Bali for a month: Indian man stopped sightseeing & spent 30 days doing this, which made him say, 'It was hard to call that a vacation'

An Indian man’s account of spending two months in Bali has sparked a conversation on X about travel, slow living and taking a break from everyday routines. Rather than spending the entire trip sightseeing, Saran Shanmugam divided his time between exploring villages across the Indonesian island and spending a month living by the beach.

In a post on X, Shanmugam recalled a month when his daily schedule revolved around beach walks, yoga, massages, gym sessions, meals by the sea and leisurely evenings with gelato.

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Indian man recalls his two-month Bali trip

Sharing details of the trip on X, Shanmugam wrote, “Years ago, I spent two months travelling around Bali. One month exploring villages across the island and another month doing absolutely nothing but living by the beach.”

His two-month stay was split into two very different experiences. The first month was spent travelling around Bali and visiting villages, while the second involved staying in one place and following a relaxed daily routine.

Bali beach routine included yoga, massages and gym

According to Shanmugam, his beachside days started with a 45-minute walk along the beach. He would then attend a group yoga session, where participants were only required to tip the instructor.

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Breakfast was generally healthy, followed by a massage costing around $7 and a scooter ride around the town. Lunch was usually enjoyed by the beach before he headed to the gym for an hour.

The afternoon continued with healthy snacks and another massage. Later, he would spend time by the beach with a couple of drinks before having dinner.

His evenings ended with a walk and gelato. He recalled sitting on the steps outside shops, slowly eating his dessert while watching people pass by before returning to his hotel.

‘It felt like life had been put on pause’

Despite describing the routine as a holiday, Shanmugam said the experience eventually felt very different from a conventional vacation.

“Repeat. Every. Single. Day. Honestly, it was hard to call that a vacation. It felt like life had been put on pause,” he wrote.

His description highlighted the contrast between travelling to explore a destination and simply staying there long enough to settle into its rhythm.

X users react to the Bali travel story

The post drew reactions from users on X, with some focusing on the unusual length of the trip and others recalling their own experiences in Bali.

One user asked Shanmugam how he managed to take two months away, adding that they had visited Bali for only nine days but had still found the experience memorable.

“How did you manage to find two months? I went there for nine days a few months ago and the experience was amazing. Great food and friendly people,” the user wrote.

Shanmugam’s post has since prompted discussion around longer trips and the idea of travelling without packing every day with sightseeing. His account of spending an entire month by the beach offered a glimpse into a slower version of holidaying, where a repetitive routine itself became part of the experience.


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