hip & bohemian canggu: a mini guide

CANGGU: A MINI TRAVEL GUIDE

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after spending time in the sleepy coastal village of bingin and the lush forests of ubud, we were excited to explore more of bali's emerging culinary scene, design obsession and constantly evolving community. with the neighboring towns of seminyak & kuta seeming overrun with night clubs and trite western concepts, all signs led us to the bohemian surf town of canggu. where balinese locals live alongside a stable population of ex-pats - loaded with trendy cafes, yoga studios, a good surf break, ancient hindu temples and gleaming rice fields. there is no shortage of new developments here, but the overall vibe is consistently focused on health, relaxation and interacting with other like minded folk. 

THE FOOD SCENE IS ON ANOTHER LEVEL

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we had a lot of really, really good food in bali but in regards to density and variety of options, canggu stood out exceptional. i am still daydreaming about that  damn soft shell crab sandwich [pic below]. from starting your day off with a brekkie bowl or smoothie to a hearty, healthy lunch and fresh seafood dinner, eating well and fueling your activities isn't hard around here. some of our favorites were:

• THE SLOW boutique hotel, art gallery and restaurant. the food presentation was an exhibit in itself and everything we ate was deliciously [repeat: crab sandwich pic]. the cool design vibes here are authentic and inspiring.
• SHADY SHACK vegetarian cafe and all day hangout. with their covered terrace, large porch and open air layout – rain or shine, this is a great spot for a drink or bite. 
• SPICY COCONUT & QUINCE – two casual cafes perfect for a breakfast bowl and coffee 
• CRATE CAFE canggu staple and the hot spot for breakfast, cold brew coffee or meeting up with friends
• CAFE VEDA organic cafe and juicery serving meals all day long. we loved their fish tacos 
• ECHO BEACH CLUB fresh fish BBQ on sunday, pick your seafood of choice and they will throw it on the grill while you enjoy drinks looking out over the waves.
• ITHAKA WARUNG for good indonesian
• NOOK technically in seminyak, this cafe has a massive patio overlooking the rice fields serving fresh, local cuisine. absolutely worth a visit, but bring a book and be prepared to end up staying for a few hours.

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THE BEACH VIBES ARE LAID BACK & THE RICE FIELDS ARE STUNNING

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ubud isn't the only place where you can see the gorgeous and lush rice fields of bali – canggu is covered in them, alongside beaches that definitely have more of a... vibe. more people [locals and tourists], more music, more happy hours. i can imagine during the busy season this might get overwhelming, but when we were there it was a welcomed energy. two favorite spots of ours to grab afternoon drinks were:

• DEUS EX MACHINA has a temple here which is awesome and ridiculous at the same time. it's worth going for drinks or food or anything really. we happened to stop by on an evening where they were playing a surf documentary outside with free food & drinks. everyone was propped up on bean bags under the stars and it was a really cool event.
• OLD MAN'S is nothing fancy, but it kinda goes off here as the local scene gathers for sun downers always with greats view of the water. they'll often have live tunes and the earlier the better to find a comfortable place to hang.

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R E A D  M O R E: 9  T H I N G S  T O  S E E  W H E N  Y O U' R E  I N  U B U D

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9 things to see when you're in ubud, bali

9 THINGS TO SEE WHEN YOU VISIT UBUD, BALI

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ubud is a place i have heard about and seen photos of over the last few years, and have been intrigued ever since. from its iconic rice paddies, incredibly loving locals, temples, arts and culture – you can really feel the history breathing through the walls of this small jungle village. it is rich with color, a vibrant community and only a few hours from the coast, making this stop in your bali trip a more spiritual experience than other parts of the island. we spent most of our time exploring the rice paddies [on scooter and on foot], temples, doing yoga, trying local food, getting incredible yet inexpensive massages, and enjoying the peaceful rainy moments amongst the lush greenery.

here are 9 things you shouldn't miss when experiencing ubud:
 

1. RENT A MOTOR BIKE AND DRIVE TO THE RICE FIELDS
 

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2. GRAB BREAKFAST AT KAFE, THE CACAO SMOOTHIE WAS OUR FAVORITE

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3. HAVE A BINTANG AND AFTERNOON SNACKS ON THE PATIO AT SARI ORGANIC

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4. TAKE AT LEAST ONE CLASS AT YOGA BARN [IT'S AN EXPERIENCE]

5. VISIT THE GREEN SCHOOL A  SUSTAINABLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT IS DOING GREAT THINGS

6. STOP BY TUKIES, THE BEST COCONUT SHOP I'VE EVER SEEN

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7. GRAB LUNCH OR DINNER AT MOKSA, A SPOT THAT WILL MAKE YOU CONSIDER GOING VEGAN
 

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R E A D  M O R E:  T H E  B E S T  V E G A N  R E S T A U R A N T  I N  B A L I  [O R  E V E R]

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8. CHECK OUT BAMBU INDAH, EVEN IF IT'S JUST FOR A DRINK

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9: GO FOR A SWIM AT JUNGLE FISH [AFTER 5PM IT'S FREE ENTRY FOR NON-GUESTS]

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^^ hanging gardens of bali, if you want to visit make sure to call before 

10. TOUR AND EXPLORE THE MANY LOCAL TEMPLES

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R E A D  M O R E:  W H E R E  T O  S T A Y  I N  U B U D

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where to stay in ubud: bambu indah

BAMBU INDAH, ECO-LODGE IN UBUD, BALI

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bambu indah, which translates to “beautiful bamboo", came to fruition back in 2005 when the owners of the land brought eleven antique homes to bali and began decorating them with the intention of hosting family and friends only [which is so freakin cool and awesome]. they wanted to be surrounded by the rich creativity and history of indonesia, while being comforted by the luxury and service of a boutique hotel.

bambu indah now combines the use of restored antique houses with much newer structures built with sustainable bamboo, which we learned about during our time in the philippines, is extremely durable and light. instead of using concrete foundations, stilted buildings can ultimately be moved or removed with little impact to the ground. their designs also promote use of natural light, ventilation and passive cooling with the use of open air spaces. perched up on a hilltop over looking ricefields and endless palm trees – this place makes you feel like you are away from it all and the zen vibes are very strong. even cooler? their swimming pool is actually a natural spring that looks and feels like you're swimming in a local pond. 

WHERE: ubud, bali
HOW TO GET THERE: 1 & 1/2 hour drive ($20-30 for driver) from the denpasar (DPS) airport or most of the popular beach towns. 
PRICE PER NIGHT: $125-$400 per room [including breakfast] room rates here
ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE: village hikes, green village & bamboo tours, r & r, massage, yoga, mountain biking, balinese blessings and ceremonies.
 

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the best vegan restaurant in ubud [or ever]

I'M NOT A VEGAN

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but my mom is, so i certainly appreciate vegan food after learning so much from her cooking [and have dabbled in trying to eat more veggies & less meat]. its a concept i can get behind for multiple reasons – it has been proven by many to be more sustainable for our environment, better for our bodies and really so much more that i won't get into right now. 

when we read about moksa, a 100% plant based restaurant in ubud, we knew it was worth trying based on all of the local ingredients available on the island. i booked a table for dinner and after our first bite immediately reserved a table for lunch the following day. 

THE MENU

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changes daily and is served in small plates so everything is shareable. each dish could not be more fresh or unique, and it is evident that the restaurant heavily supports giving back to the local community of ubud – sourcing everything from their own garden or local farmers nearby. vegan or not, this restaurant is affordable, well designed [both the exterior and cuisine] and likely one of the most delicious meals i've ever eaten. and the best part? for a dinner that left us full and beyond happy, we only spent about $23 for our entire dinner. if you don't make it here during your time in ubud, then you're missing out. 
 

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why bingin should be your first stop in bali

AT FIRST, I WAS WORRIED THAT I WAS TOO LATE TO THE BALI TRAIN

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in my brain i had built bali out to be an overly touristy beach town that would be loaded with only beach seeking american or aussie tourists. this mindset was 100% wrong. bali is an island full of beautiful culture, warm locals [& transplants], delicious and fresh cuisine, cool beaches and all around cozy vibes. there is an immediate feeling of calm & welcoming when you arrive on the island and i immediately knew that this wouldn't be our last time to this special place. our time in bali was a little over 2 weeks – our itinerary was: bingin >> ubud >> canggu.

after a late arrival and a 45 minute taxi ride from the airport, we arrived in bingin – the most famous spots in this region are uluwatu, incredibles beach & padang padang. that being said, we think bingin beach is a much cozier, less crowded and all around more fun part of the island. here are a few of the things we loved:

• THE LODGING: bingin is full of cute little bungalows and hotels. they range from mega inexpensive little huts that run you about $15/night, to affordable luxury. we stayed at mu villlas and could not have been happier with this decision and our time there. 

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R E A D  M O R E: ECO-LUXURY ESCAPE: MU BUNGALOWS IN BINGIN, BALI

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• THE SURF VIBES: this part of bali reminded me so much of hawaii – people are constantly barefoot, surfing, doing yoga, and all around very zen ... most of bali is like this, but for some reason bingin had a homier, more inviting vibe to me. this cafe meets surf shop meets art galley is a must see. 
• THE HEALTHY FOOD: bali is FULL of colorful and fresh cuisine, bingin's local cafes did not disappoint. our favorites were the cashew tree, lands end cafe and drifter. a seafood dinner where the sand meets the ocean of bingin is a really fun experience too.
• THE SCOOTER LIFE: the entire island is scooter-friendly, but the traffic is much more calm here making you feel a whole lot safer. everything is a quick zip away. 
• THE BEACH: we spent a lot of our time at the beach, as it was walking distance from our hotel. here it feels less crowded than incredibles or uluwatu, but still gets good surf and the chill, relaxing vibes are strong.
• THE SPA PRICES: for gals: a bikini wax here is $10 and a massage runs you not more than $7, and the spas are just as nice as any place you would go back home. save some money and get your wax once you arrive!
   

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R E A D   M O R E   S E   A S I A:
SAILING THROUGH THE PHILIPPINES WITH TAO EXPEDITIONS

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