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Healthy Bali Guide (Part 3) – Ubud and the spiritual jungle of Bali

Lynn — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 05:30:58 +0000

This is the final part of my healthy bali guides. Find Part 1 and Part 2 here.

Our final stop in Bali was the magical Ubud. You could neither compare Ubud to Uluwatu nor to Canggu – it’s the health capital of Bali, it’s a Yogi’s paradise and the spiritual center for all those going to Bali on a mission to find themselves. It was definitely not our intention to find ourselves in Bali, so we saved Ubud for last, but I wish we would have had more time to explore Ubud’s hidden gems and treasures. If you skip the busy tourist attractions such as Ubud market and Ubud palace, then you will find many quiet and beautiful places in and around the village. Ubud is not big, but pretty populated, so it can be confusing at first. But it does not take long until you can find your way around the city. For healthy eaters, Yogis and nature lovers, Ubud is definitely worth a visit.

How to get around:

Once again, the scooter was the best way to get around. It gave us so much freedom, and enabled us to see much more of Ubud and its culture than we would have by foot or driver. Ubud traffic can be a bit more chaotic than down in Bingin, but after 12 days in Bali, we were already quite well at navigating through the Bali roads.

Where to stay in Ubud

We had two completely different accommodations in Ubud. They could have not been more different, but they were both absolutely amazing. The first two nights we got to spend at Como Shambala Resort, which we will forever treasure in our hearts, and the last two nights we slept in a tiny homestay in a village 20 minutes outside of Ubud.

Como Shambala Estate

We spent two nights at the most amazing health hotel ever. It was too amazing to write it all down in a few lines, so there will be a complete blogpost about it coming very soon.

Villa Omah Lembu

Villa Omah Lembu was just perfect for our last two nights in Bali, since we needed something affordable, clean and basic. We were so busy during the day that we barely spent any time in the homestay, so a 20 Euro homestay per room was all we needed. Made, the owner, and his staff were incredibly friendly, and very forthcoming. The best part about our stay there was the personal village and rice field bike tour that Made have us. It was both Jannis and my favorite and most memorable afternoon as Made took us through this village, where the local kids greeted us with the biggest smiles and “helloooooos” ever. He explained the rice fields and the water system to us, and showed us where dragonfruit, chilies and soy beans were planted. The tour alone is a reason to stay at Made’s homestay, because it showed us the real Bali life. Just note that his homestay is not super luxury, it is clean, has a shared infinity pool and is located right by the river and a dreamy waterfall. It’s also 20 – 25 minutes out of Ubud center, so be sure to remember that when you book it.

Bukit Sari

Bukit Sari is the home of a friend of mine, Agi, and best suited for open-minded younger people or families who want to live right in the center of Ubud, but who do not want to break the bank by doing so. It’s about 20 meters from the Alchemy and Intuitive Yoga, so it’s located in the best part of Ubud. If you’re interested in booking the room, then do not hesitate to contact my friend Agi who rents it out to visitors.

Healthy Eating in Ubud:

Just like in Canggu, there is a healthy restaurant or café on every corner. Some of them are too hippie for my taste, but most of them serve high quality food, always with a special touch. I especially loved the Yellow Flower Café and the Alchemy.

Yellow flower cafe

We went to the Yellow Flower Café through a recommendation of my friend Mia, and I’m so glad we did, as it was the perfect little hidden gem to visit on our first day in Ubud. The view from here is spectacular, and it’s so wonderfully quiet up here. The way to Yellow Flower Café is so cute, too. You will have to leave your scooter at the main road and then walk up some cute stairs to find it. The best part of this café was their expertise. We had a bit up a stomach ache when we visited it, so we asked the waiter for a recommendation. She brought us activated charcoal drinks, and after about 30 minutes, we already felt much better. How amazing it that? Absolutely my favorite little café in Ubud!

Lazy Cats Cafe

We found Lazy Cats through a recommendation of a friend who actually lives in Ubud (frankly, she owns parts of the cafe), and she helped design the interior, which was one of the reasons you have to check this place out. According to Jannis, the coffee was amazing, the avocado toast wasn’t super exciting, so coffee and lunch would be best to visit the lazy cats cafe. The interior is absolutely stunning, so also a must-visit for me.

The Elephant

We went to the Elephant on our first night in Ubud, and we were not disappointed. Elephant is trying very hard to be a sustainable and organic restaurant, the food is delicious and offers lots of plant-based, gluten-free choices. We ate the Pad Thai, and the coconut noodle soup and started with the spring rolls, which was all delicious. However, I would have liked a broader selection of Indonesian dishes, because the Thai focus of the elephant confused me a little. But it was still one of the best dinners we have had in Ubud.

Alchemy

We went to Alchemy on our very last lunch at Ubud, where we met with a couple that we had met in Canggu a few days before. Alchemy is an all raw and vegan holistic restaurant, with an attached little health shop. The food here really was delicious, my friend Keira and I had a salad from the salad bar with pink sauerkraut, raw pad thai, basil coconut chips (which tasted like Parmesan) and cauliflower tabbouleh, and Jannis and our friend Jared both had the raw Mexican burger, which was surprisingly delicious (according to the guys).

Yoga Barn

I loved Yoga Barn! Though I did not have time for yoga in Ubud (we only had 2 days), I loved the yogi feeling of this town. Yoga barn is the best known yoga place in Ubud, so naturally this place has a certain yogi-vibe to it. It might be too much for some people, and I was there very early in the morning, when it was still quite empty, but the whole sourroundings if this place are so beautiful. The breakfast was delicious, the juices and coffee as well. It’s a place to check-out if you love yoga and healthy food, and everything that comes with those two things.

Biji Bali

A friend of mine just recently started her own chia pudding start-up called Biji Bali. They are just starting out, so you will need to check out their Instagram account for pop-up locations and events. Their turmeric soursop chia pudding is too die for! Healhy and delicious at the same time. If you love chia pudding, then you will love Biji Bali.

Bali Buda

We only spent 30 minutes at Bali Buda, and only has a smoothie, so I cannot speak for the food at Bali Buda. It did sound delicious, and the prices were reasonable as well. It’s not an “Instagrammable” location such as Lazy Cats Cafe or Alchemy, but definitely a quiet place to escape the busy Ubud center.

Things to do in Ubud:

Visit a yoga class (I did not go to any classes in Ubud, but I heard only good things about Intuitive Yoga and Yoga Barn.
Book a cooking class. We went on one that included a tour through a market and the cooking took place on an all organic farm about 25 minutes away from Ubud. Our class was not that great, so I will not name it here, but I’m sure there are many good and healthy ones out there. Alchemy also offers lots of exiting classes, which you can find on their website. They even have classes, where you can learn how to make your own natural body products.
Visit a local market – so interesting!
Go on a hike. There are beautiful waterfalls and vulcanoes around Ubud, so next time I’m there, I will definitely participate in more outdoor-activities.
Drive around on a scooter. What we loved most about Ubud was the drive in and out of town. We stayed about 20 minutes south of Ubud in a small village, so the bike ride into town provided lots of real-Bali life impressions, which was exactly what we wanted to see.
Visit the green school: unfortunately we switched this plan with the Cooking class, which was such a bummer, because the cooking class wasn’t all that great. Next time I’m in Bali, I will make sure to visit this unique and sustainable school.

Things to leave out:

Monkey forest
Tegalalang rice terraces. They are beautiful, no doubt about that! But the only fun part about our trip to Tegalalang was the scooter ride through a back-road, which took us through way more beautiful landscapes than the touristy and garbage-covered popular Tegalalang fields. We were obviously impressed by the view of Tegalalang, but the masses of Chinese and other tourists were simply too much, so we left after a few minutes.
Ubud market. Just lots of bad quality mass ware and all the tourists it attracts. I have to admit that we did buy some souvenirs there, but just because we only had little time left in Bali. I would not go back.
The big temple near Ubud market.

This was the last part of my Bali Guides. I hope that my three guides (including Uluwatu and Canggu) were helpful to some of you, and interesting even if you’re not planning on visiting Bali any time soon). If you have anything to add (be it accomodations, restaurants or things to do), please let me know in the comments below. There will be a last Bali-inspired blogpost about our stay at the number one holistic hotel Como Shambala Estate on the blog next week (including an exciting giveaway) so stay tuned!

Merken

The post Healthy Bali Guide (Part 3) – Ubud and the spiritual jungle of Bali appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

Healthy Bali Guide (Part 2) – Canggu: eco bungalow, healthy restaurants & warungs

Lynn — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 06:27:56 +0000

Part 2 of my Healthy Bali Guides. This one is all about Canggu.

After five days at Bingin / Ulu Watu, we drove north to Canguu. While Bingin fascinated me with its tranquility, it’s empty beaches (except for Padang-Padang), we also fell in love with Canguu for a very different reason: its beach, its people and its countless hipster cafes. If you’re looking for a little more things to do, entry-level surfing classes, beautiful accommodation and amazing food, then Canguu will not disappoint. However, the beach is “crowded” even in the low season (I say “crowded” because it’s only true in some parts where the best wave breaks are, the beach itself is several kilometers long and you will certainly find a quieter place somewhere.

The most beautiful ethno-style bungalows: Jungle Room Bali

We stayed at Jungle Room Bali* and we could not have loved it more. *Disclaimer: the jungle room invited us to stay for two nights, but we loved it so much that we paid for the additional two nights of our stay. The jungle room is perfect if you are looking for a mid-budget accommodation in the rice fields overlooking the river, if you’re a young couple, if you love a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, if you LOVE unique interior design, if you value the kindness and of amazingly accommodating staff, if you’re simply looking for a unique hideaway a little further away from the buzz of Canguu’s main street.

Originally, we had booked the River View Bungalow through AirBnB, that’s how I found the Jungle Room in the first place. A little before our arrival, they told us that we had been upgraded to the villa if we wanted to (how could we not?!). The villa mango was an absolute dream! It consists of a private pool and three double rooms, each with their respective bathroom, a wooden/ concrete – style kitchen and a seating area. If you’re in Bali with three or even two couples, the villa is even totally affordable as it’s 130 Euros per night including healthy breakfast and yoga. The rooms in the villa are all uniquely designed, with a close eye for detail, including vases, rocking chairs, straw hats and many many more. Two of the three bathrooms had an outside shower, but the room with the interior shower was the one I loved the most and that we stayed in.

Of course we fell in love with our villa, but there was one thing in particular that made me even happier than all the luxury in the world: our very own mango trees!!!
The first day, we kept hearing something fall from the trees and since we had been in Bingin before, we figured it’d be monkeys. But it were Mangos! OMG! I was in mango heaven! If you’ve never been to Asia before (like us), then the mangos will taste so much different than what you are used to. I totally loved it!

Speaking of which: the breakfast at the Jungle Room was all I hoped it would be. You can choose between coconut chia pudding, coconut pancakes, avocado toast with poached eggs, fruit, granola and scrambled tofu together with coffee. If you wanted to criticize anything at the jungle lodge, then I guess that there is no juice included in the breakfast price. For around 40,000 IDR (around 2,50 Euros) you can of course add them to your menu.

Where to eat in Canggu

Canguu is the place to be if you love healthy food. Even Jannis started laughing at one point, because it was as if all our favorite European eateries were combined on one street. Healthy eating after healthy eating after healthy eating. We were in food heaven. However, when I told my sister about it, who had recently visited the Philippines, she was shocked to learn about the prices in Bali. For us as Western travelers, spending five euros on a healthy burger with fries obviously seems cheap, but if you’re used to Southeast-Asian prices, seven euros for a meal may sound outrageously expensive.
But do not worry, we have mainly tried to find more authentic Indonesian warungs with vegetarian and vegan choices, and we found them! Thanks to Mia from HeyLilahHey.

Warung Dandelion

Warung Dandelion was our Canguu-favorite. This is the place where you go to when you want to have real Indonesian food, and no hipster flair. The food here is incredibly cheap even though you feel like you’re eating in a high-end restaurant. Jannis tried the Mie Goreng and I absolutely adored their Tempe and tofu curry! Seriously one of the best spots to eat at in Bali. The biggest plus is the amazing view of the rice terraces next to “Canggu Avenue”.

Warung Varuna

We came to Warung Varuna the second night of our stay and we loved it’s laid-back feeling, the locals inside and the expats who looked like they had lived in Bali for a while. This is the best option if you want authentic Indonesian cuisine for a bargain price. My veggie Mie Goreng was 1,50 Euro! They also have great vegan options with brown rice, vegetables, Tempe and tofu, but also fish and meat for your non-veggie companion. I’m sorry for the bad photo, but it was already dark when we ate here. Definitely great if you’ve spent 20 Euros on a lunch at Cafe Organic.

Cafe Organic

At Café Organic we had our most expensive lunch, but I absolutely loved the interior of this place. All white, with siting hammocks outside and lots of plants for shade. I had a rather expensive bowl, which was delicious, but Jannis’ sweet potato burger was definitely better. Most dishes are plant-based or can be made plant-based and gluten-free.

Peloton Supershop

Peleton Supershop is a rather new spot in Canguu, but already pretty popular. They are known for their incredible jackfruit dishes, which taste like real meat! While I’m definitely not the meat-substitute type, their burgers and plant-based Nasi Campur have really surprised me. It’s definitely a must-visit in Canguu, but price-wise a bit higher than regular.

The Shady Shack

We have had by far the best vegetarian burger at the Shady Shack. It’s an all vegetarian and mostly vegan hipster place, which gets pretty crowded at night. The whole vibe of this place was incredible and the food absolutely delicious, but pricier than other dinner places.

Earth Café

You should visit Earth Café if you fancy a quiter, less crowded and popular lunch with health ingredients and a laid-back athmosphere. Earth Café has an amazing selection of juices, smoothies, and other goodies. We tried the wrap and the sandwhich, both of which were delicious!

Shopping in Canggu

On our second to last day in Canggu, we met a completely like-minded couple from near Sydney, and we soon felt like long-time friends, because we had so many similarities. Keira introduced me to a sustainable fashion brand from Australia, which produced ethically responsible in Bali called Yöli & Otis. I instantly fell in love with their clothes and ended up spending 100 Euros in their store for a tank top and a pair of beautiful shorts. It was the best souvenir I bought in Bali, and I will treasure it forever. Canguu is also great for shopping if you like surfer clothes, concept stores and hipster stores selling pineapple (I do, haha).

Working out in Canggu

Surfing is probably the number one sport in Canggu, followed by Yoga and other mindful activities. We took a surfing lesson right by the beach with two super nice locals. In hindsight, however, I would definitely not recommend following our example. The waves are pretty rough in Canggu, so please please book a surfing class in advance – one that prioritizes safety. Our German yoga teacher Danijela at the Jungle Room recommended a surfing teacher to us after we had already booked our lesson. You can definitely ask Danijela for advice on that topic (and other Canggu topics as well), as she is a blogger as well over at Rebelheartyogi.

Healthy restaurants, that we did not have time to visit, but will definitely check out next time.

The Slow
Crate
Nalu Bowls
Bali Bowls

Beaches in Canggu

Berawa Beach

My favorite beach in Canggu was Berawa Beach. It was less crowded than Batu Bolong, the most popular beach in Canggu, and the ride to the beach is simply beautiful. You will pass rice fields, lots of local warungs and hipster cafés, and the ride alone is worth the journey to the beach. The water is pretty rough and the waves are high, so it’s not ideal for kids (at least at the time that we were there).

Batu Bolong

This beach is definitely pretty crowded at the beginning, but once you pass the temple and the beach huts, you’ll find quieter spots. The whole west coast of Bali seems to be endless, and so is the beach. You can walk along the beach for hours – that’s why I loved Canggu so much. Just note that none of the beaches are your Instagram and Pinterest dream. However, even if they are not that pittoresque, they have a certain vibe, which I loved.

There are so many other amazing restaurants, accomodation and things to do in Canggu, and this guide is by far not complete, so please do let me know if you have anything to add. I am looking forward to going back there soon, and I would love to visit some new places next time I’m there.

*Disclaimer: The Jungle Room Bali invited for two nights, but we paid the full price for the other two nights of our stay. All opinions are my own. Always.

Merken

The post Healthy Bali Guide (Part 2) – Canggu: eco bungalow, healthy restaurants & warungs appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

Healthy Bali Guide (Part 1) – Uluwatu, Bingin & South Bali – Restautants, Eco Lodges & Health Spots

Lynn — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 06:30:24 +0000

If you follow me on Instagram (or read my blog thoroughly), then you’ve probably noticed that I have been travelling around Bali tthese past two weeks. It was an incredible experience, my first time really travelling in an Asian country, and it could not have been more perfect. This trip had been on my bucket list for years, and I do not even remember why I put it off for so long. Bali is the place to be if you love healthy food, being active, nature and meeting new friendly people (both Indonesian and Internationals). I fell deeply in love with the friendliness of the Balinese people, and have come to admire their take on life. In Bali, no one rushes, it seems like everyone is mindful of the present, not worrying about the future or the past. Mindfulness is one big word that is realyl being practiced in Bali. Since I’ve gotten so many request both during and after my trip, I decided to split my Bali experiences into three guides: Uluwatu & South Bali, Canguu and Ubud. This might seem quite a lot given that this is a food blog and not a travel blog, but Bali is THE island when it comes to healthy living, so everyone with a healthy mindset should read this and travel to Bali once in their lifetime.

Our travel route

The question that we got most often (and that we asked ourselves plenty of times before we booked anything) was where we stayed and where we did not go. After reading lots of blogs and travel guides, we decided to start our Bali trip in Uluwatu, more accurately in Bingin Beach, then head into the busier and trendier Canggu and then spend the final four days in Bali’s cultural centre Ubud. This route turned out to be the perfect mix for us, and I would definitely take this route again. The South of Bali is perfect for first-time visitors as it’s quieter, not crowded at all and also a great place to start riding on a scooter. If you’re looking more for nightlife and shops, then Seminyak or even Kuta would be your best option (not for me though), and if you’re into scuba diving or snorkeling you might want to take a look at North and East Bali. It all depends on your wishes and needs.

How to get around

Exploring Bali without a scooter is pretty much pointless. You will be missing out on a major part of the Bali culture – everyone drives a scooter! Neither Jannis nor me had ever ridden a scooter before, and we managed to get a hang of it within half a day. Starting your Bali trip in Uluwatu is perfect for first-time scooter-drivers, because the roads are almost empty and life is generoulsy more relaxed down there. However, if you’re leaving Uluwatu and you’re headed into Kuta or Seminyak, things can get pretty crazy on the streets. Switching to a cap when in the bigger cities is as advisable. Wearing a helmet should also be a no-brainer. Getting gas is also experience itself because it is sold on the street in empty vodka bottles, which cost about 80 Cents a liter.

The best sunset in South-Bali

The best sunset in Bali can be found in Uluwatu. Most people tingle to the Single Fin, the roof bar at Uluwatu Beach. However, I recommend going one flight of stairs down to the bar right underneath Single Fin, as it’s way less crowded and more down to earth than Single Fin. If you like party, load music and expensive drinks, then Single Fin is your place. We preferred the more laid-back atmosphere at the lower warung, where the real surfers end their days with a delicious Bintang.

Working out in Bali

The biggest sport in Bali is Yoga. There is a yoga studio on each corner, most accomodations have their own scheduled yoga classes and some even have yoga mats waiting for you in your room so you can do your own vinyasas. Since I need some sort of sweat-wrechning activity at least 3 to four times a week, I felt restless in the beginning. We tried going for a run once, but humidity and moscitoes had us turning around after about 15 minutes. Running on the beach was not an option either. So we did a mix between morning yoga workouts and afternoon YouTube HIIT videos, which was totally enough for the time in Bali. There are also many gyms in Bali, if you’re into weights or cross fit, so working out in Bali is not difficult.

Where to stay at Bingin Beach

Mu Bali

Mu Bali was our very first accomodation in Bali and it was definitely a lovely way to begin our special trip. We treated ourselves to the one and only cliff bungalow for two nights. It’s way over our student-budget, but I had always wanted to sleep in a cliff, so we decided to go all in and pay for the 170 Euros/night. The view from our bed was definitely priceless, but so was being woken up by monkeys stealing our toiletries. To my defense (and the monkey’s) we did arrive very late at night, and nobody had told us about the monkeys, and I totally forgot about them after traveling for more than 24 hours. So of course we left our toiletries in the open bathroom.

Because A) how amazing is an open bathroom and B) how amazing is an open bathroom – oh and C) monkeys???

So of course the monkeys stole our toothbrushes and Jannis’ lotion, but who can blame them. After all, it was us that invated their territory. The super friendly staff gave us slingshots to make noise (NOT to throw stones at them!), because otherwise you were never alone when you went to the bathroom.

I do not know if I would recommend staying at the Cliff Bungalow if you are scared of monkeys or insects, because unfortunately we did have ants in our bed the first night. The second night was fine, as we paid much more attention to the mosquito net. The view from the room was of course incredible, but I think I would stay in one of the other bungalows next time, which seemed more tranquil and monkey-free.

However, the breakfast was amazing, so was the staff and the infinity pool speaks for itself. Mu is definitely a beautiful place to stay, especially with kids, so I would recommend staying there (just not in the cliff).

The Temple Lodge

After two amazing nights at the cliff bungalow, we took our bags and headed to the Temple Lodge, the direct neighbor of My Bali.

I was especially looking forward to our time there, because I had been emailing with Ame, the manager, before and I had heard so many good things about the Lodge. And it was everything I had dreamed of. The Temple Lodge has its very own rustic charme, and the interior of all of the rooms is simply breathtaking. There is so much love to detail at this place, the staff is beyond friendly and the food was definitely the best we had in Bingin. Every morning you can chose from a selection of dishes, including (listen!!) pitaya oats, coconut oats, banana coconut pancakes or organic egg variations. They also serve the best lunch bowls, such as the quinoa bowl, whose goal it is, to cover all of your daily vitamin, mineral and trace elements needs. I couldn’t believe it. And you can choose one of their AMAZING juices to start your day right. The juice menu is anything but boring and includes delicious things like turmeric tonic, wheatgrass juice and many more.

The Temple Lodge is great for (almost) every budget. We picked the smallest and most affordable Papaya Suite, which was 90$/night including breakfast in the high season and 70$ in the low season. Honestly, the interior design, the tranquility and beauty of this place is priceless, and I wish we would have stayed longer.

We really fell in love with the Temple Lodge, lovely the piecefulness and the easy-going feeling of this place. Ame and his staff was always there whenever we needed something (which was not often, since everything was perfect). Unfortunately we never made it to dinner at the Temple Lodge because we were out and about, but the people we met could not stress enough how amazing it supposedly was. One couple even said that it was the best food in Uluwatu.

The Temple Lodge also includes a well-visited Yoga studio, with daily classes, for about 8 Euros per class, which are not covered with the room charge. I definitely recommend taking a yoga class with the male teacher (though I forgot his name) as his class was both challenging and relaxing. If you don’t want to participate in the class, you can of course take your yoga mat and do some vinyasas on your own. However, yoga at the Temple Lodge is not to be missed if you want to have the full Bingin experience.

Healthy eating in Uluwatu and Bingin Beach

Café Bukit

There are many Aussie-inspired restaurants in Bali, one of my favorite being Café Bukit. The Australian Bohemian cafe and restaurant has an extremely beautiful interior design and its perfect for when you’re feeling like something other than Asian food after a couple of days of Nasi Goreng. My boyfriend had a burger and I tried the delicious vegan pie, and we were not disappointed. Bukit also has a large list of delicious juices and raw vegan and gluten-free desserts.

The Cashew Tree

The Cashew Tree was our very first dinner experience in Bali. The place was rather busy and visited by both locals and older and younger tourists. It’s a close 5-minute walk from the Temple Lodge and Mu, and it serves delicious bowls, salads, as well as healthy Indonesian food. We tried the Soul Bowl and the grated beetroot salad, as well as the tempeh spring rolls. Everything was extremely delicious! They also have lots of raw desserts such as energy balls or healthy coconut or chocolate cake.

Muz Kitchen

If you’re going to Uluwatu temple or Uluwatu beach, then you will ultimately pass Muz Kitchen. If you do, stop immediately! This was one of our favorite restaurants near Uluwatu. It’s exactly what people mean when they tell you that there is a healthy restaurant behind every corner in Bali. My boyfriend was never so satsified after a meal, because Muz managed to make him full until he could no longer take a bite of anything (that rarely happens.). I can defintely recomend the Muz Nasi Goreng and the super delicious curry, which comes with so many goodies. The portions are very generous, the prices are definitely ok, many items are vegan, gluten-free and refined sugar free. What’s also noteworthy is the little hotel and holistic Spa attached to Muz Kitchen. It looked heavenly as was so quiet and tranquil.

Kelly’s Warung

We spent our very last hours at Bingin at Kelly’s Warung drinking spirulina smoothies and watching the surfer’s conquer the waves of the stormy day. It is probably the most expensive Warung on Bingin Beach, but it definitely sells the best smoothies and pitaya bowls.

Warung Bingin Ombak

Warung Bingin Ombak is one of the affordable warungs at Bingin Beach, and definitely my recommendation for a delicious lunch or easy-going dinner. When we had dinner here, I totally fell in love with Bingin and its easy-going vibes. If you vacation in Spain, then you dress up all fancy for dinner, and if you vacation at Bingin, you simply dine in your beach clothes and eat barefoot or with sand on your feet. I had a delicious Mie Goreng at Warung Bingin Ombak, and Jannis ate a (not so healthy) burger.

Beaches in South-Bali

Bali beaches are not what you see on Instagram. I knew this before I booked the flight, so I was not disappointed at all. Quite the opposite actually – I really liked the beaches in Bali. They have their own flair, their own life and the view from beaches such as Bingin or Uluwatu is simply beautiful. Since it was my first time in Asia, I was blown away by the high cliffs that souround some of the beaches. We never really spent an entire day at the beach, because either the weather turned or we wanted to explore the island (which was mostly the case).

Bingin Beach

Bingin Beach was by far my favorite beach in Bali. Not because of its white coral sand, but because of its vibe. To get to the beach, you must first climb down over 100 steps, which clearly scares of many tourists. It makes Bingin nicely empty and secluded, and you can simply enjoy watching the surfers in the waves or the dogs in the sand. At night, you could almost say that there is some sort of “beachy nightlife”, because most Warungs put tables and chairs into the sand and offer freshly caught fish. We shared a 10 Euro whole tuna, which was beyond delicious. You can watch the fishermen catch the fish in the knee-deep water, their light eyes on, which makes the whole ocean glow in the dark. Even if you do not eat fish, you can still enjoy a Nasi or Mie Goreng or even a tempeh burger while listening to subtle music.

Balangan Beach

Balangan is more of a beach like you would expect. The sand is clear, the water is blue, you can rent sunbeds and there are several Warungs that offer local foods. This is where I had my very first young coconut (during my Bali trip) and one of the best Nasi Gorengs with brown rice, too.

Uluwatu Beach

Uluwatu is not really a beach to spend a day at. It’s definitely THE surfer-hotspot in Bali, but a) it’s quite touristy and b) the waves are the most challenging in Bali. What’s fun about this beach is that the fun actually takes place in the cliff above, where many shops and restaurants are located.

Padang-Padang

This beach became popular through “Eat. Pray. Love”, and is one of the major tourist attractions in Uluwatu. In my opinion, you can definitely skip this beach, because it is always crowded, but too small for the crowds. Yes, the water is beautiful and there are less waves than on other beaches, but you will never find piece and quiet here. I do not think it’s worth the hike.

Sites: Uluwatu Temple

I have to admit that I am not good and visiting sites. I’m more of the “experience a culture through talking to the locals” kind of person. If you want to know all about Bali’s sites, a Bali travel guide will definitely be of much more use than this healthy Bali guide. The real attraction at Uluwatu Temple are the tourists, who simply disregard the safety measurements that are written literally every 5 metres once you enter the Temple area: put away your hats, sunglasses, iPhones, cameras and selfie-sticks. The reason: in Uluwatu and other parts of Bali, the “monkey mafia” has taken over some sites. The monkey mafia steals the valuables mentioned above in the hope for an exchange into eatables.

Excuse me, but how clever are those monkeys?

So I spent most of my time at Uluwatu temple watching the monkeys steal the tourists sunglasses, and then stealing their iPhones when they tried to take a picture of the monkey with their pair of sunglasses… nough said I guess.

Finally, some general tips and recommendations:

If you’re sugar-free like me, be sure to ask for “no sugar added” in restaurants. The Balinese like it sweet!
The money can be quite confusing, so double check before you pay cash – a 10,000 and a 100,000 bill can easily be confused.
Don’t plan too much – the best days were always the ones that we did not plan through.
Learn a little bit of Bahasa or Indonesian. A simple “Terikma Kasihh” or “Suksama” (Bahasa) will be returned with the biggest smile.
Do not only eat in expensive Aussie-run health spots. There are amazing Warungs run by locals who also have pitaya bowls and superfood smoothies.
Enjoy the Bali-life! It’s the best!

My first Healthy Bali Guide has come to an end. I hope that you will find some of the information helpful, and I would love to know if you have other recommendations for Uluwatu and South Bali. There will also be a guide part 2 and 3 (Canggu and Uluwatu) in the next couple of weeks.

Have you used this guide or do you have anything to add? I would love to hear about it in the comments below!

Merken

The post Healthy Bali Guide (Part 1) – Uluwatu, Bingin & South Bali – Restautants, Eco Lodges & Health Spots appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

Healthy Eating in Paris – Health Spots, Cafés and Restaurants

Lynn — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 07:19:04 +0000

This post is long overdue, you guys. Seriously overdue, as we were in Paris last June. So I had to check if the places I was going to mention in this post actually still existed. They did, thankfully. I guess life just happened and food post were more appealing to you, so that’s why it took me so long to write this travel post.

So, we were in Paris. And we loved it so much. I had been there before a couple of years ago, but only for a day due to a delayed flight, so this was truly my first real Paris experience. We were lucky to stay with two of my friends back from college, who are are French and have the cutest apartment in the 17th arrondissement. Unfortunately they had to go to a wedding the weekend we were there, but we managed to have dinner the day before they left and they kindly had us stay in their flat while they were gone for the weekend.

So we really had a true Paris experience and sort of felt like locals, if only for a few days. Not like we looked anything like those fashionable French people, but hey, we tried. Also, even if this post is called “healthy eating in Paris”, don’t think for a second that we only ate healthy while we were in the French capital. Oh no, there was lots of baguette, red wine, and cheese. But I was nevertheless amazed by the healthy food spots in this magical city. Here are my favorite places for healthy eating in Paris:

Wild & the Moon – raw café with extraordinary flair

I think Wild & the Moon was my favorite spot in Paris. It is one of those super hipster cafés, but it is just absolutely beautiful inside and outside. Just take a look at the pictures, they say it all. I especially loved the industrial interior combined with all the green plants. The food is mostly raw, but you can get salads, juices, smoothies, raw desserts and special drinks such as turmeric lattes. Definitely worth a visit!

Season – your typical health spot with smoothies, sandwiches and salads

Season is a great place to grab a healthy and wholesome lunch in Paris. I also loved its location on a beautiful little “place”. It’s interior is a mix of marble, white tiles and rustic chairs – so it absolutely hit my taste. They also had extremely delicious salads and burritos (even gluten-free ones). I think this place falls in second.

Café Pinson – cute organic café / juice bar / restaurant in the Marais

We stopped by Café Pinson right before we went to see a musical, so we only had a crumble and tried two different juices. I loved the interior in this cute café, with the stone walls and mix of various patterns and styles. Café Pinson serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you can literally stop by any time of the day.

Juice Lab – small juice bar in the Marais

Juice Lab is not a place to hang out, but it is perfect for a quick vitamin stop before climbing the stairs to Sacre Coer. We tried two different juices (I had one with carrots, ginger, turmeric and apple cider – obviously) and Jannis went for some green juice mix. Very delicious! They also sell my favorite Ombar chocolate, so that was another reason why I loved Juice Lab.

Le Stand and Corossol – Marché des Entfants Rouches

Le Marché des Entfants Rouches is a rather small market with various food stands from vegetarian, to oriental, Caribbean and typical French food and wine – you’ll find something for every taste here. We just browsed through as we weren’t hungry, but “Le Stand” with its vegetarian and vegan food looked amazing, and so did the colorful Corossol.

Do not be scared if you see the entrance of the market. I think it has three different ones, and the other ones look at lot more welcoming.

Places we want to visit on our next trip:

Uma Mi – Matcha Café

Health Inside – cute little restaurant in Le Marais.

My Paris tip:

Stay away from the touristy falafel places in Le Marais – most of them are called something like Falafel King or Falafel Paradise. We made the mistake of going into one of those places (to our defense we have to say that it was raining cats and dogs, and we needed to find shelter quickly). It was our saddest food experience in Paris as it is stuffed with people, and your falafel are served on plastic plates. No, this wasn’t for us.

Where to stay:

We stayed at a friend’s place, so we did not have to worry about that. The apartment was in the 19th arrondissement, which felt like the best place to stay at. The Eiffel and Tower and the Arc de Triomphe were reachable in walking distance, and so were many restaurants, boutiques, parks and cafés. Otherwise I would suggest staying in Le Marais.

Running in Paris:

Wherever we go, the first morning we usually spend exploring the surroundings of our accommodation running. It’s the best way to establish a basic feeling of your surroundings and get to know the city a little better. We lived close to the “Parc Monceau”, a small park near Arc de Triomphe. Every morning, this park was a lovely place to start the day in, surrounded by other joggers, fitness groups and personal trainers. The park is rather small so the first morning, we ran to the Eiffel Tour, to check that off our list. It was a proper way to start the day in Paris, that’s for sure.

Now you: do you have any other tips for delicious and healthy restaurants, cafés, or health spots in Paris? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

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