Growing up in the surf-obsessed culture of Hawaii, other world famous surfing locations have been ingrained as THE ultimate travel destination, putting Bali, Indonesia, on my travel bucket list since I can remember. Admittedly, this dream was fully solidified when I saw the vibrant, green landscapes and beautiful culture depicted in the movie Eat, Pray, Love. For tutti!
So when Sam and I were invited to an Australian wedding in late September, we decided to take advantage of the 4.5 hour plane ride to Denpasar on our way back from the celebrations. We split our time between Ubud, Uluwatu and Kuta, and were overwhelmed by the enchanting natural surroundings and architecture, the absolute loveliest people, and seriously delicious food. One highlight of the trip was visiting the Pita Maha Resort and Spa in Ubud. Although the Airbnb we stayed at had a small wading pool for two, we were able to get the jungle-facing infinity pool experience by visiting the resort for the day (it cost just $25 and included two Bintangs). I highly recommend it if you plan on visiting!
When packing before the trip, traveling light was a must for me. There’s nothing worse than lugging around a pile of your stuff that you don’t end up wearing (amiright?), and I totally nerd out on planning a multitude of outfits from the most versatile pieces. I like to think of it as my baby step into creating a capsule wardrobe one day. I knew I would bring just one two-piece bikini on the trip, so I was ecstatic when I came across this Marrakech reversible bikini (top and bottom) from sustainable brand Baiia. I wore the solid orange side at the resort (I love that I match the orange flowers) and then the striped side at the beach in Uluwatu, so it felt like I had two suits in one!
I generally try to stick to natural textiles in my clothing with the exception of swimwear and activewear (due to the stretch and durability it requires), so my rule of thumb is to choose a brand that recycles. Baiia creates their line of bikinis from plastic waste such as fishnets, carpets, plastic bottles and textiles, so they’re helping to keep these pollutants out of our lands and oceans while avoiding crude fossil fuel consumption. They also use Global Organic Textiles Standards (GOTS) accredited water-based dye, so you can feel good about rocking the bikini’s gorgeously, vibrant colors. Best of all? Quality is not lost due to these sustainable practices; I can tell by the fabric and construction that this suit will last me a very long time.
Should I share more photos from my trip? Let me know!
