This journey unfolded like a rhythm — beginning with birthday candles and leading to crater lakes, moving from jungle lullabies to beach sunsets. As we traveled across Java and Bali, our group of five multi-nationals carved 18 days of memory. Along the way, we rode fast trains, witnessed temple dances, and laughed on motorbikes beneath waterfall light. In the end, this was travel uninterrupted — and joy, preserved.
West Java
Day 1: Heathrow to Jakarta, a beautiful beginning
In the beginning, it was just me and my dear Italian husband, boarding our flight from Heathrow. But this wasn’t just a departure — it was a carefully choreographed reunion. In Singapore, my brother-in-law would join us, flying in from Milan on the same airline carrier.
We’d timed our transits to meet mid-journey and board the connecting flight together — his first trip to Asia, and we are very excited for him!
Day 2: Jakarta to Bandung, speed and sentiment
We arrived in Jakarta and hopped into a Grab — the country’s go-to ride app — heading straight to Halim Perdanakusumah station.
From there, the new Whoosh train whisked us to Bandung in under an hour. It felt like time folded in on itself. Waiting in Bandung: my mum, radiant and ready for the days ahead.
Day 3: A full house for Mum’s 70th
This day was hers — a celebration of seven decades wrapped in love and tradition. Her siblings, lifelong friends, my sibling and their family, our neighbours, and even my own friends gathered in Bandung. The house was full, the laughter louder.
We feasted on Nasi Tumpeng, a cone of turmeric rice surrounded by vibrant side dishes, and her favourite cake from Rasa Bakery & Cake, one of Bandung’s oldest and most beloved bakeries.
It wasn’t just a birthday — it was a festival of memory.
Day 4: Rumah Mode & Warung Nasi Padang
With hearts full and spirits high, we headed to Rumah Mode, Bandung’s iconic factory outlet. Between racks of linen and batik, we found pieces that felt like souvenirs of the soul.
At the food court, we sipped real coffee — the kind Italians nod at approvingly. And as our thirst refreshed, so did our wardrobe.
That evening, we dined at Warung Padang Sederhana, near Gedung Sate, Bandung’s architectural icon. The spices, the setting, the slow drive back — it was the perfect close to a day of quiet indulgence.
Central Java
Day 5: Scenic Passage & Ramayana Ballet
We woke up early and boarded the Argo Willis Panoramic train — eight hours of cinematic views, where rice fields and misty hills blurred into memory.
That evening, we hailed two becak, headed to Purawisata Amphitheatre for dinner and a show. The buffet offered both traditional and international dishes, and the Ramayana ballet was dynamic and unforgettable.
Mum was first to grab a selfie with Hanoman — joy in motion.
Day 6: Borobudur & Mie Jawa
We rose before dawn for our Borobudur structural visit, booked moths in advance. It’s a two-hour drive from downtown, so planning ahead is key, we also booked our transfer in advance via Traveloka.
Our official guide was both informative and entertaining, bringing the ancient stupas to life. We had to use special footwear to enter the structure, but we can bring them home with us, souvenir done 🙂
Afterward, we lunched with extended family and paused at Suara Dewandaru Coffee Shop — a quiet caffeine break with character. Dinner was at Bakmi Jawa Mbah Gito, where the noodles tasted like home and tradition.
Day 7: Slow Wanders & Prambanan
We slowed down. A leisurely breakfast at Hotel Jambuluwuk — hot dishes, local fruits, and quiet joy. Then a walk through alleyways to Pasar Beringharjo for souvenirs, followed by gudeg at Warung Bu Lies on Jalan Wijilan — sweet, earthy, unforgettable.
From there, we hailed a Grab and headed to Prambanan Temple, where stone silhouettes danced in the afternoon light. After a quick refresh back at the hotel, we dressed for our farewell dinner at Bale Raos — a royal culinary send-off with sultan-level service.
Day 8: Depart to Bali, Transition and Reflection
No grand itinerary today — just packing, reflecting, and moving on to the next leg. Yogyakarta gave us temples, theatre, and tenderness. It was a chapter of movement and meaning.
North Bali
Day 9: Mist, Mud, and Seven Waterfalls
We woke up to the sound of rain — not a drizzle, but a sky-wide downpour that refused to pause. The mist outside our mountain hut was thick as memory, curling around the valley like a secret. Breakfast was quiet, hopeful. We waited for the rain to soften, but it didn’t. So we layered ponchos over damp resolve, slipped into mountain sandals, and stepped into the wet. No maps, no trail apps, just verbal directions and a winding tarmac road that led us into the unknown.
The trek was slippery, steep, and soaked in sound — water from the sky, water rushing through streams, and finally, the Red Coral Waterfall itself, roaring louder than the rain. My brother-in-law fell on wet mud. My husband slipped on mossy tarmac a good while ago. We laughed, cautiously continue our journey.
At a local warung, we found a hand-drawn map — cryptic, no scale, but it led us to six more waterfalls, each one demanding descent and ascent, each one louder than the last. We paid in cash where needed, grateful we packed it. By the time we reached Munduk village, we were soaked, hungry, and full of awe. Urap and warm rice filled our bellies. The warung owner phoned a local driver to take us back to the hut, where a hot bath and jungle sounds wrapped the day in softness.
That night, we shared our stories with Mum, who had spent the day reading in the quiet — her own kind of trek.
Day 10: Canoes, Temples, and Gentle Rhythm
We opted a gentler path for the day — one Mum could walk with us. The Tamblingan Lake Jungle Trek was quiet, shaded, and rich with story. Our guide, patient and poetic, led us through forest trails to two lakeside temples. We crossed the lake in a double canoe, the water still and reflective, the silence deep. It was a half-day of soft movement, sacred pauses, and shared breath.
Back at the hut, Mum and I lingered on the balcony, the jungle humming around us. A massage followed — warm oil, slow hands, and the sound of crickets rising like a lullaby. The boys went off to Tutub Waterfall, just next door, chasing one last descent. We reunited over dinner, sharing stories again, this time with less mud and more grace.
Day 11: Farewell to the Wet Side
Our last morning in Munduk was quiet. The rain had softened, but the mist remained — a final veil over the valley. Breakfast was slow, reflective. We packed gently, said goodbye to the jungle sounds, and took our transfer to East Bali. The wet side of the island had given us waterfalls, slips, laughter, and stillness. It was time to move again.
East Bali
Day 12: Sidemen’s Rice Fields and Mother Temple
Instead of jungle mist, I woke to a sea of green in Sidemen — rice fields stretching wide beneath our suite in Sidemen. Mum and I shared a quiet morning: slow breakfast, plunge pool dips, and gentle conversation. The boys wandered off into the fields, chasing terraces and stories. After yesterday’s long transfer from Munduk, this pause felt earned.
In the afternoon, we booked a car and traced the road to Besakih Temple — Bali’s mother temple. Its stone steps and layered shrines held centuries of prayer. Tukad Cepung Waterfall followed, hidden in a cave where light pierced through like a blessing. The day moved from stillness to sacred, from green to stone to water.
Day 13: Bias Tugel and the Return to Sea
We started early, tracing the coast with a driver. Goa Lawah Temple was our first stop — quiet, bat-filled, and ancient. But the heart of the day was Bias Tugel Beach, my favorite beach in Bali. It had been nearly a decade since I last stood on its white sand. The road in had changed — blocked now, no longer the open hill with sea views at every turn. But the final path remained: a dirt trail through thick bush, the ocean whispering beside us.
Bias Tugel was just as I remembered — no loud music, just waves and warungs, elderly women offering massages and souvenirs. We swam, sunbathed, and ate lunch with salt still on our skin. Later, we wandered through Taman Ujung Water Palace, its bridges and pools echoing with quiet grandeur. But it was the beach that stayed with me — our first real pause by the sea.
Day 14: Crossing to Nusa Lembongan
We said goodbye to Sidemen and to Mum, who stayed behind in Sanur for shopping and a reunion with her friend from Java. The boys and I boarded our ferry to Nusa Lembongan. The sea was swelling — not dangerous, but insistent. I wished the crossing were shorter.
We arrived wet footed — no jetty, just surf. The ferry dropped us into the sea, luggage passed overhead like offerings. A golf cart from the hotel rolled us through sandy paths until Dream Beach appeared, wide and waiting. Our room faced the ocean directly, the waves constant and grounding.
We swam, we lounged, we let the salt settle into our skin. Dinner was nearby, simple and satisfying. After days of movement, we had finally arrived at the edge of stillness.
Nusa Lembongan
Day 15: Wheel, Water and Wave-Laced Rest
We rented motorbikes for the day — just one day, but it opened the island wide. We rode through narrow paths, crossed the yellow bridge into Nusa Ceningan, and let the wind carry us past cliff edges and quiet warungs. The mangrove forest called next: a slow boat through tangled roots and filtered light, the water still and reflective.
By afternoon, we were back at Dream Beach, letting the salt settle into our skin. Pool, sea, sun — the rhythm was gentle. I closed the day with a massage, the sound of waves in the background like a lullaby. The island had moved, and so had we — softly, intentionally, with just enough speed to feel free.
Day 16: Goodbye to the Island
We packed slowly, reluctant to leave. The motorbikes returned, the sea waiting. The ferry back to Sanur was calmer, but the goodbye still lingered. Lembongan had given us salt, speed, and softness. We arrived in Jimbaran by evening, just in time for seafood by the shore — but the island stayed with us, in our rhythm and in the way we walked a little slower.
After the sea-soaked farewell to Lembongan, we arrived in Jimbaran and reunited with Mum and her friend. The evening unfolded on the beach — grilled seafood, sambal, and Balinese white wine that surprised us with its charm. The sunset painted everything gold. We walked there by sand, returned by land, the sea still whispering behind us.
South Bali
Day 17: Stone Giants and Sunset Fire
We began the day slowly, we had slow breakfast and lounge by the infinity pool. After lunch, we head out to Garuda Wisnu Kencana — towering statues carved into limestone, myth and monument fused into sky. The scale was immense, the silence humbling. From there, we drove straight to Uluwatu Temple, perched high above the sea, where cliffs met chants and the horizon burned gold.
The Kecak Dance began at sunset — fire, rhythm, and shadow. The ocean roared below, echoing the trance. Afterward, we walked to a nearby café for our last supper: grilled seafood, quiet laughter, and the kind of fullness that comes from both food and farewell. The night closed gently, the journey nearly complete.
Day 18: The Last Light
Our final day in Bali unfolded like a soft exhale. No temples, no transfers, no plans — just the pool, the sun, and the quiet stretch of time. We packed slowly, letting each fold carry memory. The air was still, the light golden. We didn’t rush.
Goodbyes came in waves. Mum left first. We had our final transfer — Jimbaran to the airport — a ride that felt both familiar and final. The journey had been long, layered, and interrupted in all the right ways. We held space for it, together.
We flew — back to the UK, to Milan, to wherever life resumed. But something stayed behind. Or maybe something came with us: a rhythm, a softness, a truth shaped by movement. The journey wasn’t just a route. It was a remembering.
Logistics
| Hotel | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jambuluwuk Malioboro Hotel | Yogyakarta | Away from busy road |
| Gumi Ayu Ecostay | Munduk | Full jungle vibe |
| Abian Ayu Villa | Sidemen | Sleep in rice field |
| Dream Beach Huts | Nusa Lembongan | Beachfront |
| Fox Hotel Jimbaran Beach Hotel | Jimbaran | Close to airport |
| Restaurant | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RM Sederhana | Bandung | Try Nasi Rendang with veggie curry |
| Suara Dewandaru Coffee | Kaliurang | Quiet space with excellent coffee |
| Bakmi Jawa Mbah Gito | Yogyakarta | Javanese noodle in quirky setup |
| Gudeg Wijilan | Yogyakarta | Head over to Wijilan street, and try Gudeg |
| Muaya Beach Cafe Area | Jimbaran | Best value seafood by the beach in Jimbaran, the most famous place is Menega Cafe, but you can choose from many here. |
| Dapur Kecil Lembongan | Nusa Lembongan | Authentic Indonesian food warung, no fuss, probably more lunch place. |
| Location | Activity Highlights | Link to Story |
|---|---|---|
| Yogyakarta | Ramayana ballet, Borobudur and Prambanan | [read more] |
| Munduk | Munduk waterfall and Tamblingan lake | [read more] |
| Sidemen | Rice field walk, Besakih and Bias Tugel Beach | [read more] |
| Nusa Lembongan | Motorbike ride and mangrove tour | [read more] |
| Jimbaran | Uluwatu Kecak dance and Seafood dinner | [read more] |
| Method | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grab App | Java | Reliable, affordable, easy to use |
| Becak | Java (Yogyakarta) | Nice and breezy in the evening |
| Private Driver | Java (day trip), Bali | Booked via hotel or Traveloka, flexible routes |
| Motorbike | Nusa Lembongan | Rent for freedom, cross to Ceningan |
| Ferry | Sanur <=> Nusa Lembongan | Wet landing, book in advance |
