Heyy Beautiful!

Can you believe it’s already March? It feels like just yesterday we were ushering in 2018 with all the New Years eve festivities!

Ok so I am guilty of not making enough time for blogging. Truth be told, inspiration is hard to hit when you don’t blog full time. You always have so much going on, with a full time job, home, friends, spirituality, self care etc out of many things, so blogging takes a back seat. But anyhooooooo, I wanted to talk about the last couple of days of my Bali trip today as I know some of you have been waiting for the last blog post of the Bali Bliss series. So without further ado, lets begin! 🙂

Day 5

After a couple of drinks at Finns on day 4, you would think waking up with a hangover would be normal and expected. But no. That didn’t happen. Apparently Bali made me a different person. I was up early for yoga at 8:30 with Jenny again. I had loved my first session so I was really looking forward to my second (and last) in Bali. After yoga, I was sure to walk up to Jenny to thank her for introducing me to her Yoga practice. I told her I wanted to delve deeper when I got home and asked her if she had any advice for me. What she told me next is what I will always remember. She said Yoga changed her life. It made her calmer, more grounded and more approachable. She advised me that if I was to take up learning yoga, I must find a good teacher who knows this ancient practice to its core. Wise words Jenny, wise words!  #noted.

The rest of the day was fairly easy going. I had breakfast with the ladies and lazed around the pool, sunbathing. I remember feeling like my body was just exhausted, so much so that I had to nap after my aromatherapy massage. How could that be when I was living in such luxury? In hindsight, my body was releasing all the stress it was probably holding onto for far too long. Healing and cleansing are exhausting haha. 😉

This was also the night when I remember having the most beautiful dinner gathering with the ladies. Everyone had gotten to know each other by this time, and were comfortably and openly sharing their life stories. It was this night that I realised how much I missed having close soul sisters in my life. We all shared what we were hoping to change in our lives after going home from Bali. A conversation like that is something you cannot buy in hotels. Its just so beautiful and precious.

Day 6

This was my last full day in Bali as I was leaving the following day. Waking up with my heart so full from the previous night’s dinner chat and laughs with the ladies, I could not believe this was my LIFE! How lucky am I? 🙂

I had plans to visit Ubud on this day so as per instructions from my hostess, I was up bright and early ready to be picked up for 7:30 drive to the Tirtha Empul temple. Ketut was waiting for me at the door with the car ready to drive me around Ubud and back. I must admit I felt a little sad knowing this was my last day in Bali and knew I wanted to make the most of it. I had been waiting the whole time to visit Ubud so my excitement was quite noticeable.

After an hour or so drive, we were driving in to the Holy Tirtha Empul temple to experience a purification ritual. Ketut was amazing and he guided me throughout this experience, telling me stories of his family, the Balinese people, their daily rituals, temple rules etc. If I could point out one thing that takes travel to that “next” level, is interaction with the locals. You don’t know the place you’re visiting until you talk (and even better stay) with the locals. 🙂 Immersing myself in the holy waters, I could feel why the locals visited this particular temple in Bali so often. You could definitely feel the purification vortex energy of Bali here very strongly. This place can bring out a lot of emotions in some people, especially empaths who can feel the vibes around this temple quite strongly. Truly a surreal experience, something I will cherish for the rest of my life.

After the temple, we drove over to Gianyar and on the way stopped by to check out the Tegalalang Rice terraces. Taking the photo at the Rice terraces (see below) was a bucket list moment for me. I didn’t realise this until a few days after leaving Bali and being home in Melbourne, that I had the same photo of the same place on my Instagram a couple of years ago. How freaky. My life is truly full of amazing synchronicities. I couldn’t believe I had manifested this in my reality so successfully without even really trying.

Rice terraces were amazing but then it was time for POOOOOOP COFFFEEEEEE. Yeah never thought I would say that, but here I am trying coffee pooped out by the exotic Luwaks. The tasting of the different tea flavours along with the 2 x coffees was quite memorable. Truth is I love coffee. And poop coffee is no different. I loved it.. 😀

After the coffee section of the trip, we stopped by a wood carving factory, where I purchased my new carved tantric couple statue – which sits on my bedroom side table comfortably now. The Balinese are truly artistic. And art is everywhere you look. We stopped by an Art Gallery and a Jewellery store as well, both amazing places to visit.

Post shopping as you would have guessed it, I was craving food. Ketut dropped me off to this scenic restaurant where I was able to sit out in the sun, looking out to the breathtaking view and satisfy my pizza cravings. Looking back at the pictures, I truly miss the Balinese sun and its tropical climate. Melbourne, you are just too cold. 😦

After lunch, it was time for more shopping at the very popular UBUD markets. Driving through the jungles of Ubud is a great feeling, the scenery is amazing to gaze at, however the roads and driving can be very tough, especially for the western drivers who may not be used to the haphazard driving ways. Since the traffic is always crazy in the central Ubud area, Ketut dropped me off at the square near the market so I could use some time to explore the area. It was obviously quite hot by this point in the day so I was feeling the heat exhaustion. Regardless, I explored the area and shopped at the markets which sell some really cheap artsy merchandise, clothing etc. Is there anything more colourful and fun than a bustling Asian city market? Methinks no. In hindsight, I wish I spent some more time in Ubud as there seemed to be some really good boutiques, stores, vegan and veg restaurants that unfortunately I didn’t have enough time to enjoy.

I knew Ketut was picking me up from a designated spot after I was done with the exploration of the area so I waited for him as he had instructed. Funny but I decided to wait where there were some policemen manning the traffic. I remember one of them taking an interest in me and flirting with me all the while I waited for Ketut to drive by. Anyway to his despair, my driver was here soon enough and I had to get in the car and leave him. Haha.

The drive back to the Villa was a long one and quite a sad one, knowing this was it, that I would be going home the next day and leaving the amazingly beautiful Bali. As they say, All Good Things Come To An End? 😦

Getting to the villa, as the staff always exceeded my expectations, a 3 hour treatment session was already planned for me. In reality, the hot stone massage I went for, for the 2nd time I think, felt like the best thing ever. I mean. Imagine the sun setting. Your body aching from walking, shopping and sight seeing all day. The soothing music. The gentle warm Bali breeze. And a relaxing massage. Hmmmmm, nothing better. Post massage it was dinner time with the ladies.

Since I was leaving the next day, I also ended up drawing my experience at Bliss by creating some ‘amateur’ art for the Villa. I took a drawing book/paper/colour pens etc back to my room and just drew for a while. I then spent some time reflecting on the last 6 days. I also journaled what I wanted to do differently once I got home and free wrote the lessons I felt I had learnt from my stay in Bali. Then I was off to sleep.

Day 7

It was time to leave Bliss and Bali. Waking up, I was immensely sad but also, full of love and gratitude towards this once-in-a-lifetime experience that the Universe had sent my way. I reflected on everything from the last 6 days in my morning meditation, all the clarity and healing I had received from my stay here. It was time to leave so I packed my bags and got them ready for departure from the Villa. But it’s not without one last massage and treatment. I opted for a warm hair treatment that would relax my nerves before the flight and another Aromatherapy massage. I don’t think I need to mention; I couldn’t pass on Banana pancakes one last time before leaving and then it was time for goodbyes, hugs and kisses. The beautiful staff do become like your family after 7 days, so much so, that they even made me some lunch for the flight home (something I thought was an amazing touch to the Bliss experience, always going above and beyond till the end. The Nasi Goreng tasted sooooo good, I even finished the food on my way to the airport. Patience, what is that? Haha) 😀

Within an hour or so drive, I was at the Denpasar Airport on my way home with nothing but love in my heart for Bali and the Balinese people. I cannot wait to go back someday, some places just feel like home.

And with this post, my 6 part blog series on Bali and Bliss Sanctuary comes to an end. I hope you enjoyed reading these posts and hope it has encouraged women who may be reading to check out Bali and travel to Bali even if it’s solo.

Love you all,

Until next time,

Upasana xo

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Check out the full Bali series here:

• Part 1  – Why I travelled to Bali.
• Part 2 – Bliss Sanctuary Bali
• Part 3 – Living on Island Time.
• Part 4 – Playing tourist
• Part 5 – To Heal or To Not Heal?
• Part 6 – I Love You Bali, Goodbye and Thank You.