DESTINATION DREAMLIFE

Working on the Canggu Guide

Still high on love from Eve and Steph's engagement (see previous column here!) we are entering a new week on the island. Meanwhile, the heatwave in Bali is for real. Since 7 AM, the sun has been burning on your skin, tourists are strolling through the streets more slowly and looking overheated, locals are hiding in every bit of shade they can find and are driving around in thick winter coats and gloves (yes, that apparently helps against the heat). We try to schedule our coffee and lunch dates in cafes with air conditioning as much as possible and plan as many shoots as we can early in the morning and late afternoon to avoid the heat between 12 and 3.

In the meantime, Mount Agung in the north of Bali has calmed down again and the chance of the volcano erupting at any moment has decreased. Fortunately, some of the Balinese residents can return to their homes (thank god), the sky is clear blue and the palm trees are dancing in a light sea breeze. Tropicana life is in full swing.

In the coming weeks, we will fully focus on our Canggu Guide. Our collection is in production at the factory and the weather is perfect for beautiful photos for the new book. The Canggu Guide will be our second book alongside our Bali travel guide. Over the past four years, Canggu has grown into the most popular hotspot for young travelers, creatives, and surfers right before our eyes. It's hip and happening. In the past (okay, now we really sound old, haha), there was nothing in Canggu. We used to go there to surf and there was only Deus, a motorbike and surfboard factory that is now one of the most popular hangouts. In recent years, we see a few new spots popping up every week. Many of our followers stay in Canggu during their Bali trip and have asked us for more tips, so we think it's high time to dedicate a special guide to this. We are also there weekly, still staying in Seminyak, but surfing, exercising, and eating daily in Canggu.

This week, we jump on the scooter together every day after working out to personally try the latest cafes and restaurants and take some extra photos of our favorite island stays, beach warungs, surf breaks, shops, and other spots. Of course, we have to taste the coffee and smoothie bowls everywhere, and we want to know if it not only looks beautiful (they are very good at that in Bali) but if the food is also really delicious. We are sensitive to beautiful concepts and interiors, but ultimately the product has to be top-notch and you want to feel the Bali good vibes (and it has to fit with what we personally really like, we like).

On the first day, we cruise through the Batu Belig and Berawa area. Canggu is divided into two parts, separated by the famous ‘shortcut’ through the rice fields. These neighborhoods are located on the southern side of the shortcut and are easily accessible via Seminyak. Many expats also live in Berawa, so the food options are limitless. At Berawa Beach, we check out Panama Pool & Kitchen and chat with the owner about his concept. At the new cafe Two Trees Eatery, we grab a coffee and drive past our favorite spots Peloton (best vegan food) and One Eyed Jack (set up by a former Nobu chef). We meet up with a friend who just opened her new cafe Island Deli and discover another super cute new shop, ‘Wild’, with handmade Bali bags. We note everything for the guide and take nice Instagram photos. In the evening, we try TYGR, a new Japanese sushi bar with a view over the rice fields. The sushi hand rolls were really delicious, so YES, that will definitely be in the Canggu Guide.

The next day, we drive to the other side of the shortcut, Batu Bolong and Echo Beach. This is the most ‘buzzing’ and touristy part of Canggu, popular among young travelers and full of cafes and hangouts. People dance late into the night at Old Mans on Wednesdays, The Lawn on Fridays, and Deus on Sundays. Surfing happens all day long at the popular breaks Tugu, Sand Bar, and Rivermouth. We drive into the small streets and check if we have noted all the best spots (check), stop for an iced cappuccino at the Italian Botega, and have lunch at the new Tahitian restaurant Mai Tai. We are fans of the vegetarian zucchini carpaccio and the poke bowl is insanely good. And since we are really obsessed with Hawaii and Tahiti, we feel completely at home here in the exotic interior. We meet at our all-time favorite hangout The Lawn during sunset with Onno and Kim from Quote, for which we are interviewed about entrepreneurship in Bali. And in the evening, we eat with friends at Lacalita, we love the quesadillas and mushroom tacos here. On the other days, we take even more photos and explore the Pererenan area, the area in the north of Canggu that is still relatively quiet and more like the old Canggu. Lots of rice fields, serenity, and especially the Bali local life. There isn't much here yet, but there are a few cool spots, like Maria Curau, a vegan nail spa, and Kinoa, with the best salads and freshly baked brownies every day (yum!). Never not eating, yes. Hmmm, maybe our next guide should be a food book, haha.

Ultimately, after a week of cruising, sweating, and food comas (not complaining), we have a list of over 400 spots. We have an extensive meeting at our home (we ordered the vegan pizza from La Baracca, the best) to select the very best spots and end up with 250 really nice cafes, warungs, hotels, villas, bed & breakfast stays, beaches, surf spots, shops, massage salons, and spas. We also finalize our collaboration with Bye Bye Plastic Bags, run by two young girls who want to make Bali plastic-free by 2018 with their organization. It's so amazing how they do this, even at a political level. Because just like with our other book, we will again link a charity to the sales, so we can also give something back to the island.

Okay, we are locking ourselves in (in the air conditioning) to finish the guide and sending you lots of love and sunshine from our favorite island. See you next week!

xoxo

Pris & Eve