by Quanette Kapp

Tremendously excited … At last it was time for the holiday I was looking forward to more than anything else. How do you pack your bags if you don’t know where you are going for the next 10 days? My guideline was: “Pack as if you are going to Durban …”

Bali in Indonesia has a rich culture, islands with white beaches, the friendliest people and the most interesting food. After a flight of almost 12 hours via Singapore we finally landed at Denpasar in Bali, unaware of what was awaiting us. On our way to the first hotel Jurgens and I did not say a word – we were simply looking at everything. Thousands of people on motorbikes, in some cases up to four persons on a bike. One bike was transporting what must have been about 40 boxes of eggs.

Seminyak, Bali’s capital, has an abundance of shops and restaurants and the most beautiful beaches with colourful umbrellas and places to sit on the beach. The hotel looks like something from a glossy magazine. Our room gives access to the swimming pool at our doorstep. You only have to think of something to drink, then you are served with an ice-cold drink. What a feast!

The next day we were off to the next destination. This time we travelled by boat. We bravely ventured onto the deck of the boat. Tablets for seasickness were handed out with broad smiles. Not wishing to miss a single moment of the adventure, Jurgens and I took the pills without thinking twice. As the waves increased in size, Jurgen and I went quieter and quieter. We could not keep our eyes open. We finished our provisions within a couple of minutes hoping to stay awake. Our boat trip became more like a sleeping trip. Two hours later we woke up in time for the prettiest picture.

Gilli Trawangan was our next destination. A small island in the middle of nowhere. There are no engine-powered vehicles, just bicycles and horse carts (cidomos, as the locals call them). This was idyllic. #Islandvibes suddenly made sense to me. White beaches, transparent sea-blue water, palm trees and tropical vegetation.

On our first morning on the island we went to the hotel’s buffet breakfast early to make the most of the day. Every dish we opened was something new to us. The Balinese like their gravy, jelly-like stuff and, of course, “catch of the day”. We bravely tried every single dish. The aromas of the food were incredible. We licked our fingers. Shortly after breakfast we mounted bicycles to explore the island. What is remarkable about the structures on the island is how much they have achieved with the limited resources they have on the island. Most of the material that is not available on the island itself is obtained from Lombok, the nearest large island to Gili T. Hotels and accommodation for tourists are on the outer perimeter of the island, while the local community occupies the middle of the island. It took us about 40 to 50 minutes to cover the island by bicycle.

Our first excursion was on a glass-bottomed boat that visited all three islands (Gili Air, Gili Meno and then Gili T). Statues of dancing women are planted on the bottom of the sea near Gili Meno, the smallest of the three. At Gili T there are wrecks of ships that sunk on Wreck Point at Mentigi beach. Marine life includes thousands of colourful little fishes and massive marine tortoises. We snorkelled and marvelled at the marine life for hours.

Gili T is also known as the party island, the island that never sleeps. There is a variety of joints where you can enjoy yourself. From Reggae to TechNo and pop music is provided in the various venues. The dance floor is on the beach, with strings of flickering lights above you among the palm trees. Those who love to spoil themselves with a spa treatment may visit some of the clubs for several treatments for a fraction of the price you would pay in South Africa (perfect if you have spent the day on a bicycle or on foot).

Five days on the island was much too short. Back in Seminyak we joined the same hotel, where we received a massive surprise. Relatives from London surprised us to spend the last three days with us. They took us on a day trip through Ubud, the cultural part of Bali. We visited several statues, the palace of the royal family, rice paddies and the local markets.

In short: A holiday I wouldn’t mind to repeat and repeat and repeat. Bali, we will be back soon.

Tips:

• Be sure to schedule your flights so as to allow enough time to go from one terminal to the next.
• Remember to keep a plastic bag with your liquid stuff (perfume, etc.) in your handbag or travel bag.
• Take a pillow with you – the flight is very long and may become uncomfortable if the person next to you rests his head on your shoulder.
• Put socks on for an overnight flight. This will prevent severe swelling of your feet.
• Exchange rands for dollars here in South Africa. It is much easier to exchange dollars to Indian rupees. We got a much better exchange transaction.
• Arrange transport from the airport to the hotel in advance. Transport can be very expensive if you do not reserve or agree on a price in advance.
• Do not take just any seasickness pills – take your own if you know you are going to travel by boat.
• Take a good supply of sunblock. We used three bottles in one week.
• Ladies, leave your handbag at home and rather take a backpack.
• Wherever you go, Google everything around you. You will be surprised to see the interesting places you will love to visit.
• Do not be afraid of taking a walk on small paths. This way you will discover the prettiest places.
• Do not be put off by the toilets. At some places in Bali flushing of paper is not allowed. There is a small container for this purpose. Everything is surprisingly clean.
• Look out for the small offerings that are placed everywhere (on statues, in front of temples, at the entrance to restaurants, etc). If your foot touches it by accident, simply put it back where it was.