Umalas Day 1:
This hotel claims to be a luxury 4 star hotel. Pretty far from it haha. The staff is nice so far and the greenery is lovely, but my room was dirty with stains on the bed and bathroom. Looks like it hasn’t been updated since the 70s. I’m happy to be here, and Nuala is paying for it (I think!) because of the booking confusion, just saying in case others use this to choose a place to stay.
Started my day off with a breakfast buffet, complimentary via voucher, on the hotel’s rooftop at 8:20am. It’s 88 degrees and slightly overcast. The rooftop is expansive and wraps halfway around the open middle courtyard which houses the pool on the ground floor. There is shade, lots of seating and lush plants. Below are an assortment of houses and businesses with different roof heights, a street already busy with motorists, and overgrown but beautiful yards with cows.
After breakfast I head down to poolside to read and charge my Apple Watch & phone with my external. I forgot an adapter! I’d like to walk around and explore, but I’m counting on Nuala to help me exchange my currency and get a SIM card beforehand. Reading David Brooks’ “The Second Mountain” about finding purpose and living morally and joyfully. It’s a bit preachy, but well researched and definitely hits home. I’m only on page 45, but I’m enjoying it! It talks a lot about living for others and building deep, rooted and committed connections versus living for self achievement.
Umalas Checkout was 12pm, so I had them hold my luggage and walked over to a cute and delicious restaurant called Warung Dua recommended by Karen from Nuala Retreats.
I had an iced tea and assorted premade salads – the carrot and feta was the best.
It’s mostly tanned white people either alone on laptops or in groups with tattoos in here haha. Cozy place to chill and read while I wait for Nuala to pick me up! Looking forward to settling into my room for the next 5 days, planning out the week and taking a swim in the pool. Emir reached out to me so I’m hoping to meet up with him and his wife. I suggested paddle boarding, we’ll see if they’re into it 😋 🏄🏻♀️💦
Nuala Day 1
At 1:30pm I went back to Umalas and was informed Nuala was ready for me. A ten minute drive got us to the location, and when I walked in I was soo happy! It’s beautiful inside with a completely indoor-outdoor atmosphere. When you walk in there’s a large dining table for guests with a kitchen to the left. Beyond that is a seating area facing the open center which houses a pool, outdoor meditation cabanas, and to the right massage tables. I was shown my schedule for the week, given coffee and shown like my room. I was also informed that the two other people who were booked a retreat for this time as well cancelled, so it’s just me, the manager Karen (Irish) and the owner Varney (Australian) this week!
My room faces the pool and has two sliding doors. On my bed was a welcome packet, and when I walked into the bathroom I was beaming. It’s so cute, and the shower is outdoors with high privacy walls and plants.
This places feels very inviting, homey, airy and peaceful. After a quick shower I was given a welcome Balinese massage which was wonderfully relaxing and also hilarious because Asian women are not shy at all about exposing your boobies and getting real high up on the thigh there 😆
After massage Karen had Yin Yoga planned, but we attend classes at an off-site location and were running late. We rode her motorbike to the beach instead for a swim and walk before the 6pm Sunset Flow (Ashtanga-inspired) class.
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W stopped back at the resort for a quick change, then rode to Desa Seni. It was STUNNING and I’m so excited for more sessions this week. It’s surrounded by gardens and the class took place in an open structure with a wooden floor and roof. The woman leading the class looked like she’d been doing yoga since she was born. I was like wowza so that’s what correct form looks like 👏🏻 The class was filled with about 25 people, including 21 white women, 2 white dudes, and two I believe Muslim girls from Jakarta. Mosquitos got me though 😑
I fell asleep during Savasana and the lady next to me had to wake me up haha. Jet lag. We rode Karen’s bike back and the staff had dinner waiting for us. I requested gluten, dairy and sugar free meals this week, and dinner was delicious. Everything is homemade from scratch. Pumpkin soup, then salad with ginger sesame dressing and seared tuna and grilled pineapple with cinnamon for dessert.
Shower and bed after dinner, then woke up at 1:30am and wrote this lol. Back to sleep! 6:45am start tomorrow!
Expenses:
• Warung Dua Lunch $5.66