Wide sandy beach with gentle waves, scattered people, and a cloudy sky. A person in red carries a surfboard near the shoreline.

22 aug 2025 / Crastulo

Bali – A Place We Keep Returning To

Stories

Bali – A Place We Keep Returning To

Bali remains a deeply special place for us. It’s where we first fell in love with surfing, where we’ve met countless inspiring people, and where we’ve discovered landscapes we had previously only seen online. From jungle and mountains to waterfalls – the island’s natural beauty continues to impress. It’s this connection that keeps drawing us back. This time, we once again brought along the TAMRON 28–300mm lens — a compact and versatile tool that allowed us to capture Bali’s full diversity in images.

A person is surfing a small wave in a black wetsuit. A cloudy sky and a distant coastline can be seen in the background.

Between Waves and Cafés

As our passion for surfing has grown, we chose to stay in a surf camp — located in the heart of Canggu, just five minutes from the beach. We found ourselves surrounded by people who share our love for travel and surfing, making it effortless to connect and share experiences.

Photographing what you identify with makes all the difference. The 28–300mm lens gave us the freedom to shoot surfers in action without the need for a bulky telephoto lens — a key advantage for travelers. At 28mm, we captured wide-angle shots of Bali’s beaches; zoomed in, we documented surfers paddling out or riding waves, all with a single lens.

After morning surf sessions, we’d head to one of our favorite cafés. For us, that usually means an açaí bowl and a flat white, while watching the buzz of Canggu unfold — scooters passing by, people heading to the beach or the nearest coworking space.

A woman stands on the balcony of the Bamboo House surrounded by greenery

From Coastlines to Jungle – One Lens for All

After catching the first waves and enjoying breakfast, you’re just a 20-minute scooter ride away from tropical greenery. In one of our next stops, not far from Canggu, we visited friends living in a bamboo house — an architectural gem with curved lines, open structures, and a design in harmony with nature. Nestled in a sea of green, the place felt like it belonged to the jungle.

The 28–300mm lens allowed us to photograph this space from multiple perspectives — capturing both the wide, light-filled rooms and the fine details where wood and nature meet. These are the kinds of places you might know from the internet, but seeing them in person leaves a lasting impression.

People are sitting at an outdoor table with drinks. A scooter is parked nearby.

Could Bali Be for You Too?

Over the years, we’ve seen and experienced much of the island. For digital nomads, Bali — especially areas like Canggu, Seminyak, Uluwatu, and Ubud — has become a creative hub, filled with Western cafés and coworking spaces.

But even beyond that, Bali offers much more than just a great flat white. If you're seeking adventure, you can hike volcanoes like Mount Batur (1,717m) or Mount Agung (3,031m). Countless waterfalls are scattered across the island, and there are still places untouched by tourism where local culture and nature remain intact.

Bali also invites you to explore its unique culture. While much of Indonesia is predominantly Muslim, around 90% of Bali’s population practices Hinduism — shaping a rich and distinct cultural identity.

Additionally, the island serves as a gateway to surrounding destinations: the Gili Islands, Nusa Penida, Lombok, Nusa Ceningan, and Nusa Lembongan are all just a short boat ride away.

Conclusion – The Ideal Travel Companion

Bali is a destination where flexibility matters — and the TAMRON 28–300mm gave us exactly that. Without needing to swap lenses, we were able to capture both vast landscapes and subtle, hidden moments. For anyone in search of a travel lens that combines wide-angle and strong zoom in one compact setup, this lens is an excellent choice.

About the author: Crastulo

Vanessa and Anthony are a film and photography duo who’ve made Cyprus their creative home. Since 2018, they’ve been capturing the world together with cameras and a keen eye for special moments, from endless road trips and hidden coastlines to vibrant cities. Their work blends cinematic storytelling with a sharp eye for detail, bringing the magic of travel to life in authentic images and films. At the heart of it all is their passion for making the stories of places and people feel vividly real on screen and in print.

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