My first time in Bali, Indonesia
My first time in Bali, Indonesia
This was my first time traveling to Bali, Indonesia. I didn’t know what to expect. Oh, and also, it’s my first time traveling with my colleagues. It’s a whole new experience altogether. For a long while, I kept hearing Bali here, Bali there, from a lot of my colleagues back then. So when my friend suggested we go on a trip to Bali, I jumped at the opportunity.
Now, this trip was… a whole entire experience on its own. I’ve experienced so many things for the first time. I stepped into Bali for the first time. I went to a club in Bali for the first time. Made friends with fellow tourists for the first time at a beach club and then met them at Mexicola later that night. Hiked an active volcano for the first time in my life! Many memories to remember me by.
We stayed at Aloft Bali Seminyak Hotel, which was a few minutes to the beach. Incredible view at the breakfast restaurant and during sunset was incredible.
The streets of Bali are quaint and so much buzz. Everywhere you looked, there was so much happening. It kinda reminds me of the Philippines. It made me homesick just a little bit. The temples in almost every street were really beautiful. I love the structure and architecture. It’s very unique to Bali.
Main Highlight
I think the main highlight of this entire trip was definitely hiking an active volcano. Something that I never thought I would be doing. It was a struggle! Woke up at 2 am for our pick up. We’re running on 1.5 hours of sleep that day because the previous night we were at the Mexicola partying. I LOVE the vibe at that restaurant. We started hiking at 4 am, I think. It took about 2 hours to get to the top, and it was just the perfect timing to see the sunrise. It was incredible!
One thing that I regretted not doing was going even further up at the very peak where the smoke from the lava is. But I wouldn’t even dare to go alone or leave my friends behind. But yeah, the view was incredible. The air was super crisp and clean. SUPER DUPER COLD. It’s kinda hard to hike when it’s super cold, so a thick jacket and pants are really needed. And comfortable with a strong grip shoes, because nearer the middle until the top, you’ll start walking over softer sand. And it gets very slippery, too.
5 Things I learned...
Something I learned about Bali was that the majority of its population is Hindu, compared to the other parts of Indonesia. That’s why there are many temples, but come to think of it, it’s a different type of Hinduism than what we have in Singapore, too. So that’s a fascinating, fun fact.
1. Get to know the person/people first before deciding to travel with them.
This was a huge thing when we were already in Bali. Just because things are good at work, and you hang out outside work sometimes. It doesn’t mean that they’re suitable to travel with. You really get to know the real person when you travel with them. EVERYTHING… So that’s the lesson I really learned during this trip and for my future trips with friends.
2. Bali is overrated. (‘Relax, just my own opinion’)
Here me out. Yes, the beach was a vibe. The beach clubs were a vibe. The food and the people are incredible. But it’s just too crowded and expensive… Coming from Singapore, yes, it is too expensive for a quick getaway. Personally, I would rather go to the Philippines with the same flight ticket price and enjoy a way cheaper quick getaway for a few days. With the same beach vibe and, well, better food (At least for me! Whatchu gonna do? I’m a Filipino. Lol.)
I just feel it became too touristy, and it kinda takes away the island magic. But would this stop me from going back to Bali in the future? NO (cause I still went 2 more times at this point of writing this post. Sue me. Lol.)
3. Locals are very hospitable.
Their culture really reminded me of the Philippines. Always welcoming and accommodating. Super friendly, and I think that’s one of the things that people keep coming to this place. They really work hard at what they do to give you the best experience.
4. Their temple architecture is beautiful
With the fun fact I’ve mentioned before, every single one is a beautiful temple. Every single temple, whether big or small, was equally amazing. We went to Lempuyang Temple and saw these 3 stairs that go up to 3 different doors. The structure and how time had passed, making it look gothic and ancient, it was everything. I would love to go back and take more photos of it.
5. Nature that will make me come back for more
I’m a city girl. I live in a jungle filled with high-rise buildings – a sea of HDBs and a boat at the top of the buildings. But nothing beats nature. I love exploring places like waterfalls and rice terraces, the beach, and the water. I think I get the vibe why people go to places like this, especially when you’ve lived most of your life in a city.
This is the reason why I kept going back to the Philippines, too, and explored different provinces and did a lot of nature activities (more of that in future posts).
How to spend 4 days in Bali, Indonesia
If you're interested in what we did in Bali for the first time, here is a quick breakdown on what we did, where we went, and where we stayed.
READ MOREIn the end...
I think, as my first real travel without my family, it was something… Most especially when it comes to the people I’m with. It was really a unique experience for sure. However, besides the mishaps I had with my companions, the overall experience with Bali for the very first time was super fun and in awe of the beauty.
Despite it being overcrowded and expensive, it is still a good spot to go for a holiday. It’ll just not be my first choice at this stage. But of course, in the future, if ever any of my friends would like to go back and relax, I’m still up for it.
Oh yeah, if you’re interested in seeing the Bali vlog, you can check out the videos below. I compiled all the videos I have of our trip and tried to come up with something that I could go back to it in the future. Just nostalgia purposes.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
