Boats, beaches, bracelets, and birthdays -- our latest Live Free stop to Bali, Indonesia truly had it all! This was just our third time venturing outside of the US, and the stunning coast, lush greenery, and rich culture exceeded all of our expectations. 🌺
This trip, we were joined by Alex Spidle, Julia Hayes, Colin Duthie, Jared Janota, Sara Bridgers and Blaine Musca (our birthday babe!!) Together, we adventured by ATV, boat, and scooter through beautiful towns and villages like Uluwatu, Ubud, Nusa Penida, and Jimbaran (where we stayed.)
To recap our travels, we asked our guests a few questions about their favorite moments from our time together:
Favorite food to feast on in Bali?
Alex: I specifically loved a place in Uluwatu called Pok Pok. I had the chicken soup and mango sticky rice... both healed my soul!
Julia: my favorite food was cooked by a sweet local Balinese woman. She made us a massive spread with chicken, local veggies, vibrant fruits, and not to forget the amazing fish they had caught that day! I’ve never eaten food so tender and equally flavorful; it was clearly made with love and celebration. Not only was the dinner good, but it was for Blaine’s birthday which made it all the more special!Funniest memory made on the trip?
Sara: Ugh so hard to pick just one - I think my funniest memory was when we went to the monkey forest and the monkey jumped on my head and started looking through my hair. The monkeys were WILD and it was just so funny to see them interact with everyone at the forest. 🐒
Alex: Blaine and I were walking on the beach when a cute dog started following us, we gave him some pets and then he started to get a little squirrel-y. He tried gnawing on Blaine and wouldn’t stop so I had to hold onto him while she got away, I guess she was looking appetizing to him.Bali must-dos if you ever make it back?
Alex: Visiting the waterfalls in Ubud! We saw some but there’s definitely some more I’d like to explore!
Sara: Definitely island hopping! I loved visiting Nusa Penida and would love to visit more of the islands off mainland Bali! 🏝️One piece of advice for someone booking a trip to Bali?
Sara: Pack for ADVENTURE! We basically wore swimsuits and workout outfits everywhere.
Alex: 1. Adaptability! Traveling requires you to shed your expectations/ ego and just experience wholeheartedly. You also need to have a positive outlook -- stuff happens and you can roll with the punches or you can sit and mope. It's all about perspective!What are your top 3 green-flags when choosing your travel buddies?
Sara: 1. Go with the flow - someone who can be adaptable when plans change
2. Planner friends! As a planner I love when my travel buddies also help plan and take charge.
3. Someone who has a positive attitude! Outlook is everything when you are traveling.Your packing list must have?
Alex: I have a travel pack I bring everywhere with me, consisting of Loop silencing earplugs, Tylenol, hand sanitizer, tums, an eye mask, eye drops, tissues, hair ties and ginger chews.However if you dropped me on an island, I would need my Sony camera, she stays attached to my body!
Sara: Portable charger!! In Bali, you need your phone to book mopeds so make sure you always have some charge on hand. 🔋Which corner of the world will Live Free explore next? Stay tuned to find out, but in the meantime, you can see the total cost of our trip broken out below to help you plot your next Indonesian adventure. ✈️
