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I always thought 'picture postcard beautiful' was a bit of a cliche - and then I went to Bali. Smoking volcanoes rose from dense forests, lush rice fields undulated down terrace steps and warm azure waves lapped at stunning beaches.
The Balinese are passionate about life and believe in living each moment to the fullest. After my rushed urban life, Bali came as a tranquil haven - I wandered through streets strewn with flower petals and more often than not the locals invited me to sit down and have a chat with them.
The Balinese rituals are an amalgam of ancient Indian, Javanese and Buddhist - colourful and exuberant - and the warmth of the locals sought to match this. Their temples reverberated with prayers every morning and the soothing strains of the gamelan, the music of the island, resounded in the island air. A lovely breeze would rise every evening, filtering through the large bamboo windows and there would be no need of any air conditioning.
I strolled through the tree-lined street of Denpasar, exploring its numerous gardens. Being a vegetarian, I was wary about the cuisine but Bali has no dearth of veg fare. I had hearty meals at warungs, the local cafes, tucking in nasi goreng (fried rice, usually topped with an egg) and mie goreng (fried noodles). I also sampled the Padang fare (sold in little cafes called rumah makan) which is spicy tidbits of fried fish, chicken and Vegetables on a buffet.
One early morning I climbed up Gunung Batur, a dormant volcanic peak and witnessed the scarlet sunset. Even the unrelenting souvenir sellers could not mar the magic of the morning. In stark contrast was my next stop at the city of Kuta – the Balinese equivalent of Thailand's Phuket – meaning cheap accommodation, cheap beer, cheap Western food and a great nightlife. The water here was too strong for a dip but I enjoyed my Bintang (Balinese beer) and shook a leg at a rocking club, although after shaking off the ubiquitous touts with much difficulty.
The tranquil town of Ubud was just what I needed after Kuta. A thriving art scene, chic galleries and myriads of open air cafes give way to river valleys and verdant jungles. I picked up local crafts for souvenirs and spent the rest of the day enjoying cultural and dance performances at the Royal Palace. Bali is picturesque, with colours running riot everywhere and the enthralling Balinese dance consolidated the fact.
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