The Caffeine Chronicles: Presse Books

Since I moved house in the summer, I often walk past the Bricklayers Arms, a former roundabout with a flyover, which connects the Old and New Kent Roads. It's a historically important location — it was a key stopping point on the pilgrimage route out of London, way back when — but isn't exactly a major point of interest these days. So, I was excited when I saw a sign just across the road announcing the impending arrival of Presse Books: a café, bookshop and arts venue.

How To Spend Two Weeks in Bali

This is the last of my posts about my recent trip to Bali, where I summarise my overall experience: my itinerary and how it panned out, what I did, how I travelled around and some practical tips.

Beaches, Boutiques and BBQ in Canggu, Seminyak & Jimbaran

I spent the last week of my stay in Bali in the southern part of the island: three days in Canggu and four in Jimbaran. I was attending a meeting in Jimbaran and hardly got to leave the hotel, although the resort we were staying in was so nice that I didn't really mind too much. Here's what I got up to.

Nine Specialty Coffee Shops To Visit in Canggu, Seminyak & Jimbaran

Welcome to the second part of my Bali speciality coffee guide, covering the coffee shops and roasteries I visited in Canggu and Seminyak (as well as one in Jimbaran) and their sub-districts, such as Berawa and Petitenget. Five minutes into my first coffee shop visit and I was already regretting not having more space in my suitcase to bring back some more coffee souvenirs, so I devoted myself to enjoying the coffee while I was there instead. And enjoy it I most certainly did!

Island Hopping in Nusa Lembongan & Nusa Penida

Although I was able to cool off in various swimming pools and waterfalls during my first few days in Bali, before long I was craving the ocean and I headed out to Nusa Lembongan, a small island off the east coast. It's a 30-minute speedboat ride from Sanur and once there you can visit its larger (Nusa Penida) and smaller (Nusa Ceningan siblings). If you aren't sure you have time to visit the Gili Islands and want something a little more rugged, the Nusas could be a good place to visit.

Four Days in Ubud: Temples, Shopping, Flower Baths and Monkey Selfies

After I left Munduk, my next stop was Ubud, a town in south-central Bali that is thought to date back to the eighth century, its name deriving from the Balinese word ubad, 'medicine'. Ubud has long been popular with the backpacker circuit and expats and there are as many yoga studios, co-working spaces and brunch spots as temples these days. Its central location also makes it a good base for visiting much of the rest of Bali: I took a day trip to East Bali, but the north is just as accessible on a one-day tour. 

Six Specialty Coffee Shops To Visit in Ubud, Bali

During my recent trip to Bali, I spent almost four days in and around Ubud. After the peaceful surroundings of Munduk Moding Plantation, the hustle and bustle of Ubud was a bit of a shock to the system, but I dived straight into exploring some of the town's numerous speciality coffee shops and roasteries. The places listed are all within about 15 to 20 mins' walk of the centre, depending on where you start. There will be a separate post about all the other things I got up to in Ubud, but read on to find out about my coffee experiences.