Ever wonder why Bali is referred to as the Island of the Gods? It’s quite simple. In Bali, there is a Hindu temple every 10 meters. There are more temples in Bali than people, it seems. Community temples, large and magnificent, as well as smaller, more humble family temples line all roads in Bali (except in the central district of Kuta, where there are more knock-off shops than people!).
Before arriving in Bali, a few travel mates and I stopped off in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s modern capital, for three days. Although I had been in KL before on a previous trip to Borneo, I was delighted to be back. KL is one of the most modern and lovely Asian cities, boasting upscale shopping malls, mega-theatres, lovely “walks”, gardens, street cafes, and cheap Indian and Malay eats. And of course, there is nothing as lovely as the Petronas Towers (or the “twin towers” as they are referred to by the locals) against the backdrop of the evening sky.
Although we had a lovely time in KL, I was eager to get to Bali, an island I had yet to discover. In contrast with the cold winter days of Ha Noi, Bali was a tropical wonderland. My body required no adjustment; it just reveled in the warmth of the Balinese weather. The first few days were spent in Kuta, a tourist trap of sorts, but a worthwhile visit. The resort we settled in was romantic, to say the least, and just doors down from a spectacular Balinese spa where some of us enjoyed a nice rubdown. After Kuta, we headed to the center of the island to the town of Ubud, a spectacular little place with lots of character and amazing energy. Ubud is home to the infamous Monkey Forest of Bali, a nature reserve where monkeys enjoy the wild, yet are protected from illegal activities that would decimate their populations (such as poaching). The monkeys here are incredibly friendly, and will even climb all over you if you allow it.
Ubud is really a cultural center where one can enjoy traditional Balinese dancing, influenced heavily by Hindi traditional dance. The costumes and makeup are elaborate, as well as the Hindu-heavy story lines. Garuda, the God of all birds, is a prominent figure in many traditional performances, as well as carvings and temple art.
After hanging out in Ubud for two days, we headed East to the coast where we spent four sun-soaked days at the low-key beach town of Sanur. My travel mate and I were able to negotiate a great two-story suite for a discounted price, so we felt like princesses in a white beachfront castle. In Sanur, I spent much of my time on the beach, in the pool, and on the beach again under a tree receiving massages, facials and pedicures from some of the local women. Apparently, since the bombings in Kuta, the tourism industry never quite picked up again. Many of these locals who once made a living off of the booming industry are now struggling to feed their children. I can’t say I didn’t want all of those massages and facials, but a big part of me visited these women on the beach every day because doing so provided them with some extra income.
Before leaving Bali and heading back to bitterly cold Ha Noi, I took the opportunity to go rafting. I must say, Bali is a magical place. Although I’ve rafted in beautiful places before, like Argentina, Australia, and the Grand Canyon, the landscape could not have been more gorgeous. The river winded down dense jungles and beautifully terraced rice paddies. Impressive waterfalls and black jagged rocks lined the river, and after section of rough water, came cool, transparent, cool flows of river.
Our last day in Bali was a sad one. The thought of leaving this lush, friendly island paradise and heading back to the cold days of Ha Noi was sobering, but I have to say, I love living in Viet Nam and I feel very fortunate to have been assigned to such an interesting and lively post.
