BALI – GREEN PEARL OF INDONESIA
… „Travelling teaches modesty manner. You see how little space you occupy in the world „…
G. FLAUBERT.
The Bali expedition was our first long journey, which I decided to organise completely independently. I made this decision mainly because of my sentiment to the Far East, which germinated during my first trip to that direction of the world, to Thailand, twenty years ago … Remembering the beautiful beaches on the island of Phuket, delicious food in Thai, tiny eateries , and above all an extremely fascinating culture, I came to the conclusion: the direction will be Denpasar 😀
Trying to properly prepare myself for the trip, I wanted to gather reliable and objective information. I must admit, however, that the majority of reviews were really discouraging … Cluttered beaches, dirty cities, intrusive, dishonest and rude natives, crowds of tourists and ubiquitous commerce. In just a one word: an overrated and disappointing destination …
Today, three years after this trip, after visiting many other places in the world, after learning about other cultures, I can only say that, as our old Polish proverb says: the point of view depends on the point of sitting … And in this particular case: from moving the „seat” 😀
Travelling by plane was a real challenge. It took almost 24h, and it consisted of two flights: from London to Doha, Qatar, and from Qatar to Denspasar. I chose Qatar Airways for this route, which I can honestly recommend. Comfortable, pleasant and even tasty. Although they are not the cheapest, you can really find tickets at affordable prices, of course, well in advance. On board of the plane you will be handed the form of the so-called „tourist visa” and a customs declaration. We should give both cards to the custom officers at the window, at the airport, and in return we get a stamp in our passport. Yes. The queue is usually long, and you will probably need a moment in it, but please believe me: training a little patience will not hurt 😀
As in most of such countries, where tourists are usually the only „income”, you really have to be well organised and politely consistent in your decisions at the airport. Otherwise, we will be exposed to additional, sometimes quite considerable costs, and this is for carrying a suitcase, and for calling a taxi, etc., etc. … For this reason, I booked all journeys and transfers before departure.
I chose our accommodation in Seminyak, in the Badung district. For two weeks we rented a Rumah Akira apartment, in a private villa, whose hosts are extremely nice and very helpful. The building is in a beautiful area, not far from the beach, and away from the commercial centre. The prices, at least at that time, were very favourable, and in addition to hospitality, the owners gave us practical advice, and even organised several of our trips.
When travelling through Bali, is worth considering the form of transport. The most convenient, fastest and cheapest will definitely be getting around on a rented scooter. You just have to remember to have an international driving license at your disposal. In addition, taxis, or very often hiring a driver associated with our accommodation, can be a great idea. In addition, it is good to remember, that the people of Bali are happy to recommend each other, supporting their businesses. And of course, you can also wander through Bali on foot (like for example my modest self, walking with a sprained ankle from Seminyak to Kuta, by beach … after a long reflection: I do not recommend 😀 )
In addition to thinking about communication, it is also good to prepare your wallet. And also, I would recommend doing it at home. The currency of Bali is Indonesian Rupiah. Most transactions on the island are made in this currency, although USD can be used in some places. At ATMs in Bali you will meet the daily limit, which will usually be marked on the machine. Notes value is very high, counting takes place in millions. For this reason, you should carefuly convert cash if you exchange money in a place other than an ATM. In this way we will avoid unpleasant situations related to intentional or accidental errors.
If we already have cash, we have transport, so where should you go?
Personally, I was most enchanted by nature and fascinating culture. This relatively small Indonesian island has been heavily influenced by neighbouring Java for centuries. In the colonial era, however, it belonged to the Netherlands. Although it belongs now to the group of islands of the Malay Archipelago, Bali is extremely unique. While all the rest of Indonesia is dominated by Muslim influences, Bali is dominated by so-called Balinese Hinduism. As for the climate, we are dealing here with the equatorial aura, with the dry season in August and September. However, I would not concider weather forecasts from telephones, on which you will always seethe rain in that area. However, we must admit, that we must prepare for the heat. The humidity is quite high. Hence, considering the fact, that most of the island is overgrown with tropical forests, you should be prepared for encounters with flora and fauna, in the form of lizards, mosquitoes, and other insects, literally every day ….
One of the most captivating places in the world that I could see so far, are the rice fields in the city of Ubud. This place is so beautiful, full of a kind of harmony, and a kind of „spiritual order” that, despite the usually high humidity in those areas, he just wants to sit down and meditate even among tourists and annoying drones …. You can also take a walk through the fields. Me, due to the already mentioned – ankle sprained leg, had to settle for only contemplating this miracle of nature at its top. The path is steep in some places, and due to humidity, quite slippery.
Hwile being in Ubud, I recommend you to visit the Monkey Forest, where these animals are at in their kingdom. Of course, you should follow the practical tips on the board at the entrance, the most important of which is probably to leave unnecessary things outside the object. Monkeys will then not be interested in hijacking your glasses from the top of your head, or loosely worn bags … 😀 However, what you should not leave, for example in the car, is a mosquito spray … If you do not want to be „eaten alive” in this tropical forest , you have to take this spray with you, or at least scrupulously apply it to the skin … (as you probably guessed, my spray… I left in the car … 😀 )
The next stop in this area may be Batuan Temple. It is a temple located in a typical Balinese small town. The entrance to it is traditionally divided into two parts. And the whole is dedicated to the trinity of deities: Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. The buildings probably come from around the 10th century, made of characteristic red brick, and are decorated with beautiful sculptures and statues not only of gods, but also of demons or animals. Among the intricately made decorations, you will notice swastika, symbol which is controversial in other parts of the world. Here it symbolises happiness and prosperity. To enter the temple grounds, you must pay a voluntary tribute, in return for which you will receive a characteristic sarong, which should be tied around the waist.
In the other part of the island, more to the south, we can admire another temple complex: Uluwatu. During the trip there, you will have the opportunity to not only see some of the most beautiful religious buildings in Bali, but also the charming Jimbaran Bay. And if you go there late in the afternoon, you’ll be lucky enough to watch the wonderful sunset, as well as watch closely the famous Kecak Dance, a traditional dance around the fire.
Bali also offers other, typically tourist attractions, such as : the ZOO, even at night or safari, trips to the neighbouring islands: Nusa Lembongan, Gili, and even Komodo. Mountain climbing enthusiasts, remembering about good footwear and drinking water supply, can go to Mountain Batur, where, as we know, is an active volcano. Waterfalls, canyons, surfing, everyone will find something pleasing to the eye and the spirit …
For shopping, definitely go to Kuta. Although crowded, and noisy, where traffic jams can give you a headache, but you can certainly buy everything there: from typical souvenirs, to clothing or local delicacies … Of course, bargaining … While shopping so-called first need, we must remember that water is a necessary product. Usually, in hotels or other accommodation places, water is available in these facilities. However, if for some reason it will not be within your reach, we must remember to buy water for consumption, only in stores. You need to be hydrated. Especially if in this climate you will wander a lot. A lot of useful information can be found on the official Bali website, where, in addition to recommended destinations, description of individual parts of the island, you can read about the transport.
You probably noticed, that I completely skipped cuisine from this region of Asia in this article. This is a deliberate procedure because I decided to introduce you to the Far Eastern cuisine quite soon in a separate blog 😀 .
Living two weeks in Seminyak, in addition to visiting many places on the island, we also had the opportunity, thanks to the courtesy of our hosts, to see closely their daily lives, rituals, how they work and how they relax, what they eat. It is really an experience on the verge of a literal collision with another not only culture, but also with a mentality, way of being … It is true, that people there, are often looking for money at literally every step, that in their opinion they try to do „good business” that more and more they’re sacrificing the sanctity of some places, to try to please tourists at all costs …. It’s all true. However, is this why Bali deserves the opinion of an overrated resort with dishonest merchants? Absolutely not ! Unless from the resort’s perspective … But we must understand, that we should not look for beauty in hotel complexes or crowded hotel beaches! To find something worth admiring, you need, my dear, move your bum. Even with a sprained ankle 😉
Bali made a very positive impression on me. Despite some inconveniences, my definitely negative attitude towards bargaining, or the ever-present, sometimes irritating encouragement to shop, this part of the world has something extremely reassuring, teaching humility, gratitude and the ability to enjoy simple things … Therefore, if ever you will have the opportunity to travel in that direction, visit Bali! Taste the beauty, scents and delicious cuisine 😀 .
MyTravelPhilosophy 
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