Lovina - Week 4 in Indonesia -

We enjoyed a relaxed week in Lovina, north Bali, visiting beaches, catching up with friends, chatting with locals, and relaxing at our lovely guest house. Most of our time was spent socializing and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, so I mostly remember not just what I saw but the people I met — which was a truly special experience.

Every morning, birds visited us.

Catching up with my friend.

A highlight was reconnecting with a friend living on the island. We met in Bali in 2013, stayed in touch, reunited eight years later with my partner and his cousin, and finally had dinner with his wonderful family. We talked almost nonstop until the restaurant closed because we had so much to discuss. It was a wonderful reunion, and friendship truly is precious!

The restaurant we visited was called The Global Village Foundation Kafe, which supports disabled and disadvantaged individuals. All the staff, including waiters, waitresses, and kitchen workers, have disabilities like hearing impairments or speech difficulties. The cafe’s profits fund the foundation's activities and operations.

This time on  2025.

Relecting on 2018 — time really flies!

Interacting with locals 

The top photo shows local teenagers in traditional clothing. They mentioned they were filming TikTok videos, hence the pauses and dance moves. Many other groups of youth were also on the beach, making it a popular meeting spot.

The second photo was taken at an outdoor bar and restaurant on the beach. When I asked where I was from, a staff member started singing a Japanese song for me. I recognized the tune a little and joined in. He told me he learned Japanese at school, which was surprising because I thought English would be the main second language studied. Several others told me the same, so Japanese is likely part of the school curriculum.

Visiting temples:

We explored a few temples that fascinated me. Many were decorated with bamboo and flowers and looked stunning.

Lovina cuisine:

Ikan bakan was one of our favorites, and the squid we ordered was enormous — look at the photo. The owner told us she bought the fish fresh in the morning, which made all the difference. The peanut-chili sauce complemented seafood perfectly. Sometimes we craved Western food, so we visited an Italian restaurant for pizza — it was possibly the best pizza we’ve ever had! Owned by an Italian, with a proper pizza oven, the food was extraordinary.

Our time in Lovina went quickly. We stayed in for two days due to heavy rain but explored the northern part of Bali on other days. The relaxed pace and friendly atmosphere made it one of my favorite places.

We traveled here by motorcycle, which took about four hours in heavy rain. We hoped for a shorter, clearer trip next time. Returning from Lovina to Kuta, the road was narrow and winding in the mountains. Our guesthouse owner recommended this route for its speed and convenience, especially since climbing up was easier than descending. Initially, hills weren’t too steep, but they grew steeper—up to about 60 degrees—and our bike started struggling to make the climb. We almost had to turn back, as it was too heavy to carry two people and luggage. Luckily, a kind female rider offered us a lift near her workplace. She looked like an angel — passed us on her bike, and I jumped on with my luggage while my partner drove the bike. It was an adventure, with beautiful lake views and rice paddies along the way, ending in Kuta. Thanks to her help, we made it!