Week 18: Bali

This week I was surprised with a 3 day weekend (thank you extensive Malaysian holidays!) and decided to use my extra time to travel to Bali. I picked this destination because my aunt, uncle, and cousins who are currently spending a year living in China were vacationing there, and so I’d get the double benefit of spending time with family. I especially enjoyed my visit because I got to be goofy and try out activities I never would have experienced otherwise, so a special shout-out to the Gee/Robinson family!

The first day in Bali we rented a car to go see significant sites around the island. These included a temple that was reminiscent of Indiana Jones and some tiered rice paddies that had the most vibrant shades of green that you’ll ever find. The highlight though, was a visit to a valley that had 5 waterfalls, tucked away in the back roads of the island. It was a gorgeous hike down through the jungle, where our guide taught us about all the local fruits and even pointed out a clove tree, which smelled distinctly of Christmas. At the bottom, we were instantly cooled in the mist that sprayed off the waterfall, and even ventured into the refreshingly cold water for a dip. The natural beauty of Bali is incredible and this waterfall was no exception to that rule, despite the inevitable carsickness when getting there via narrow, windy roads.

Day 2 I managed to convince one of my cousins and my aunt to rise before the crack of dawn for a sunrise hike up a famous and spiritual volcano. The early morning wakeup call was well worth it: we were treated to spectacular views of the other mountains and the surrounding valley as the sun came up. At the top our guide provided us with a breakfast of bread, fruit, and some eggs that had been steamed in the volcanic gasses. This turned out to be exceptionally tasty, and a good respite before the trek back down. Later that evening, my uncle and I went to see one of the traditional Balinese dances. This was one of the most unique performances I’ve been privy to watch, as the music was all provided by a vocal chorus of men or women. The dance told an ancient story and portrayed these tales using dance and characters in exceedingly detailed masks. The grand finale was a bonfire of coconut husks that a man in a trance danced through and kicked around in his bare feet. I’m not sure how he managed to do that night after night, but it was certainly spectacular!

My final day in Bali was one of relaxation. My aunt and uncle treated me to a day at the spa, including a full body Balinese massage and a soak in a private hot tub, all overlooking a river that provided the ambiance for the experience. It was incredibly relaxing and refreshed me in preparation of going back to work the next day. In the afternoon we enjoyed lunch while the skies opened up around us, then proceeded to a local monkey forest. This was a nature reserve area where you could observe and interact with the monkeys, including feeding them bananas and other fruits for sale. Though not my favorite activity (which should not come as a surprise to those who know me well), my cousin’s enthusiasm and excitement made the experience very enjoyable, so I clearly picked the right people to travel with. Thus my long weekend came to an end, but it was relaxed and refreshed that I returned to Kuala Lumpur for my final week in Malaysia.