3 weeks in Bali, Indonesia- 5/28- 6/15/2024

Day 5- Canggu-5/31/2024

We had breakfast at Seseh General Store, a really popular coffee shop,  especially among tourists, and expats. It’s frequently mentioned in guides as a “neighborhood café” where you can grab all-day breakfast, sandwiches, salads, and really good coffee. The café is known for its friendly, relaxed vibe. The coffee shop is small but cozy, making it a great spot to hang out.

We had the Avocado toast, and scrambles egg toast with avocado.  Both dishes were really good. 

Canggu

 Afterwards, we took an Uber and headed to Canggu, a surf town first and foremost. It has a few major surf breaks (Echo Beach, Batu Bolong, Pererenan, Berawa), attracting both beginner and more experienced surfers.  Over the past decade or so, Canggu has become a hub for digital nomads. It’s full of co-working spaces, wellness studios, and laid-back cafés. Beyond the beach, Canggu still has those lush Balinese rice fields. There are rice-paddy walks and cycling routes that show a quieter, greener side of Bali. There are lots of yoga and healing spaces, wellness cafés, and holistic retreats, which complements the surf culture.

The uber driver dropped us off at the main street in Canggu.

 Canggu’s main streets always feel full of energy with a mix of trendy cafés, stylish restaurants, boutique shops, and constant movement.

The flow of motorcycles is part of the town’s rhythm, buzzing past in every direction, especially around the busiest stretches like Batu Bolong and Pantai Berawa. It gives Canggu that lively, slightly chaotic charm that so many travelers talk about.

We walked around a bit and decided to have lunch at Warung Bu Mi, a local restaurant.

I ordered a pad Thai and Hoa had a chicken sandwich with French fries, and I also ordered a fresh coconut juice.

The food here is decent.  It’s one of those places where you feel the real Bali food scene right in the middle of a very modern, international neighborhood.

We continued our walk in Canggu.

There are a lot of upscale boutiques in this area.

Canggu sign in the open green field is a popular little photo spot, kind of a marker that you’ve arrived in the heart of Canggu. A lot of people stop there for pictures because it captures that mix of open space and the lively town around it.

 We walked by Love Anchor, which is really one of Canggu’s most famous shopping spots. It’s known for its open-air market vibe with wooden stalls, hanging lights, and rows of

Inside Love Anchor, there are a lot of stores selling Bali-style clothing and Beachwear, Handmade jewelry, Woven bags and rattan accessories, souvenirs, etc....

So many motorcycles parked in the parking lot.

In Bali driving a motorcycle is a lot more convenient than a car, that why there are so many of them on the road.

We are now headed to La Brisa, one of Canggu’s most iconic beach clubs

Those old boats you’re seeing hanging vertically are one of La Brisa’s signature design features. They come from real, retired Balinese fishing boats,  many of them decades old, which were reclaimed and repurposed when the beach club was built.

Lined up vertically like a forest of wooden hulls, they create this dramatic, rustic entrance that immediately sets the tone: ocean-themed, handmade, and full of character. The worn paint, curved shape, and weathered wood add to that castaway, nautical atmosphere La Brisa is known for.

As we walked deeper into La Brisa, it unfolds almost like a little seaside village made from driftwood and palms. First we passed those long wooden tables under a roof of dried, woven leaves, it feels airy and rustic.

Then we stepped into the central courtyard, where tall palm trees rise up in the middle The space feels open and breezy, with wooden walkways leading in different directions.

Just beyond that is the circular swimming pool, surrounded by people lounging on beanbags, low chairs, and daybeds.

The edges of the pool are lined with smooth stones and patches of greenery, giving it a lagoon-like feel.

The music is really loud, and the ambiance is very lively.

As we continued toward the ocean, the sound of the waves becomes louder. We reached the seating area facing the beach, a mix of wooden decks, cushioned seats, and relaxed daybeds arranged so everyone gets a view of the water.

From there, you can see Echo Beach and the rolling surf, with the horizon wide open in front of you.

 It’s the perfect spot for watching the waves and waiting for that famous Canggu sunset.

What a beautiful place.

As we made our way deeper inside, the place really opens up. The wooden walkways stretch out in different directions, all weathered and sun-bleached, giving everything that relaxed, lived-in Bali charm. Along the sides you see tables, chairs, and colorful bean bags scattered everywhere, nothing too uniform, just a very casual, beachy flow.

The energy is lively but still laid-back. People are sunbathing, lounging with cocktails, or just melting into their seats as they look out toward Echo Beach. The sound of the waves mixes with the music, and every now and then a breeze comes through from the water.

We are now leaving La Brisa club and heading to Echo Beach, walking there after La Brisa gives you a totally different feel.  As you step onto the sand, the first thing you notice is the dark, volcanic shoreline, soft but slightly coarse, stretching out in long, open curves.

As we walked along the shore there is a blend of simple beach cafés, surf shacks, and relaxed bars perched slightly above the sand.

The waves are constant and powerful, rolling in one after another.

We walked by a beachfront lookout platform that line parts of Echo Beach. These platforms are built a bit above the sand and they serve a few purposes. Surfers use them to check the swell, tides, and break conditions before heading out. From the top, you can get a clear, unobstructed view of the surf lineup. Some platforms are part of the sea wall system that protects the shoreline from erosion. The stairs let people climb up to enjoy the view while still serving a practical function. For visitors, it’s simply a great vantage point. When you stand on top, you get a sweeping panorama of Echo Beach, the dark sand stretching out, La Brisa in the distance, and the endless horizon.

From our vantage point on the cement platform at Echo Beach, the scene is striking. Below are massive black volcanic rocks jut out of the ocean, forming natural barriers that the waves relentlessly crash against. The water around them churns with frothy white spray, and the rhythm of the surf creates a sense of raw, untamed energy.

The contrast between the dark rocks and the deep blue of the ocean, combined with the powerful movement of the waves, makes the coastline feel dramatic and almost sculptural, an impressive reminder of the force of nature along Bali’s west coast.

We are now leaving Echo beach and headed back to our villa.

NEXT... Pool/Seseh Beach/Dinner at Bu Reka