Traveling is Good for the Soul

December 23, 2015Sonali Perera

Why is traveling good for the soul? The greatest life experiences come from visiting other parts of the world and experiencing new things. What do we really get out of it?

An escape from day to day demands. Who doesn't want to get away from their usual responsibilities? This is a time to disconnect from all of technology and soak in what your vacation spot has to offer.

Experience new cultures. Food, language, people. Every place you go has something new for you to experience. Throw yourself into the local culture and learn things about other people and other places will help you learn things about yourself.

Become a better you. You will experience things you have never seen before and might face challenges and opportunities that will make you a stronger person or spark a passion you never thought you had. Whether you are traveling to an underdeveloped country or going to Bali to hang out on the beach, traveling will shape you to be a better person.

tags travel, places

Bali

December 06, 2015Sonali Perera

This past summer, I had the most amazing experience traveling to Bali, Indonesia. It was a place that healed my soul, before I even knew that my soul needed healing. An island known for its rice paddies, beaches, culture, volcanic mountains, temples, yoga and meditation. Here are some tips from my travels to Bingin Beach and Ubud.

BINGIN BEACH

Words that come to mind - Beaches, Southern tip of Bali, Meditation, Yoga, Massages, Cliffs, Juicing, Bintang Beer, Surfing, Mr. Tendon, Tempe

Favorite place to stay

The Temple Lodge
- 8 beautiful suites to pick from - I stayed in the Eagle's Nest Suite. Beautiful ocean view, but steep steps down to the room and you might encounter monkeys on the way down.
- Amazing massages and spa - I got 2 massages a day. The Balinese massage was my favorite!
- Best food and restaurant - Amazing staff and chefs! Dinner was always family style with everyone staying at The Temple Lodge. My mornings always started with a fresh juice and an amazing breakfast dish off the menu. Make sure you get then fresh sambal to go with whatever you order.
- Great daily yoga and meditation - I thank The Temple Lodge for teaching me to love yoga and meditation. I am now a devotee.
- Lovely owners and staff - Amazing people. Full of love. My favorite part of The Temple Lodge.
- Gorgeous rooms, pool and grounds - My day consisted of spending time at the pool, yoga. massages and eating!

Favorite places to eat

The restaurant at The Temple Lodge
The Cashew Tree - great drinks, nightlife and food. Live music on Thursday nights. Great place to go with kids and a cute little playground to keep your little one happy.
Kelly's Warung - Fun place on the beach with yummy smoothies and good drinks. Great place to see the sunset while drinking a Bintang. A surfers hangout and fun people watching.

Best massages

The spa at The Temple Lodge
Mr. Tendon - Ouch! The most painful massage I have ever received but LIFE CHANGING! Mr. Tendon specializes in pressure point massages and was able to fix all the body pains I had. I came back to the US a healed women thanks to Mr. Tendon. You can get in touch with Mr. Tendon at The Temple Lodge

Ubud

Words that come to mind - Temples, food, nightlife, foot massages, Bintang Beer, culture, shopping, rice paddies, culture, beauty, tourists, arts

Where I stayed

Honeymoon Guesthouse
- Great location - 5 minute walk to the heart of Ubud
- Beautiful, spiritual grounds with 30 Balinese style guest rooms
- Breakfast included
- Yoga, Spa, Pool and cooking classes located on-site
- Each room includes mosquito nets, housekeeping. Not all rooms include air conditioning, so book accordingly
- This was not a luxury hotel but a few steps up from a hostel. Worked well traveling by myself but would have picked somewhere different if I went with my family

Favorite Places to Eat

Casa Luna - Fun vibe at night with live music. Great drinks and food
Fair Warung Bale - We found this place towards the end of our trip. The BEST Indonesian food we ate! Also, a great cause. They donate a portion of their profits to Public Healthcare. 1 meal = 2 free medical treatments and helps fund their new Pediatric hospital building.

FAvorite Places to See

Elephant Caves Goa Gajah - you walk down a flight of stairs to discover caves from the 11th century, wall carvings, temples and bathing pools with fountains.
Ubud Night Market
Ubud Monkey Forest - beautiful grounds with monkeys everywhere.
Tegallalang Rice Terraces - Breathtaking. Pictures do not do this justice.
Gunung Kawi - Long walk down to beautiful temples carved into the cliffs, rice paddies and holy waters.
Pura Tirtha Empul (holy waters) - A temple built in the 10th century known for its holy springs. Many locals travel to bathe in the waters for its curative powers. The Balinese believe a Hindu God, Indra, pierced the earth at this location to create the holy waters to revive his soldiers that had been poisoned by the demon king Mayadanawa.