To be honest, I don’t know if, after hearing our story about my Bali Belly and more, you’d still choose Bali, but I believe that honest stories deserve their place as well
After many trips as a family and a few with just Dan, our long-awaited family trip was finally upon us. The journey of my life once began in Bali, when I was proposed to underwater. To celebrate our 12.5-year wedding anniversary, we decided to return to this romantic island.
This blog was written by Cindy
Also read our blog full of practical tips for a vacation to Bali with children.
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The differences between 2009 and 2023 were unbelievable! After a stopover in bustling Singapore (which was truly amazing!), we landed in Bali. It was much busier than I remembered, and the traffic was a nightmare, but the warmth that greeted us in the middle of winter was welcome. For the first few days, we rented a house in Canggu, a place we had never been before but knew was quite touristy. Still, we were eager to go there because of the fun beach clubs nearby. We really enjoyed it, especially since they all had pools, which was a welcome change for the kids.
After a few nights, we left for our next destination, the AYANA Resort Bali in Jimbaran near Uluwatu. I had put together a list of fun activities, but on the second day, disaster struck.
Jady became seriously ill, and within an hour, Dan also started feeling unwell. Jady wasn’t just sick; she was severely dehydrated, and we urgently needed to get her to a hospital. However, the only suitable hospital was a 45-minute drive away, and with the chaotic traffic, Sven and I thought it was too far. In the end, we opted for a nearby clinic. While Sven took Jady to the clinic, I stayed with Dan and Kate. I have never felt so helpless. It was a terrible situation, and as I write this, I can still feel that fear in my stomach. I’ve also never felt so far from home. At that moment, all we could do was wait and hope that Dan wouldn’t get worse.
Meanwhile, Jady was getting an IV, but first, a lot of administrative matters had to be dealt with. Understandable, but at that moment, all I wanted was for my child to be helped, and all you can think is: do something! Sven had to leave Jady in her bed and handle everything at the reception. Bali felt terrible at that moment, especially when it all came down to money. Documents had to be signed, and we had to give consent not to claim the costs through travel insurance. In that moment, you just want your child to be helped, so you sign everything. Every new IV bag or medication required more signatures and payments, and Sven had to leave her alone in that room each time.
Not long after, Kate also fell ill, and I realized that the same could happen to her as to Jady. It was the middle of the night, and I kept a close eye on her for a while. When the first rays of sunlight entered the room, I called the reception and requested a doctor. For Jady, it turned out that a bacterial infection had been found, and she was given antibiotics. Kate received an injection for nausea and dehydration. Dan didn’t want any medication because he thought his body was strong enough. However, after consulting with the hospital, his doctor also prescribed antibiotics. It was my turn to sign papers and make payments. All I wanted was for them all to get better.
Meanwhile, Jady had to stay in the hospital while Kate and Dan slowly recovered, mostly sleeping a lot. The staff at the resort were incredibly attentive and helpful. I appreciated the phone calls and cups of tea they brought.
However, by the end of the afternoon, Jady began to develop a swollen face, and that was when my patience ran out. The hospital didn’t give us a good feeling, and the communication was poor. My intuition told me that she had enough fluids and that this was the cause of her swollen face. I wanted her to return to the hotel or for us to go to another hospital. Eventually, someone from the resort accompanied us. It felt like they wanted to keep her for another night to charge us extra, at least that’s how it felt to us. Fortunately, after good communication, she was allowed to return to the hotel, and luckily, we were all together again.
The service of the staff at AYANA was truly heartwarming, and I am forever grateful to them! However, our plans had to be adjusted because the next day we were supposed to continue our travels, which wasn’t possible with the kids still feeling weak. Fortunately, we were able to extend our stay and leave for the next destination two days later. The days were mainly focused on recovery, and we were well taken care of. We would venture outside to the beach, swim, watch monkeys, and then go back upstairs to rest, trying to eat a little, and so on.
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Two days later, we had to continue our journey, and a long drive awaited us. Honestly, I didn’t want to leave and was dreading it. After a long drive north, we arrived in Munduk. When I stepped out of the car, it felt like it was ten degrees colder. It was cloudy, and we were truly in the middle of nowhere. Why had I booked this again? Oh right, because of the beautiful views. But there was nothing to see at that moment. After lunch, we played games and let the kids rest for a bit.
By evening, it started; I had already lost my appetite, and lunch was still weighing heavily on my stomach. I really couldn’t eat anything, and Sven was also feeling unwell. That’s when the misery began. I got sick, and Sven got sick too. So sick! I can’t remember ever being this ill. All I could think about was that I didn’t want to die on that mountain because there was no doctor who could come. Oral rehydration solution was beside my bed, and I sipped on it. We survived the night and were completely exhausted the next day. Fortunately, we could use room service, but I really couldn’t eat anything that day. Emily in Paris helped me stay somewhat sane. What a nightmare it was. Meanwhile, we extended our stay again and had friends from Aalsmeer come to visit.
We were grateful for their help and that the kids could play with their friends. We slept a lot and hardly ate anything. After a few days, I felt a bit stronger and ready to continue traveling, although we had to skip many beautiful places. In the end, that didn’t matter. We were just happy that the kids were recovering and that the worst was behind us.
Our first stop on the way to Ubud was special. We visited Ulun Danu, the floating temple complex. Honestly, I was taken aback by all the hustle and bustle along the way. It seemed like influencers were everywhere, and it was quite crowded, even outside of peak season. At that moment, Bali didn’t feel like the Bali I remembered. Fortunately, our next stop made up for it: Jatiluwih Village, with a truly breathtaking view. It was the most beautiful rice terrace I had ever seen. Unfortunately, it started to rain heavily, which made us chuckle about all our plans for this dream trip.
Read our blog with the most child-friendly hotels in Ubud.
The road to Ubud offered truly breathtaking scenery, and when we arrived at our next destination, we finally felt a bit more at home in a more populated area. We learned a lot during this trip. Perhaps not all types of travel are suitable for us. While we love nature immensely, an environment with a bit more activity might suit us better.
Ubud made up for a lot, however. Upon arriving at Chapung Sebali we were welcomed by a beautiful setting filled with greenery and stunning flowers. The entire hotel was meticulously maintained, and the menu offered delicious dishes, which was a pleasant change. We enjoyed a hearty lunch because, after five days of hardly eating, I was quite hungry. Unfortunately, the food didn’t sit well with me, and I had issues again that night. Sven and Dan went on an adventure with a quad bike while I stayed by the pool. I decided to eat light that day and noticed that I was slowly starting to recover thanks to the sun and the relaxation. I drank juices and had soup. Over the next few days, I felt better and better. We visited the market in Ubud, which was very nice but left me completely exhausted afterwards.
In the end, we decided to stay in Ubud stay. We felt comfortable there. The area was beautiful and offered numerous activities for children. Our next planned stop was a bamboo house in the jungle, a location we had booked six months in advance. However, I was a bit done with new adventures and had discovered so many lovely spots in Ubud. Moreover, our hotel was starting to feel like home, and the food was excellent. The kids also agreed that this was a great place to stay.
Unfortunately, many of our plans for this trip didn’t happen. We had ideas to take a boat to an island and stay there, to stay in the jungle, bike through the rice fields, and much more. Bali offers countless opportunities for adventures, but I must honestly admit that some of the beautiful images you see on social media sometimes look better than reality. My experience in Bali was disappointing, and I feel like I might be alone in this.
When I left, I had mixed feelings. On one hand, I was grateful that we were heading home healthy, but on the other hand, I felt disappointed because my romantic idea of Bali had been shattered. The nature is still extraordinarily beautiful and magical, but I was shocked by how some people treated the environment. I don’t know if it’s the locals or if tourists contribute to the problem, but it was disturbing.
Despite our precautions, such as paying attention to what we ate, avoiding street food, drinking water from sealed bottles, and staying in hygienic accommodations, we still got sick—even in a five-star resort. Don’t get me wrong; this can happen anywhere in the world, and I understand that healthcare in other countries can be different. Thankfully, we recovered.
What also struck me is that Bali was different from my memories. You didn’t used to have to sit in the car for 1.5 hours to cover a short distance. The most beautiful spots weren’t overcrowded with tourists yet. Still, I have a lot of admiration for the kindness of the locals and their beautiful life philosophy. They believe in ‘those who do good will meet good’ and contribute to the harmony of the world by believing that opposites like good and evil, light and dark, are equally important.
I don’t know if I will ever return to Bali. There are so many other places to explore and experiences to be had, and time is limited. Personally, I believe you don’t have to travel far to find happiness, as there are places in Europe that perfectly match what I’m looking for. The only downside is that the temperatures might not be as pleasant as in summer.
What are the best activities in Bali and the most child-friendly hotels?
You can read this and more in all our blogs about Indonesia.
When planning your trip to Bali, there are several ways to book your accommodations and activities. If you prefer to handle everything yourself, you can easily find accommodations that suit your preferences through Booking.com. For unique excursions and tours GetYourGuide is an excellent choice. Would you rather have everything arranged at once? Then TUI offers complete packages for a worry-free vacation. If you’re looking for more flexibility and want to customize your trip, check out Riksja, where you can build your own ideal journey with various building blocks.
My name is Cindy, and I have been married to Sven, my best friend and partner, for 13 years now. Together, we have three children: Dan, who is 11 years old, and Kate and Jady, who are both 7 years old. Our life is anything but boring, and we have experienced many exciting adventures over the past few years.
My biggest dream is to see as much of the world as possible. Although that dream has evolved over the years, I’ve realized that I especially love luxury travel, particularly to destinations with sunny weather and beautiful hotels.
When the twins were born, I feared that traveling would not be possible for a while. Fortunately, it is getting easier as they grow older, and they already have quite a few flying hours under their belts. We often choose destinations that they enjoy because their happiness is our happiness.
Lately, I’ve been traveling more often without the kids, giving us a bit more freedom. Traveling always brings many special experiences: new encounters, beautiful weather, and the discovery of new things. There is so much to share about my travel adventures, and I love doing so, not just for myself but also for those who read my stories. So, welcome to my world full of wonders and adventures!
Read all of Cindy’s adventures at heavydreamertravel.com and follow her on Instagram @heavydreamer_travel.
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Welcome to my blog!!! I’m Marlyn, and along with my husband and our two children (born in 2018 and 2020), we are a traveling family from the Rotterdam area
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