Our two months living in Canggu Bali was a real dream come true filled with wonderful experiences and beautiful memories shared together with my boyfriend.
From the comfort of our gorgeous villa Casa Cherish and lapping up all the delicious food at Canggu’s top foodie spots, to weekly surf sessions on Echo Beach and exploring the most breathtaking landscapes the island has to offer, every second of Bali was like a scene from a movie.
So here is the highlight reel of our eight weeks in paradise, a concise mashup of cinematic clips to summarise our truly awesome time living there – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YchfgNSISB8
Like the moon, let each phase of life teach you the beauty of change ❤
It was always going to be a tough farewell to our dream life in Bali after two months living in pure paradise. However the unexpected horror that unfolded in our final week when I was attacked and bitten by a pack of dogs, was something I never imagined might happen to us on our favourite beach in Canggu. One minute we were strolling by the shore at sunset, the next a huge pack of stray dogs were running and barking at us before proceeding to bite my legs. Thankfully I got away from a terrifying situation which could’ve got a lot worse, but I was left with very painful wounds and unable to walk properly for our final few days in Bali.
Nonetheless, I didn’t let that spoil the many wonderful memories we had already made and decided to embrace a more slow pace, relaxing final weekend soaking up stunning sunsets and savouring the most delicious food back at our favourite cafes, restaurants and beach clubs one final time. And whilst this wasn’t the fairytale ending to our perfect time living in Bali, I’m so grateful for my healthy body which has kept me strong, fought diseases and heeled my wounds like magic. Checkout the full vlog on my YouTube channel here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4DKxzlwZeY
Happy Sunday from a beautiful spring summer day in Hampshire. We landed back in the UK on Thursday following a two day stopover in Singapore to see my brother and his family. We had a wonderful time exploring the city and spending quality time with my family which was very much needed, following a very unlucky and terrifying incident which took place during our final week in Bali…
On Wednesday 26th February, I was attacked by a pack of approximately 20 dogs on Batu Bolong Beach at sunset and bitten three times on the calves of my legs. Thankfully I managed to limp away and we got to a hospital to get my legs stitched up and the necessary vaccinations. We are still shocked at this incident which was unprovoked and caught us completely by surprise, but it’s opened our eyes to the ongoing issues they have with the stray dogs in Bali.
In spite of the dog incident, nothing can takeaway from the awesome two months we spent in Bali and the incredible memories we made there. I suppose I can be grateful that this did happen in the final week of our trip so we didn’t have to sacrifice any planned activities and didn’t have to cut our stay short either.
It was very inconvenient to not be able to walk properly for those final days in Canggu and we spent a lot of time at the hospital getting my treatment following the attack, but we didn’t let that stop us enjoying our favourite cafes, beach clubs and restaurants during our last weekend on the island.
On Monday 3rd March we checked out of our gorgeous Villa Casa Cherish and took a short flight over to Singapore for our two day stopover with family. I will share more about our few days exploring Singapore in next week’s post and there will be a Singapore Vlog over on my YouTube channel soon too – https://youtube.com/@danianeka6142?si=4QX_kc38umVrcCvH
So whilst our two month stay in Bali ended on an upsetting note, it doesn’t taint the dream experience we had of living on the island of paradise for two months.
From the fun surf sessions and breathtaking sunsets, to the delicious foodie scene and lovely locals, Bali will always hold a special place in our hearts ❤
And so we find ourselves commencing the final week of our time here in Canggu. I knew the few months we are here would fly by and it definitely has, but it also feels like we’ve been here forever and its become a place we call home.
We’ve certainly made the most of this adventure and experienced the very best that Bali has to offer.
From exciting day trips to see the most breathtaking natural beauty at Leke Leke Waterfall,
and trekking around the luscious green jungle at Teglalang Rice Terrace in Ubud,
to working from the many gorgeously aesthetic cafes,
serving the most delicious healthy vegan food,
and scooting down to watch sunset on the iconic Echo Beach.
I have an extensive list of our favourite cafes, restaurants, bars and beach clubs, so I’ll have to do a future blog post on my personal recommendations for if you’re visiting Canggu too.
But for now we have a whole week ahead of us to enjoy and soak up every moment of the blissful Bali life before we return to the UK via Singapore.
With Valentines Day on the horizon, I was excited to make the most of it here in Bali and plan a romantic date night with my boyfriend at some of our favourite Canggu hotspots.
Every romantic evening in Bali begins with sunset drinks, so at 6:30pm on Friday we headed down to The Lawn for sundowners on the beach with a view.
I wore my new Flook The Label maxi dress with this stunning cutaway detail in my favourite colour of the moment, chocolate brown. To accessorise I wore my Seaside Stories gold plated shell necklace, matching gold shell earrings and Abbott Lyon statement gold bangle.
Once sun had dipped below the horizon and dusk was upon us, we went around the corner to Billy Ho for more drinks and nibbles.
We discovered Billy Ho when visiting Canggu last year, so with its sophisticated ambience giving uptown New York vibes, I thought it was the perfect V-Day romantic evening spot.
For an appetiser we shared the smokey edamame beans and the vegetarian dumplings, absolutely exquisite paired with a glass of bubbles too.
My boyfriend was craving pizza for dinner, so we headed to one of the best pizza spots in town Luigis.
We shared a classic margarita pizza and green leaf salad with balsamic vinegar. Simple yet delicious and satisfied that pizza craving perfectly.
To finish the evening of bar hopping around Canggu, we went to Santanera rooftop for a nightcap. This was our first time here and it was buzzing on a Friday night. Spread across three floors it has a cool, lofty vibe whilst still feeling intimate and exclusive.
It was a perfect Valentines date night in Canggu complete with scenic sunset drinks, refined appetisers and even some classic home comfort food in the form of a very cheesy pizza.
I’ve always loved surfing so living in here in Bali for a few months, my goal has been to get a session in every week. I would consider myself at intermediate level, so I’ve been going without an instructor which is more challenging particularly when it comes to getting past the break, but my skills are swiftly improving and I’ve had some great sessions.
I decided to kick the week off with an AM surf on Echo Beach last Monday and needless to say, it was the best way to start the week on a high. With the sun shining and the waves not too hectic, it was the perfect conditions for a chill morning surf.
A swimsuit on and hair pulled back into a ballet bun and I was ready to get out there. Getting past the break is always the hardest bit particularly with the big foam boards which are super heavy and almost twice the length of me!
I actually got out pretty quickly this time and caught some of my best waves yet. It can be exhausting just paddling to get out and battling with the tide, but it’s so worth it for those epic moments riding the waves.
My final wave was awesome and I stayed on it until I was almost on the beach, so I had to jump off before it got too shallow. It’s then equally challenging to get back onto the beach without being dragged under by the tide, so I had to rip off my leash and run up the beach to get out safely before letting my board wash up.
That post surf salty hair free feeling is the best.
Happy Sunday! We’re winding down after another awesome week here in Bali, so I thought I’d share some highlights of our trip to the island of Nusa Penida yesterday. I booked the trip with a local via Instagram and the total cost was 950k IDR per person, which is just under £50. Comparing this to prices online it seemed the best deal which is usually the case if you book through the locals.
Our day started bright and early with pickup from our villa at 6am to get to the port where the boat was departing at 7am. It took about 45 minutes to get over to the island of Penida where our driver for the day was ready to greet us.
First stop was Diamond Beach, an absolute paradise on earth with the white sand beach and crystal clear turquoise water. We trekked down the precarious stairs to walk along the beach, but you are not allowed to swim as the tide is too dangerous.
Salty toes and that warm ocean breeze was heavenly.
Next stop was the Thousand Island viewpoint where there is the famous instagram spot Tree House Molenteng. Unfortunately they make you pay for a photo here and there was a very long wait, so with the peak midday humidity we decided to pass on this.
It was then a long hour and a half car journey through the jungle roads to Kelingking Beach.
Another jaw dropping view out over the cliffs where many tourists come to get that iconic Instagram snap.
The tropical rain had started at this point so we didn’t walk very far down, but the view from the top overlooking Kelingking cliff faces was magnificent.
1:30pm and it was time for a well deserved lunch at a local Warung, also included in the cost of our trip. I had a fresh garden salad with a coffee and my boyfriend had a tasty sweet and sour chicken dish with rice.
With a long journey back to Bali mainland ahead of us, we caught the fast boat back from the island at 3pm and were driven home to our villa again. Bali traffic, particularly in Canggu gets hectic at rush hour, so it was 5:30pm by the time we arrived back at Casa Cherish.
A long day of travelling and hiking, but very much worth it to have seen these iconic natural wonders of Bali.
Diamond Beach was the highlight for me; it’s pure paradise which got me in a tropical state of mind ❤
26.01.25; celebrating my 30th year around the sun on the wonderful Island of Gods, Bali.
I might be entering my thirties but I really do feel like a twenty year old at heart still.
We kicked off celebrations on Friday evening with a stunning sunset at the iconic La Brisa on Echo Beach.
For dinner we went to another awesomely aesthetic spot in Canggu Penny Lane.
It was the Ubud health bowl for me and a hearty buttermilk chicken burger for my boyfriend.
On Saturday I treated myself to a blow dry at The Rustic Sun Canggu as it’s less than £15 pounds here in Bali!
That afternoon we went to a new beach club Luna and soaked up the scorching sunshine, whilst dipping in and out of pools and lounging in our private pod sipping cocktails.
For dinner I changed into my new Flook The Label beach dress, a birthday gift from my boyfriend which I chose last week in their boutique in Pererenan.
Luna beach club comes alive at night too with spectacular lights and even a fire show.
Sunday 26th January, my actual birthday, I awoke to the cutest surprise from my boyfriend.
He organised with the villa manager to decorate the pool with a happy birthday message, balloons and even a floating breakfast.
This was truly the best way to welcome in my 30th birthday.
After a very chilled day relaxing at the villa my the pool, we headed down to Batu Bolong Beach to catch sundown.
Our third magnificent sunset in a row and the perfect way to see out my big birthday weekend.
We enjoyed a nice dinner at The Lawn where I had my favourite classic Caesar salad with prawns.
The night finished at Deus Ex Machina Sunday sessions live music and 241 cocktails of course.
Mood for my thirties; Happy. Content. Staying in my own lane. Healing. Freeing. Flourishing. Growing. Glowing ❤
Welcome to Casa Cherish! I’m so excited to show you around this gorgeous two bed luxury villa we are living in here in Bali for the next two months.
Set over three floors with a private plunge pool and spacious roof terrace too, it’s our very own hidden oasis in the centre of Canggu.
From the sunken living area and arch doorways,
to the tropical plants and neutral earthy tones throughout,
this villa exudes island living vibes.
Casa Cherish already feels like a home away from home ❤
To book a stay at Casa Cherish villas for your own trip to Bali, checkout the rates and availability on their website here – https://www.casacherish.com
Happy Sunday from beautiful Bali! We’ve been here in Canggu a week now and I still can’t believe we get to call this our home for the next two months!
We’re staying at the stunning Casa Cherish villas in central Canggu, only a 15 minute walk down to the beach.
With its Moroccan inspired interiors every corner of this two bed villa is so aesthetic, and the private plunge pool is a luxury to have in this 30 degree tropical heat.
We’re settling into Bali life nicely and fully embracing all of our favourite things about this wonderful island including:
the endless sunshine,
buzzing cafe culture,
delicious foodie scene,
active lifestyle,
beach sunsets,
morning surf sessions,
lucius green palms,
the freshest fruits,
friendly locals and doggies,
aesthetic interiors,
boutique shopping…the list goes on.
It’s only our first week on the island and we’ve already done so much, but when you’re living in such an exciting place surrounded by likeminded people, it’s hard not to be motivated to get out and seize every single day.
Two months sounds like a long time however I don’t doubt it will fly by and we won’t want to leave. So I intend to enjoy every second here in Bali by actually slowing down a little to focus on being fully present in the moment.
Alignment: you are in the right place at the right time ❤
Dani Aneka 