Our trip to Bali in 2019 was our favorite out of all the places we visited. Today we were able to relive those moments as we toured on our own once again. This time we wanted to see some of the places and do some things we couldn’t do during our last visit.
Bali truly lives up to its “Island of the Gods” reputation! It is so much different than Lombok as we already knew. While Lombok is made up of 85-90% Islam, this island is predominantly Hindu.
Interestingly, while Balinese Hinduism dominates, there’s evidence of past Buddhist influence here. Scholars believe Buddhism thrived alongside Hinduism for centuries, leaving behind subtle traces in temple architecture and rituals.
Our adventure began at Pura Puseh, a stunning Balinese temple complex with intricate carvings and towering structures that held so many stories of Balinese history and faith. We hired a driver to take us on a tour for the day so he explained the different ways the gods in the temples behave. The columns have 3-4 layers, each one having a different meaning where the highest column is the most important and most powerful.
Next, we ventured to Tegenungan Village, where the roar of waterfall can be heard as we rounded the bend. It was very beautiful as you look down onto the rooftops of the village. After enjoying the beauty of this natural wonder we walked through the shops and picked up some clothes and trinkets for me at such a low price, it was hard to believe. One dress was $5.
Before we ventured further into this beautiful area, we needed to stop at a chemist/pharmacy for some Malaria drugs for Chuck & I for our trip to Africa. We didn’t feel we needed them for other countries but since they added Africa and we are going on a long safari (that I need to tell you about soon) we decided to purchase some. Many countries do not require prescriptions as you would need in the USA for such drugs. However, we found that we would need to see a doctor so our guide took us to the local clinic/hospital which was fairly new to have a consult with a doctor. Apparently over here there are different levels of doctors (Just like the USA) but a General doctor cannot prescribe certain drugs. We would have to wait several hours longer to see a specialist. What we decided to do was take what the GP advised and take Doxycycline, an antibiotic known for malaria prevention. The only downfall is with the antibiotic we have to take it 2 days before the trip begins and 28 days after the trip ends. For us, that’s 50 total days on an antibiotic. Not looking forward to that part and Chuck may decide, due to his age, not to take it at all. Since malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes we have lots of spray and our clothes are treated. Our friends are also lending us some additional safari clothes that are treated. Anyway, we spent no more than an hour here including waiting on the drugs and spent a whopping $26 for the visit and the drugs. Unbelievable!
Now that the afternoon is upon us and time is running out, we wanted to have some more of Bali’s rich cultural heritage. We attended a Barong & Kris Dance, a traditional performance depicting the eternal battle between good and evil. It was 5 acts and was so mesmerizing. The elaborate costumes, music, and the skilled movements of the dancers was wonderful. While not directly Buddhist, the concept of good versus evil resonates with Buddhist teachings on the battle between enlightenment and suffering. We truly enjoyed the performance. Be sure to check out my YouTube channel to see some of the dances as well as all our videos for this trip. YOUTUBE LINK
Our next stop was one of my favorites. The Celuk swing. We weren’t able to get one of the swings that are over rice paddies but it was still fun. Chuck and I were in a dual seat and we soared through the air on a giant swing. The two – three guys pushing us with all their might, coming off the ground several times! The adrenaline rush was so much fun!
Afterwards, we were offered the luwak coffee (remember the movie, “Bucket List” with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman?) that is made when the civet animal, kind of looks like a raccoon to me, poops it out. It is dried, sorted through, boiled, cooked and roasted. We declined and had an assortment of teas and coffees (15 of them) instead. Every one had a heath benefit to drinking. My favorite was the Mangosteen tea. It is a fruit on the island that I fell in love with on our last visit. Of course I had to buy some to take back to the ship.
Our last stop was for some true Balinese cuisine. Our driver suggested Iiga Warung so we stopped here for lunch. To cap off this incredible day, we had a delicious lunch. Chuck and I both had Crispy duck, the Balinese specialty, and our driver had nasi goreng, Indonesia’s national fried rice dish. It was delicious!
Before we said our goodbyes to our newfound friend in Bali, he stopped at one more place for shopping. Chuck and I picked up 3 pair shorts each. Cost $36. We probably would have spent more but didn’t have enough time. The ship was close to leaving and we had to go. Our guide, Putu was his name as he was the first born, was great and this full day trip with him as our driver in a very nice car was only $55. We will never go to Bali again without hiring a driver/car. Hopefully he will be available.
We now have a few days for rest before entering the Philippines. How exciting!
May God bless you always!
Chuck & Lea Ann
WorldTravelReynolds 