I’ll admit it… I’m not immune to the Eat, Pray, Love effect.

I read and relished the 2006 book by Elizabeth Gilbert. Then, when the movie came out in 2010, I rushed to see it (and was only slightly disappointed.) Eat, Pray, Love sold us all on the beauty of exploring new cultures, hope, and self-redemption. And, certainly, it was a hard sell for Bali, where our heroine finds healing, balance, and amour. 

During the mid to late 2000s, frustratedly floundering in Los Angeles, my cravings raged to go to Bali. (But, alas, I was… totally broke, and let’s be honest, too busy trying to “become a star.”) And then bit by bit, the years passed, other desires took the front seat, and Bali slipped from my radar.

Almost.

When that special moment came for my husband and me to choose where we wanted to honeymoon, this idea of Indonesia resurfaced. Ooh, yoga, and jungle vibes, and vegan food. Tickets were booked and here we are.

So we have been honeymooning and digital nomad-ing here for a month. (Word to the wise, don’t try to do these two things at once. Trust me. There’s no honeymoon when you have to work everyday or most days. But that’s another story for another time…)

And though it’s been a fascinating experience, it’s not what I expected.

I keep repeating to friends that Ubud is a sort of “exotic Disneyland” for foreigners. Of course, my husband is quick to remind me that because of this western invasion, we have vegan food a-go-go… the Balinese themselves are very un-vegan. And he’s right. (He often is.) But I just can’t help but wonder… what was Bali like before the whole Gilbertian craze?

My Balinese friends (I do have a couple,) have told me that Bali is in fact so very different now than how it was before. And I guess I’m jonesing for those simple, less crowded bygone days before Eat, Pray, Love, and certainly before Instagram made us think that the entire island is filled with swings floating over rice paddies.

That being said, when we do take a moment away from work – we’re re-branding Veggie Magnifique which takes so much time and Arnold’s coaching full time – we are enjoying Bali. The people are mostly lovely and quick to smile, the scenery is lush and vibrant, and again, there’s an abundance of veggie fare. I think we’re just adjusting to this digital nomad juggling act… but I guess that’s to be expected, right?

Today’s video is a day in our Bali life – and lucky for you, it’s a day where we had a few adventures! We hang with monkeys, we try a new fruit, Arnold saves a motorcycle from a rice paddy, and we discover Balinese dance. I hope you enjoy!

Thanks so much for coming along with me, friends.

More to come about this Balinese adventure. I’d love any ideas or recommendations you have. We’re here for the next week, and then we’re off to Sri Lanka.

Anything you’d like to see on Veggie Magnifique? Let me know.

Love + Kale Smoothies,