So September is my birthday month and I decided to escape the madness and celebrate it in a quiet way by myself without having to have a rager that would end at 5 am. It’s not like I don’t enjoy a night out with friends. I just feel like I needed this time to pause, reflect and be grateful for all the blessings in my life (great and small) .

For those of you who have been following me on instagram you would know that I decided to spend two glorious weeks in beautiful, balmy Bali.

As a travel blogger, most of my nights are spent reviewing hotels in Seminyak, Ubud or Nusa Dua and as much as I love waking up to breakfast in bed; I need to explore a place by staying at a Bnb and perambulating around the island. I wanted to spend time in Canggu- Bali’s hipster and most happening neighbourhood to get to know the area better.

Canggu, pronounced ‘Cha-n-gu’, is home to Old Man’s bar, surf shops, healthy cafes to get your smoothie fix and open air yoga sessions that overlook the rice paddies. It is the perfect destination for expats, yoginis, surfers or those of you looking for someplace quiet.

Canggu, in contrast to Seminyak or Nusa Dua has a more relaxed vibe and I found that it was easier to make friends here so I stuck around a little longer than I had anticipated.

I found out about Jungle Room Bali on Instagram and Airbnb and the photographs looked absolutely surreal. I wrote in to them and decided to spend a few nights here. I have to admit that the place looked better than the pictures and this doesn’t happen often (if at all).

Set in lush, verdant Canggu in a relatively quiet location, Jungle Room Bali is a feast for the senses. You feel like you are transported into an otherworldly land from the moment you walk in. The property has 7 traditional Indonesian homes with intricate carvings, wooden doors and ceilings and gorgeous installations. The pool is a great meeting spot and a lot of the wooden tents open right up into the pool. You can jump right in, if you are in the mood or you can just open up the doors and soak in the jungle vibes as you eat the coconut chia pudding for breakfast.

The staff here is lovely and while they only serve breakfast at the moment- they are working on a healthy cafe concept for gluten free, vegan lunches and juices and smoothie bowls. The breakfast offerings are healthy, bursting at the seams with nutrients and super fresh.

On the first day, they offer you a large chia pudding bowl replete with tropical fruit, balinese coffee and coconut water. On other mornings, you can choose from french toast, eggs with avocado and gluten free toast or a black rice pudding. All incredibly fresh, healthy and delicious.

The property has a cute cafe space where you can come in for breakfast and or coffee if you wish, or you can choose to work out of there with your laptop and make friends with the rest of the residents. I loved to sit here in the morning and chat with fellow travelers as I drank my body weight in tender coconut

For digital nomads, entrepreneurs and social media mavericks, the owners have designed an enormous space called the ‘ Big Karo House’ which is a co-working space that has comfortable seating and is large enough to host even a seminar. You can choose to come in there to ideate and prepare for your pitch or you can meet a few friends and brainstorm over a cup of coffee.

The Jungle Room also has a beautiful open air yoga pavilion on top of the reception that has gorgeous views of the entire property. They have early morning classes that are available to guests of the property and you can choose from Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow or Fly High Yoga. The property is open to visiting masters, healers and yoga instructors who want to come in and collaborate with the jungle room.

I was staying at the lovely Jungle Room for two nights from the 19-21st of September (yes, I spent my birthday there) and it was a beautiful way to spend my birthday. The host Lena is very warm, helpful and friendly and she was there to show me around when I checked in and organised a lovely yoga session for me on the 20th morning. For those of you, who don’t want to do yoga- you can spend your days sunbathing and exercising in the jungle gym. The outdoor gym is perfect or pull ups, push ups, planks and functional exercises using your own bodyweight as resistance. You can also request Made, the guard to assist you with booking a bike, cycle to get around Canggu and Seminyak and burn some calories post an indulgent afternoon meal.

The rooms are cozy and fitted with all the amenities you might need. The air conditioning works really well and is sometimes too effective, particularly when it rains. This was great news because It was particularly humid when I was there.

Some rooms have outdoor rain showers while others have enclosed spaces. Don’t forget to pack your bag of toiletries when you check in but if you are like me and forget, you can always request the housekeeping staff to buy it for you from the Canggu markets.

It’s the nicest little spot in all of Bali, which revives your love for fairies, nymphs and lying under the duvet all day. Be warned though, the property is dreamy and super romantic . I would highly recommend that you come here with #bae and who knows , this could also become your date spot or the perfect place to pop the question.

Special thanks to Lena for organising such a lovely stay. To Made for looking after me and for organising a GoJek and Blue Bird Taxi even on short notice. To Theresia for making the most sumptuous breakfast in Canggu and for looking after the place so well. To Danijela for a fabulous morning ashtanga class that left me feeling grounded and alert. To all the guests at the Jungle Room for being so warm and for allowing me to share this space with you. This has got to be my favourite Airbnb recommendation in all of Bali, by miles. here is a link to my favourite house. Try and book it in advance to avoid disappointment.

About Jungle Room:
JungleRoom is a unique holiday concept for travellers with an active life attitude. Set in the lush green jungle of Canggu, the most happening place in Bali, the complex of antique traditional Sumatran wooden houses host everything one might need for a great vacation. With great hosts and lovely staff, this place is a great option for couples, friends or solo travellers looking for some magic in Bali. The rooms are well maintained and the facilities are in great condition.

About Danijela-
Danijela was born and raised in Germany before she left everything to live in Bali. She decided to do her Yoga Teacher Training from Goa at Kranti’s Yoga School and specialised in Ashtanga Yoga. She has incorporated different styles to suit surfers, women as well as seasoned yogis and likes to focus on agility, strength and breath work.

About Sasha Navetnaya-
My review at the Jungle Room Bali would be incomplete without the extremely talented Sasha. A model, blogger and photographer from Russia, Sasha too, has decided to make Bali her home. She loves yoga and is as incredible in front of the lens as she is behind the lens. Check out her work here –http://instagram.com/anavetnaya

Verdict- I couldn’t recommend the Jungle Room, Bali enough and I know that I will definitely stay here on my next trip to the island of the gods.

Tips- you might want to buy mosquito repellant, earplugs and some drinking water bottles prior to your arrival at The Jungle Room. Make sure you have stocked up with stuff to eat and shower time essentials to avoid making multiple trips to the market. You can download the Gojek or Blue Bird Taxi app for seamless transport services but if phone network and wifi is spotty than request Made to organise transport for you. Lena will be available to answer all your questions about what you can do around Canggu and if you want a surf lesson during the day, you can always head down to the surf shops near Old Mans at Batu Bolong Beach and request Suni to book you in a session.

Have a fun trip. Remember to sleep in, relax and unwind. Listen to the birds in the morning and don’t forget to catch the surf and the sunset over the rice paddies.

I’ll be back soon. Until next time.. Xoxo

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

― Roald Dahl

Quick Notes:

Jungle Room Bali

Airbnb link- here

Email – info@jungleroombali.com
Instagram – here
Address: Jl Kayu Tulang 14
Canggu
Bali
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/jungleroombali/?fref=ts
Reservations- +62-81239696629

Bag- Cottons & Satins instagram
Location Courtesy- Jungle Room, Bali- instagram
Photography Credit – Sasha, check out her instagram here
https://www.instagram.com/anavetnaya/
Swimsuit- American Apparel
Bikini Top- HM instagram
Necklace- Swarovski India instagram
Shorts-Aeropostale India instagram