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5 dreamy Airbnb stays and experiences in Bali

Soak yourself in nature and culture

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Photo by Marvin Meyer

Bali has been one of the top destinations in every traveler’s bucket list. Some want it for adventure, some want to visit the place for their honeymoon, others want it for the ‘gram, and some just want to embark on their own quest à la Eat, Pray, Love. Whatever your reason is, there’s always a place for you to stay in Bali.

Here are our recommended stay and the experiences you can try using the Airbnb app:

Ubud

If you’ve watched Eat, Pray, Love, chances are you want to experience Bali the way Liz Gilbert did. Ubud is filled with green valleys and rice terraces, a perfect setting for contemplating about life and meditation. It’s also rich in arts, culture, and history so if it’s your jam, this is the place to go.

Where to stay: The Studio Villa Madella

 

What to do: Go on a cultural tour

Take a trip around Ubud and take photographs of its scenic and picturesque landscapes. Visit a volcano, a temple, and walk around rice terraces. Drop by the bamboo forest at Penglipuran village, and stop at the coffee garden to capture a glimpse of a traditional coffee making session.


Lovina Beach

Fancy watching time slip away? Lovina beach is the place to go! There’s not much to do, and people who want to take a break from doing anything should stay here. Go and play around the volcanic beaches, or spend the night slowly while sipping Bintangs.

Where to stay: Spice House Inn

Spice House Inn is a beachfront boutique-style apartment house located in Kaliasem village. It’s situated within a unique and historical community, and of course, a harmonizing sound of waves crashing down the shore.

What to do: Nothing

Lovina is a place where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the ocean breeze. Go and read a book, sleep to your heart’s content, or just be at ease. Just don’t spend lots of time on your phone, and remember to make time to those who matter.


Seminyak

If you have the money, then let’s burn it. Seminyak is a quieter spot that attracts jet-setters instead of backpackers frequenting Kuta Beach. It has a relaxing atmosphere that every traveler craves. If you’re a jet-setter, Seminyak offers luxe accommodations surrounded with upscale restaurant and bars. Sounds like your style? Better add this to your itinerary!

Where to stay: Chloe Villa

What to do: Charter a private boat!

Use that hard-earned money and take a once-in-a-lifetime experience! There are tours being offered to tour Nusa Penida via a private boat. If a private boat isn’t enough to convince you, let me tell you this: You’ll also get a chance to swim with manta rays, snorkel, explore the island and see the iconic Kelingking cliff that you always see on Instagram. Sounds fun, right?


Canggu

Recommended by a friend who frequently visits Bali, Canggu is a laid-back town tucked behind the popular Kuta and Seminyak. Backpackers, young travelers, surfers, and digital nomads are attracted with the vibe this town offers, along with its lush greenery and hipster cafes. Oh, it’s also filled with yoga stations and sites where you can get a lot of creative inspiration.

Where to stay: Ethnic Wooden House

What to do: Surf and chill!

Canggu has a quieter surfing scene compared to Kuta. Take advantage of having less crowd so you can learn how to surf without being bothered by numerous swimmers and surfers in the sea. If you get exhausted, grab some snacks on any hipster cafe and watch the sunset!


Jimbaran

Jimbaran exudes a luxe vibe offering a quieter atmosphere. Prices here are a little bit expensive, but it guarantees you a good rest compared to when staying in Kuta, Legian, or Seminyak. Jimbaran might not have a vibrant nightlife but it’s definitely one of the best places to soak yourself under the sun.

Where to stay: Villa Jiwa

What to do: Worship the sun!

Go out and take outdoor activities like stand-up paddling or surfing. Sunbath on different beaches, and enjoy this quintessential seaside town. When you’re done with your outdoor activities, head out to munch on yummy seafood restaurants. If you have a lot of spare time, you can visit fishing villages and shop on markets. Feeling creative? Make a pot or make your own perfume! The possibilities seem endless in this beautiful town.


Images courtesy of Airbnb

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New X users must pay a dollar per year to post and reply

Rolling out globally now

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New users on X might soon face a tough time on the platform. The social media website will likely start charging new accounts a small fee for the right to post on the platform.

Now, the fee isn’t a new one. Almost six months ago, the company tested the paid system in New Zealand and the Philippines. New users in those countries had to pay a dollar per year for the ability to post and reply to content.

As spotted by X Daily News on the same platform, the company might be ready to take the experiment to a larger market. New text strings have shown that the policy is rolling out worldwide.

The policy is designed to combat a wave of bots appearing on the platform. By preventing new accounts from creating posts, X hopes to stave off the standard behavior of bots these days. You might have noticed them as OnlyFans creators in unrelated posts, peddling NSFW content on their bio.

Though the global rollout was only just spotted, owner Elon Musk has seemingly confirmed the change. Replying to X Daily News, Musk says that it is “the only way to curb the relentless onslaught of bots.” He says that the current breed of bots can easily bypass simple checks these days.

SEE ALSO: X will no longer let you hide your blue checkmark

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Disney+ might get always-on channels similar to cable TV

Featuring content from Marvel, Star Wars, and classic Disney

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Disney+ | Disney Plus

The burden of choice on streaming platforms is real. If you’re like us, you’ve spent hours just mindlessly scrolling through titles on Netflix or Disney+ without watching anything. Netflix, at least, has a Play Something button to fight off that irresistible urge. Now, Disney+ is reportedly trying something different: always-on channels.

If you already cut cable from your lives, you’re likely missing traditional channels or networks that have pre-determined programming. It was a flawed system that eventually ended up with mediocre content and a downpour of ads. However, cable did allow us to keep watching without deciding what comes next.

Now, according to The Information, Disney+ is working on adding those channels to its streaming service. Naturally, these channels will include content from the platform’s library such as Marvel, Star Wars, and its list of classic animated films.

Strangely, the reported feature might still have ads in between programs. Though the addition of ads does mean a better similarity with real television, users still have to be paying subscribers to access the channels. Even if you’re already paying for Disney+, you might still get hit with ads.

Disney has not confirmed the reports yet. The platform might launch a version of the feature outside of the scope included in this report. It’s also unknown when these always-on channels will launch.

SEE ALSO: Macross to be available on Disney+

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Google might offer satellite connectivity soon

Starting with the Pixel 9 series

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A few years ago, Apple unleashed one of the most interesting features for the iPhone today: Emergency SOS. Designed for those who like their fair bit of the outdoors, Emergency SOS allows users to contact emergency services without network coverage. Other manufacturers, however, are struggling to adopt the same feature. Now, Google might soon join Apple in providing satellite connectivity for its users.

Despite the convenience, satellite connectivity hasn’t taken off as much as the industry expected it to. For one, a network of satellites isn’t the easiest thing to maintain. Apple is still currently offering its services for free, a gamble that may or may not pay off. Now, the iPhone maker won’t be alone.

According to Android Authority, Google might start offering the same service to Pixel 9 users. Starting with this year’s upcoming flagship, the company is reportedly teaming up with T-Mobile to create satellite connectivity for its users. The telecommunications network is teaming up with SpaceX for the feature.

The same report describes how the feature might work. Once activated, the feature will ask users of their situation: is everyone breathing, are people trapped, are weapons involved, among others. The phone will then relay this information to emergency authorities for a rapid response.

Unfortunately, pricing remains a mystery. While Apple is still offering its satellite connectivity for free, other brands might put the burden of cost on the end user. Hopefully, they won’t, but a paid version is unfortunately expected at this point.

SEE ALSO: Should you be excited for Apple’s satellite connectivity?

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