the winter months. Most of us like to hop on a plane, fly South quickly seeking a warmer destination to help cope with even longer winters.

While it takes two full travel days to get to South East Asia from Alberta, Canada, Indonesia is a destination everyone should consider at least one time in their lives.

At the Airport in Calgary — Getting ready for the first flight of three

We planned our trip about 10 months in advance, carefully reviewing and selecting adventures that interested us, finalizing our details closer to our departure date and even while we were in Bali.

When you only have a certain number of days in your vacation, making the most of your time is essential and everyone’s needs are different.

These are our top 15 experiences to have in Bali.

Uluwatu Temple and Balinese Kecak and Fire Dance

Uluwatu itself is a small surfers village on the southern most tip of Bali, south of Jimbaran known for the famous Uluwatu Temple found high on the cliffs of Uluwatu and close to the amphitheater for the Kecak and Fire Dance.

The drive to the Uluwatu area will take approximately 30 minutes and is not for the faint of heart. The winding, curvy roads are narrow and busy with all kinds of traffic heading in and out of the area. But don’t let that deter you.

Kecak and Fire Dance with Uluwatu Temple in background

Since a forest surrounds the temple and amphitheater, at some point you will encounter any number of monkeys believed to guard the temple from bad spirits. They are without a doubt mischievous little critters as watched them chewing on car antennas, pulling off trim and taunting tourists without a care in the world.

The performance begins at sunset. Kecak is a unique Balinese dance accompanied by a choir of approximately seventy men who chant and sway in unison as the story of Ramayana and Prince Rama’s quest to rescue his beloved wife Sita unfolds.

Bali Tip: Sarongs are required to cover the knees if visiting the temple.

Padang Padang Beach

If you are going to Uluwatu, set aside a few hours to visit Padang Padang Beach located on the north-western side of the Island a short distance away. There is an entrance fee to go to the beach however it’s affordable at $1.00 or 10,000 rupiahs per person.

This popular beach is only accessible via a narrow rock corridor. In the right weather it can be a very pretty destination with the white sand and aquamarine waters. It was an overcast day for us and while we didn’t experience the aquamarine water, we had an experience of another kind.

Kids taking a dip at Pedang Pedang Beach

During our visit we stumbled upon what we believe to be the tail end of a Hindu cremation ceremony. Tradition states 12 days after the Ngaben (cremation ceremony) the ashes of the deceased are taken to a river or the ocean to be scattered. This represents the spirit’s transition into Moksha or a sort of paradise where reincarnation, and, in turn, death, ends.

Bali Tip: Try to go early in the day to secure a spot on the beach as space is limited.

Spa Days

Pretty self explanatory right? I mean who doesn’t like a good massage. I went a few times over the course of our three weeks and paid between $5-$10 for a one hour massage. My daughter and I also had facials.

With so many massage shops in Bali and regular solicitation from the employees as you walk down the street, it’s important you do a little research before committing to one.

Bali Tip: If you enjoyed your experience, leave them a tip. Balinese people make on average $6,000/year so they rely heavily on the kindness of tourists.

Cook like a Local

Take a couple hours and learn what makes Indonesian cuisine so special. Discover new to you ingredients and experience new tastes and textures. Familiarize yourself with new cooking methods or techniques.

Family Cooking Class — Cooking together at a cooking class in Bali

If you are committed to eating cuisine in a new country, taking a class with a local Chef is an experience you will not want to miss. Learn more about the cooking class we took with our kids at Bali Manggang in Ubud.

Bali Tip: Do not go for the first cooking class you find, or the cheapest. Take the time to discover through research the one that best suits your situation.

Snorkeling Tour

Bali has a rich assortment of beaches, some with big rocks created by corals or lava to those fully covered with sand.

While not all beaches are suitable for swimming due to the waves, there are several boat excursions you can take for an ultimate snorkeling adventure.

Our adventure included a speed boat to Nusa Penida, an island off the southwest coast of Bali. We were taken to four areas, Crystal Bay, Gamat Bay, Wall Bay, Manta Ray Bay around the island to snorkel with the fish, sea life and what we had hoped would be Manta Rays.

Typically plan for a full day trip, bring lots of water and sunscreen.

Bali Tip: Do your research. While our snorkeling tour itself was alright, we would never book with the company we went with again.

Spend a Couple Days in Ubud

When traveling to Bali, one must experience Ubud, a town 1-2 hours inland and set amongst rice paddies, steep ravines with lush forests that gives off a very different vibe then the communities along the beaches of Bali. We spent five nights in Ubud and could easily have stayed longer.

Ubud Streets — Wandering through Ubud with the Monkey Forest ahead

Ubud offers a fabulous marketplace and hundreds of shops selling antiques, woodcarvings, crafts, textiles, paintings and jewellery. There are fabulous cafes and cozy coffee shops on every street either out in display or off around a corner.

Art studios, galleries and museums can be found on main street and tucked away down side streets.

Bali Tip: Plan to stay a minimum 2-3 days and take in as much of Ubud as you can.

Adopt a Turtle

Take a tour through the Turtle Conservation and Education Centre on Serangan Island to learn about how they are helping save turtles.

This center helps protect turtles by hosting injured ones, collecting nests from tourist beaches and buying eggs from locals to prevent them being eaten. Eggs are bred at the center and raised for about one month before being released into the ocean.

In addition the center focuses on eradicating illegal turtle trading on the Island which is still very much a thing as locals will eat them or use them as offerings.

Turtle Conservation and Education Center Serangan Island

It’s free to visit, you get a guide to show you around and there are turtles to observe including babies plus injured ones in recovery.

They offer souvenirs for purchase, accept donations and allow you to adopt a little fella who will be released into the ocean. When adopting you pick your little guy, name him, receive an adoption certificate and video sent to you when he is released into the ocean.

Bali Tip: This sanctuary is not Turtle Island, which is not recommended and does not have good reviews.

Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park

The magnificent iconic landmark Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue or GWK for short is a symbol of the Hindu God Vishnu riding his mount, the great mythical eagle Garuda. The statue stands watch over the island and can be seen from several key points in Bali including Double Six Beach and Kuta Beach.

25 years in the making and still not finished, it’s a little bit of a hike to get to GWK itself, however as you wander along you pass the Lotus Pond, temples, restaurants and coffee shops, and plazas. Or you can rent a segway.

In the park itself and beyond GWK you can learn about the Balinese heritage through the cultural performances, legendary folklore tales, sculptures besides GWK and dramatic cinematic presentations.

While the statue is not yet accessible on the inside leaving you with outside views only, there is something to be said about being in the presence of one of the largest and highest monumental statues in the world. We loved it.

Bali Tip: Admission costs will run you about 450,000 IDR or $10 per person and it’s hot so bring lots of water and plan to take your time.

Waterbom Park

Waterbom is a fun water adventure park for kids of all ages and they even have a swim up bar for the grown ups. The park is beautifully landscaped, very clean and seamlessly connects all the rides, paths, bridges, bathing areas and pools.

They operate on a waterproof wrist band system where everyone entering wears a wrist band also known as cashless payment. You preload it with money and lock up your wallet in a locker you rent.

The band allows you to buy drinks, food or the few attractions that cost money by simply scanning your wrist band. The amount is deducted and whatever balance is left at the end of the day gets returned to you in cash.

The main pool at Waterbom — The main pool

Like in Disneyland there are photographers throughout the park who will take photos and scan your wrist band allowing you to purchase photos at the end of the day. This park will definitely appeal to the thrill seeker in you. Our crew had a great time exploring this park.

Bali Tip: Try to book your tickets at least a day or two in advance and reserve a cabana if you plan on staying the day.

Catch a Wave

Bali is one of the most popular surf destinations in the world. According to the Bali people, you will find the warmest weather and best time to enjoy the waves without crowds from October through September.

The rainy season typically runs November – March, however we were there for three weeks in November and only experienced rain on the day we were leaving Bali.

The beaches are loaded with vendors wanting to sell you their goods, surf lessons and even a few chairs where you can enjoy Bintangs, pop or water.

It’s easy to find a surf instructor, simply wander the beach until you find one available to give you a lesson or book them for later. Our surf instructor: Situm Tour Bali Adventure at Double Six Beach.

Bali Tip: Three hour surf lessons are pretty cheap. $20 per person plus tip included the board rental.

Stay at an All Inclusive

If you didn’t know Bali had All Inclusives, you do now. If you’ve stayed in this kind of resort and it’s totally your jam, this might just be the place for you. Our first 5 days in Bali was spent at the Grand Mirage Resort & Thalasso Bali in Benoa.

We chose not to do the all inclusive package due to our desire to hit the streets running and not be tied to any one place for food.

We did however opt in for a daily continental breakfast and it was one of the most amazing continental breakfasts featuring both Western and Indonesian cuisine complete with hot and cold food stations.

Bali Tip: Benoa does not offer swimmer friendly beaches.

Stay in a Villa

Plan your trip far enough in advance and you will find some wicked deals on private villas in Bali. We stayed in two, with the first villa in Ubud, the Samhita Garden Hotel, which we actually stumbled upon by accident.

Seminyak Villa with Pool — Seminyak Villa with 2 bedrooms and private pool, 10 minutes from the beach.

Our second villa was in Seminyak and called the New Pondak Sara Villas and only a 5-10 minute walk from the beach.

Bali Tip: Bali has all kinds of critters than tend to come out at night. If you hear a strange noise, it’s quite possible one of them.

Visit Temples

Bali is over 80% Hindu and boasts over 20,000 temples. Many families have shrines in their homes, next to their businesses even at the front door.

Next to a temple is the offering prepared daily to give thanks for the food and feed the spirits so they do not become angry.

There are famous temples in Bali to visit and those you will stumble across just walking down the street. Whatever the case may be they are all fascinating and an delicately prepared work of art.

We were fortunate enough to see a few notable ones during our trip including Goa Gajah, Uluwatu, Borobudur and Prambanan. The rest we will save until we return.

Entering a temple requires knees be covered. Be sure to note the rules of each temple before you visit.

Bali Tip: Purchase a sarong locally at Hardy’s when you arrive and carry one with you when you are sight seeing.

Try the Poop Coffee (Kopi Luwak)

Eloquently put, Kopi Luwak, or civet coffee, is coffee that includes partially digested coffee cherries, eaten and pooped out by the Asian palm civet critter. Since it can not digest the coffee beans out they come through the poop shoot.

Fermentation occurs as the cherries pass through a civet’s intestines, and after being defecated are collected, cleaned and roasted.

Farm workers collect the beans, clean and wash them. At this point they have acquired a unique and highly prized taste from their passage through the luwak’s digestive tract.

The coffee is really quite good and we had no issue trying it. Do you eat mushrooms?! Mushrooms you buy in the store have been grown in poop so BAM you’ve probably already eaten poop remnants so why not try poop coffee. See what I did there?!

Luwak coffee steaming hot, freshly brewed

Bali Tip: A cup of Luwak coffee at a coffee stop will run you about $5. A bag of Luwak coffee a whole lot more.

Enjoyed reading about our trip?! See also:

5 Things to do in Ubud
5 Things to do in Yogyakarta
Souvenirs You Should Buy in Bali
Foods to try in Indonesia
Cooking with Bali Manggang in Indonesia
Traveling to Bali with Kids

On our list for next time: A Yoga Retreat, a Fishing Boat Trip, a trip to Komodo National Park in Flores, and visiting the Gili Islands (we originally had planned to visit prior to an earthquake).

Have you been to Bali? What’s your favourite thing to do there or what would you like to try from this list?

Cooking with Bali Manggang in Indonesia

Dec 2, 2018 · 12 Comments

Taking a cooking class in a new country is one of the most exhilarating experiences you can have while traveling abroad. Sure there are beach and water sports, touring around to learn about history and art, even eating out with the locals.

Yet when it comes right down to it, food is the bond that ties us all together. Anthony Bourdain showed us this many times through his travels.

If you want to learn about the local culture, a food class is how you can fully immerse yourself into the thick of it.

These days when we travel our trips are family experiences. We only have so many years we can travel with our kids before they fly the coop to live their own lives and have their own experiences.

When we plan a trip, the kids are part of the planning process. Even if it’s to say I want to see Mickey Mouse. By enabling them to be involved, they ultimately have a say in how their trip experience turns out.

Ready to get our chop on in our Indonesian cooking class

We consider activities the kids want to do, adventures the adults want to do and combine it all so we can enjoy the experiences together.

My adventure choice for this trip, a cooking class of course. I was thrilled with how enthusiastic the entire family was about taking a cooking class with me before we left Canada and when we arrived in Bali.

An Indonesian Cooking Class

We booked three weeks in Indonesia and they were broken into four experiences. Our second leg was in Ubud and that is where we decided to research cooking classes.

We browsed brochures, reviewed online classes and finally decided to book our class at Bali Manggang with Chef Made Latra. Ubud ended up being the perfect setting for a cooking class.

Chef Made picked us up at our villa for the afternoon session. Along the way he took us to a coffee stop where we sampled local teas, coffees and were given the option to try the Kopi Luwak (poop coffee). Once our tasting was done we carried on to Chef Made’s home, the location of the cooking class.

How to choose a cooking class

When there are so many cooking classes to choose from, how do you pick? Gather cooking class brochures to review or google. Check off what is important to you. For us it was menu, cost, times offered, transportation, cleanliness and reviews.

We narrowed it down to two and tossed the other brochures away. We made contact and the first one to respond was the one we booked with. Chef Made was on it and we heard from him almost immediately.

Why take a cooking class

Taking a cooking class does not mean you need to start cooking Indonesian food at home. The experience is learning about ingredients other cultures use, techniques and cooking methods.

For example we learned about galangal, a spice relative to ginger that can be used in any recipe calling for ginger.

Additionally it was fascinating to see the Chef use coconut husks to start the grill. He says this is because the husks release less smoke.

We had no clue our cooking class would be in the Chef’s home and were awestruck to experience walking through his homestead to get to the class room.

As we wandered to our class, we caught a glimpse of the sleeping quarters, a communal kitchen, shared dining area and even passed a few of the family members along the way. Experiencing how Balinese live was almost as exciting as the class itself.

When we arrived in the kitchen we discovered the view of the Petanu Ravine. A cooking class with a view – doesn’t get much better than that.

Once we settled in, took pictures of the view and were given a welcome beverage we aproned up and got straight to work.

Chef had several tasks for us to do from grinding peanuts for peanut sauce, chopping, cooking with the prepared ingredients, plating and even styling the plate with garnishes. This part made me laugh. He knew we would be taking pictures.

Our menu was simple with big flavours. We made the following dishes:

Basko Soup (Tuna fish ball)
Tofu and Soya Bean Curry
Nasi Goreng (Balinese Fried Rice)
Bakmi Goreng (Balinese Fried Noodle)
Chicken Satay (Sate Bumbu Rujak) with Peanut Sauce
Sayur Urap (Vegetable with Coconut Sauce)
Pisang Rai (Banana Dumpling with Coconut & Sugar)

There were six of us in the cooking class. Four Canadians (us) and a lovely couple from London.

We all dove in to try the food and had a glorious time chatting with our mates from Britain about their adventures so far.

We bonded over food, shared stories and made lasting memories.

Enjoyed reading about our adventure? Read more here:

5 Things to do in Ubud
5 Things to do in Yogyakarta
15 experiences to have in Bali
Souvenirs You Should Buy in Bali
Foods to try in Indonesia
Traveling to Bali with Kids