Getting to Know Bali
(Taken at Uluwatu Cliff, July 21, 2017)
It has been a family tradition that we go on a trip together every 3rd week of July. This is because my mom, sister, and I's birthdays are so close to each other that planning a long vacation can cover all of them. For 2017, we decided it was time to visit Bali.
We've been hearing and reading a lot of beautiful things about this place and looking at the photos made us envious of people who already got to experience its beauty. It all started in October of 2016 when my sister (who diligently looks out for seat sales) found a really affordable one-way ticket to Bali. She called me up and we both decided that it would be the perfect Christmas gift for our mom. Of course she had to book the plane ticket on our birthday week so it could also serve as a birthday present. Yes, that's how clever my sister is.
Come early 2017, I was already super pumped to go to this awesome place. I was already thinking of the fun I was going to have; the beaches, the photos I will be taking--all of the touristy stuff I could think of. My sister even prepared a detailed itinerary of the different things we can experience and I researched a lot--like really a lot-- about the place. It went to the extent of me buying a drone and spending late nights watching tutorials of how to take better videos and photos of landscapes.
(Taken at Kuta Central Park Hotel's pool area. Definitely a refreshing treat after an afternoon of roaming around under Balinese heat.)
So there we went, luggage packed with clothes, and souls stuffed with a thirst for adventure. And what would you guess? We got to Bali and almost none of these prepared things were followed. We got to the hotel before lunch and instead of prepping for what's on the itinerary, ALL-OF-US-SLEPT!
We were supposed to hit the road and head to Uluwatu for the sunset, but since all of us felt like we were sleep deprived, we decided to "do as we go" in the following days. It wasn't a big deal, though. If anything, the spontaneity brought about by not following the plan strictly was one of the major contributors on the level of fun that we had.
Here are some of the highlights of our trip:
(I honestly can't remember the name of this dish. All I know is that it's the only non-spicy thing on the menu. LOL)
NOTHING BUT SPICE, YET EVERYTHING'S NICE
I don't know what it is with Asian cuisine, but we seem to have a liking on spicy food. When we were in Bali, almost all of the dishes they recommended were spicy. And if you're one with a low tolerance on spicy food like me, here's a tip: NEVER BELIEVE BALINESE PEOPLE WHEN THEY SAY "JUST A LITTLE BIT SPICY."
But, since I'm not always given the opportunity to taste authentic Balinese food, I went ahead and tried to be as courageous as I can. Tried ordering some of their famous beef rendang, and while my face was flushed red the whole time I was eating it, I can't say that I didn't enjoy the food. Even their betutus did give me some pretty good gastronomical experience, despite how weird they looked when they were served.
Another peculiar thing about Bali is that you can find the better tasting food prepared on low-key warungs instead of high-end restaurants. Of course, choosing to eat in warungs do not offer you as much a variety, but if it's cultural immersion you're after, they sure will give you a taste of Bali (literally, if I may say.)
(A photo of one of the farmers bringing along his crops around the steep Rice Terraces of Tegalalang.)
LOOKING LIKE LOCALS
I cannot recall how many times we were spoken to in Bahasa whenever we approached the locals. Being a native of another South East Asian country, I guess it's not surprising that people would look like Filipinos too. Or that we look Indonesian to their eyes as well.
To be honest, this kind of helped us a bit, because people didn't have the "oh they're tourists!" mindset toward us. You know how it is when you are in another country; people tend to sell higher prices for tourists, or charge a little bit more if they know you're foreign. Just like the entrance fee to Tegenungan Waterfalls where they charge IDR20K for tourists, but only IDR15K for locals. Luckily, with the help of the Google Translate App, we were able to get this discount. All I had to do was walk up to the attendant and say "Lima" (Bahasa for 5) which also happens to be the Filipino term for it. I do feel a little guilty about doing this, though.
Apart from that, looking like a local helped in getting ourselves at ease with the place. It made it easier to go around and approach people. It caused us to somehow get rid of our paranoia and move at a slower pace--more relaxed to absorb all the beauty that made itself manifest in front of us.
(A woman passionately does the ritual at the Tirta Empul fountains. These waters are believed to possess magical healing capabilities that could also lead you to the realization of your wishes.)
POUNDING TEMPLES
PURA TIRTA EMPUL. The core of my Bali experience can be divided into 3 aspects: temples, greenery, and of course, beaches.
While we didn't go to very many temples in Bali as we did in Cambodia, I was still blown away by how rich this place is in terms of religion. I guess there's a reason why this place is called the Island of the Gods. They do pay tribute to their gods and basing it on the structure and detail of their temples, they do this with such intricacy and effort.
One of the noteworthy temples that we went to was the Tirta Empul where very many people visit due to its believed healing powers. Pura Tirta Empul literally translates to HOLY WATER TEMPLE. This temple is a compound where you can find bathing structures and fountains.
The waters of Tirta Empul are said to be purifying, reason for most Hindus to soak in its waters to clear themselves of any baggage, or any sins. Apart from this, it is also believed to grant wishes and heal sicknesses provided that you perform the ritual properly.
(The Uluwatu Cliff is home to the Uluwatu Temple which is said to be the final worshiping place of one's spiritual journey.)
PURA LUHUR ULUWATU. Another temple worthy of mentioning is the Uluwatu Temple which is considered as one of Bali's 6 pillar temples. The term "ulu" literally means top, while "watu" stands for stone or rock. The place literally tells you that it is the tip of a huge rock. And pardon the pun here, but yes, it totally rocks.
Undeniably, what makes this temple so stunning is the fact that it sits on top of a cliff that's almost 250 feet above the sea. Add to that the fact that the breathtaking view of the Indian Ocean is just peeking from the background giving you the most astounding sunsets. The cliff is also home to a small forest that is home to hundreds of monkeys which have been part of the attraction. You have to be very careful with your belongings, though, as these monkeys are quite mischievous.
The Balinese believe that the divine powers of three of their deities converge in this temple making it powerful enough to protect the whole of Bali from evil spirits.
In a modern world, it's amazing that Balinese people have preserved such precious culture and belief amongst them. It gives me such bliss to realize that amidst the craziness of this digital world, there exists this place where people hold their beliefs tightly--where faith and trust upon the Gods are with utmost value.
(Spreading some love and good vibes. Taken at the top of Tegalalang Rice Terraces.)
NATURE THAT CALLS
Another great part of Bali is its natural scenery. I think this is one of the main reasons why this place attracts so many tourists from all over the world.
From the moment your plane approaches the vicinity of Denpasar area, you are already greeted with a view of a modern airport juxtaposed with a picturesque view of the sea. From high above, the Ngurah Rai Airport seemed like the perfect marriage of nature and technology.
While the Philippines has her own share of a variety of scenic views and majestic landscapes, Bali's was not to be left unnoticed. One that rises to the top of the list is its Tegallalang Rice Terraces. To be honest, I have no point of comparison as I have only seen our own Banaue Rice Terraces in pictures. And although it was quite ironic that I got to visit Bali's terraces first, we still went on and decided to bask in its beauty.
Finding this site was quite an interesting story. It was out of our knowledge that there were two sites tourists go to. One was the free, low budget site, and the other was the main tourist spot where everyone was flocking to.
Our tour driver assumed we wanted to save some bucks and drove us to the "free spot." My sister and I were looking at each other with puzzlement since it didn't feel right that we were the only tourists there. We decided to give it a go anyway and stepped outside the vehicle. Much to our surprise, what we witnessed was a dry, mostly brown version of the beautiful terraces people were raving about. At first we thought we just got there at the wrong season. That it really looked like that during July. But my sister, being the millennial traveler that she is, searched Instagram for recent posts and that led us to confirm that we weren't looking at the right Terraces.
We then asked the locals around and were told that the real Tegallalang Terraces were still a few meters away from where we were. So we hopped back in the van and went straight to the Terraces. We got there and boy was the sight a heck of a lot better than the first view.
The next struggle we faced was getting to the top, especially that we had to not only climb up, but also walk through rice weirs. And let me tell you, some of them are pretty thin. But once we got to the viewing spot, all of the panting and the sweat became negligible. There we stood, awestruck of the grandeur of this brilliant landscape. This is what happens when man fulfills his purest duty of being the Almighty's co-creator. Transforming nature into a supplemental source of human life without having to tear it apart.
(A candid snap of my sister and my cousin as they enjoyed the shores of Nusa Dua's public beach.)
BEACHES WITH ATTITUDES
Allow me to begin this section by saying, "Public beaches aren't supposed to be this beautiful." I guess that's one theory I have since most public beaches I've been to are never really this awesome. But Bali has a way of making you change your thoughts.
We got to this beach not knowing what really to expect. You see, we were a bit on the low when it comes to budget during this day so we opted for the Public Beach instead of the resorts where they had the famous water sports. It was way out in the boondocks. Thank God for Uber Indonesia we were able to even get here.
The entrance to the beach was a bit sketchy. It was a narrow alley that was a bit too wild and bushy for our taste. But we know we were at the right place because not very far from us, we could already hear the roaring of the waves welcoming us.
The alley then led to a steep dirt road that even our Uber driver found quite scary. He even jokingly told us to pray for him on his way back as he wasn't prepared for such steep roads. We got out of the car and this is what greeted us:
Again, we were taken a back by the beauty of the view. Bali really has a way of surprising you, I guess. Who would have thought that the sketchy alley and steep dirt road would lead you to a haven like this one. The cool breeze, the different hues of blue, contrasted by the color of the sand; all of them are enough to make you just close your eyes and feel that you are one with nature.
So if ever you decode to visit this island (which I highly encourage you to), do make sure that you experience at least one of their beaches. After all, a Bali experience wouldn't be Bali enough without having been to touched by their seas.
(Enjoying the beautiful sunset at Uluwatu Cliff)
SOUVENIR FOR THE SOUL
In a sense, Bali reminds you of the beauty of the world. It makes you remember that amid the highly fast-paced technological life we live, such a peaceful haven exists. It tells you that despite the current status of political conflict, hunger, wars, and poverty, we are all still rich and lucky to have been entrusted the world. Unlike Cambodia which speaks to your soul, Bali carries a different aura that speaks to your conscious mind. It calls for you to embrace its presence. It beckons you to to contribute and make the world this beautiful again.
A VIDEO OF OUR TRIP TO BALI (WITH A SIDE TRIP IN MALAYSIA) MAY BE VIEWED AT THE VIDEOS SECTION OF MY SITE. OR YOU CAN ALSO CHECK THE YOUTUBE LINK BELOW:
