Where the Heck is Bali?
I’m not gonna lie… I had no idea where Bali was when I started planning my trip. A quick Google search taught me it is one of multiple islands that make up the country of Indonesia in Southeast Asia. In fact, it’s only a short 3-hour flight from Bali’s international airport in Denpensar to Australia!
Sometimes it’s love-at-first-sight. But honestly, that wasn’t the case with my first impression of this island province. In my imagination, Bali was a magical island of beautiful beaches and quiet temples with quirky monks like in the movie, Eat, Pray, Love.
Instead, I was met with a barrage of taxi-drivers offering to take me to every possible tourist destination on the island, followed immediately by a two-hour drive in bumper-to-bumper traffic to Ubud, the popular city in the southern center of the island. Once we reached Ubud, there were Ralph Lauren Polo boutiques literally on every corner and stores hawking every yoga-related item I could ever imagine. Had I made a mistake coming here, I wondered. Had yoga tourism taken over the spirituality of this place?
I walked the crowded streets of Ubud, jostling for space amid the throng of Australian and American tourists, wondering where was the peace? Where were the temples with meditating priests? How the hell am I going to cross this crowded street of non-stop traffic to get to the other side?
But then I stopped. I stopped critiquing, criticizing, and internally complaining. I literally stopped right where I was on the busy main street and turned down a narrow side street. The noise and the crowd slowly fell away. And I could hear… chimes and praying. I could smell… incense burning from multiple altars along the road. I could see… ornate and decorative doors leading to Balinese family compounds and temples. I could feel… comfort, ease, acceptance and belonging.
After several days, I’d visited in family compounds and eaten delicious traditional meals. I’d ridden a scooter for miles through busy streets, quiet rice paddies, and on the beach. I’d meditated, burned incense, and made offerings at altars throughout the city. I’d observed full-moon prayer ceremonies and dances. I’d made Balinese friends that are now like family.
I fell in love with Bali. Not love-at-first-sight love. But the gradual love of seeing deeper than what’s on the surface. Now I’m sharing my love, experiences, and family friends with others.
Join me for my Bali Culture & Healing Retreat September 15 – 21. It will be seven days of amazing self exploration and renewal in a phenomenally unique cultural place. Register at bit.ly/baliwithalthea
