The day began with a lovely continental breakfast at Bale Gaja Resto, the in-house restaurant of Purana Ubud Suite and Spa, where we’re staying. Bale Gaja translates to House of Elephant in Balinese. one of many words that closely resemble those in Indian languages. In fact, many of their customs and rituals feel strikingly familiar, reminiscent of what I’ve seen in South India. Our driver for the day was Made (pronounced Maadé) Juli, and his name opened the door to an interesting glimpse into Balinese social culture. Here, birth order determines a person’s name prefix: the firstborn is Wayan, the second Made, the third Nyoman, and the fourth Ketut. For instance, Juli’s wife is Wayan Chitra, the eldest in her family. Simple, structured, and easy to follow—much like our Barki, Mejki, and Chutki—except we don’t formally attach these to our names! Our first stop was at Gunung Kawi Gunung Kawi is an 11th-century temple and funerary complex renowned for its rock-cut shrines carved directly into the cliffs of the Pakerisan River
Indonesia
Bali Indonesia
Embarking on our Bali adventure today. The journey followed the familiar ritual of airports: standing in endless queues, navigating immigration, and dutifully completing forms that seemingly vanish into administrative oblivion. Despite the travel fatigue, the promise of Bali’s lush landscapes and vibrant culture made every tedious moment worthwhile. However, after traveling via Singapore, when I landed in Denpasar airport in Bali, I was immediately struck by the contrast. Instead of the sterile international airport experience, Denpasar welcomed me with stunning traditional artwork adorning the walls, an absence of the usual luxury retail bombardment, and the gentle, mesmerizing sounds of live Balinese gamelan music floating through the terminal. This authentic cultural immersion began right at the airport gates, signalling that perhaps Bali would be a journey unlike any other. Then I visited the toilet and a different kind of surprise awaited me – no attendant, moderately dirty and a paucity of stalls, something that I am not accustomed to anymore because the
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