Bali Bliss Beyond Expectations

My extensive work with Indonesia's Honorary Consul gave me deep knowledge of the country. I helped with official events and communications, and nominated people for official groups. However, I had never been to Indonesia. Friends who visit Indonesia often come and share their beautiful stories and vivid memories, which only fueled my curiosity and desire to experience it firsthand. I finally got the chance to visit Indonesia, an archipelago in Southeast Asia and Oceania made up of over 17,000 islands, after almost a decade of my acquaintance with the Honorary Consul.

This time, we three friends, along with our spouses, decided to visit Bali. The decision turned out to be one we will cherish forever. The experience of this visit was more fantastic than expected. Our friend Binod Sapkota, who runs a travel company in Kathmandu, helped us plan the trip. He suggested key tourist spots and helped arrange our hotel and local guide for the five-day stay in Bali. We flew via Singapore Airlines at 11 pm on the 30th of April with a layover in Singapore. From Singapore, we flew to Denpasar, Bali, in the morning. We reached Bali at around 11 am local time on the 1st of May. Bali welcomed us in its warm, tropical embrace, and the adventure began as soon as we stepped off the plane.

Our journey started with something quite surprising. My luggage got lost and we had to wait a few hours at the airport. The airline staff inquired and found that the luggage was missing at the Singapore airport and was coming via the next flight. However, the airline company apologized and handed over 750,000 Rupiah to me for their mistake in luggage delivery. At first, we were annoyed with the airlines and their staff as they said the luggage was missing. However, the hefty fine they paid for the mistake surprised us. In yet another case, when we went to the money changer and asked for the change of a few hundred US dollars, they handed millions of Indonesian Rupiah to us. Imagine holding a million in your hands! We were not used to such large denominations. I had seen a million Rupiah note for the first time. We chuckled while counting the thick bundles of notes. It felt strange until dinner at Jimbaran Bay cost 3.3 million Rupiah.

Bali welcomed us with wide, clean roads, soft sea breezes, and flower garlands from our local travel agent. It was clear that Bali valued hospitality and tradition. We saw smiling faces at the airport and hotel, in every corner, shops, temples, and tourist attractions. We went to the Sailor Phinisi Cruise for a sunset dinner the same evening. As the cruise entered the sea, the sky slowly turned golden. The sun went down and dove into the sea. We enjoyed live music, samba dance, and a thrilling fire show. After the musical show, we enjoyed dinner on the cruise. The breathtaking view of the sea and the musical sound of the waves created an incredible moment. It felt like a dream for us.

On the second day, we visited Tanjung Benoa, Bali's adventure hotspots. We glided over the waves on a banana boat, flew high over the sea in parasailing, and soared across the water on jet skis. That banana boat ride became an unforgettable Bali memory for us. We fell off the banana boat during the ride and scraped our knees on the sand. However, we thoroughly enjoyed all the water activities.

Later, we visited Uluwatu Temple. This temple is located atop a cliff overlooking the sea. From that height, we saw an endless sea stretching in almost every direction, nearly a full 360-degree view. Sadly, we missed the Kecak Dance on our bucket list. We missed the show as it was already fully booked. Instead of waiting nearly three more hours for the next performance, we returned for a city tour. We visited various markets and malls there, spending time and money freely.

On day three, we drove to the east of Bali, the Lempuyang Temple, famously known as the Gates of Heaven. In Bali, you must wear proper clothing, usually a sarong and sash, when entering any temple. This shows their respect for the culture. It also shows how well-cultured and disciplined the Balinese are. We waited in a long line, wearing sarongs and sashes, to take the iconic photo, standing between the two stone gates. This is one of the best photo spots in Bali.

Returning to our hotel, we visited Tirta Gangga, the royal Water Palace built in the 1940s. There, we enjoyed the sight of fountains, lotus ponds, colorful koi fish, and beautifully carved ancient statues. We strolled along the iconic stepping stones that crisscross the water and captured the beauty of the place as best as we could. We stayed there till late in the evening.

On our fourth day, we visited Tanah Lot Temple, a seaside shrine. The temple is another famous sea temple with deep cultural and spiritual significance. The temple is perched on a rock in the ocean. One can enjoy stunning views of the ocean and sunset from there. However, we could not wait till sunset. We spent a few hours there enjoying the beautiful view of the seashore, strolling around, taking photos, and making videos. In the afternoon, we visited local markets and drank famous coconut water. I liked the size and freshness of the coconut in Bali. We had our dinner at Jimbaran Bay that evening. We enjoyed seafood. It was the perfect finale to our Bali stay.

On the fifth day, or the final day in Bali, we had a few hours for shopping and a city tour before we bid farewell to Bali. In the afternoon, we flew to Singapore. We spent the night exploring Sentosa Island, riding the cable car, and enjoying the dazzling Wings of Time, a water and light show by the sea.

The Balinese people, always soft-spoken and smiling, radiated a peace that stayed with us long after returning home. Bali, a small province of 5.5 square kilometers and 4.4 million people, attracts more than 15 million tourists yearly (5.2 million international and 9.8 million domestic tourists as per the data of 2023). 

The cleanliness, the serenity, the energy of the local culture, and the people all left us in awe. And of course, the currency. We felt like millionaires overnight. But, even small purchases needed millions of Rupiah, enough for us to make plenty of jokes and laugh. 

I cannot express how extraordinary the Bali experience was in words. It blends natural beauty, historical and cultural richness, adventure, and heartfelt hospitality perfectly. More than this, traveling with family made every moment more meaningful. As the three of us were with our spouses, we enjoyed that every photo we took became a chapter in our collective story. So if you are planning your next visit, put Bali at the top of your travel list, not just for the beaches and temples but for the warmth, the peace, and the feelings. And yes, do not forget to carry a big and secure wallet. You will need it to have millions of Rupiah!

(Pokharel writes on business and economic issues.)