An Indian entrepreneur has shared how spending two months in Bali changed the way he looked at taking a break. Instead of filling his trip with sightseeing and moving from one place to another, he spent the second month following almost the same routine every day.
Saran Shanmugam, an Indian entrepreneur based in North Carolina, recently recalled the experience on X. His first month in Bali was spent travelling around the island and visiting different villages. The second month was very different.
He chose to stay near the beach and slow things down. His days followed a fixed pattern that included walking, yoga, healthy meals, massages, scooter rides, gym sessions, drinks and long evenings. There was no rush to visit another place or plan the next
activity.
His Days Started With A Beach Walk
Shanmugam began each morning with a 45-minute walk along the beach. He then joined group yoga classes held near the sea. The sessions worked on a tip-based system, so people could simply leave a tip for the instructor.
After yoga, he would have breakfast before heading out for a $7 massage. A scooter ride around the town was another regular part of his morning, followed by lunch near the beach. His routine continued into the afternoon.
He would spend around an hour at the gym before having some healthy snacks. Another massage would then become part of the schedule. By evening, Shanmugam would have a couple of drinks by the beach before dinner.
Once he had eaten, he would take another walk at night.
Gelato Became Part Of His Nightly Routine
His day ended with a simple ritual. Shanmugam would buy gelato and sit on the steps outside the shops, taking his time while watching people walk past.
After that, he would return to his hotel and sleep, only to repeat almost the exact same schedule the next morning. The routine included the same set of activities every day: a beach walk, yoga, breakfast, massage, a scooter ride, lunch, the gym, snacks, another massage, drinks, dinner, a night walk and gelato.
While such a schedule may sound relaxing, Shanmugam said the lack of change made the experience feel unusual for a holiday.
Years ago, I spent two months traveling around Bali – one month exploring villages across the island and another month doing absolutely nothing but living by the beach.
My daily routine when I stayed put for that month:
45-minute morning walk on the beach
Group yoga by the… pic.twitter.com/EnT9blzMSU— Saran Shanmugam (@saranstm) September 18, 2026
He Said The Month Felt Like Life Had Stopped
Although Bali is widely seen as a holiday destination, Shanmugam said his second month did not feel like a typical vacation. The main difference was that he was not constantly travelling or trying to see something new. He stayed in one place and let his days follow a familiar pattern.
Looking back, he said he did the same schedule “every single day” and that it was “hard to call that a vacation”. Instead, he described the feeling by saying “life had been put on pause”.
The contrast between the two months was clear. The first was filled with travel and exploration, while the second was about staying put and enjoying a slower beachside routine without having to rush anywhere.
Disclaimer: This article is based on user-generated content. The claims made in the original post have not been independently verified by News18.
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