Bali, Indonesia
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Bali has a Caribbean vibe; that’s an undisputed fact for sure. Tropical island in Southern Asia- no wonder there are so many honeymooners. It’s a prime location all around, but I’m used to this, so it didn’t wow me as I expected. What did, though, were the underground caves and waterfalls we went to. Nature is something to behold in Bali. Rice fields are aesthetically pleasing, especially when they stretch for miles. It was a delight to see the field we went to, but undelightful working our way up to it because it was a steep climb.
Bali Inflation
Inflation is high in Bali; I didn’t expect a pair of flip-flops to cost 50 000 rupiahs. Yep, you read that right. Fifty thousand! That is equivalent to $3.31 as of writing this post. Never have I ever held a 100 000 note in my life, but I did in Bali. My sister and I were on a tight budget, and this was the final destination of our vacay. One evening after we both said we weren’t spending more than 100K for dinner, we wanted to tip the waiter (gratuities are appreciated). We realized that to tip any amount below that seemed, well, disrespectful.
I remember Orsha saying, “Might as well we give him the entire 100 000 then”. 😂 It is true though. Honestly, in theory, we thought we were spending a lot of money because the notes are so high, but in reality, the value is drastically low. It was such an uneasy feeling. It felt to us that everything in Bali costs a fee, and I understood why. With rising inflation, one must always be on the lookout for honest ways of providing for one’s self and family.
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Gateway to Heaven
Seen that fascinating mirrored photo that looks almost….well, heavenly? This is what they call the location: The Gateway to Heaven. Before making the trod uphill on foot, we were given these sarong-looking wraps to put around our clothes. They ended up looking like skirts after we donned them. Only then were we allowed to visit. Once we arrived, we had to spend hours waiting in line.
“It’s ridiculous .”
“Hmm?” I lazily replied, looking over at Orsha, both of us utterly bored, waiting. “It’s funny how we’re here waiting hours to take a picture with a piece of glass.” Yes, that is what it is. You pose between the structure, and the photographer places the camera on a piece of mirror for the widespread effect, and that, ladies and gentlemen, is what we and many others traveled from far and wide to get. Now you see why we thought it silly.
Mason Elephant Park
Never have I ever ridden an elephant. I can’t drink to this one. Some of the friendliest caregivers are at this park, and don’t get me started on our elephant, Tia Maria. When we met her, Tia was 36 years old and fearful of bikes. She was older than us by a good number. I wonder what things she saw in her lifetime.
An elephant is brought to you by their keeper, who would have bonded with them for years. This relationship between the elephant and the keeper is formed over a mutual love and respect for each other. We could definitely see this exhibited by Wyatt and Tia. I don’t remember how long they were together, but I believe it was over five years. After being seated in the saddle, you are strapped in, and away you go on the elephant’s back. With each step the elephant makes, there is a dip in movement, so it was hard to stabilize my camera in hand. You can also note the clanking of the saddle belt, but don’t let this bother you too much.
Next, you go for a sedate walk around the park and notice many elephants chomping down on cane and other green shrubberies. It was amazing seeing such large creatures graze peacefully in the park. Some had chains around their ankles; I assumed this was necessary to keep them in a particular area while they fed. I’ve never seen elephant poop before; large yellow, trashy balls of waste on the ground that were shoveled away by the staff throughout the day were a sight to behold. I felt that I was in the Safaris of Africa just by the view of it. (I wonder if they used it as manure for all the plants around, I mean, you wouldn’t waste, waste, would you?)
After walking around the grounds for awhile, we ventured into a pool of water with Tia for a full circle’s width before exiting. This path was a nice change in topography and the final stop before our elephant tour ended.
After disembarking from Tia, we took pictures with her and gave her and the other elephants food. There was a lovely surprise at the end where the caretakers told us to turn around. We had no clue what to expect, and the next thing we knew- leis were thrown over our heads to rest on our shoulders! Tia threw this lei, and it was a wonderful surprise! Suffice it to say, I love elephants―strong, mind-their-own-business-will-look-out-for-you elephants. If I do return to Bali, I will revisit this park if only to see Tia again because you know what they say, “an elephant never forgets.”
Tirta Gangga (Water from the Ganges)
The best tour guide in Bali is named Putu. You can follow this link on Airbnb and request him as your tour guide: https://www.airbnb.com/users/show/105751477 Putu will happily be your chauffeur if you ask. You can pay him to take you around if you don’t want to take a Grab taxi. (The Grab app works just as well in Indonesia as it does in Malaysia) Putu took us to Tirta Ganga to feed the koi fish. This spot is one of the most popular places to visit in Bali. Here, people are photographed stooping whilst being mesmerized by the various koi-fish swimming lazily beneath the surface of the water. Let me be straight with you― it is incredibly uncommon for those fish to gather around that spot and stay for an extended period long enough for you to take a photo. Many persons who went had to photoshop the fish into the shot. So if you go and the fish aren’t biting what you are feeding at that prime location for the photo op, do not be discouraged. If you went and the fish followed you around, then consider yourself the pied piper of koi fish because you were extremely fortunate that day.
Kanto Lampo Waterfall
This was one of the best places we visited. Kanto Lampo is a fantastic waterfall to visit. I would suggest going from mid-afternoon to about 3 pm. Why? Because trees enclose the waterfall and you don’t get great natural lighting past this time, especially if under heavy cloud cover. Bump up that exposure on your camera and get creative with brightness or leave your pictures as is with the shadows available.
The outcrop of rocks is slippery, so be careful when descending the steps. It would help if you held on to branches going down. Putu had some local friends who are excellent photographers take some pictures for us. They were pretty theatrical. I remember them telling us to push our chests out like proud peacocks and not to droop our shoulders as they took our pictures. If you see the locals, don’t be shy to ask them about taking a picture while you’re there. We tipped them for their service because they helped make the experience enjoyable.
Note that you must be absolutely careful when climbing the rocks. When that water hits you, it feels like ice chips stabbing your back. Your teeth begin to chatter, and you start to shiver as your body fights to warm up. Trying to remain stationary long enough to make a pose was unbelievably hard. It was all worth it, though. I wouldn’t change a thing because it was spectacular seeing this waterfall.
Tirta Empul Temple
Visiting this temple is a must! Purifying yourself in the bath is a prime activity to do in Bali. Locals go here as part of a ritual for purification since it is said Holy water springs out from the mouth of each water station. It will cost you around 16,000 Indonesian Rupiah, but I would add some more to this just in case the price goes up. You must wear one of the green or blue sarongs in the water. This sarong was provided free of charge. Immersing yourself in the water felt like immersing yourself in Balinese culture. Both locals and tourists visit this temple. Before getting in, Putu told us that we should pray at each station water was dispatched from. So we started from the left and made it over to the right.
To tell you the truth, I ran out of prayers. Now, you may ask, how does one run out of things to say during worship but trust me, this was what happened here. At one point, I remember looking over at Orsha and asking her for ideas, but everything she suggested, was already covered by me. But we dug deep, all of humanity was in our thoughts, and we were so thankful to God for our experiences that it renewed our strength to continue down the line until we finished praying at the last station. Being here is a great photo opportunity, so be sure not to hesitate and snap some pictures to take home with you.
Also Check: My First Impression on Thailand
October 6, 2022
