My Travel Diary - BALI

Day 1

Bali is gifted with a unique charm, it's magical! In fact, I felt like we had traveled back in time. Such polite people, such magnificent, art-inspired architecture, as if Gods have really lived in here; and somehow spared this one piece on earth away from all the noise and cruelty. 

The hotel (Ramada resorts in Benoa) was huge, clean, and had a spectacular garden that had a spread of trees and plants type for virtually all landscape needs and wants. It looked absolutely stunning! We had to climb down the stairs to reach the restaurant that was attached to the cottages and the garden. A blue pool surrounded by bull like structures, as if guarding the water ushered right in the centre. The entire property was aromatic that smelt of green tea (aiding to let pass my mug of everyday green tea).

As we were tired we slept until evening and later walked to their beach side property, where they served vegetarian food. Before hitting this Thai restaurant we strolled on the streets and wondered how this city was not a victim of heavy commercials, unlike Goa in India. Although, it's too early to conclude on its commercial segment but Bali definitely has its authenticity intact, at least for now. 

There were colourful dresses hanging on the streets, and how can a woman like me who swears by her wardrobe miss but enter to shop. I wanted to buy a Bali dress but didn't like the colours. So we politely told the lady we would return tomorrow morning. To which she replied, "Okay, you, you are beautiful!" Now what can I say! For a dusky woman like me where having a dark complexion in my country is still considered ‘ugly’, and where fairness crèmes are treasured in dressing rooms believing it would transform them into white beauties - here in some strange land a woman told me that I look beautiful. I was obviously very happy and replied to her, "Teri ma khasi." In Balinese language it means, thank you! 

We had garlic tofu for supper, coupled with veg spring rolls. Post supper, I narrated Darshan (dear husband), a story authored by Khaled Huseini, I was amazed how keenly he listened to the whole story (that was to do with Afghan war and the story of siblings who lived in Kabul). He, to my surprise enjoyed it. At that moment, Dev, a waiter at the restaurant joined us and told us some interesting facts about Bali - that how they all worshipped Ram, Krishna, and Shiva, and that it was the only Hindu island in the otherwise Muslim dominated Indonesia. Dev was a Hindu and a vegetarian. Yes, that’s very rare - finding a vegetarian here, and as Dev informs they are only 5 percent.

The beach side walk was impossible to evade and so we were there soon after we bid adieu to Dev. This is probably the off season and so there were only two other Indian couples who accompanied us, silently admiring the dark sea. They left, but we stayed back and kept staring at the twinkling stars above. Darshan had never sat this idle in his life ever! Call it his agitation for stealing his impatience for a while or he trying to appear calm and peaceful, he wondered, “how there is only one sky for the entire world.” When he realized how! He started giggling at his stupidity…!

Then, the most striking moment was when we saw a huge cruise moving slowly on the water. The cruise was lit beautifully and we could here some music playing in its top deck. It was beautiful! 


Day 2

The second day was awaited with utmost curiosity and keenness for obvious reasons. After having our breakfast (which only Darshan had the pleasure to enjoy) since the buffet was dominated by hams, freshly baked breads that smelled of eggs) I got to eat only fruits and cornflakes for being the modest vegetarian that I am. Even for an Indian non-vegetarian, the food here is quite different. Sometimes even Darshan didn't eat. 

Our guide, Patra was waiting for us - a very punctual man like every person in Bali. Unlike us Indians these people worship time, and hate it if someone kept them waiting. We did. He soon forgot about it and greeted us cheerfully. We hopped into the Suzuki car and started to reach the venue to watch the Mahabharata dance show. On our way we saw Arjuna's statue - holding a bow and an arrow in a warrior stance. His statue was positioned in the centre of the road amidst the traffic signal, in a shining silver colour. Arjuna looked like a pompous King. This was just the beginning I thought, for the whole Mahabharata awaited us.Of course, they cannot show the entire Mahabharata but I could only recognize Kunthi and Sahadev on the stage. It was depicted in the typical Balinese way; with their folk music playing in the background, their stunningly designed authentic Balinese costumes, and the stage decked in the most ethnic form. The Balinese dance was graceful and truly entertaining. I was yet again fascinated by how Darshan was slowly taking interest in my interests, must say, more than me he watched it very keenly.

Our next visit was to the Lord Vishnu temple. While we were still reaching the temple our guide Patra tells us that their temples are open on the top, they have no roof, and that it has got something to do with positive energy. And the most interesting aspect of their worship was that they were allowed to wear foot wears inside the temple even while offering prayers. Now that was very, very interesting I thought. Before I could question him, Patra continued to tell us its significance, "in Bali we believe that you should enter a temple with a clean mind and that a dirty mind is more impure than dirty foot wears." I promptly exclaimed, "wow." This also made me realize that Balinese are naturally gifted philosophers. I told Patra, “you seem to be a guide for 'life' as well.” He laughed..! 

Though Patra told us,there is less crime in the city, which is why there are a few policemen, I never saw one. The architecture in Bali looked very mysterious, the temples especially. At every entrance of the temple there are animal like structures carved in black stones safeguarding the Gods and every hotel’s entry ways are more or less designed in the same fashion. Also, they love animals, so much so that they have frogs, lizards and pigs carvings in stone. Their peculiar fascination for lizards was beyond my understanding. I found them everywhere on the walls of the hotel in the form of an art collection. The most appalling one was the figure of a lizard etched on our door (our room number was mentioned on a wooden figurine of a lizard).

Before entering the temple, a very cheerful lady (who is smiling all the time) wrapped a cloth around our waist. It was like a wrap around - a type of a skirt which is generally tied around the waist. Although the temple was dedicated to Lord Vishnu (their supreme God), Shiva also existed there. On the left side corner a Balinese musical instrument (painted in red and golden) played beautifully in the background. Tourists were allowed to play without posing any restrictions. The music had a calming effect on us; we yearned to listen to it for long. 

Our next visit was to Mount Batur. In the year 1986, at Bali's Mount Batur a violent volcano had erupted and since then it has become a thing of a tourist attraction. We were here on the top of a hill after visiting an art gallery. A hotel stood rightly in front of Mount Batur, staring awkwardly into its naked green body - that sometimes clothed itself with clouds, and the next minute undressed slowly as the clouds traveled from one mountain to another. The mountain is called Kintamani, but it turned out to be 'chintamani' (worrisome) for me as the entire place smelled of meat. There was no way I was gonna be eating here. I refused to step in and settled myself into its outside lounge. From here I could see the mountain clearly, almost close. That how beautiful it looked, cannot be explained in words.

After that, came the turn of driving into the city. To see how much I was wrong about Bali not being the victim of commercialization. Ubudh, a shopping haven for shopaholics! I gave up my worries on why there is no place affected by 'marketing' and indulged in my favourite activity- shopping. I bought an antique, bronze bell and a dress. Darshan failed to understand my idea of purchasing antiques for home decor, he also at loss of words for my 'shopping' skills finally agreed to do the honors - the payment!

While we were paying our bill, the shopkeeper told us about Shahrukh Khan. Yes, this man is so popular here. Every Balinese jokes around saying, "I have a friend in India. When you go back to Bombay say hi to him, his name is Shahrukh Khan. We, we love Bollllyywuudd.. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai…" they would say and giggle." He was the only Indian superstar they recognized and adored, religiously! 

In the evening, we were invited to dine at an Indian restaurant Queens of Tandoor (for my survival, I thought). It was then I realized that our Indian cuisine had everything that it takes to pamper my otherwise saddened taste buds.


Day 3

From Sea walking to parasailing that only Darshan was brave enough to attempt, the last day was adventurous! Not that I didn’t attempt to parasail, I had put on my safeguard to take the plunge to fly – but when I was told I had to do that all by myself, all alone, I unbuttoned the safety jacket and gave it to Darshan. He laughed together with the Korean tourists who were waiting to take the ride. I was certainly embarrassed after that incident. I had not fluttered my eyelashes, not until Darshan had landed from his ‘solitary flight’. But he was all smiles and wanted to go for the second time – to which I obviously said ‘NO’. We then drove back to the hotel. 

By now we were completely exhausted and all we wanted to do was sit back and relax in the hotel’s garden, as that evening we had a flight to catch – to return back to Mumbai. While we were sitting in the garden, the guide at the hotel suggested us to visit Geger beach and in a little while we were on our way to the beach.

On reaching, we realized, it surely would have been a great loss for us if we had left Bali without admiring this ravishing aquatic beauty. The water in the sea was crystal clear but remotely it appeared blue – like a mirror to the sky up there. A temple stood high on the right end of the beach. Its architecture looked skillful even from the extreme distance. 

Like all good things come to an end, our romantic escapade too ended soon after we headed back from the beach.