Bali Indonesia - a place where incense floats through the morning air, motorbikes hum like background music, and soft rain hits palm leaves with gentle intention. A sacred energy pulses through the Island of the Gods, one that draws us back again and again. For us at Kinga Csilla, Bali is more than a destination. It’s a wellspring of inspiration, connection and creativity.

Our recent sourcing trip took us to Pererenan, a west-coast gem with rice fields still intact, salty sunsets on tap, and cafés where creative ideas flow as freely as the coconut water. What follows isn’t a traditional travel guide, it’s more a collection of musings, tips, and things we wish we’d known (or remembered!) before landing on the tarmac in Denpasar.

→ Health helpers: On-call doctors in Bali can be at your villa within the hour, for about $30 AUD. Whether it’s an earache, a scraped knee, or the dreaded Bali belly, help is close at hand.
→ Water wisdom: Don’t drink from the tap. Brush with bottled, and keep your mouth closed in the shower (we mean it).
→ Essential apps:

• Gojek: Ride share, food delivery, massages on demand. A Bali essential.

• WeChat: For booking beach clubs, restaurants and spas.

• Wise: Handy for exchanging currency and keeping track of spending.

Staying in Pererenan: Our Home Away from Home

Why Pererenan? It’s Canggu’s slower, gentler neighbour. Think fewer scooters, more soul. Work-friendly cafés, wide beaches, and a slower pace of life. The kind of place where inspiration lands softly, and mornings stretch sweetly into afternoons.

Villa or Resort?
If you’re travelling with friends or family, opt for a villa, but ask for a floor plan and note that most pools are unfenced. We loved being walking distance to good coffee but far enough from the chaos to actually breathe.

Where We Ate (and Loved) in Pererenan

Morning starts:

• St Ali – A Melbourne classic, Bali edition.

• Baked – Flaky pastries, sun-drenched corners.

• Barrow – Local produce, simple done beautifully.

Midday meals:

• Sika Warung (Seminyak) – Traditional and soul-warming.

• Le Bajo – All-day dining, a croc-shaped pool (!), and an open-air layout perfect for lounging.

Evenings out:

• Optimist – Refined, but still relaxed.

• Smoked – Slow-cooked everything.

• La Brisa – Yes, it’s popular. Yes, it’s worth it.

• Bar Vera – For a golden-hour aperitivo.

Bali Moments We Treasure

• Therapy Spa (Jl Pererenan) – Peaceful atmosphere, divine treatments, and skin-loving products you’ll want to take home.

• Bali Art Supplies – A creative’s heaven. Affordable, expansive, and full of surprise.

• Beach battering – Sarongs and hand-crocheted bags from the women who line the shore.

• Paddle ball at sunset – Silly, sweaty, satisfying.

A Word on Shopping

For those who live and dress with intention:

• Hijack Sandals

• Island Traders

• Muse Store

• Le Bajo Shop – Let’s just say… we’re keeping them in business.

• Kindred brands like Magali Pascal, Elcie, Chasing Unicorns, The Bali Tailor, Mia Bali, and Cassandro are also worth a visit if you resonate with the Kinga Csilla spirit.

A Note on Respect

Bali is breathtaking, but it’s also fragile. Over-tourism has its consequences. We encourage all visitors to tread lightly. Be kind, be reverent, and be generous in spirit. This island has offered us so much. May we all give something back.

Until Next Time

From sunset beach clubs to early café mornings, there’s something about Bali that lingers in the soul. We came here to source fabrics and find new artisans, but left with much more. Gratitude. Stillness. And a little extra sand in our suitcases.