My Bali adventure

by Mihaela Mihaylova (Bulgaria)

A leap into the unknown Indonesia

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My journey to Bali began in 2018 when I had the opportunity to go on a fieldwork trip. I have always described myself as a spontaneous traveller and given the opportunity I was thrilled and enthusiastic to go on an adventure. I have never been to this part of the world but I have always been interested in Asian culture. After I had done all my fieldwork, I decided to stay a week longer in the cultural city of Ubud. I stayed in a local hostel in order to have the full cultural experience. I encountered a lot of traditions such as offerings and the Balinese dance called Kecak. I also went to many different Balinese temples such as Goa Gajah and Tirta Empul temple. However, one of my most memorable experiences was to watch the sunrise in Mount Batur. For me, this was truly a leap into the unknown. I have never hiked in an active volcano but given the possibility I immediately booked the trip from my local host. The next day I woke up at 2 am and quickly headed to the bus stop. Soon I was on the bus with a couple of like-minded tourists. When I arrived at the location, it was pitch black but soon enough I was given a flashlight and food from my tour guide. The hike was possibly one of the most thrill-seeking and uplifting experiences I have ever done. It took approximately two and a half hours with additional stops along the way. I can vividly remember the hiking trails, which were quite slippary and unsteady. However, with each passing minute, the top of Mount Batur started appearing closer to me. This stimulated me to keep going. After a long and exhausting walk, I finally arrived to see the sunrise view from Mount Batur. It was absolutely breathtaking. Nevertheless, I still had one last trail in order to reach the top of the volcano. The road to the top of the volcano was the most slippery, however, I was able to concer it with the help of my tour guide. When I finally reached the top, I was speechless. I could see the other volcano called Mount Agung in the distance. On top of the volcano, there were also monkeys that quickly found my food to be extremely interesting. Another memorable part of the experience was trying a banana that was cooked in the volcano. Trekking to the top of Mount Batur is one of the most authentic experiences that I have ever had. Meeting adventurous tourists, friendly locals and looking and appreciating thehidden gem of Bali is something that I will always remember.