Postcards from Bali

Dear Readers,
I have traveled far to visit the famous and most photographed island called Bali, Indonesia. To be blunt, getting to the ‘land of the gods’ was not exactly a walk in the park. It’s almost like journeying to Narnia. First, fellow adventurer Jan and I have to go through the confusing maze of Kuala Lumpur’s airport and run through the mad crowd towards the tiny plane that would take us to the island. But then you have to guess which plane among those lined up in the runway as there were absolutely no signs or clues, how could that be? But following our gut, we passed the test on that and climbed aboard the right one. Then, upon landing, there were the dragons at the gate, otherwise known as Customs, who just had to pick on you just because you’re a damsel without a knight in shining armor. Well, there’s nothing left to do but smile, play the game and, if you’re lucky, tame the dragons, which we did. Finally, outside the gates of Ngurah Rai airport, there were the hyenas that welcome you with a smile, bring you to your coach… and then, ta-da! charge you almost like an arm and a leg of your carry-on rupiah. Shameless, just shameless. But after surviving the challenge of the maze, the dragons and the hyenas, it was almost like the gods were smiling down on us. From the distance, we could hear the enchanting echo of the gong. We were ready to enter Bali. Ah, Bali. For a glimpse of this delightful island, let me share with you some postcards. – xoxo –


Postcard #1 Kuta Beach



Dear Bro,
How’s Boracay? Would you believe it, I’m frolickin’ here in southern Bali – the famous Kuta Beach to be exact. The locals tell us Kuta used to be a sleepy fishing village half a century ago, but slowly expanded since the 1960s after its long sandy beach was discovered by travelers from Asia and wandering surfers from nearby Australia. To tell you the truth, the beach is kinda disappointing, it’s grayish and not that smooth – nothing like the powdery white sands of Boracay. But the sunsets? Wow, simply spectacular. A short walk on the beach leads you to the Boardwalk, where you’ll find the chic beachfront ‘Discovery Shopping Mall’, a line of shops, boutiques, galleries and restaurants. I know, I know, so what, right? But you see, aside from being a shopping mecca and the centre of night life activities in Southern Bali, Kuta is also famous for its breaking waves and waist-deep water, making it perfect for surfing, wakeboarding, and of course your sport- kiteboarding. You’d love it here, bro. Miss ya. -xoxo-


Postcard #2 Bintang Beer



Dear Drinking Buddies,
I have a confession to make. For the first time, I passed over my fave margarita for a few bottles of the local beer. I don’t normally drink beer, right? But Bali’s ice-cold Bintang Pilsener is simply irresistible. Originally from Java, Bintang (which means “star” in Indonesia) is by far the smoothest beer I’ve ever gulped down without an aftertaste. I’m hereby sending to you a postcard of Bintang. Have you seen it? Would you happen to know where we can find it in Cebu? If not, perhaps, you can forward this to our favorite bars and hopefully, they will import it soon. Till the next drink. Cheers! – xoxo –


Postcard #3 Bali Coffee



Dear Mom,
I took a whiff of the best-tasting coffee here in Bali (even perhaps the world) and thought of you. We visited a coffee plantation in Wedang Sari, Sebatu Village in Kintamani where they also grow their own honey, lemon, cinnamon and more. We saw how they harvested, ground and prepared their coffee. The most interesting was the Kopi Luwak - coffee made from the beans of coffee berries which have been eaten by the Asian Palm Civet (weasel-like face, cat-like body and long tail with fur which may be either gray or brown with darker stripes). These beans pass through its digestive tract, then defecated seemingly without losing their original shape. These are then collected, washed, sun dried, roasted and ground as required, yielding an aromatic coffee that is noted as the most expensive and rare in the world. Unfortunately, we didn’t try it though as it’s so expensive and the whole process frankly just weirded me out a bit. However, they did offer us a free taste of their ginger tea, lemon tea, ginseng coffee, ginger coffee, chocolate coffee and the original pure Bali coffee. It smelled so good and the taste was unlike anything I’ve ever tried. It’s just heavenly, mom. I’ll bring you some. – xoxo-


PostCard #4 Ubud Market



Dear Sis,
I know you sent me to Bali on a mission – to find one of your uniquely shaped purses. But despite going to different markets already, I still couldn’t find it. Are you sure that even exists? Nevertheless, Balinese bazaar-hopping is fun. I get a kick out of being asked “How much would you like to pay, daahh-ling?” or “Don’t you like this one, dahling? It suits you dah-ling.” Apparently, Bali is the land of the dah-lings. Anyway, we will continue on to the colorful Ubud market where they sell all things from batik, silver, handcrafted bags, jars, paintings and hopefully, your purse. Don’t worry sis, I’m not giving up on the mission. You are, after all, a dah-ling. –xoxo-


Postcard #5 Balinese Painting



To my artist friends,
Bali totally inspires in the richness of its art and handicrafts, especially in the Ubud art villages of Celuk, Batubulan and Batuan. In Celuk, we met the gold and silver smith who lured us into buying silver rings we couldn’t resist. Batubulan, which our guide explained means “stone” (batu) and “man” (bulan), is famous for its intricate stone carvings displayed in houses and lined up on the streets. Finally, in Batuan, we visited the house of the master painter I Wayan Mardiana and his brothers Made (2nd); Nyoman (3rd) and Ketut (4th) – also all painters—whose gallery simply explodes in color and the most variety I’ve ever seen from elephants to Hindu gods, women, landscapes and more. As you can see, I stole a shot for inspiration. –xoxo-


Postcard #6 Jimbaran Seafood



Dear Popsy,
For our last supper, our Balinese guide, Made, took us to a fresh grilled seafood restaurant in Jimabaran Bay, said to be the best place to enjoy dinner at sunset, with a unique Balinese dance from the lovely Hindu epic Ramayan. And what a feast it was with crabs, shrimps, fish, mussels and veggies, plus Bintang beer. I know you won’t be easily impressed with this, after all, you can find all these food in your own backyard. Anyway, how’s your side of the sea in Medellin, pops? As I prepare to eat this feast, sadly I realize I still don’t know how to pinch a crab. Wish you were here. –xoxo-


Postcard #7 Tanah Lot



Dear Elizabeth Gilbert,
One fine day in Bali, we took a long drive from Kuta to Kintamani to gaze at the majesty of its semi-active volcano Mt. Batur. Then we proceeded to see the amazing rice terraces at Tegallalang and ended by sunset in Tanah Lot, where a great temple stands on a huge rock by the Indian Ocean. Somehow, between the peak of Mt. Batur and the uneven rice plains of Tegallang, I began to wonder about your journey and search for balance between devotion and pleasure in Bali. In the temple at Tanah Lot, before they granted us entry, they let us drink from the holy spring, put a yellow flower behind our ear, and dabbed some grains on our forehead. Yes, I felt both the devotion to their faith and pleasure over beauty, but balance? It’s such a tricky thing isn’t it? Bali, since I set foot on the island, has been consistently throwing me off guard. In Tanah Lot, as I sit between a huge rock and the Indian Ocean, I feel my world shift yet again. Still, I smile at the setting sun as I remember your words, “Even in my underpants, I feel different.” –xoxo-

--SunStar Weekend, April 2, 2011