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Experience the Essence of Bali: Cultural Immersion and Adventure
Bali is an Island destination in Indonesia that is absolutely stunning. But I’ll be honest here: we made mistakes when visiting this Island and I don’t want to see you suffer the same fate! In fact I probably should have named this “The Five biggest mistakes not to make when visiting Bali”… It should still serve the purpose however and keep your Bali visit a memorable one for all the right reasons.
Before we dig in though, check out my article on how to Stay Safe when planning travel overseas Here.
My husband and two of our dear friends were cruising on a 14-day Celebrity Cruise through Asia, stopping in Benoa, Bali for three days which was super exciting. We have a habit while cruising of stepping off of the ship and going on our own spontaneous adventures. This has given us the best travel experiences of our life, so in Bali that’s exactly what we did. You’ll see soon enough that in this particular instance however, it didn’t turn out quite as good for us.
…What went wrong?
So first of all, I want you to imagine Bali- what is the first image that comes to mind? Is it lush jungles, pristine beaches in secluded locations, or maybe just the picture at the top of this post? Well, you just imagined the Northern part of Bali. Where WE arrived at the city of Benoa is on the Southern part of the Island instead, which isn’t what you just pictured.
The south side of the island is more urban, and unfortunately the beaches where we were suffered from so much pollution that we didn’t feel safe even walking in the sand. Learning this on the fly, we suddenly yearned to see the “pre-1950s Hawaii” on the northern shores.
However, we learned Bali is an island ninety miles long by 49 miles wide! As such, it can take up to 3 hours get up there from Benoa where the cruise ports are located! Lesson here: if you arrive by cruise port and wish to see the northern shores, either book with the ship to ensure you don’t get left behind due to unexpected traffic, or plan ahead!
Bali Rice Fields
Fortunately because Viator Tours are so awesome and reliable I was able to book a private driver for two days. Because of our huge misconception about how long it would take to get to the scenic and adventurous parts of the island however, we ate up the majority of our visit staring out the window of a car. As we drove to our destination however we passed these scenic rice patty fields in the central region.
I’d never seen them before and they were mesmerizing. As it turns out, rice farming is the number one agriculture producer on the island. Our next stop was to see how the Luwaks made their famous coffee.
Luwak Coffee
Have you ever heard of “Cat Poop Coffee”? Well, there was a viral news story some years back using the phrase as an attention getter. It was supposed to be a phenomenal exotic drink otherwise known as Luwak Coffee, and honestly the comical moniker isn’t so far off from what it actually is. I’d never heard about it, but I was intrigued after one of our travel companions explained the whole process to us. So here it goes:
The fermented coffee beans are fed to these long-tailed cat looking creatures you see pictured above. Once they digest them, and excrete them whole out of their you-know-what, the beans are then re-collected, washed, and dried. Then a delicious coffee is made out of this very interesting gourmet process.
Did we try the Luwak Coffee? Yes we did. …And I can report that it was surprisingly delicious. It sure better be, since it is the most expensive coffee in the world (it can cost up to hundreds of US dollars per pound!) (1) After seeing the whole process involved in the operation though, it helps to understand why because it’s quite intensive. Check it out on Amazon if you are feeling adventurous and brave.
Mason Elephant Park & Lodge
Our Viator Driver then took us to the Mason Adventures Bali Park. This is a beautiful Elephant Reserve where you can grab a delicious lunch at the lodge and then go for a ride on the elephants.
These beautiful creatures are Sumatran elephants that have been rescued from poachers and offered a safer life in Bali. They are so playful and friendly, and it was fun to watch the elephants play with the caretakers.
As we were taking a photo with the elephants behind us, one of the babies put their trunk on my friend. It was so funny. Do not miss this opportunity if you have the chance to visit.
Visiting a Luxury Spa
Anytime I visit Asia, booking a massage is a must: they just have a gift when it comes to excellent massages, and Bali was no exception here. We booked a 2-hour massage with Viator and were more than pleased. If you have the time to spare, don’t skimp out on pampering yourself especially since the prices are so friendly and nobody knows more about massaging the lymphatic system than Eastern Medicine!
Check out Viators 2 Hour luxury massage experience for less than $40 USD
Where to Stay in Bali
The total cost to stay in a Bali 5-star hotel is much less than you might imagine. As I mentioned above, the North part of the island is where you’ll find the traditional photogenic parts of Bali so it’s where I’d recommend you put down some roots.
These accommodations won’t break the bank: the 4 bedroom Private Deluxe Villa in Lovina Beach pictured above is only $145 per night. Check it out here on Expedia.com.
Check out this 4 bedroom Private Villa Aparna – Luxurious Balinese right on the beach for $243 per night.
And here’s a 5BR Villa Near Lake and Forrest for $1,594.00 per night. Split between five families each night would only be $318.00 per family. What a steal!
And now for your History Deep Dive….
Native tribes, Dutch, Japanese, Indonesian, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists- Bali has changed hands to some pretty diverse peoples throughout the years! All of it culminates in an island with a unique cultural background you won’t find anywhere else.
During the late 1400’s, Muslims overthrew the Majapahit Empire which ruled over the large Island of Java, leading to a significant immigration of Hindu nobles and priests who could practice their religion in Bali. As such, Hinduism and Buddhism are intertwined with the Island’s rich cultural history.
In the late 16th Century, the Dutch came to the Island only to find many warring Muslim states. By 1882, the Dutch annexed the Northern states and were responsible for killing the Balinese Prince on the nearby Island of Lombok. Then, in 1906, the Dutch would end up killing 3,600 people of Bali and finally just taking it for themselves.
The beautiful Island remained under Dutch rule until Japan occupied it during World War II. In 1946 the Dutch and Indonesian Forces fought a battle ending in an Indonesian victory, and as a result the Island ultimately became a part of the Republic of Indonesia in 1950. (2)
Today, Bali is known as a peaceful and spiritual destination, and an amazing place to add to your bucket list.
Sources:
(1). https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kopi-Luwak
(2). https://www.britannica.com/place/Bali-island-and-province-Indonesia
(3). https://historyandtravel.blog/2024/01/12/safest-tips-for-traveling-overseas-preplanning-strategies/