We woke up by 11 AM, Bali Time, got our luggage packed, checked out, and headed to Sofitel Hotel Bali Nusa Dua (Instagram: @sofitelbalinusadua). It took us 30 minutes to reach the Sofitel Hotel Bali Nusa Dua. It’s not that far, but the view is like a whole different place.

Compared to other places where we previously stayed in Bali, the streets in Nusa Dua are wider and neater, so I was really in love with this place. Plus, the Sofitel Hotel, the hotel where we stayed in, has an amazing architecture that looked beautiful on the inside as well as on the outside. The hotel also has a place called the Le Gouter tea place that literally took my breath away. To read more about Sofitel Hotel, click here…

What to do in Kuta? If you love to surf, and you want to join the rest of the surfers, it is best for you to go to Kuta. Find out why.

If you’re planning to do a bunch of activities and go to different places in Bali in one day, hire a taxi driver.

Luckily, we found an amazing taxi driver (I will share his phone number with you as a favor to him. He deserves it. His name is Yuman +6281225190267) who was trustworthy and very friendly. He took us to multiple locations as we have requested. As we reached each destination, we went out of the taxi just to get a quick tour around the area.

The most amazing thing about this driver is his honesty. I accidentally left my Canon camera in his taxi, and days later, he texted, informing us about the camera. He is indeed a good man. We’ll definitely contact him when we go to Bali again.

If you want to contact Yuman, contact him via SMS as he isn’t very familiar with Facebook and WhatsApp.

You can do the following activities in Bali in just one day:

1. Monkey Forest Visit
2. Rice Terraces
3. Luwak Coffee Drinking
4. Waterfall Ubud

1. Monkey Forest

Monkeys are tiny, cute, and friendly creatures, and we all love them. If you plan to go to the Monkey Forest, you’ll need to know the basic safety measures.

Whether it’s in the Monkey Forest, in temples, or in the beach areas where monkeys usually live, always remember the important safety guidelines. In the Monkey Forest, you’re not allowed to bring food with you to feed the monkeys. You should buy monkey food right on the spot for 5000 IDRs for 6-7 bananas. When feeding, hold one banana with each of your hand, place your hands up, and wait for the monkeys to take the bananas. You can take a few pictures as you feed the monkeys. Don’t worry; they won’t hurt you.

Don’ts with Monkeys in the Monkey Forest in Bali:

1. Do not touch, stroke, or point at the monkeys too close. Do not irritate them; they are very revengeful, and they will come and get you when you least expect it.
2. Do not keep your hands in your pockets; it is an indication that you are hiding food in your pocket. It could get them curious and jump on you and bite you. This happened to us. My husband was walking with his hands in his pocket, so this monkey came and jumped on him all of a sudden and started biting his polo t-shirt while hanging on his neck and trying to grab whatever it could. So my husband tried to hold the monkey and take it off himself. The monkey got angry and a bit violent, fussing like a cat and trying to scratch my husband while he’s trying to take the animal off of him. So I asked my husband not to touch the monkey and just remove his hands from his pocket. My husband followed my instructions, and the monkey understood there was nothing for him. Then, he jumped off and left.
3. Do not wear sunglasses! Monkeys are good at stealing sunglasses. Even if you get yours back with the help of a local security who tries to manage monkeys, there may not be any guarantee that you will get it back unscratched.
4. Don’t carry anything tiny like sunglasses, small water bottles, or even a toothpick. Even a small size of a backpack is easy for monkeys to take away from you.

When we entered the park, we came from a restaurant, so I still had a toothpick in my mouth. This monkey jumped on me so fast, took the toothpick from my mouth, and started biting it. It was funny to see how the monkey tried to imitate what I was doing, but at the same time, I don’t think it is healthy for monkeys to bite or eat everything they get their hands on. I bought a small bottle of water as I was thirsty and I was walking around with a bottle in my hands, and this monkey came and jumped on me, took my water, and ran off quickly. My husband tried to take it back, but the monkey was so fast that it just went on jumping from one twig to another.

We went to one of the temples the other day, and we saw this very angry Monkey. It was standing on the wall and trying to scratch anyone that passes by. It was extending its hands and making noises while showing its sharp teeth. Obviously, it was upset. Someone probably pushed or touched it rudely. I was so scared to pass by this monkey I nearly lost my control. I just turned and tried to walk backward within the crowd.

Useful information: The type of monkeys that live in the area of The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (Monkey Forest Ubud) is known as the Balinese long-tailed monkey. These monkeys are scientifically called Macaca fascicularis. They are also called as macaque in English.

2. Rice Terraces

The Rice Terraces in Bali and the Luwak Coffee Museum are very close to each other. They are only 10 minutes away.

The rice field is so huge, so green, and so beautiful. It is the best place to take photos.

The great thing about this place is that although there are a lot of tourists, the area is full of local restaurants, helping foreigners like us get a taste of the Indonesian cuisine in such a majestic place with a picturesque view.

I recommend you to spend your whole day in this place. Walk around, enjoy the view, and eat Indonesian delicacies. To get the most of your day, wear comfortable clothes and shoes to enjoy the fresh air and the fantastic view of the greenery.

And if you have time left, visit the Luwak Coffee Museum that is only a few minutes away from the terraces. Learn how manufacturers produce their luxury coffee and experience drinking their coffee with the beautiful view of rice fields.

3. Luwak Coffee with A Rice Field View

4. Waterfall in Tegenungan, Ubud, Bali Indonesia 

This fascinating waterfall is only a 30-minute drive away from the Luwak place. There are other waterfalls in Bali. Just ask your taxi driver to take you there if you want to experience the best waterfall view. It takes around two and a half hours driving from Kuta or Nusa Dua. This means you’ll be driving five hours up and down. Make sure you leave early in the morning to get the best out of your day.