Indonesia, Part II: Bali Belly

May 11, 2018 — May 17, 2018

Author’s Note: I actually wrote this immediately after my Bali trip and was 95% ready to post, but the perfectionist in me got the better of me and I kept pushing it back and procrastinating… Hence the delay. So apologies to everyone who has been anxiously awaiting for this post. (That means you, mom.)

May 14, 2018: A shrine at a restaurant in Ubud, Bali.

As much as I adored spending time with my family in Java, it was nice to have a little one-on-one brother-sister bonding time in Bali. Although Bali is only one of the 17,504 islands that make up Indonesia, it is probably the most well-known island as it is quintessentially an island paradise. Despite the minor case of Bali Belly (aka: food poisoning) I had on the last day of my stay, I had an absolute blast. Travelers, you have been warned. Do not drink the water/ice and be careful eating raw fruits and veggies… That includes smoothies too!! No matter how enticing the sound of a cold smoothie is on a squelching, humid hot day…

Since this was my fourth visit to Bali and Bahari’s third, we didn’t create an itinerary or any real plans before the trip. How freeing it was to dive head first into something without a single notion of where we were sleeping and what we were doing.

I think the most enchanting thing about Bali was the people. Whether you were a local or a visitor, your stories have truly captivated me and I’m glad our paths crossed in this tiny speck of dust we call Earth.

To Iron,
The biggest THANK YOU for setting us up with rides to and from the airport and letting us stay at your villa even when you were out on your business trip. You are living the dream, my man! I’m glad we got to see each other for a few minutes before we left this beautiful island.

To the owners of Kecik Inn,
I have never felt as welcome as I did until I stepped into your quaint little hotel. I loved sharing stories about California and Jakarta with you. Thanks again for looking after us and helping us plan our trip to Gili Trawangan and Ubud. I hope to stay with you again the next time I’m in Bali.

To all the travelers I met,
Wishing you safe travels on your journeys! This is only the beginning and I hope we keep in touch.

To my Aunty Wenny and Uncle Gus,
We loved roaming the art galleries with you and I am so grateful for the paintings you got me at Semar Kuning. Your continuous love and support means the world to Bahari and I. Thanks for giving us the true Ubud experience and making sure we were fed like kings!

To the monkeys at The Sacred Monkey Forest,
Thanks for not mauling my face this time.

To the woman who sold my brother a painting,
You were such a doll. Thank you for the bananas. It made my brother’s purchase extra sweet.

To Bahari,
I am glad I got to see you in your element in Hong Kong, and that we got to experience Indonesia together. There were so many funny moments — like the time we had to “borrow” water on our first night in Bali, or the time we watched the poor tourists get scammed by the supir (seriously, what were they thinking… cars will travel as fast as other cars…), or even when we somehow ended up in a vegan/yoga/mindfulness hotel? Thank you for listening to me, haggling with me, doing my money math for me, always keeping your cool, and helping me face my fear of monkeys. You were an awesome travel buddy. I know I am always running late, require at least five alarms to wake up in the morning, and am sometimes hard of hearing, but I’m really trying to be a better sister to both you and Bima (though I’m ready to claim the hard of hearing thing as a complete lost, so just be patient with me, lol). You have taught me so much and I am proud of the man you have become/are becoming. Soak up the rest of your travels while you can and I’ll see you back in the states soon enough! I love you.

“If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel — as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them — wherever you go.”

— Anthony Bourdain

Bali will forever have a special place in my heart, but for now I’ll have to say selamat tinggal!

May 9, 2018: Where we had our first meal in Bali, Eden Cafe in Canggu.

May 11, 2018: Unlike Java which is majority Muslim, Bali is majority Hindu. One of my favorite things about Bali are the little offerings you see on the sidewalks. Here are a few I snapped while walking around Canggu.

May 11, 2018: Old Man’s in Canggu, Bali.

May 11, 2018: A shrine with an offering at Batu Bolong Beach.

May 12, 2018: A stone sculpture stand on the side of the road at Ubud, Bali.

May 12, 2018: On the left, a woman hand painting a batik pattern at Sari Amerta in Ubud. On the right, some unfinished batik creations.

May 12, 2018: On the top, some painters at Semar Kuning Art Gallery in Ubud. On the bottom left, another offering. On the bottom right, my aunty amongst all of the colorful works of the Semar Kuning Art Gallery.

May 12, 2018: At Bebek Tepi Sawah! Isn’t the restaurant gorgeous? And look how adorable my aunty and uncle are on the top right. Not to mention, that spread…

May 12, 2018: On the left, Bahari at the gallery just outside of Bebek Tepi Sawah. On the right, Bahari at another gallery somewhere in Ubud.

May 13, 2018: After a two hour shuttle ride from Canggu to Padang Bai, and a three hour boat ride, we eventually made it to Gili Trawangan in one piece. The boat ride was rocky and I almost threw up but that bright blue water made it all worth it!

May 13, 2018: On the left, Bahari biking around Gili Trawangan. On the right, Bahari in front of a tourist stand called “Gili Bahari.”

May 13, 2018: Bahari at The Exile in Gili Trawangan. Full disclosure, we waited in line TWICE for this photo.

May 14, 2018: Traditional Balinese dancers at Ubud Palace.