Ubud - the heart of the poetic island of Bali

Every time Vinh returns to Bali, he is overwhelmed by the rapid changes of this beautiful island. Compared to 3 years ago, Bali is now more bustling and bustling, but still has not lost its ancient beauty. Especially, right in the middle of a colorful and beautiful Bali, Ubud town with its unique indigenous culture and interesting and new experiences is always Vinh's favorite stop. Ubud is also the place that gives Vinh the most unforgettable experiences throughout the journey.

Trekking to watch sunrise at Mount Batur

That morning, Vinh had to wake up very early to be at the foot of the mountain at exactly 2:30. Vinh was really surprised to see the extremely large number of participants, everyone looked full of enthusiasm and energy. The local tour guide would spend a short time introducing the route and handing out flashlights to everyone, at the same time renting warm clothes to "rescue" those who were not prepared.

At exactly 3am, the trekking group started to set off. The sky was still dark, but Vinh still clearly remembered the beautiful scene of looking up and seeing thousands of twinkling stars. To dispel the early morning cold of the mountains and forests, everyone in the group chatted and joked together, but only a moment later, everyone fell silent to concentrate on saving their strength for the upcoming uphill journey.

Holding the flashlight firmly and carefully lighting the way, each person took turns struggling to get over the rough rocky path, trying to keep their balance as best they could. The path was narrow and the climbers were so densely packed that the distance between the person in front and the person behind them was only a few steps, so sometimes there was a bit of a “traffic jam”.

Arriving at the first stop, Vinh and the group were able to rest for a while to regain their strength. There was a refreshment stand here, and looking up, we could see that Mount Batur was not far away, so everyone was happy and relieved. However, the remaining distance was not easy at all, there were sections of steep slopes, so steep that the eyes of the person behind were completely level with the ankles of the person right in front.

At 5am, the whole group arrived at the second stop, everyone was exhausted, just hoping to reach the destination as soon as possible. After resting, eating snacks and drinking water, everyone hurriedly prepared their cameras and phones, ready to welcome the dawn. At around 5:30am, the sun began to appear. The moment when the first rays of sunlight penetrated the magical clouds, received a big round of applause from everyone. Some people applauded for the majestic natural beauty, and others applauded for the difficult journey they had arduously overcome. Vinh, despite being tired, was still excited and thought: Challenge all my limits with the journey through rocky mountains, conquering Mount Batur and receiving the gift of this majestic and brilliant sunrise - why not?

After enjoying the picturesque scenery and taking 1,001 virtual photos to capture the golden moments, Vinh and many people in the group decided to go to the nearby Batur Natural Hotspring to relax and restore energy.

Sitting on the Bali Swing virtual swing

The next experience that impressed Vinh when visiting Ubud was the Bali Swing. If you are an adventurous person, the feeling of flying high in the sky with Bali Swing amidst the vast and beautiful green scenery below is the perfect choice for you. The Bali Swing is connected at both ends on two coconut trees right next to the cliff with many different heights, the lowest is 5 m and the highest is up to 78 m. With a compact and simple design, the swing can fly very high, allowing you to freely look far away and then be conquered by the beauty of the clouds, mountains and forests.

As a travel enthusiast and lover of beauty, Vinh has long been fascinated by this extremely famous swing in the virtual check-in village. After experiencing it himself, Vinh could only exclaim, "Oh my god, it's so cool!". The surrounding space at that time was no different from a fairyland, with a cool breeze blowing and the chirping of birds, making Vinh unconsciously exclaim and admire continuously. A little tip for everyone, any photo taken with Bali Swing will attract a huge number of likes on social networks.

However, there is a small note that you will have to spend quite a lot of time waiting in line to swing on Bali Swing.

Bathing at Pura Tirta Empul Temple

When you come to Bali, you must definitely visit Pura Tirta Empul and take part in this unique experience imbued with traditional culture. This is one of the most sacred temples in Bali, built around 960 AD. The temple is located deep in a lush tropical forest, surrounded by a cool stream that flows all year round. The water from the stream flows through a bubbling holy sediment pond, then flows into two large rectangular pools with elaborately carved fountains. Balinese people believe that bathing at Pura Tirta Empul will cleanse and purify themselves, bringing good health and good luck.

Since this is a sacred place, to ensure that he performs the rituals correctly and without any mistakes, Vinh asked a local guide for help. The cleansing ritual here is called Melukat. Before starting, Vinh had to prepare offerings of flowers and incense to pray at the altar. Then, Vinh placed the flowers on the faucet and bowed his head to receive the cool, clear holy water. According to the instructions, the holy water will be brought to his head three times in a row, then drunk once. To make a wish come true, each person should only pray for one thing.

For Vinh, this ritual is extremely special, because it gives Vinh the feeling that he is a child of the mountains and forests of Bali, a true local. Along with conquering Mount Batur, swinging to the limit on the Bali Swing, those experiences, although not many but extremely meaningful, help Vinh believe that he has truly conquered the heart of the beautiful island of Bali.

MORE INFORMATION

Visa:If you are passionate about Bali but still hesitate to go because of the complicated procedures, trust Vinh, everything is much simpler than you think. Bali is an island belonging to Indonesia, a country under the ASEAN bloc, so Vietnamese tourists with ordinary passports can easily enter the country for up to 30 days without a visa.

Time:Bali's weather is divided into two distinct seasons, the rainy season starts from November to April and the dry season starts from May to October every year. If you visit Bali for sightseeing, Vinh recommends that you choose to go in the dry months, especially around May to June with many vibrant and bustling festivals. However, Bali tourism peaks in July, August, and September, so the prices of accommodation, services, and cuisine also increase rapidly, everyone remember to note this point. If you visit Bali in late October and early November like Vinh, you will have to bring a tube of sunscreen to protect your skin in hot weather above 33 degrees.^oC.

Transportation:To conveniently explore Bali and ensure it suits your personal purposes, you can refer to and choose one of the following popular means of transport:

- Motorbike: This is the preferred vehicle for couples or groups of friends who like to travel independently. Renting a motorbike in Bali is not too difficult, but you need an international driving license. The motorbike rental price is about 120,000 VND/day (calculated according to the hotel check-in and check-out time), the price of gasoline is about 24,000 VND/liter, not too expensive to be able to travel everywhere.

- Bicycle: If you are traveling alone and love sports, definitely do not miss this interesting option. The price to rent a cool sports bike will be around 230,000 VND/day.

- Car: If you are traveling with a group of 3-5 people, this will be a choice worth considering. You can rent a car to drive yourself or rent a car with a private driver (don't worry because the drivers here are very enthusiastic and can communicate well in English). On hot days, this is a great means of transport to help you feel comfortable and pleasant throughout the trip.

- Taxi: If you choose to travel by taxi in Bali, Vinh recommends that you choose Blue Bird (blue car with a prominent bird symbol). This company's taxi fare is quite cheap and the driver is also very safe. To go from the airport to Ubud, you only have to spend about 400,000 VND. If you want to use the taxi service of other companies, please remember to remind the driver to turn on the meter!

Cuisine:Balinese cuisine is rich and diverse, the taste is also very delicious and the price is very reasonable. When visiting this island, do not forget to enjoy some of the specialties below:

- Nasi goreng fried rice

- Be siap sambal matah chicken salad

- Bebek Betutu duck stew

- Babi Guiling Roasted Suckling Pig

- Nasi Kuning yellow rice

- Nasi Uduk Coconut Rice

- Tempeh Soybean Cake

- Sate lembat skewers

- Java fried noodles

- Balinese sweet pancakes

Accommodation:Ubud has many hotels of different types and prices. Wherever you stay, you will definitely have an interesting experience because the common points of accommodation in Ubud are romantic, clean and friendly. Vinh spent two nights at Ubud Wana Resort, a beautiful resort right in the center of Ubud.

Money:You can spend in Indonesian rupiah (1 rupiah is equivalent to 2 dong) and USD

Notes at Pura Tirta Empul Temple

- Entrance fee is about 15,000 RP/person (30,000 VND). Opening hours: 7AM - 6PM every day of the week.

- Before entering the temple, each visitor will be given a sarong to wrap around their body. However, you will not be allowed to take this free sarong into the water to bathe. Sarongs to wrap around your body while bathing can be rented in the changing area on the right side of the lake for about 20,000 VND/person.

- It is advisable to explore the temple complex before bathing, as you are not allowed to spill any water on the grounds.

- Menstruating women are not allowed to participate in this ritual.

Glory