1st Days in Canggu, Bali: Fresh Start & What’s Next

1st Days in Canggu, Bali: Fresh Start & What’s Next

Hello from Bali. After three flights and over 24 hours of travel time, we finally made it. We’re making our dreams come true, and we’re bringing you along for the ride. We wanted to give you a glimpse of what our living arrangements would be during our first month of budget living in Shangu, Indonesia. Hi, I’m Mark. And I’m Kenda. And we’re in Nomads Worldwide. for a couple in our early 50s that are recently retired and slow traveling through Southeast Asia. So, Mark, can you believe it’s finally here? We are sitting here in Indonesia. No, not at all. It seemed like it took forever, but uh we are finally here. It did. It was a lot of planning, a lot of hard work and dedication, but uh but we’re sitting here. We’re in the town of Shangu, Indonesia. Um we’re kind of on what would you say? The outskirts. Yeah, I guess I’m not really familiar with the city, but uh we’re about 15 minutes away from the beaches and the night life. Uh being a little bit older, we wanted to stay away from all the youngans partying and stuff like that because we want to be in bed early. That’s right. And we’ve been in bed very early. Uh we’d like to get rid of our sleep schedule uh eventually where we’re not still getting up at 5:00 a.m. But uh stay tuned. We’ll see what happens. Absolutely. Now, have you guys ever been here to Shangoo? If so, drop us a comment. Let us know what you guys thought of it or if it’s someplace after you watch this video you’d like to see. One of our goals for our channel is to bring you guys the views of affordable travel. Our budget we have set for us is $2,000 a month. Can it be done? And after being here for just under a week, that seems very doable. Thanks to all of you that have already subscribed. And if you haven’t done so, smash that button below. It helps keep us motivated to bring you better and more content. and stick to the end. You are not going to believe how much it cost us to do one load of laundry in Bali. Most people think Bali is white sand beaches and turquoise waters, but we are in the real parts of Indonesia, Shangu, our home for the next month. We’re staying at the Pinpoint Rooms, which is a shared communal homeay. We found this property on Airbnb and it cost us 375 for the month. This may be a little pricey for budget traveling, but for our first time at it, we wanted something reliable. This includes free Wi-Fi, electricity, and weekly cleaning service. The property is very wellmaintained and has a lovely pool with a waterfall feature. A communal kitchen, which has utensils, pots and pans, and a shared refrigerator. There is also a gym, if you want to call it that, which could work if you’re on a very tight budget, but outdated and limited equipment. We joined a local gym. Stay tuned for that. And a communal workspace where we’re working right now. It offers 360°ree views of the city, work working tables, and a relaxation zone with couches and chairs. Some nights, there’s even a DJ, we have been told. We traded in our 2500 ft home in Arizona for this one room studio apartment. Some would say we’re crazy. It has all we need though, a bed, a little firm for our taste, and the pillows are terrible, a mini fridge, cold AC, and a bathroom. Even though we slept most of the first day, thank you jet lag. We decided to hit the streets and grab some dinner. One of the best parts of living in Bali is the affordability of the local cuisine. While exploring the neighborhood, we found this adorable restaurant, and it did not disappoint. [Music] This meal was fantastic, which cost us only $7.50. This included a service fee, which we have learned is only charged in sit-down restaurants and not at the local warons, which are food street stalls. Hey guys, you know, when you’re on the road, you have to stay fit. So, we finally found a gym here uh in Bali. A lot of them are very expensive. They’re CrossFit gyms and other gyms that offer a lot of classes. We just wanted the basic simple stuff, weights and some cardio. So, we found the place right here, uh, Flex Gym. Uh, it was only $40 a month each, which is still pretty pricey, but, uh, here we go. After a good workout, you need your protein. But they wanted almost $100 for a tub of protein powder. Luckily, we found this place right across the street from where we’re staying. Eating like a local is so easy with Warang on every corner. They’re a small familyowned and run food stall. They aren’t just a place to eat. They’re a way of life. Cheap, unpretentious, and deeply woven into the culture. They offer authenticity you won’t find at cafes or restaurants. And don’t worry if you don’t know how to order. Just smile and point. Now, how do you know which one to choose when there’s so many? Go where the locals eat? If it’s busy, you know it’s fresh and good. Uh today for lunch, we stopped in the local war and uh we’re getting three different kinds of chicken. I got crispy chicken, spicy chicken, and chicken with okra. And then we have a uh vegetable fried egg patty and then some spicy eggplant. It’s delicious. Do you have any Do you have any sambble on yours? I did not get any. I’m glad I forgot. I think I also got um two different types of chicken and I guess we’re going to call it okra. It’s delicious. But I got the sambal which is a condiment. It’s made with chilies and chili oil and all sorts of hot goodness and it’s really really spicy. So I definitely recommend it. We just dropped off our laundry to be done. Um, express service and it’s going to cost us $1.70 for wash, dry, and fold. I love Bali so much just for that fact. And I don’t have to do the laundry anymore. And now we just got this cute little roadside stand to get some coffee. Uh, and you can see [Music] So, what do you think of Bali so far? Is it everything you pictured it to be? We hope to bring you on more fun things with us. We plan to explore beaches, temples, and way, much more over the next few months. And who knows, maybe I’ll even get some more tattoos. And if there’s anything else you’d like to know about Bali or even us, let us know below. Thanks again for your support and as always, keep exploring. Keep thinking. We’ll catch you on the next one.

Our first days in Canggu, Bali have been nothing short of eye-opening! 🌴 From the buzzing streets, local culture, to the challenges of settling into our new routine — this is an honest start to our Bali journey. In this video, we share real first impressions of Canggu, what’s been amazing, what’s been tough, and what’s next on our slow travel adventure across Southeast Asia.

If you’re dreaming of moving to Bali, retiring abroad, or slow traveling Southeast Asia, this video will give you a behind-the-scenes look at what life in Canggu is really like. Join us as we explore Bali’s culture, food, and community while building a new chapter of life overseas. 🌏✈️

#CangguBali #BaliLife #FirstDaysInBali #MovingToBali #SlowTravel #BaliVlog #ExpatLife #TravelCouple #GenXTravel #RetireAbroad #BaliVibes #LivingInBali #TravelInspiration #BaliAdventure #InkedNomads

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to watch our video!
Join us, a tattooed Gen X couple in our early 50s, as we slow travel the world and share our love for unique culture, ink, and adventure. Please SUBSCRIBE to follow our journey!!

DISCLAIMER: The information shared in these videos/website is based on our personal opinions and experiences. We are not licensed financial professionals. For specific financial advice, please consult a certified financial advisor or CPA. Additionally, we are not sponsored by nor affiliated with any of the websites or companies mentioned in our videos.

Help Support the Channel/Check out our Merch:
https://www.inkednomadsboutique.com

Follow us on:
https://instagram.com/the_inked_nomads

Join our newsletter:
https://inkednomadsworldwide.beehiiv.com/subscribe