I went to Bangli to teach English as a volunteer at a school for children aged 7 to 12.
I applied through the Worldpackers app and everything went perfectly. In fact, it was better than I could have ever imagined.
To be able to use the app, you pay a €59 package for 2 people (there is also an individual package if you are travelling alone), valid for one year. This means that, for one year, you can apply or be contacted by all the institutions/establishments on the app.
All you need to do is upload a video presentation of yourself, provide some personal information and answer a few questions.
After that, you can search for places in the whole world that need volunteers, or you can be contacted by the institutions in question.
In my case, two days after submitting my application, I already had several proposals and I also had a positive response from this place, which stood out to me from the beginning.
The school is called Yayasan Dharma Vidya Loka and the person in charge is Ketut. Accommodation was included (which was the most sweet bungalow ever) and although there was no food included, Ketut and his family were always offering meals (or always inviting me to eat with them).
I went to Bangli to teach English as a volunteer at a school for children aged 7 to 12.
I applied through the Worldpackers app and everything went perfectly. In fact, it was better than I could have ever imagined.
To be able to use the app, you pay a €59 package for 2 people (there is also an individual package if you are travelling alone), valid for one year. This means that, for one year, you can apply or be contacted by all the institutions/establishments on the app.
All you need to do is upload a video presentation of yourself, provide some personal information and answer a few questions.
After that, you can search for places in the whole world that need volunteers, or you can be contacted by the institutions in question.
In my case, two days after submitting my application, I already had several proposals and I also had a positive response from this place, which stood out to me from the beginning.
The school is called Yayasan Dharma Vidya Loka and the person in charge is Ketut. Accommodation was included (which was the most sweet bungalow ever) and although there was no food included, Ketut and his family were always offering meals (or always inviting me to eat with them).
In addition, there was a place right next to the school that sold great meals for €1.25. Ketut will pick you up at the airport and, during your stay, will provide you bicycles for you to use as you wish and explore the area. The price for two people, to cover accommodation and transportation, was 1,650,000 rupees (€100). Among the Worldpackers options, it was one of the most affordable options. If you make an average per person for 7 days, it will be €7 per day.
The classes are completely organized and planned by yourself. The children have a very basic level of English, so I created dynamics and activities that combined fun with learning, and they were always extremely enthusiastic and eager for the classes. Classes are only 1 hour, from 4pm to 5pm, which means that you can explore whatever you want until that time and even after. The kids are literally the most incredible children I have ever met. Ketut and his family are so kind and made me feel at home from the very first second. I left with a sense of accomplishment, but especially feeling truly privileged to have met them all. This is definitely a "don't skip this" on this itinerary.
1. Explore the city centre, spend time chatting with locals (it’s so worth it…!);
2. Tukad Cepung Waterfall: a breathtaking waterfall. The trail is a bit difficult, especially for older people, with very high and steep steps to get to the waterfall. You can visit the famous waterfall with the light intercepting the force of the water and also another smaller waterfall with a natural pool, on the opposite side. It’s open every day from 7am to 6pm. It costs 30,000 rupees (€1.80) and I recommend you to go around 4pm, as it’s always chaotic in the morning;
3. Mount Batur Trekking: without no doubts, an experience not to be missed. There are several tours online, but I suggest you to ask a local for prices, as it’s always cheaper. I went with Ary, Ketut’s nephew, who picked me up at 2am. I arrived at the starting point at around 2:30 am for breakfast, which was included. From there, it is mandatory to go with a small group (usually 4 people) with a guide. We started the trail at around 4 am, reaching the top at around 5:50 am, just in time for sunrise. As soon as we arrived, they gave us some bread and a boiled egg (be careful with the monkeys). It is not an easy trail, quite intense and challenging, but it is worth every second. As soon as we reach the top, the feeling of mission accomplished combined with the breathtaking view is an inexplicable moment. I paid 850,000 rupees for all of this, which is around €50 for 2 people. Contact Ary if you want to book: +62813-3929-1056;
4. Akasa Specialty Coffee: the best place to have breakfast or to go in the late afternoon to watch the sunset. The space is beautiful, has an incredible view for the volcano and the food and coffee are great. Plus, it's not expensive at all. There were 3 of us, we drank 3 fancy coffees and 1 cinnamon roll for €2.30 each;
5. Pura Lempuyang Luhur: one of the oldest temples in Bali. It is known as having the “gates to heaven” because its columns form a door with a view for the volcano. But... don't be fooled. The photos you find online, that seems to have a lake reflecting this magnificent view, are nothing more or less than... a mirror.
When you get into the parking zone, you have to pay for a shuttle to go to the top of the temple (45,000 rupees - €2.70) and, because it is a temple, they put a sarong on you to completely cover your legs. After that, you have to pay the real entrance fee (70,000 rupees – €4.20). The ticket has a number, corresponding to the order in which you can take a photo. Yes, that’s exactly what you’re hearing. The photo is taken in the order on the ticket and by locals who have a mirror setting up the scene. If you don’t want to wait in line, skip this destination. If I had known this would be the process, I would have avoided it, or I would have gone at another time when it was less busy. It’s open every day from 7am to 10pm, so if you go, go later in the afternoon;
6. Lahangan Sweet Bali: a kind of tree house, with a fabulous view, I thought. As soon as I arrived, I realized it was just a fenced-off Instagrammable spot, with several photo spots. So I left straight away, but if you want to go in, the ticket costs 170,000 rupees (€10.20) and it's open every day from 6am to 8pm);
7. Taman Tirtagangga: the water palace, famous for its photos of hundreds of fishes. A labyrinth of lakes and fountains, in a garden full of statues. It is open every day from 6am to 7pm and the entrance fee is 70,000 rupees (€4.20);
8. Bukit Cinta: this place is not really an attraction, it is an area very close to the volcano and therefore has stunning views of it. There is no entrance fee, just put the name in your GPS and stop as soon as you see a sign saying “Bukit Cinta Photo Spot”. A bar is currently being built there, which will be ready by summer 2025 and certainly will be a cool spot.
If you want to combine all these places in the east of Bali (Pura Lempuyang Luhur, Lahangan Sweet, Taman Tirtagangga and Bukit Cinta) in one day, to save time and money, talk to Ary again. He charges 500,000 rupees (€30) to pick you up, take you to all these places and drive you back home. It is recommended, as these are very long distances to cover by motorbike.
