Explore this beautiful coastal paradise where adventure meets tranquillity.
Words by: Dr Rohini Bisaal My trip to Bali, Indonesia, was actually a surprise trip planned by my incredible family to celebrate my 30th birthday, and it turned out to be one of the most unforgettable and wholesome experiences of my life. I’ve always had Bali on my bucket list and saw it as a very spiritual place to visit. My family truly pulled all the stops to make it memorable for me. We were in Bali for two weeks and stayed at three different places: Ubud, Uluwatu, and Seminyak.
We checked the weather forecast and packed accordingly for our October trip, bringing mostly light clothing. Bali is also known for mosquito bites, so I made sure I packed light, long trousers and throw-overs during the visits to the rice fields and other outdoor activities. It does get pretty humid in Bali, very similar to that of Durban’s climate so ensure you pack your sunblock and stay hydrated. The visa process was straightforward: fill out the form online, submit it, and show the proof upon arrival at the airport. If you are booking via an agent, they will also guide you through the process.
There were many sites and places on my list but, of course, it was impossible to do them all which could mean a potential trip back! We got to try the famous Bali swing and chose our outfits for the experience. We visited a few temples, tried out the local cuisine, dined at one of Bali’s highly suggested restaurants called “Akar” for my birthday, watched the Kecak dance which is storytelling through dance, walked through the rice fields, experienced a yoga class, learned how to make their authentic Bali offering, headed to the Kanto Lampo waterfall and most importantly, relaxed and took in the beauty and sacred energy of Bali. I found myself enjoying the random expeditions and visiting sites along the way as we manoeuvred through different places.
We aimed to always rise early in the morning so we could make the most out of the day. We did, however, spend a day at our resorts as they were absolutely beautiful and had activities within the premises. My favourite was the K-Club in Ubud. The Villa was breathtaking, and we truly felt as if we were in paradise. This was the first location where we arrived and where I celebrated my 30th, so it will always be special to me. We experienced such a wonderful evening at Akar where they had aerialists and fire dancing. There were fireworks on the beach while we ate dinner in Seminyak, which was another cherishable moment. It was absolutely magical, and having witnessed it with the most special people in my life made it even more significant.
The Bali swing was also a great experience, and I have to say, the gentleman who coordinated the different activity points really ensured we got the best images and videos. The Bali sunsets are mesmerising and worth waiting for. I also enjoyed a lot of the simple things in Bali such as experiencing the hospitality, kindness and genuine energy of the people in Bali. They are definitely one of the most kind and caring communities I’ve met throughout my travels. I enjoyed the food even though I may have added a tad bit too much spice to some of my meals. The weather was good, even though we did experience a bit of drizzle, we were still able to explore and have a great time.
The number one tip – surrender yourself to the overall experience and travel light. And when I say travel light, I mean it in a metaphorical way too. Bali is a very healing and spiritual place (at least for me it was) and I truly felt the sacred energy being emitted. Have a list of things you wish to experience and see but also be open to going with the flow and exploring hidden gems along the way.
Be sure to ALWAYS drink bottled water and not tap water. “Bali Belly”’ is a real phenomenon and the potential of you falling ill with the local water is quite high. Pack a small medical kit as a precaution. I have made a couple of suggestions via my Instagram account @explore_with_roro, so feel free to check it out for more travel tips and tricks.
@explore_with_roro
