Indonesia

A Piece of Heaven on Earth

I am asked many times about my favorite country or place visited was. I always had an excuse like: “countries or communities all had something unique to offer that I enjoyed so it was impossible for me to pick just one or two”. That was until I visited Bali of course.

I arrived late in the evening; the Densapar airport is quite a drive from Ubud. I booked 3 nights at Tree Lodge on the highest nest in the compound. When I arrived at the entrance of the road leading to the hotel I had only 2 options, walking on the dirt road or going up the steps to eventually reach the sidewalk next to the rice field. The village did not have road lights; only flashlights and lanterns are used. I called my host to pick me up; less than 5 minutes later he arrived at the entrance of the road on his scooter. As we rode through the rice fields, I could hear frogs and other nocturnal insects chanting. What I failed to notice when I booked my nest was that the top nest was 5 meters (16 feet) above ground and it required climbing a thin ladder made in bamboo. Imagine climbing those steps at night without lighting scariest experience and a hassle when it was time to use the restroom. The experience was just like sleeping in a giant open-air nest basket. There was literally no door, just a woven opening to climb through. The nests are stacked on top of each other as part of a interlaced structure. In the morning when I woke up the view was spectacular. The nests were surrounded by green rice fields and palm trees. All day and throughout the night I heard insects chirping, birds tweeting, running water, crawling lizards, and leaping geckos. The lodge was in a secluded rural area with a delightful restaurant with couches, cushions on the floor, a pool, and a Bali swing overlooking the rice fields. I spent 3 nights too many on the top nest but being in the midst of nature in such a peaceful setting away from the hustle and bustle was an incredible experience.

During the day I hired a driver. The rates usually range from $35 to $50. The more days you book the more leeway to bargain the best rates. My guide was not ideal, even though I provided him with a list month prior during the entire ride he complained about how far and scattered the sights were as if I was a local and new the direction. I proceeded with my plans without a care in the world since I hired him for 8 hours per day.

My Favorite Things and Places in Bali

  1. Temples Visit

My visit to Bali would not be complete without gaining some insight into the Temples (Pura) and appreciating a living history where the traditions and rituals are ancient. The temples are prevalent symbol of Bali’s culture.  They portrayed Bali’s inimitable warmth, art, music, Hinduism, rituals and spirituality. Most locals belong to a Pura based on family affiliation and locality. The custom despite dating back centuries ago continue to play an essential role in the life of the locals. The temples are just stunning and meticulously built. There seem to be about 20,000 or so scattered all around. After visiting China and Japan and experiencing temple fatigue and the inability to clearly remember the many I visited, I became more realistic when it comes to visiting temples. I allocated only 2 days to visit the ones below just about 4 per day and Uluwatu one evening separately for the kecak dance at 6pm.

  • Gates of Heaven at Pura Lempuyang temple
  • Tirta Gangg
  • Batuan temple
  • Uluwatu Temple
  • Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
  • Handara Gate
  • Tanah Lot Temple
  • Sukasada Park Ujung Water Palace
  • Pura Tirta Empul

     2. Nusa Penida Island

A speedboat away from Sanur was located Nusa Penida an unspoiled and tranquil island despite the rush of tourist arriving on daily basis. It is the icing to Bali. The island is where the beach clubs, fine restaurants, cafes are replaced by some daring activities, pristine beaches, hiking trails, thrilling cliffs that soar hundreds of feet above the sea. 4 days 3 nights was the ideal time to spent discovering the island at my leisure although a lot of people seemed to be escorted by tour guides on day trips. My driver escorted me throughout the island, but a more adventurous approach was to rent a motor bike. When looming over the trendy viewpoint points, I was astonished by the spectacular views. To reach many of the sights, stairs are carved into rocks and at times cements leading to the ocean.

The below sights were worth the visit:

  • Diamond Beach
  • Rumah Pohan Tree House Viewpoint
  • Kelingking Beach
  • Broken Beach
  • Angel’s Billabong
  1. Resort Hopping

For the remainder of my stay I hopped different Balinese inspired resorts as there were too many uniquely beautiful resorts to only choose one. Mother nature, culture and hospitality often intertwined at the many locations visited. They often conjured romance, at times adventures and always a relaxing ambiance. They had green landscape overlooking terraced hills and paddy fields. The traditional themed lodges allowed me to bond with nature in the purest and most intimate way. Most of the accommodations offered open air bathtub, private pool and infinity pool where I repeatedly immersed myself amid the lush green of unspoiled scenery. The rooms were perched along hillsides and offered uninterrupted panoramas of a valley. They were often isolated breathtaking natural exquisiteness. Of course, there were other architectures that might have been special, but I traveled thus far to indulge in the Balinese culture.

  1. Bonus Activities
    • Body massage
    • Floating Breakfast
    • Flower Bath
    • Bali Swing and/or Wanagiri Hidden Hills Viewpoint
    • Rice Terrace Tegallalang
    • Ubud Traditional Art Market
    • Ubud Royal Palace Night Show starts at 7:30pm
    • Pod Chocolate Factory and Café
    • Monkey Forest

Bali and Nusa Penida are unforgettable tourist destination and 8 days was merely enough to enlighten my spirit. However, I managed to experience some of the most prominent highlights with the help of a private driver. The city absolute natural beauty, running waters and lush terraced rice fields convey peace and serenity. Before visiting I knew the destination would be special; now in most certainty I have found a piece of heaven here on earth. The journey was steeped in culture and heightened by magnificent vistas. The experience was a relief from the routine destinations. My mind, body, and soul were pampered. The island certainly captured my heart and I can’t wait to visit other nearby cities soon.