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
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.
Summer holidays are the perfect time to have fun with fashion and get creative with pieces you might not get much chance to wear back home. I’m a sucker for boho beachwear and cute bikinis so naturally these become my everyday essentials on holiday, as well as summer hats and always a pair of statement sunnies to complete the look. From a casual coffee date look to the more glam beach club fit, I want to feel my very best everyday on holiday and it’s a chance to switch things up with different accessories like shell earrings and stacked beaded bracelets. Every night is date night when you’re on vacation too, so there’s always an excuse to get dolled up and show off that glowing holiday tan.
As we can finally get excited for the summer season ahead, I hope this lookbook I filmed in Bali gives you some inspiration for your next holiday. Continue reading to get the details of each look, and don’t forget to watch the full edit on my YouTube channel here – https://youtu.be/QMJs0h4XnYY?si=2YI06phcVMj6CIIV
When booking our trip to Bali, we were spoilt for choice when it came to choosing where to stay in Canggu. Whilst we considered renting our own villa given how cheap it is out there, upon researching online there was a lot of advice recommending hotels are preferable as they have 24 hour security. Zin was somewhere which kept coming up in our searches and with its jungle vibe aesthetic, it looked like the perfect tropical oasis in the centre of Canggu.
We booked via Expedia, so together with return flights it came to just under £1,400 each for the flights and hotel with breakfast included, an absolute bargain for 10 nights at such a stunning resort.
Opting for an upgrade to one of their Deluxe Bamboo rooms, we had this beautiful terrace overlooking the central pool which we had to ourselves a lot of the time, our own private paradise.
The room itself was ultimate Bali vibes too with stone flooring and aesthetic decor like this rattan woven wall hanging.
The dreamy Queen size bed was like sleeping on a cloud and waking up in heaven with the white bed net to keep those mosquitoes away.
Another awesome detail was the double shower head in our massive en suite complete with rustic stone walls and flooring.
My favourite place to relax in the afternoons or before dinner with a cocktail in hand, was our private terrace nestled amongst the luscious greenery.
Zin Cafe offered an extensive variety of options for brekky every morning.
They had a number of smoothie bowls to choose from, my favourite being the dragon fruit bowl with it’s vibrant pink colour and tangy sweet taste.
My boyfriend made his way through the menu of savoury dishes before trying the sweet treats, his favourite being the classic French toast.
The fruit in Bali is always super fresh and even the fruit bowls from Zin Cafe were a piece of art.
We had a local Balinese curry at the hotel one evening which was incredible, and another afternoon enjoyed a late lunch on our terrace.
I could tell how fresh and healthy all the food was from Zin Cafe and every dish was so perfectly presented.
The staff were very welcoming, wonderfully friendly and made sure we had everything we needed during our stay at Zin.
We even had a complimentary hour long couples massage in the spa, a delightful treat and heavenly experience.
Poolside handstand practice was the ideal setting to find balance and channel my inner yogi.
Even at twilight the jungle of tropical trees and tree house style canopy looked magnificent.
Zin was ideal for our stay in Canggu being only a 10 minute walk from the main strip of restaurants and bars and just a 2 minute walk from Echo Beach. They also have a co-working space in the cafe which offers a peaceful area for working, something we would’ve used if we were staying longer and needed to work.
I would highly recommend Zin Canggu Resort & Villas to anyone travelling to Bali, particularly young couples who are looking for a bit of luxury. Prime location and safe with 24 hour security, clean and beautifully aesthetic, brilliant food and wonderful people, it was everything we hoped for and more.
The Deluxe Bamboo room and resort grounds felt like a home away from home by the end of the holiday.
To book your stay at Zin, you can find them on Expedia and Booking.com or visit their website – https://zin.world/zin-canggu/
Sunsets in Bali are always a spectacle; rain or shine, the sky always manages to put on a show. Canggu is known for its world famous beach bars & clubs, so here are my top five spots to chase sunset on the west coast of Bali.
The epitome of Bali beach aesthetic, it doesn’t get better than sundowners at La Brisa. With its maze of bamboo tree houses and pools amongst the jungle of green luscious palms, it feels like you’re on a remote tropical island paradise.
From day to night, you can take a dip in the pools and sip cocktails as the sunsets over Echo Beach.
Even at dusk and into the evening, the warm glow of fairy lights and orange hue lanterns set the jungle aglow.
There is a minimum spend for a table if you want food and a good view for sundown, but you can spend hours there to make the most of it.
We spent two evenings here during our stay, the second of which was our final night when there was a magnificent thunderstorm. Not the final golden hour we had envisioned, but certainly an exciting way to bring our time in Bali to a close.
Just down the beach from our hotel, we headed here for our first evening sundowners and it didn’t disappoint. Life was pretty peachy as I sipped my Paloma cocktail watching the perfect sunset of orange and pink hues.
Again, this is a beach club where you can spend the whole day into the evening on a sunbed or table with a view for a minimum spend, which is easily made back on delicious food and wonderful cocktails.
We only visited The Lawn once for cocktails, but they often have events and special guest DJs which would be the ultimate vibe to accompany a killer sunset.
Claiming itself as the ‘World’s best beach club’, this is one for the party goers in search for that dancing til dawn destination.
It was a little overcast when we visited Finns, however we still enjoyed cocktails at dusk on their 2 for 1 offer and soaked up the party vibes from the comfort of our own table with no minimum spend. There are also a number of different cuisine food outlets situated around the venue to suit everyone’s tastes.
Whilst I know sunset framing their iconic Finns sign lit up with lanterns over the pools is picture a perfect moment, the interiors inside with this gorgeous cluster of bamboo shades made for fabulous Friday night vibes shared with other winers and diners.
On our visit down to the South coast of Bali in Uluwatu, I had seen incredible photos of this place on Instagram and had to experience it for myself.
Unfortunately there wasn’t much of a sunset and also an event featuring Jamie Jones on the evening we went meaning a hefty entry cost, but it was still an awesome place to see in person.
I would be super keen to go back here when the sun is promising to put on a show, so I highly recommend this spot for sundowners if you are staying in Uluwatu.
My fifth favourite spot for golden hour is of course, Echo Beach itself. There are lots of bars along the front offering drinks and a seat right on the sand to sit back and enjoy the view of surfers catching waves at sunset.
With each minute that passes as the sun dips on the horizon of Echo Beach, the colours grow even richer and deeper until the moonlight finally takes place of the sun.
I’ve mentioned Old Man’s as a fun club which I visited during my last stay in Bali after Bintangs on the beach at sunset, but these days me and my boyfriend prefer a nice dinner and sophisticated cocktails at Billy Ho or Mason.
So that’s my roundup of the best places to enjoy a cocktail or local Bintang whilst watching a beautiful Bali sundown.
Bali sunsets have my heart and chasing them is my favourite time of the day when in Bali ❤
Friday is here and after being back at work this week following a dreamy holiday in Bali, I’m very glad to be welcoming in the weekend. We landed back in London on Saturday evening and whilst our jet lag wasn’t bad out in Bali, coming back has been a challenge and the extreme fatigue set in. Thankfully after a few days back in routine, we’re feeling a lot more alive and I can’t wait to share all of the Bali content from our awesome trip back to my favourite island.
From chasing sunsets whilst beach bar hopping and sampling the best of Bali’s foodie scene, to exploring the rainforest and rice terraces in Ubud and surfing on Echo Beach, we certainly made the most of our 10 days in Bali.
Over the next month or so, I have an exciting schedule of posts about our trip including where we stayed, what we got up to, my favourite places for sundowners, the creme de la creme of restaurants in Canggu, how much things cost and my top tips for visiting Bali.
So stay tuned as I soothe my Bali blues by reliving our holiday with lots of exciting Bali content to come! ❤
Dani Aneka 