How can I go to Alas Harum Bali and not be disappointed?

Are you a fan of spending time on social media? How about creating content for them?

Have you ever noticed spaces that seem to be specifically designed for striking Instagram photos: beautiful views, breathtaking panoramas, selfie spots? But here's the question: can you actually enjoy yourself in such places? Let's figure it out.

One of the Instagrammable spots in Ubud is Alas Harum Bali. On its premises, you'll find: a landscaped park, wooden nests and hearts for photos, suspension bridges, swings, zip lines, a cafe with coffee tasting sets, dress rentals, and the Cretyaubud complex with three-tiered pools

Alas Harum Bali is located in the north of Ubud, not far from the Tegallang rice terraces.

Operating hours are daily from 8:00 to 19:00.

Free parking.

Instagram:

The cost of the Day Pass is 50K per person. Tickets can be purchased at either of the two counters. It is valid for both Alas Harum Bali and Cretyaubud."

You leave your bike, purchase a ticket, and proceed to the security check area where they confiscate any food and water you might have brought – outside items are not allowed on the premises. A 330ml bottle of water inside costs 35-40K. For comparison, in a regular store, we usually pay 2-3K for the same volume.

Then you proceed along the path from the entrance to the pool, where staff members inquire about your destination to guide you. 'To the restaurant? Where? Where are you going? And where are you headed?' The first two times are pleasant, the next two times you start feeling tense, by the fifth time it seems like some kind of joke, and honestly, it gets annoying after that. In total, I was asked 8 times.

You've arrived! The three-tiered pool area! On the third level, there's a bar, a shallow pool, and a jacuzzi. On the second floor, there's a pool with a rain effect and a place to leave your bags. On the first floor, there's a small pool with a hot jacuzzi and a lounge area with sofas.

When the sun is shining brightly, and the grass is green after the rains, the view is beautiful, and you feel good. It doesn't even bother you that next to your head, sticking out of the jacuzzi, someone's photographer is running around fully dressed and equipped with cameras. But if it's overcast outside, and the grass is scorched, and the slopes look shabby, you start finding fault with the pools too: too many people, the tiles are not right, the water is cool.

Maybe just have a drink? You go to the bar to drown your sorrows. 130K for a cocktail with dried fruits and syrups. There's also food: Chicken Sate - 75K

Maybe sit at a table in the restaurant by the pool?

Deposit for a poolside table - 500K, but you won't be able to get a seat there because all the spots are taken. They need to be booked in advance at +62 812 3802 1174.

Cost of poolside spots:

Can you order a hookah at the bar? Yes, but you'll have to wait in line. We waited for an hour.

After enduring the pool, you can take a walk in the park, answering the staff's question a couple more times: 'Where are you going?'

The park is a winding path with grottoes, statues, a waterfall, a suspension bridge, and a river. The landscape design is diverse

There is infrastructure around: cafes with ice cream, swings, rope attractions, a shop with tea and coffee, a civet coffee brewing installation, glass canopies, and wooden structures for photos.

I have been to the park twice. Once at 6:00 PM when it got dark, tourists left, and the paths were lit by lanterns. The atmosphere was magical and meditative. Music from the pool is playing in the distance, you walk barefoot across the suspension bridge, and there's no one around.

The second time I was there during the day: many tourists, everyone taking pictures, it's noisy, and the grass is dried, somewhere it's missing, and it looks untidy.

To enhance the park experience, my friends and I went for a tasting. A set of 14 drinks: 7 cups of coffee, 7 cups of tea. It turned out that sugar is added to each cup by default. Essentially, you're drinking something very syrupy and overly sweet. There's nothing of great coffee there, and you'll have to buy Luwak coffee separately.

If you need to take photos for social media, you can consider it as a cool workplace - one park, various locations. Dresses can be rented on-site or across the street.

But you will have a terrible time if you:

If your goal is not Instagram photos but relaxation in a pleasant place, it's better not to go at all and choose a cafe with an infinity pool.

If you have hopes for this place or don't want to be disappointed completely:

Entrance - 50K Coffee tasting - 100K Luwak coffee - 100K Cocktail - 130K Hookah - 150K Eating - 145K Swings min - 176.4K Dress rental - 176.4K

For those who have already been there, what was your experience? Did you like it?