My Happy Travel to The Last Paradise on Earth

 

Just like I hate to leave a book midway. I wouldn't want to leave the world unexplored. I wish to make memories all around the world. I consider vacations as a time to seclude myself from the regular hustle bustle and just relax & rejuvenate.

The one place that takes my breath away is Bali, a beautiful island in Indonesia. If ever I get a chance I would love to visit this island with my friends/ family. Located just south to the equator, Bali is called the last paradise. It will win you over with its beauty and beaches.

Bali has a population of about 4.22 million people and is home to most of Indonesian Hindu minority. There are direct flights to Bali from India. Also, it has Visa on arrival for India and other selected countries. Hence it will reduce our overhead of planning months before the trip. If we compare the currency, 1 INR is equivalent to almost 172 Indonesian Rupiah. Thus, ensuring the trip is pocket friendly for me and my friends.

The biggest reason why I picked Bali is that its not just a place for nature lovers but also for adventure freaks. We will be able to balance time between nature trails and adrenaline rush.

A beautiful sunset in company of friends would be something to die for. We would visit Ku De Ta, a place in Seminyak. It is an outdoor bar on the ocean front and one of the best places to enjoy the sunset. Tanah Lot  a sea draped temple is another ideal place to enjoy sunset.

Next on the list would be a temple in Uluwatu which is home to a number of wild monkeys. The temple is perched at steep cliff of 70 meters above the Indian Ocean. A perfect place for Photography lovers like me and my friends. We would put our cameras to their best use.

Uluwatu

A peculiar thing about Bali is its rich and distinct culture. Kecak Dance form of Bali believed to be gifted to the Balinese by a German artist, is a performance not to be missed at any cost.  This dance-drama has no instruments just vocal chords. We would enjoy the evening show of this dance at Uluwatu temple. It depicts the Hindu epic, Ramayana.

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  Kecak Dance

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Another exciting thing we would look forward to in Bali would be the Dolphin sighting at Lovina. It is considered as one of best places to sight dolphins in boats. As a kid, whenever I saw 'Free Willy' I would wonder for days whether Dolphins actually existed on planet Earth. Visiting Lovina I would clear all my doubts.

Lovina

Next is a climb to Mount Batur in East of Bali. We would do the sunrise hike on this active volcano and enjoy the breath taking view from all sides of the peak.  The other adventure activity that I plan to enjoy would be the river rafting at the longest and largest river at Bali i.e. Ayung.

Mount Batur

Having never tried Snorkeling we would go to the Menjangan island in the far west of Bali. After reaching there we would hire a boatman and ask him to take us to the reefs. I am sure the alluring flora and fauna will  cast its spell over us.

Ubud, a town in central Bali will be one of the places in our list to be covered. It's famous as an arts, dance, food and crafts hub. It is a place that illuminates the culture of Bali.

Do you know about the Bali Wayang?
Wayang means Puppet.  Once in a while it's good to set that kid in you free! One evening we would dedicate to the traditional Balinese Wayang. It's a shadow puppet show.

Food will be a very important aspect of our travel. We would treat ourselves to the scrumptious and authentic Balinese delicacies in an award wining Balinese Restaurant called Bumbu Pali. To name a few dishes: Nasi Goreng, Rujak, Tahu, Tempe and Sambal. Rujak is a refreshing sweet and sour salad made of unripe fruits like mango and papaya. Sambal is a spicy sauce. Nasi Goreng is a stir fried rice mixed with a variety of spices.

Rujak- Bali Dish

A very authentic drink of Bali is called the 'Brem'. Its a special wine prepared from Rice. It is a sweet drink made from sticky rice. Rice is cooked for hours, yeast is added to it and then its fermented for 3 days.

Every trip is incomplete without the souvenirs. We would  take back the wood carvings designed in the Mas Village of Bali for our family and friends in India.

A visit to Bali is undoubtedly a complete package of good food, great entertainment and solicited peace. I am sure a trip like this will be a once in a lifetime experience for me and my friends.  I strongly feel that it's not always about destinations, sometimes its about the journey. This journey with my closest friends to the place which is closest to my heart will be an Unforgettable and Happiest one.

This post is written for the 'Creating Happy Travellers' contest powered by Yatra and Indiblogger.