logo
I spent 2 months working remotely in Bali. I didn't unwind until I visited another island nearby.

I spent 2 months working remotely in Bali. I didn't unwind until I visited another island nearby.

I had already visited Bali many times, and I'm a big fan. But over the years, as its fame has spread, it has become busier. Bali's iconic charm and unique energy are still there, but they now coexist with big crowds and heavy traffic.
During my time there, I relished much of what Bali has to offer: yoga, massages, sound baths, authentic spiritual traditions, gorgeous style, and delicious food. I found pockets away from the crowds in the less-developed regions of Bangli and Sidemen. But after a few weeks in Ubud and south Bali, I found myself craving peace and quiet — specifically, a break from the ever-present sound of motorbike engines.
Luckily, I had planned to wrap up my time in Indonesia with a weeklong side trip to the nearby island of Sumba with a friend.
Overpopulation was no longer a problem
Sumba is a 90-minute direct flight from Denpasar International Airport. It's about twice the size of Bali, has one-sixth of Bali's population, and a fraction of its tourists.
It's also known for limited WiFi and cell service across large swaths of its undeveloped territory. There's no signage on the main roads indicating the island's scenic spots, making it hard for visitors to find them without a local guide. We hired a guide my friend found through Facebook, and we're glad we did.
Sumba's natural beauty lived up to our expectations. The rock-framed sandy coves, the turquoise lagoon, the landscapes of velvety green hills, and the waterfalls left my friend and me in awe. We were charmed by goats lounging by the side of the road and by horses meandering across expanses of golden savannah.
And most of the time, we had the sights all to ourselves. Sometimes, groups of local kids would come over to talk to us. The roads were free of traffic.
Along with the absence of tourists and traffic came the absence of extensive food and massage options, which we had grown accustomed to in Bali. I never found wine or cocktails anywhere in Sumba, though I imagine they're available at the handful of 5-star hotels on the island.
Most people in Sumba didn't speak much English, including our guide, so we needed translation apps to communicate most of the time. When there was no cell service, we had to resort to hand gestures.
And punctuality? We found out that it's not a thing in Sumba. Our driver tended to show up 15 to 20 minutes after our agreed departure time, then order himself a coffee before we left, then stop to pick up his breakfast at a roadside shop or get gas. He was an excellent drone videographer and photographer, though, which helped make up for his relaxed sense of time.
A true mental reset
Our four-day guided Sumba road trip covered a lot of ground.
After the road trip, we spent three nights at a boutique hotel on a deserted stretch of white sand beach in East Sumba, about an hour from the airport, and it was there that we found total relaxation.
Shaded by tall cemara trees, the temperature was perfect both day and night. We were lulled to sleep every night by the sound of gentle ocean waves lapping the shore.
Our hotel, Cemara Beachfront Suite, was $80 per night and came with great service. The staff brought us tea with little desserts every afternoon and were always ready to provide any extras we asked for to make our stay more enjoyable. Except wine. Next time, I'd bring a bottle or two in my suitcase, along with a good book.
The attentive care of the staff and the idyllic setting allowed us to completely unwind and fully enjoy just being there. We could have happily stayed much longer.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Carnival Cruise Line testing new dining option passengers want
Carnival Cruise Line testing new dining option passengers want

Miami Herald

time34 minutes ago

  • Miami Herald

Carnival Cruise Line testing new dining option passengers want

Cruise ship dining has evolved quite a bit over the years. In the classic days of cruising, dinner was almost always a formal affair, and meals were slow paced. Dinner was something that most passengers looked forward to, and no one was really in rush to get through it. Related: Carnival cruise passengers reject central Royal Caribbean element Although formal nights are still a thing on some cruise lines today, dress codes are no longer strictly enforced. Main dining room menus have also changed as cruiser palates have evolved. Now, passengers who want something different than the main dining room experience have options, too. On Carnival Cruise Line ships, for example, the buffet is open for dinner, and most ships feature a variety of casual, quick-service dining options as well. Additionally, main dining room dinner seatings are a little more flexible now. On Carnival ships, passengers can choose from a traditional preset dining time with the same table assignment each night or a first-come, first-served 'Your Time' open seating dinner option. Still, despite the increased dining flexibility on most cruise ships, passengers often complain about one aspect of the main dining room experience that hasn't changed as much with the times. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. Whether you choose the traditional set dining time or 'Your Time' Dining on a Carnival cruise, the main dining room experience typically lasts for about one hour and 30 minutes. For some passengers today, that's just too long. "I don't know of anyone in real life who wants to spend one and a half hours in the dining room," a passenger named Graham recently wrote to Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald. Carnival's brand ambassador responds to hundreds of passenger questions and comments on his popular Facebook page every day, and he often receives messages like this one. Related: Carnival Cruise Line shares dress code enforcement plans "We had two nights in our cruise last week where we left at the one hour and 35-minute mark. I would say the average cruiser wants to be in and out of the dining room in under an hour at the very, very least. Most Carnival cruisers want this from the people I have seen and spoken to," Graham insisted. Although Heald himself would love to hold on to the cruise tradition of lingering over dinner with family and friends, he understands that a speedier style of dining is something that passengers increasingly value today. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. In response to passenger feedback about the main dining room experience, Carnival is now testing a new Express Dining option on one of its ships. "Some people do want to be in and out, and that's why we're testing something on the Carnival Vista," Heald noted in a recent video for his followers. "This is what we are calling Express Dining." Only available on Carnival Vista at this time, Express Dining is something passengers can choose to enjoy if they select 'Your Time' Dining. Carnival's Express Dining is intended to be a 45-minute dinner experience, and it features a smaller menu than the other main dining room options. More Carnival cruise news: Carnival Cruise Line cracks down on unsupervised kidsCarnival Cruise Line shares new ban on popular travel itemCarnival Cruise Line gives hurricane season update for cruisers An sample Express Dining menu that Heald shared included the following choices: Appetizers: Roasted duck rollsShrimp cocktailCaesar saladTomato soup Entrees: Szechuan shrimpCornish game henBraised short ribSirloin steak Desserts: CheesecakeNavel orange cakeChocolate melting cake Heald noted that if Express Dining proves popular on Carnival Vista, it may roll out to other ships. "We will see if it's popular, and if it is, we will take a look, and then we will let you know if we're trying this on other ships," Heald explained. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Posts falsely claim low-cost carriers to introduce standing seats in 2026
Posts falsely claim low-cost carriers to introduce standing seats in 2026

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Posts falsely claim low-cost carriers to introduce standing seats in 2026

"Standing seats in planes: A new reality of budget airlines beginning 2026," reads a Malay-language Facebook post on May 18, 2025. It describes the seats as "a cross between bicycle seats and a standing position" and claims they are being introduced to reduce cost and increase capacity. The post features three images of the vertical, saddle-like seats designed to allow passengers to sit in a semi-upright position. The false claims spread after British tabloid Daily Mail published an article titled "Is this the future of travel? Low cost airlines could launch standing only seats as early as next year" on May 21, 2025 (archived link). The report claims that the SkyRider standing chairs, made by aircraft seat manufacturer Aviointeriors, can increase passenger capacity by 20 percent. Similar posts were shared elsewhere on Facebook. But Aviointeriors clarified in an Instagram post on May 23 that the "standing seats" were merely prototypes dating back to 2012 (archived link). "Designed as a bold response to one of the aviation industry's most pressing challenges, while maximizing space and ergonomics it was never meant to be taken at face value," the company said. A check on Aviointeriors' website also shows the SkyRider standing seats are not part of the company's catalogue (archived link). When contacted by AFP, the EASA confirmed that it had not received applications to certify standing seats in commercial aircraft. "Such seats would pose significant technical challenges, particularly in terms of emergency evacuation," it told AFP, adding that the design of a plane's fuselage does not allow for passengers to stand near windows. "Any airline wishing to introduce this type of seat will face significant challenges, both in terms of aircraft reconfiguration and in demonstrating compliance with strict safety and evacuation requirements." Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair also told AFP that the airline was not considering introducing the seats. However, its head Michael O'Leary said in 2009 that he would not have any problem introducing standing seats on planes, but pointed out that such a move will likely be rejected by the European Union for safety reasons.

Posts falsely claim low-cost carriers to introduce standing seats in 2026
Posts falsely claim low-cost carriers to introduce standing seats in 2026

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Posts falsely claim low-cost carriers to introduce standing seats in 2026

"Standing seats in planes: A new reality of budget airlines beginning 2026," reads a Malay-language Facebook post on May 18, 2025. It describes the seats as "a cross between bicycle seats and a standing position" and claims they are being introduced to reduce cost and increase capacity. The post features three images of the vertical, saddle-like seats designed to allow passengers to sit in a semi-upright position. The false claims spread after British tabloid Daily Mail published an article titled "Is this the future of travel? Low cost airlines could launch standing only seats as early as next year" on May 21, 2025 (archived link). The report claims that the SkyRider standing chairs, made by aircraft seat manufacturer Aviointeriors, can increase passenger capacity by 20 percent. Similar posts were shared elsewhere on Facebook. But Aviointeriors clarified in an Instagram post on May 23 that the "standing seats" were merely prototypes dating back to 2012 (archived link). "Designed as a bold response to one of the aviation industry's most pressing challenges, while maximizing space and ergonomics it was never meant to be taken at face value," the company said. A check on Aviointeriors' website also shows the SkyRider standing seats are not part of the company's catalogue (archived link). When contacted by AFP, the EASA confirmed that it had not received applications to certify standing seats in commercial aircraft. "Such seats would pose significant technical challenges, particularly in terms of emergency evacuation," it told AFP, adding that the design of a plane's fuselage does not allow for passengers to stand near windows. "Any airline wishing to introduce this type of seat will face significant challenges, both in terms of aircraft reconfiguration and in demonstrating compliance with strict safety and evacuation requirements." Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair also told AFP that the airline was not considering introducing the seats. However, its head Michael O'Leary said in 2009 that he would not have any problem introducing standing seats on planes, but pointed out that such a move will likely be rejected by the European Union for safety reasons.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store