Deciding on the right place to travel is not always easy for me to do, but having the freedom to choose where to go, and imagining the endless possibilities, is one of the more rewarding aspects about travel, aside from the journey itself. To carve one’s own path will open doors for curiosity and everlasting discovery.
In 2007, my wife and I planned our honeymoon and narrowed the choice down to Thailand and Bali. Each had its own unique appeal, which made our decision tougher. We only had about ten days for travel, so it was Bali that won us over. Both destinations deserve much more than ten days, but we decided we would rather have those ten short days of discovery in one small island rather than none at all.
Aside from a couple little snags, Bali provided us the tranquility we longed for after having endured the pressures from months of wedding preparation. It was important to us that we stay in more than one place to gain multiple experiences and get a feel for the differing local scenes and ways of living. One minor snag occurred during our arrival to the island, where we were met by four airport “officials” who worked in baggage and insisted on carrying our luggage. We kindly declined their help, while realizing they had already walked us 20 feet to the nearest currency exchange window in an effort to earn a couple dollars for their help. Although their persistence was evident, it did not cause us to think that everyone in Bali would try and provide this same type of “service”. So we declined, took our bags and were off to what would be two calming days at the Le Meridien Nirwana Golf & Spa Resort near the iconic Tanah Lot sea temple.
An advantage to staying on the coast 45 minutes northwest of Denpasar International Airport was that it further removed us from the hustle and bustle of Kuta, but still kept us in close proximity if we wanted to visit. The Le Meridien Nirwana contributes to the community by utilizing local farmers to care for the 30 hectares of serene rice terraces and splitting the proceeds among the villagers. The hotel offers an unforgettable bicycle tour that guides riders through a few miles of gently sloping rice paddies, a remote school with children in attendance, deserted beaches with six-foot rolling swells near Tabanan (without Bali’s ubiquitous surfers) and many villages that are as warm and inviting as grandmas place during the holidays. This is where villagers are busy kilning roof tiles, crafting pottery and tending the land – a great opportunity for a visitor to see firsthand the islanders hard at work.
Day three in Bali brought us closer to the beach scene in Seminyak, Kuta’s next door neighbor. Out of all of the places we could have stayed, we chose the beautiful villas of Sesari Bali. Sure it may seem a little over the top to have our own private swimming pool, but it was our honeymoon and it added a nice element of peacefulness compared to the busy areas that were just a few blocks away. We witnessed spectacular sunsets while lounging in the swagger of Ku De Ta, located on the northern beach of Seminyak. The restaurant-lounge is a hip place to see and be seen while savoring local and international foods that are presented like works of art. Ku De Ta helped end our memorable five day affair with the southwest side of Bali and then our journey moved along to the interior cultural center of Ubud.
When considering a visit to Bali, then the town of Ubud should arguably be at the top of your list. Ubud is Bali’s main heartbeat and cultural capital, and lead us to forget about the beaches and focus on the spirit of the people. There are a large number of local artisans (painters, sculptors, wood carvers etc.) who hone their craftsmanship there. We had the unique pleasure to walk by artists’ studios and witness one-of-a-kind pieces – this is art in its truest and liveliest form.
Our honeymoon’s remaining days were spent at the Como Shambhala property, Uma Ubud, next to Ubud’s adjoining lush forests. Misty mornings woke us to the soothing choir of jungle life. It was when we took a day trip to Mt. Batur that we ensured ourselves one of the most magnificent views on Bali: mountains terraced with rice paddies in every shade of green along with deep-lush valleys surrounded us.
Unfortunately, our last day in Bali was marred by an unpleasant food borne illness, which brought our honeymoon fun to a halt. Uma was a breath of fresh air in the way they cared for the two of us, even sending a well equipped doctor and his assistant to our bedside, getting us on the path to recovery. And as much as we dreaded returning to the airport, our departure could not have been more pleasant. The airline graciously upgraded our tickets to business class without us even requesting it. Even in illness, the local people continued to make our journey unforgettable and instilled us with the confidence that we would one day return to the tranquility of Bali.
Happy traveling!
Eric Kjellberg
AirTreks
Quote of the month
"Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter." -- Izaak Walton