A better way to share your trip

Lunch at a terrace restaurant overlooking the whole caldera — the view is the main event, but the corn fritters and Balinese coffee were a nice bonus after the early trek. Most restaurants here run a buffet around 150,000-200,000 IDR (~$10-13) that effectively doubles as the price of the view — food is average, go for the panorama.

Rates start around 1,420,000 IDR (~$93) a night — pricier than the rest of this trip, but the dedicated kids' pool, separate from the main one, with a free supervised kids' club, was worth every rupiah with a toddler who can't swim yet. Breakfast buffet had enough plain, kid-friendly options that we didn't have to negotiate every morning. Rooms were clean, AC strong, front desk arranged a cot with zero fuss. Right across from the beach and Kuta's Discovery Mall, which mattered more than we expected with tired kids at the end of each day.

The golden-hour light on the grassy ridge is unreal — did the full out-and-back in about 90 minutes at an easy pace, stopping for coconut water from a stall halfway. Completely free, no ticket. Paved for the first stretch but turns to dirt and gets genuinely slippery after rain.

The 27 marble 'petals' glow at golden hour — sit inside for a few minutes of genuine silence. Free entry, no ticket at all, and it's spotless inside — shoes off before entering, lockers provided. Queue can run 30-45 minutes on weekends.

The original Ibu Oka warung near Ubud Palace — crispy pork skin, tender spiced meat, and a scoop of blood sausage on the side. Get there before 1pm or they sell out. A plate runs about 50,000 IDR (~$3.20). Busy turnover means the food's always fresh, but seating is basic plastic-chair, no-frills.

Brought a sarong from the hotel and joined the purification bathing queue — genuinely moving to see how many Balinese families were there for real religious practice, not just photos. Entry ~50,000 IDR (~$3.20), sarong rental included; the pools themselves are cleaned regularly but get crowded midday, go early.

Came right at opening before the tour buses — had the top viewpoint almost to myself. The Tegenungan swing photos are a tourist trap but the terraces themselves are genuinely stunning. Entrance donation is around 25,000 IDR (~$1.60), and the paths get muddy and slippery after rain — wear real shoes, not sandals.

Picked our own fish and prawns from the ice display, grilled over coconut husks and served on the sand with feet in the water. Touristy but the seafood was genuinely fresh and the sunset view free. Priced by weight, expect around 200,000-300,000 IDR (~$13-20) per kg depending on the catch — ask the price before they grill it.