It was as if I woke up from a dream that I never really was asleep from. The familiar sounds that woke me up in the mornings during my childhood somehow found their way to rousing me up from slumber here in Canggu, Bali. Reorienting myself again, it took me a few seconds to remember that we just landed in Bali the previous night.
Visiting the Island of the Gods this year wasn’t part of the immediate plans I had it from last year, save for the fact that I always knew I’d already fallen in love with Bali way before I even set foot on its soil.
Arriving on Saturday night, any first-timer would immediately be charmed by the depth of culture found almost in every corner of the airport. It took a while for me to get used the idea that I was in a country not my own. I was awed looking at art installations, and even the ambient music in toilets and hallways were so strongly influenced by their culture.
Bali has charmed me right off the gates in the airport. It was already midnight that we were able to get on the road and travel to Canggu where we would be spending six days before heading to Nusa Penida, and finally to Ubud where we’d zen out and chill with the remaining days before flying back to the Philippines.
The airport’s external design was jaw-dropping—intricate artwork resembling temples from the Bali Hindu traditions and some Javanese elements. Even their malls didn’t also look like one as we passed by a mall that resembled more of a temple than a commercial center.
Arriving in Canggu, the first thing I noticed when I stepped out of the car was how quiet it was. I was surprised to find this kind of calm unlike the many parts of Siargao where I would say must be the “closest” thing to the experience here in Bali sans the preservation of culture.
We didn’t have plans for the first day, but we knew we had to recover from the day of travels. We got up from brunch and walked a kilometer until we reached Batu Bolong Beach. Along the way, there were so many shops that had unique and local offerings—it was just so hard not to stop!
What I particularly loved and will go back for was the bazaar where a big surfing brand had a branch, and it was kikay plus hipster heaven combined. You could come in and leave the place with more rings for your 10 fingers. I loved the sarongs, the art and the jewelry on display there. I am sure I’d revisit the same place the following day when we’ll pass by.
Now, my friend, Johnlery, kept telling me to calm down as soon as we saw a peek of the beach. I knew the waves were pumping as our driver, Agus, said when I asked how the surf was. He said, “Oh, it’s big, maybe 3-4 meters.” I did the instant math in my head and got a little worried that the waves would be too big for me but when we arrived at the beach it was just the way I wanted it! Challenging but still fun once you get the courage to overcome fear.
We stayed at Seaweed, a restaurant overlooking one of the surf breaks at the beach, and it was instant entertainment for me. I could hardly eat because of the excitement watching the waves and observing the surfers as they rode them.
Stay tuned next week to read more about my Bali adventure.
