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Even though our Australian visas are good for a year, you can only stay in country for 3 months at a time. So we left our van at our kind Airbnb host’s house (she even drove us to the airport!) and flew off to Bali, Indonesia. Ever since watching the movie Bali Hai as a kid, Shane had dreamt about traveling to this mystical island with its volcanic mountains, swaying palms & blue waters. We knew we were in for magical adventure!
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One of our first excursions in Bali was to the GRW Cultural Park. Even though it was a little on the manmade, touristy, theme park orientation it was quite interesting. We spent hours touring its huge statues, cultural exhibits, videos and watching an enchanted Balinese ballet with live traditional music.
The first temple we visited in Bali was Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu), one of six key temples believed to be Bali’s spiritual pillars. It is renowned for its magnificent location, perched on top of a steep cliff approximately 70 metres (230 ft) above sea level. We hiked along the cliff top and marvelled at the steep cliff walls, gorgeous blue waters and pounding surf.
During our month in Bali we stayed in 3 distinct different locations to get a feel for the whole island. The first location was an Airbnb apartment in the furthest southern portion. The day after we arrived it was Nyepi, the Balinese “Day of Silence”, a public holiday in Indonesia, a day of silence, fasting and meditation. Everything was closed, no airport, internet or TV, and you could not be out of your home or hotel. So here’s some pics of our villa.
After Nyepi, “The Day of Silence”, we were ready to hit the streets and explore more of the capital region of Denpassar, Bali. We visited several temples, beautiful beaches, a memorial to a tragic event, some fine parks and more sarong wearing LOL! Here are the morning pics.
Without a doubt, Balinese culture is unique! Justifiably known as “The Island of the Gods” it is the most popular tourist destination in Indonesia. Balinese culture is a mix of Balinese Hindu-Buddhist religion and Balinese customs. The many sights we visited this afternoon gave proof positive of the rave reviews.
We finished this day by visiting a site where all 5 major religions in Bali are recognized as a symbol of cooperation and interconnection. This is important and significant in today’s divisive world. Last stop was a nearby beach.
We were very excited for the new sights we had slated for the day. Tanah Lot Temple is one of Bali’s most important landmarks, famed for its unique offshore setting and sunset backdrops. An ancient Hindu shrine perched on top of an outcrop amidst constantly crashing waves; Tanah Lot Temple is simply among Bali’s not-to-be-missed icons.