Bali: The Island of Gods

As I look forward to another vacation this year, I remember that I haven't written about my last.
Bali was beautiful. If you haven't already been there, here's your guide. 

The aircraft whooshed over the cobalt waters and on to the runway. I knew nothing of this place. As I opened my eyes, I was greeted by her.
Clad in shades of cerulean and pearl, she tried to reach out as though she was trying to speak, her maidens impelling her upward towards the mood, rising and falling in one fluid motion, like a string let go in mid-air. I watched as she settled in rings of foam, arms wide in welcome embrace. We had an understanding, the Sea Goddess and I. I would rest my fears and put my faith in her. I would dive and she would NOT swallow me whole.
So off I went snorkelling in the tranquil reefs around Menjangan Island. If you haven’t tried it before, snorkelling may not be easy, but it sure is great fun.

Bali is also a treasure trove of sophisticates fine-arts and crafts, romantic restaurants, relaxing spas, trendy nightspots, and fancy crowds.

You know you stand out from the crowd when the locals grin amicably while chanting Shah Rukh Khan’s name, singing Tum paas aaye from Karan Johar’s Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, acknowledging your Indian origin.

Live catch at Jimbaran

Whether you are a foodie or the type who eats to survive, Balinese food is an absolute treat to the palate. Choose from a variety of the day’s live catch, watch it being cooked in the open kitchen, and instead of the sticky rice, select a portion of masked potatoes subtly laced with a hint of coconut and oregano, for your carbohydrate fix.
If you feel like splurging, feast on the crispy lobster, and, if you happen to find yourself at Naughty Nuri’s Warung and Grill, ask for the deep fried duck with lip-smacking sambal sauce on the side or BBQ pork ribs.
To quench your thirst, order the local arrack or a “community drink”: three litres of tender coconut water served in its giant shell, subtly laced with ginger and a hint of lime.
No matter how tempting, steer clear of street food. The corn-cob, though, is an exception: glazed with honey, lime, garlic and melted butter, it’s available in abundance on Kuta Beach.

The Infinity pool at Ayana Resorts

If you want to dress up and dance the night away, the clubs at Bali are a hoot. And if you think the 11:30 PM curfew in Bangalore is a party-pooper, you will be thrilled to know that clubs here stay open all night you can even make your way to the dance floor with your alcohol-filled sippers in hand. The Kuta Beach area with its abundance of watering holes is the place to be. If you have a (lot) of cash to spare, don’t miss out on Rock bar at Ayana Resorts. Traveling in a cable car and sipping on a mojito while the waves crash against the rocks – something you can do only here. Hulu Café, which is reputed to be the only real gay bar in Bali, has drag shows three times a week. And, let me tell you, these shows are no drag.

Like the partying, no matter what the time, the shopping centres are always bustling with activity. The great bargains you strike are largely dependent on your haggling prowess. This is restricted to the street shopping in Kuta Square, Denpasar, and Jimbaran, however. The boutique stores selling exclusive memorabilia are an exception, naturally.

Even if you have everything you need and don’t mean to shop, a few impulsive purchases are inevitable, especially when it comes to handicrafts. The artisans’ village in Ubud is a treat for every artist’s soul. Here, practised hands work effortlessly with their material – be it canvas, stone, simple cane or even metal, Tourists even ship cane furniture back to their homes.

Most Balinese are Hindus. An important part of their tradition is making offerings to deities. So you will find little square baskets, woven with coconut leaves, filled with flowers, rice and incense sticks at every turn and at the entrance to every store.

The Ramayana is obsessed over through many art forms. The Kecak, or monkey, dance is one of the many elements in a full blown performance of Valmiki’s ageless work. The background chorus is usually performed by a topless male choir sitting around a fire and chanting “chak-chak”.  Although Sita is Shinta, Ravana is Rahwana and Laxmana is Lakshmanan, the plot is essentially the same. The appearance of the artists in vibrant costumes against the fierce glow of the fire is truly mind-blowing.

Against the bustle of the city is the calm influence of stately Indonesian stone architecture. The Tanah Lot, a temple nestled in a large offshore rock, and apparently shaped by the ocean waves, is a tribute to the Balinese Sea Gods. Hiking across the mass of wet rocks under the soft glow of the setting sun, as a strip of surf curdles the sea, has a liberating effect. 

As you prepare to leave, you begin to think of Bali as an extraordinary piece of art and you wish you could take a little piece of it back home. At the least, you wush you could stay back…forever.