My Trip to Bali, Indonesia

In 2017 TripAdvisor named Bali the greatest destination on Earth and I had the good fortune to take this trip of a lifetime! Tim had a business conference in Bali and I was his tag-a-long.   When I lived in Hong Kong 20 years ago, many of my friends traveled to Bali on vacation to escape the city and relax at the beach. I  was not able to visit Bali at that time,  but I kept it on my bucket list.  I heard so much about Bali, in fact, it is a popular get-away for Australians, as it is the closest vacation spot outside their country.

Bali is breathtakingly beautiful, in fact, I do not think my pictures or my words can truly capture the allure of this country.  But Bali is more than beautiful, it is exotic, alluring, complex, and very unfamiliar. The language, food, clothing, religion, culture, and economics was nothing I ever experienced.

The Island of Bali

I was so excited when we landed in Bali.  It was a clear, bright day,  so we could see miles and miles of  Indian Ocean upon our descent, along with many beautiful rock structures. Bali is a home to some of the most awe-inspiring geographical wonders of the world.  It is known for its forested volcanic mountains, rice paddies, beaches, and coral reefs. I was in Bali for only three days and barely scratched the surface, staying mainly in the beach areas; but here are a few of my pictures from near our resort in the Badung – Pecatu area.

Take a look at the Natural Wonders in Bali, A Bali Bucket List for Nature Lovers

http://www.bali-indonesia.com/magazine/10-natural-wonders.htm

Culture and religion

One of the exotic elements of Bali is that Hinduism is the chief religion on the island which is unique as the country of Indonesia is 85%+ Muslim.  Balinese Hinduism is a distinct form of Hindu worship that incorporates animalism, ancestorial worship, and reverence for old saints.  From the time you land at the airport, you will see countless captivating statues, temples, and references to Hinduism.

One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to the Uluwata Temple which was built almost a 1000 years ago,  along a cliff overlooking the Bali Sea.  Everything was amazing, from the ocean views to the music to the religious elements.  There were three sanctuaries in the temple and foreign tourists were only allowed in the first two, but not the main religious one.

When we arrived at the temple, the guide explained to us that the monkey was a sacred animal, and for that reason, there were wild monkeys running throughout the temple grounds.  The guide suggested that we remove our jewelry because the monkeys liked “bling”.  Maybe I was paranoid, but it sure looked like the tour guide was looking at me while she was giving this warning. And sure enough, there were wild monkeys, so off went my necklace, two pairs of earrings, 5 rings, a watch, and two bracelets!

One of the more culturally interesting things was that women get very dressed up in identical outfits for their temple visits.  Depending on how they wear their hair, signifies if they are married or single.  Women with their hair up in a bun indicate they are married. While we were there, we also saw their children, dressed up as well.

The People of Bali

When Tim and I were in the taxi on our return home, the driver asked quite humbly why everyone wants to vacation in Bali.  Our quick answer was the people.  I found the Balinese people to have a shy demeanor,  kind, and generous. The thing that struck me the most was the way they greeted me.  Every day, in fact, many times a day, I would see a Balinese man or woman, and they would greet me by putting their hands together at their chest like they were praying and bow their head and say ” Om Swastiastu” which means “May peace be with you”.   A smile is a universal language so I bowed my head in return,  smiled, and said hello.  I thought, wow, wouldn’t the world be a different place if we all greeted each other with such respect.  Jeff Bell, World travel blogger wrote, ” Maybe Indonesians are so friendly because on their 13,000 islands there are 700 different languages and a riot if different cultures and religions.  These people are by and large very tolerant of differences.  Maybe they have to survive.” Something to think about.

The trip was amazing, and as much as I have traveled, my mind continues to try to make sense of everything I saw.   This was the first time I have been to a 5 star beach resort and also the first time I have been to a country with so much poverty.  The Bali economy has grown substantially, in a large part due to the hotel and restaurant industry.  80% of Bali’s economy is based on the travel industry. But despite the growth, I saw so much impoverishment. While riding in the car, I saw mile after mile of inadequate housing and meager storefronts.  Every block looked the same until I saw a  huge resort, hotel, or expensive shopping area. The contrast was troubling to me, but I have thought about this for quite some time and I have come with a conclusion.  Bali is a mosaic! It is poor and rich, it is serene and exotic, it is kind and unfamiliar.  It is memorable and will leave an indelible mark when you visit!