The “Where Are You Going?” Question (Part 1)
The first part of the journey begins in Norfolk and ends among volcanic peaks, coral reefs and jungle‑covered valleys. This journey traces a route across continents to the Indonesian islands of Bali, Lombok and Gili Air — places where landscape, culture and slow travel collide.
There are – or more to the point, will be – pages of content for each destination, unless I really cannot think of anything to write. In which case it rather begs the question: why did we go there at all? For now, though, this is a quick overview of where we are heading and when we expect to be there.
15th April: A Tale of Two Wetherspoons
This is the day we leave Dereham. Having once missed a train to London thanks to an accident on the A47, we now tend to give ourselves a few hours at the station end of the journey. A good way to fill that time is to grab a coffee (ahem) at the Queen of Iceni.
Once in London, we head to Hounslow for the night. And, well, there just happens to be another Wetherspoons there, so it would be rude not to call in and see what beers they have on offer. At £2.20 a pint, you do start to wonder what exactly we’ve done wrong in Dereham to be paying £2.99.
16th April: Taking the Long Way Round to Bali via Kuala Lumpur
We leave Heathrow Terminal 4 at 11:00, arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 00:15 (BST). After a layover of 1 hour and 45 minutes, we fly on to Bali, arriving at 12:05 on the 17th April.
Bali:
Unlike many people’s view of Bali our trip is a sensory overload of colour and contrast, as Bali unfolds through sacred temples, misty highlands and quiet fishing villages
17th – 21st April: Uluwatu, Bali
Time to acclimatise and adjust. There’s the chance to take in a temple, walk along coastal paths, visit a few beaches, and reacquaint ourselves with Bintang.
Lombok and the Gili Islands
Quieter and more rugged than Bali, Lombok reveals a slower rhythm, from rural villages to turquoise island waters.
21st – 26th April: Batu Leong Sekotong, Lombok
More relaxing and acclimatising follows. This coastal village offers opportunities for snorkelling and island hopping, with plenty of time to slow the pace right down.
26th – 30th April: Senaru, Lombok
Having grown used to the warmth and humidity of the region, we head into the cooler mountain climate. Here we’ll be visiting waterfalls in the shadow of the volcano.
30th April – 4th May: Gili Air
Bigger than some of the Gili islands near Batu Leong, but still small enough to walk around in an hour. Expect more snorkelling and plenty of sunsets.
4th – 6th May: Padang Bai, Bali
We originally planned to spend longer in this port town, but after so much time by the coast we decided to limit ourselves to just enough time to explore the area and eat seafood.
6th – 12th May: Ubud, Bali
We hadn’t planned on spending quite so long in the cultural heart of Bali, but the change of pace and scenery should provide a welcome opportunity to explore the centre of the island in more depth.
12th – 15th May: Bedugul, Bali
Back into the hills once more. We’ll be staying by the lake, close to the famous floating temple of Pura Ulun Danu Beratan and the botanical gardens.
15th – 16th May: Bedugul – Wanagiri, Bali
The first of a couple of one-night stops as we hike around the lakes, travelling from Bedugul to Munduk.
16th – 17th May: Gesing Desa Munduk Kecamatan Banjar, Munduk, Bali
We could have walked the extra 6 km into Munduk on the 16th, but I read a blog post that raved about this guesthouse. All the reviews we found echoed that sentiment, so it seemed rude not to stop and see for ourselves.
17th – 20th May: Munduk, Bali
A sleepy little town nestled in the heart of Bali, and the perfect place to escape the crowds and immerse ourselves in nature, especially waterfalls.
20th – 23rd May: Lovina, Bali
Besides its black sands that glisten at sunset, Lovina is famous for the dolphins that live just off the coast.
23rd – 27th May: Pemuteran, Bali
Our final overnight stop in Bali. A quaint village in the north-west, close to West Bali National Park. Once primarily a fishing village, Pemuteran has gradually evolved into a tourist destination with a strong focus on conservation projects and diving.
