I love spending more than a week at a place so that I can immerse myself completely and open myself up to local cuisine, experiences and traditions. This two week long stint in Bali in September had me bring back so many stories of new friendships, chance encounters with healers, gorgeous sunsets and delicious local food.

Travelling solo, as a woman, is daunting to a lot of people but I find that it makes you more alert and aware of your surroundings. Being alone also forces you to get out of your comfort zone and do things you wouldn’t ordinarily do if you had company. You end up reaching out to people in cafes, at bookstores and on flights and are more receptive to their stories and what they have to say.

During my week long stint in #Canggu, I decided to stay at The Pineapple House. I found out about this place because travellers and surf enthusiasts had rated it very highly on the web. Upon arrival, I was greeted to a glass of home brewed kombucha and a Bali coconut. Era, a cheerful and vivacious lady was in charge of managing the property. She showed me around and introduced me to the other girls as well as her lovely daughter. Rachel, the founder of the Pineapple House lives next door with her cat and two adorable pooches that she rescued. Puttu comes in the mornings to whip up a delightful brekkie of smoothie bowls, rice pudding, granola and coffee.

The place is small, cozy but incredibly well equipped. Located a few steps away from Desa Seni (a yoga retreat), The Pineapple House is affiliated with it and so your yoga classes are offered there. of the property. My room overlooked the pool and once I was settled in, I requested Era to give me a massage.

I gotta tell you girls that even though it was done in the outdoors and without any fancy smelling oils and lotions but the massage she gave was the best one in Bali by far. Era is an exceptionally patient, passionate and talented lady who I learnt, can also give incredible massages. A short nap later, I left for dinner to Betelnut cafe which is next door.

The Pineapple House offers breakfast every morning, a yoga class and a surf session. They also have a directory you can browse through if you want to go shopping or order in after a long day.
My favourites around the property are Desa Seni for yoga, Canggu Fit for workouts, Nalu Bowls, Milk & Madu and Crate for lunch. If you want to head towards the beach, you can check out Fins Bar for cocktails and live music or head towards Seminyak for a wilder night.

I wanted to try my hand at surfing so I booked myself a slot with Suni, who happens to one of Canggu’s best teachers. We waited at Old Mans Bar in Batu Bolong till about 3, I changed , smeared zinc all over my face and arms and headed out. We started with ground work on the sand and then proceeded to bodyboarding. Once Suni felt that I was comfortable with the board, he encouraged me to get up and ride. 40 minutes later and after I had swallowed what seemed like a litre or two of sea water, I had a brief moment where I was stable . The mere feeling of being able to balance on the board and ride the wave as we chased the sunset was priceless. It was great exercise , especially good at strengthening the core muscles. I had a great time on the sea and picked up a coconut and headed back for an easy evening.

My stay at The Pineapple House albeit short, was a memorable one and I highly recommend this place if you are looking to practice some yoga and learn how to surf. Many thanks to Rachel for hosting me, Era for taking such good care of me and Puttu for the best breakfast and kombucha ever. I plan to collaborate with Rachel in the near future and you should watch this space for more details.

Accessibility – Getting from one place to another is extremely convenient and easy if you rent a motorbike or a cycle. If you want to rely on transport, you should download two apps onto your phone Bluebird Taxi and GoJek. Gojek is a great motorbike service that comes with a skilled driver and helmets for you and him. Its cheaper than taking the taxi and a great way to enjoy the ocean breeze in the evenings. GoJek also allows you to order food or run errands for a small flat fee. I found it pretty convenient and can’t recommend it enough but I would insist that you hold on tight and keep your helmet on to stay safe.

About Rachel Fearnley-

She started the Pineapple House after she had been living in Bali for a couple of years running another retreat business. Prior to arriving in Bali, she was on sea working professionally on yachts and sailboats for a decade. The job left her burnt out and she went to spend time in Costa Rica, Thailand and India before making Bali her home.

Regarded very highly by locals and expats, the pineapple house is a safe haven for women to unwind and recuperate. Rachel is a qualified yoga teacher and physical trainer and she trains at a number of studios in Canggu when she’s not busy organising health retreats.
The pineapple house was a labour of love that was born because she wanted to create a retreat space that wasn’t highly structured but fully supported and offered guests surfing, yoga, massage, community, good food.

Verdict: This place has everything you could possibly need from the most sumptuous morning breakfast, best massages, poolside lounging and great company. It isn’t too expensive and the yoga at Desa Seni is fabulous. You can book your surf lessons with Suni and spend some time at the sea or you can laze around at the property and read a book while you nosh on Puttu’s smoothie bowl.

Featured Image and Interior Images Courtesy- The Pineapple House
Quick notes –

Jl Subak Sari, Canggu
Website