Missing Bali

I still remember the "small" Bali among the more than 17,000 islands of Indonesia and is one of more than 8,000 inhabited islands of the land of more than 260 million people, also the most livable place in the world. In Bali, every house has a temple, it is a living museum of the cultural architecture of the Hindu people. The volcano in Ubud is sometimes still active, the Tegalalang terraced fields still nestle under the coconut trees changing color from green to yellow every harvest season. I will also never forget waking up to the sound of soft prayers, the morning sunlight flooding every house and street corner, I remember the peaceful Ubud with the friendly and lovely people. So, if you have been to Bali, do you miss it like me?

The inspiration of the famous novel

In the small and pretty house in Ubud, the scent of frangipani flowers and the scent of incense sticks placed in many places made the whole atmosphere more magical. Mr. Ketut Liyer's son sat cross-legged on a small mat, behind him was an altar and pictures, a book called "Eat Pray Love". After a very warm handshake were prophecies about my past life as well as my future. I found it quite right about my past life, of course, the future is ahead and needs to be verified. Many people may know the romantic story of Elizabeth Gilbert in "Eat, Pray and Love" but do not know the people and the house that were the inspiration for that book.

I said goodbye to Mr. Ketut Liyer and his family to continue wandering the peaceful land of Ubud on the motorbike I had just rented this morning. The roads in Indonesia are not too wide but very clean, people move in an orderly manner and you rarely hear a car horn. I let my soul lead my body until the Batur volcano appeared before my eyes and I was startled to stop.

Volcano and sacred temple

Located next to the lake, the volcano is still theoretically active but is now always an interesting destination. You can wake up early to climb to the top of the mountain and watch the sunrise there or simply sit in a small restaurant with a beautiful view like me and enjoy a delicious lunch. Many people only come to Ubud for a short while and then leave because it is not as noisy and bustling as Kuta, but for me, a month in this land is still not enough. There are too many dishes to eat, too many places to go and many people to meet and talk to. Like the story of Tirta Empul temple where the Holy Spring water washes away all the dust of the world.

Located between two hills with sacred streams, the temple was built around the 10th century under the Warmadewa dynasty, the name of the temple is taken from the underground water source "Tirta Empul". The temple is divided into 3 main areas: Jaba Pura (front yard), Jaba Tengah (central yard) and Jeroan (inner yard). Jaba Tengah has 2 pools and dozens of water taps. The main temple is where Hindu people in Bali come to perform purification ceremonies. The special feature is the underground water source that has been erupting from the ground for thousands of years without stopping, creating a sacred stream. According to the Balinese belief, this water will eliminate diseases, wash away sins, save souls and bring joy to people. You will have to wrap a sarong (provided at the counter) before entering the temple. There are many tourists as well as locals bathing, using water, washing their faces at the taps that are directly led from the Holy Spring that is erupting day and night. I don't know if these streams of water can really wash away all the dust of the world, but when I saw people solemnly performing the ceremony and trying to scoop up water to wash their faces, I felt more energetic to explore this beautiful island.

A friendly Bali

And so I went again, passing through the fields in the planting season, the gentle smiles of Ubud farmers ready to chat with you. Indonesia has more than 300 ethnic groups with more than 700 different languages. However, on this island of Bali, you can use English comfortably because most people can speak Balinese and international languages. When I was too tired, I stopped at a small roadside cafe, enjoying the sweet aroma of Balinese coffee or more than 14 different types of drinks, most of which were made from ingredients in the home garden.

I love the way Balinese people do tourism, it feels like they do it from the heart. No matter how picky you are, they can satisfy you like when I said I was hungry (it was 11pm) and only 30 minutes later, the resort staff brought a hot plate of Nasi Goreng fried rice to my room.

Tons of activities are waiting for you to discover

Bali also has all the types of tourists that tourists desire. Thousands of large and small temples spread across the island with different histories for those who want to explore the spiritual culture. The beautiful beaches in Kuta, Jimbaran... with full sunshine and perfect service are paradise for those who like to lie on the sand, enjoy seafood or thrilling activities such as surfing, fishing, diving. You want to trek, hike, bike, rafting, surfing... all can be done with 7 volcanoes, primeval forests, lakes, streams and waterfalls. Thousands of resorts, homestays with beautiful landscapes, blending with nature but affordable prices are the ideal place for you to escape the world and find a quiet corner for yourself.

Like me, I love the ocean and have chosen Seawalker as my next activity in Bali. It is a real walk on the seabed but before that the guides will give you full instructions on the signs, skills and introduction to this interesting form of experience. Then you board a small boat to go further out, to a larger boat. Here, again, the guide will explain in detail how to use the hood, emergency signals as well as provide underwater photography and video services if you need.

The change in pressure may hurt your ears a little, but the unique scenery under the sea will make you forget everything. Colorful schools of fish swim around you, you can just reach out and “catch” them, beautiful coral reefs as well as the view of the sunlight shining on the sea surface is quite interesting. I recommend you try this experience once in your life when coming to Bali.

It is difficult to list all the attractions and emotions after each visit to a certain place. The monkey forest with more than 700 monkeys with a unique temple in the middle can be a temporary stop for you to continue your journey towards Uluwatu or Tanah Lot temple. Uluwatu is one of the oldest temples in Bali, located on a coastal cliff and carved from black coral stone with overlapping thatched roofs. Along with Tanah Lot, Uluwatu is one of the most beautiful sunset viewing spots in Bali in particular and the world in general. That was the sunset of the first day I was in this country, the sunset of the second day I chose Rock Bar as my destination.

Located on a windy cliff with the vast ocean in front of you. You can relax on the sofas, smell the sea, listen to live music and enjoy the island's specialties and seafood. Try having a candlelit dinner, the sound of waves and classy service, believe me, it's an unforgettable experience. You will remember it for a long time...

I love Ubud as much as I love my hometown Hoi An. The people are friendly, hospitable and hospitable. Almost no shops open before 9am, because before that, they have to pray and perform traditional rituals. The flower plates, incense sticks and the sincere hearts offered in every house and temple… can help you calm down a bit after the noisy and fierce moments of the past days.

The people of Ubud almost never close their shops later than 10pm (except for some bars and pubs). If you sit in a small shop in Tegalalang and look at the green terraced fields surrounded by tall coconut trees, while farmers are still working hard in the fields and tourists are comfortably sipping coffee next to them, you will see how peaceful their life is.

In the small homestay in the middle of the field, the candlelight in the corner of the room mixed with the scent of essential oils, outside a few crickets were singing softly, I sat quietly on the chair reading a book. Turning down the lights a bit, I flipped through the notebook I always carried with me to quickly jot down a few lines of emotion: Bali… something to miss… Ubud…!

MORE INFORMATION

+ Sightseeing:You need to prepare suitable routes and attractions depending on the number of days you wander on this paradise island. Some of the main attractions in Bali are: Beretan Lake, Batur Volcano, Kintamani Volcano, Batubalan Village, Tanah Lot Temple, Uluwatu Temple, Kuta Beach, Jimbaran Beach, Sanur Beach, Ubud, Monkey Forest, Holy Spring and a series of temples, traditional villages as well as other entertainment areas.

+ Luggage:If you decide to go on a backpacking trip and participate in adventure games, you need to prepare the corresponding specialized equipment. The climate in Bali is quite similar to Saigon with two dry and rainy seasons, temperature. It can be hot during the day but quite cool at night because of the sea breeze. In addition to the basic items for a foreign trip, you need to bring a universal power plug because the power outlet format in Bali is not the same as in Vietnam. Another thing to note is to bring mosquito and insect repellent because the countryside of Ubud with its garden-style resorts and homestays has quite a lot of mosquitoes. Because flying to Bali, you have to wait for a connecting flight (usually transiting in Singapore or Kuala Lampur, Malaysia), so you can bring books or entertainment devices while waiting.

+ Currency: You just need to exchange VND to USD in Vietnam and then bring it to Bali to exchange for local Rupiah for spending. A tip is to look at the price lists posted outside each store, and exchange at the place with the best exchange rate. The average price in Bali is a little higher than in Vietnam.

+ Shopping:When you go to the market or souvenir stalls on the sidewalk, you can bargain comfortably. The people here are quite friendly so you don’t have to worry about them being harsh with you for bargaining. Note, some shops ask for 2-3 times the actual value of the item!

+ Cuisine: Bali has a lot of traditional dishes as well as restaurants with Asian and European dishes, so you don't have to worry much. If you want to eat traditional local dishes, you should find a restaurant with the word Warung. There are many seafood dishes at Jimbaran beach or restaurants, the prices are also very reasonable. Balinese people often use a lot of sauces for their dishes. Drinks are also very diverse, you can go to restaurants to enjoy about 14 types of local drinks.

+ Travel:You can rent a motorbike or a car to visit Bali, or you can choose a private tour for yourself. Note that the roads in Bali are on the left, opposite to Vietnam. The road surface here is very flat, smooth but quite small, most people rarely use the horn.

+ Contact information:You should buy a local 3G sim card for easy communication; wifi is also available in many places. It is most convenient to bring a wifi transmitter, buy 1 sim card for the whole group.

+ Note on clothing: Some temples require you to wear formal attire to enter or they will provide sarongs for you to wrap around your body before entering the temple. If you go to Monkey Forest, do not carry bags or tease the monkeys because they will snatch all your belongings!

Tran Giap