Our 35th Anniversary trip to Bali

On April 22, my wife and I completed 35 years together, and we celebrated our Coral Anniversary in Bali—thanks to our children, who surprised us with a week-long holiday there.

 

That’s what children do when they grow up and settle down—they find beautiful ways to give back. Or, as we like to think, they flip the script and start taking care of us.

 

We landed in Denpasar Airport on April 17 with a partial itinerary of places to visit—a scenic beach, the centuries-old Tanah Lot or 'Land in the Sea' temple (above), the lush Nusa Penida island and an amazing safari.

 

For a couple accustomed to the Indian summer, we didn’t think much of Bali’s tropical climate with its seven months of dry season (April to October) and five months of rain (November to March). But the April weather took us by surprise the moment we stepped out of the airport—it was warmer and far more humid than we’d expected. “Use a sunblock before heading out,” we were told. It was good advice.

 

Dwi Artha Kusuma, a young man in his thirties, drove us from the airport to our destination, Wina Holiday Villa, a 4-star resort that greeted us with a blend of traditional Balinese architecture and modern comforts. Located just 100 metres from the internationally popular 2.5-km long Kuta Beach, the resort was a short walk from shopping malls and a mix of restaurants, cafés, beach bars and warungs (small family-run eateries), all fronting the sandy beach.

 

In addition to driving us around Bali, Dwi turned out to be a charming conversationalist and tour guide with a sound knowledge of the island’s history and culture. Through him, we learned that nearly 90% of Bali’s native people practiced Balinese Hinduism, a blend of Hindu, Buddhist and indigenous animist traditions.

 

For the days we didn’t have a fixed plan, Dwi recommended other places of interest. He drove us miles and miles—most popular landmarks are quite far apart—to visit the famous Tegenungan Waterfall, the unique Indonesian World Records Museum (locally known as Museum Rekor-Dunia Indonesia), the UC Silver & Gold gallery with its stunning display of handcrafted jewellery and artisans at work, and a restricted walk-through of Ubud Palace, the residence of Bali’s royal family, along with its neighbouring Ubud Art Market where we shopped a bit.

 

Bali, a 95-mile-wide island in the Indian Ocean, is remarkably clean and its roads are well paved and well lit. There is traffic discipline, with lane-cutting a rare sight. The local people are friendly and almost all of them converse in English. Bali has no tall buildings or high-rises, apparently due to cultural, regulatory and environmental reasons. The Balinese are simple folk and largely self-sufficient. As Dwi explained, “We grow our own produce on small plots of land and consume what we grow. That’s what helped us keep our heads above water during the pandemic, when tourism came to a halt.”

 

Balinese people are also spiritual, with strong religious, cultural and traditional beliefs. This is evident from their daily offerings and rituals, such as placing canang sari—a small handwoven basket filled with flowers, rice and incense—outside doorsteps to seek blessings from Bali’s supreme deity.

 

A fascinating discovery was the sight of fierce-looking twin guardian statues flanking the entrances of most homes, temples, offices and other establishments. Believed to ward off evil spirits, they are also thought to bring good luck and maintain harmony. We saw them almost everywhere we went—standing hunched, with their teeth bared, on either side of the roads we travelled through.

 

We saw and experienced much in Bali over the course of a week. Here are a few photos from our memorable trip.

 

• The view from Nusa Penida island, just off the coast of Bali, is stunning. But getting to those soaring cliffs means braving a rugged, winding ride.

• The tiger show at Taman Safari Bali—also known as the Bali Safari and Marine Park—was just one of many attractions on the island. You can get up close with a variety of animals, including some exotic ones. For a small fee, you can even feed a giraffe.

• We enjoyed a panoramic view of the Tegenungan Waterfall from one of the popular restaurants perched high above the falls.

  
  

• We were allowed only a restricted walk-through of Ubud Palace (left), as Bali's royal family was in residence. From there, we strolled through the neighbouring Ubud Art Market, known for its vibrant local crafts and souvenirs.

  
  

• At Wina Holiday Villa, we were welcomed by colourful statues of Lord Vishnu and his powerful mount, or vahana, Garuda. This mythical bird-like deity, often likened to a golden eagle, is also Indonesia’s national emblem—Garuda Pancasila—symbolising unity, strength and values. We spotted Garuda statues at various places across Bali. But the most iconic of them all is the towering 121-metre Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue, located in the namesake cultural park. You can see it from miles away.

• Kuta Beach is famous for its sunset, and we finally caught it on our last day in Bali. On all other days of the week, the skies were either overcast or it was raining.

All in all, the trip to Bali felt good as we experienced a new culture, not entirely different from ours, and we got to tick off one more destination on our travel wish list.

© Text and photos by Prashant C. Trikannad