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Participating in the Amazing Tour 5, actor Jay Quân and model Chúng Huyền Thanh called it a journey of love. The experiences they shared on this trip not only rekindled but also deepened their love. Why is that? Let's take a look at Jay Quân's heartfelt sharing.
We're probably the youngest couple working in the entertainment industry in Vietnam. Although we've been married for almost two years, our busy work schedules and taking care of our young son have prevented us from ever taking a trip abroad together. Then, the Amazing Tour in Bali truly rekindled our love in the most amazing way possible.
Before embarking on this trip, we imagined ourselves lounging together on the idyllic beaches of beautiful Bali, much like the peaceful experiences we'd had at luxury resorts in Vietnam. But reality was completely different from our imagination; we didn't have a single peaceful moment. Instead, we experienced a series of exciting "firsts" that rekindled our romance, much like the sunshine of Bali and Indonesia, a country that crosses the equator.
Faith fosters love.
Our strongest impression of Bali is its religion. You can easily find thousands of temples, large and small, scattered across the island, along with strange statues of gods and demons in all sorts of shapes and expressions. The locals regularly perform rituals three times a day at their family shrines, offering rice, water, flowers, and fruit in small dishes woven from leaves or bamboo, placed high up for the gods and on the ground for the spirits, to pray for good fortune and peace.
We walked hand in hand to Bali's most famous temples, such as Uluwatu Temple, perched majestically on a high cliff overlooking the sea; Tirta Empul Temple, with its sacred waters that wash away evil and bring good fortune; and the sacred Tanah Lot Temple, situated on the sea (the Balinese believe that a giant serpent protects this temple and ensures their peace). It was this faith, this intense reverence of the Balinese people for their gods and their land, that made us feel so small and appreciate even more what we have: the love and family we have nurtured.
Overcoming challenges together
Our romantic trip to Bali wouldn't be complete without mentioning our first experience waking up at 1:30 AM to begin our trek to the summit of the dormant Mount Batur, over 1,700 meters high. It took us over two hours to navigate the treacherous terrain in the biting cold, yet we were drenched in sweat from the constant exertion.
The higher we climbed, the steeper and rougher the path became, covered in volcanic lava deposits beneath our feet. The temperature dropped steadily, and we were exhausted. Throughout the climb, I kept an eye on my wife and realized that, except for when she was giving birth, I had never seen my life partner so resilient.
Perhaps the yearning to gaze upon the "sun god" atop Mount Batur together fueled our strength, and after overcoming the physical challenge, we created an unforgettable memory by sharing a sweet kiss under the sunrise that enveloped the magnificent landscape.
Romantic experiences like never before.
During our five-day trip across Bali, we traveled from the bustling Kuta with its vibrant, sleepless streets to the tranquil town of Ubud, imbued with the spirit of the mountains and forests, with its narrow, winding village roads, endless rice paddies, ancient temples with unique and long-standing architecture, and the Tegalalang rice terraces blending seamlessly with the clouds, creating a scene like something out of a fairy tale… This is where we felt the most peaceful and wanted to stay the longest, and it's also where the beautiful scenes and touching story of Liz's journey of self-discovery in the famous film "Eat, Pray, Love" were filmed.
Ubud seems like the perfect destination for couples in love. We immersed ourselves in the dreamy, fairytale-like natural scenery, enjoying peace of mind, temporarily forgetting the worries and stresses of everyday life, and reliving the feelings of being newly in love. Ubud is so peacefully beautiful, yet it's far from boring when we fly on the Bali Swing. The swing, connected by two ropes tied to the top of a coconut tree, lifted us high into the air. My wife's initial fear made me realize that even though she's afraid, she's still willing to walk alongside me on every journey of life, and I will be her protector and caregiver.
You've probably heard the saying, "To make a woman happy, take her shopping." I never doubted that saying when I saw my wife immersed in the traditional market at Ubud Art Market.
This market is overflowing with handicrafts such as reliefs, statues of deities, musical instruments, toys, and everyday items made of wood or stone, meticulously carved, and filled with colorful textiles like clothes, scarves, shoes, and bags. If you're good at bargaining, you can buy beautiful items at surprisingly low prices. My wife emerged from the Ubud art market with heavy bags of purchases and a radiant, satisfied expression on her face.
And so my wife and I held hands tightly as we went from one surprise to another, from the mysterious monkey forest with its thrilling stories of black magic that allows practitioners to transform into any animal they desire, to diving deep into the sea at Tanjung Benoa to touch the colorful coral reefs and the vibrant clownfish, commonly known as Nemo after the movie of the same name.
After a long, tiring day filled with new experiences, our joy came from enjoying a cozy dinner together on the breezy Jimbaran Bay, under thousands of twinkling oil lamps illuminating the kilometers-long coastline, creating a rare and romantic scene. Balinese cuisine is also incredibly diverse; restaurants serve everything from famous traditional Indonesian dishes like Nasi Goreng, Mie Goreng, Sate, Rendang… to Western, Mexican, Thai, and Chinese dishes, all perfectly suited to our tastes and easily satisfying even the most discerning diners.
Our five-day trip to Bali flew by, leaving us with a touch of regret because there were so many wonderful things waiting for us to discover. But we returned home with hearts full of happy memories and overflowing with energy. See you again, Bali – the place that gave us such wonderful moments and a deeper understanding of love!
AMAZING TOUR
"Bali - From Volcanoes to the Deep Sea" is a series of programs promoting tourist destinations for Vietnamese travelers, initiated by Travellive magazine. It is the 5th Amazing Tour exploring the island of Bali in Indonesia, organized in collaboration with the Indonesian Embassy and Traveloka. Prior to this, Amazing Tour successfully organized a series of programs promoting destinations in South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, and most recently, Turkey in April 2019.
