Moving my home base from Adelaide to Darwin was something that happened very quickly and something I did for many reasons. Darwin is literally on the other side of the country from Adelaide and the two cities are worlds apart. Darwin is as close to Singapore as it is to Adelaide and as a result – it is a total melting pot of culture.
So what prompted the change?
I have felt the need for a long term sea change for years now. Adelaide is a wonderful city, but to me it felt stagnant and monotonous, like nothing could ever really surprise me.
My ultimate goal is to work with MSF (Doctors Without Borders) and with the Royal Darwin Hospital being the closest tertiary hospital for an enormous catchment area spanning three states, numerous islands and many remote communities – I knew it would be the place to really get stuck into midwifery, get exposure to things I otherwise wouldn’t and learn as much as possible.
Lastly, Darwin is the best jumping off point to explore Asia! So many cheap flights to big hubs such as Denpasar and Singapore mean that a continent that I had yet to visit would become much more accessible.
So it really shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that within a few weeks of settling into my new home, I was off to Bali!
Bali is arguably one of the most popular destinations visited by Australians, and thusly, I had denied it as being a place of appeal. However, one of by besties from back in Adelaide was headed to Bali for two weeks with her boyfriend – and this trip overlapped with a three day window in which I was not working. So I called, told her I would meet her in Bali and that was that.
The flight from Darwin to Denpasar is only around 2 hours long – so heading over for a three day weekend isn’t actually that ridiculous! I booked last minute flights with AirAsia, and three days later I was off to Bali.
I arrived into the massive airport at Denpasar quite late in the evening. I had been warned to be prepared for the throngs of cab drivers who would get in my face trying to get my business as I left the airport, but luckily my gal Tessa had put me in contact with a wonderful driver – Made Paul Artawan – who was waiting for me at the airport and drove me safely and efficiently into the heart of Seminyak.
I was lucky enough to score a private one bedroom villa at the gorgeous Daluman Villas in Seminyak for the duration of my stay. After checking in at around 11.30pm – I was off to settle into my own little slice of paradise.
I had planned to settle straight into bed but my little plunge pool just looked far too enticing to pass up! So I threw on my bathers and sunk into the wonderfully temperate water and relaxed several hours away.
One cool feature of my beloved Olympus OM-D E-M1 is the remote control WiFi. I am able to connect my iPhone to a private connection on my camera and then use my phone to remotely take pictures. It’s a handy feature that has meant that I can get beautiful photos like the next one – totally unassisted. Handy for a perpetually solo traveller!
It was strange to think that a few hours prior I had been running around at work and now I was in a different country, setting my feet on a brand new continent and relaxing in such a beautiful setting! I was starting to see the appeal of Bali.
After soaking in the water until I resembled a prune, it was time to get out, let the heat dry me off and then off to bed to catch some Zzzzz’s before a big day exploring.
After a wonderfully relaxing snooze I awoke to fresh fruit, waffles and fresh coffee. I devoured everything by my little pool and then got ready to go see some Balinese temples.
T H E L O W D O W N
Getting to Denpasar: AirAsia flies from Darwin to Bali almost daily and return flights can be nabbed for between $100-$300 depending on the time of year
Made Paul Artawan: This wonderful and hard-working Balinese driver can be contacted through Facebook Message – he is honest, reliable and unlike some other cab drivers, would never try to rip anyone off
Daluman Villas: This collection of private villas is well located, beautiful and will set you back around $180 AUD per night
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M1 with 12-40mm M.Zuiko Pro Lens
Threads: I am wearing a bikini by Aussie label Tigerlily
Remember: Bring mosquito repellent!
I have two friends that moved to Darwin, now I know why! Bali is fantastic, I would love to go back one day. Great post.
Close proximity to Asia is certainly a big draw card! Thanks for reading 🙂
nice
Hope you’ll be happy in your new home and so admire your determination to live the life you desire!
I absolutely love Bali despite it being a l-o-n-g way to travel from South Africa. We went this time last year via Hong Kong and stayed at the Puri Santrian in Sanur – perhaps a good option for your readers who want a slightly quieter destination.
Thanks for bringing back great memories 🙂
Thank you so much! I have flown from Adelaide to Cape Town so I understand the distance! The long haul flight from Joburg to Perth was torture! Definitely worth the trip though 🙂
Beautifull!!! I liked the remote controlled wifi camera.. wonder how it chooses the focus! really cool!
I wondered that too! I have put it down to tech magic ha
Awesome! Bali is beautiful 🙂
I went to Bali for 10 days over Christmas break! Have got lot of posts, still some yet to be posted!
Ooh I can’t wait to check them all out!
Looks amazing! xx
Thank you! 🙂
Reading your blog inspires me! I just fall completely in love with your blog! I love reading your post. Always something in there to learn 🙌🏽. I devour the posts! XOXO
Oh wow thank you so much! I absolutely LOVE getting comments like this one 🙂 I look forward to sharing many many more adventures with you! xxx
I c ant really add anything that ladysergine hasn’t already written. Except to say, “keep up the good work!” We look forward to being carried off to exotic places with you…..
Thank you so much Janet! I promise to keep sharing lots more adventures! Stay tunes for posts about Bali, Timor-Leste, the Northern Territory and the Phillipines!
You bet I will! 😀
This looks amazing!!!
Cool!, come visit Malaysia next time!
I will be in KL briefly in April! Any recommendations?
Nice, really nice. You are blessed my friend! That pool looks so wonderful I just want to dive through my Mac screen and plunge in! You always look gorgeous… 🙂
Aww you flatter me too much! It really was a glorious plunge pool though!
Absolutely amazing post, pictures look beautiful!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Everything about this looks awesome!
Definitely worth the trip to Bali – that’s for sure!
The plunge pool seems awesome. I hope it was a relaxing holiday. Cheers
It definitely was – Bali was much more lovely than I ever though it would be!
Congratulations on your new home, I hope you will be very happy there and with somewhere like this almost on the doorstep I am sure you will. I love India, Malaysia and Thailand but have never got to Bali, it always looks so pretty.
I do not always comment, but always read and love your posts.
Thank you so much! I am so glad you are reading and enjoying my blog 🙂 I am visiting Thailand and Malaysia later this year and hopefully India next year 🙂 Feel free to give me some recommendations!
You must go to the Philippines next! I’ll hook you up so you get yourself spared from the unpleasant things. And congrats on your new home.
I am heading to the Philippines in two weeks! Heading to Puerto Princesa and El Nido 🙂
Oh my! yes! I’d love to see your experience here. I hope you love it!
Looks like a beautiful place to relax for a sneaky weekend trip!! My sister has lived in Bali a few years now. I used to visit Bali a lot but haven’t been since 2012.. Thinking a lot has probably changed! Hopefully return this year. Moving to Darwin is such a good idea to be more accessible to Asia! I lived in the Maldives last year and hoped to do more Asian bound travelling but think it will have to wait for when I return this year!! Nice to connect x
Oh wow the Maldives! I am visiting there in April! That would be an incredible place to live!
Wow how wonderful to have a place like that to stay, have a great time.
I am certainly a very lucky lady! Thank you for reading 🙂
Sounds amazing!
Bali soothes and excites, simultaneously. You look both exhausted and happy, at the same time, which is a countenance I have seen on several friends who have made a Bali jaunt.
Exhausted but happy sums it up perfectly! I had worked from 7-3.30pm, hopped to the airport, got on a plane and flew straight to Bali! Was certainly a long but lovely day 🙂
The villa looks amazing! x
It really was! So luxurious 🙂
Thanks for sharing! Bucket list!!!!
Yay! I love helping people add to their bucket lists!
Reblogged this on christieadams23 and commented:
OK, I admit it, I’m envious. Great being able to use the camera in that way! Well done on the guts to relocate too, hence the reboot, you inspire others.
Thank you so much – it’s nice to hear the ‘I’ word 🙂
Wow, striving to work with Doctors Without Borders is an amazing goal. Here’s hoping you can make that happen! Also, I’m blown away by your accommodations in the photos. A personal pool! Talk about living it up. Another great read. My jealousy of your at-a-whim globetrotting is getting worse though, haha.
I think I will definitely be able to – they always need midwives! It’s just a matter of when 🙂
Haha I would say that I am sorry for the jealousy but that would be a fib! I hope to see you following even more of my adventures 🙂
Reblogged this on GUM | Growing Up Millennial.
Sigh. Swoon. All of it!
It’s certainly a rather pretty location!
Looks amazing. I look forward to reading about the rest of your time in Bali.
Thanks Roon! 🙂
So adventurous! Pics are great! Bali is in my list of places to visit.
Any plans to visit in the near future?
Unfortunately it looks like not until 2018.
Great photos look so cool 😀 I have the same bikini as you lol from tiger lily 😀😀
Haha awesome! How good are their ‘kinis?!
Reading your posts on Bali made me miss Bali a little more!
Any plans to head back soon?
i’d love to but i’m thinking of venturing Vietnam next. where is the next destination?
Just got back from the Philippines! Heading to Katherine Gorge in a few weeks and then to the Maldives 🙂
Beautiful place! It makes me to go there now. Thank you for sharing 😉
Do it! Hopefully you can get to Bali soon 🙂
Beautiful! Bali is on my bucket list for sure!
http://rebeccajanehall.me
It certainly is a stunning part of the world!
its beautiful..hope u had a gr8 time in bali..
great posts! what are your next destinations in the philippines? i could give you some ideas, depending on your interests. ciao, friend!
I just got back! Was a very short and sweet trip! I spent time in El Nido and Puerto Princesa 🙂
Whoa!!!!! This hotel is off the charts!!! Such incredible luxury, you lucky girl!
I love Bali; it’s a great place to relax!
This looks incredible
love ubud! great post!
We’ve been considering the NT for this exact reason. My Boyfriend is from Adelaide and i am from Sydney. We have spent almost a year back in Syd and are desperate for change. Darwin’s closeness to Asia, and the rest of the world, makes it VERY appealing. 3 days in Bali sounds amazing. It takes me 6 hours and a whole lot more $$$. tempting.
I definitely can recommend it! I love the lifestyle up here, super chilled out and laid back. Gotta love that it is Australia’s gateway to Asia too!
We’re doing an enormous Aus trip towards the end of the year with the plan on checking everywhere out and seeing what we think. NT is high on the list
Awesome! Definitely make sure to check out Litchfield, Katherine and Kakadu 🙂
Thank you, Ellen!