It is amazing what can be communicated by a simple facial gesture. Walking around Bali, whether on the sunny beaches or around misty mountain temples, I hear so many different languages ring through the air. One language that all nationalities can understand, however, is the smile. A smile can break through social barriers, connect you with a stranger and leave you with something completely unexpected: a conversation, an adventure, a new friend or maybe just a good feeling on the inside. Most people I have come in contact with in Bali, tourists and locals alike, greet you with steady eye contact and a bright smile. Maybe this is why the island has grown on me so quickly…
My first weekend in Bali was spent with little work and worry – in true Balinese style. The highlight came on Sunday morning when I walked to the beach at 5:45 a.m. I sat alone as the sun crept over the horizon and exploded into view with amazing radiance. It was a true display of nature’s beauty and allowed for a powerful experience of introspection. I reflected on many things while I watched the painting-in-motion mature in front of my eyes: how grateful I am to be alive; how fortunate I am to be a Samples and a Zind; how I have the best big brother on the planet; how thankful I am for each opportunity provided for me in this life, even at such a young age; and all of the great times I have shared with my friends, from California to Georgia to Texas to Colorado. It was a wonderfully emotional moment that I won’t soon forget.
Beautiful Bali sunrise
Much of the weekend I spent on the beach enjoying a book and the Bali sun. The crystal clear water is the perfect temperature for a dip, and the sandbar on the hotel’s beach extends more than 200 yards off the coast. As I stomped through the water I often closed my eyes and inhaled the salty air. Even though I was so young while living in Coronado, flashes of the California coastline ran through my head while taking in the sights and smells of the beach.
Underwater walkway through seaweed
Outside the hotel
Sunday evening we visited a couple temples with Rika and her husband. One of them had some interesting signage at the entrance:
Ladies beware...
My favorite of temple the day was Tanah Lot. Although it is a highly commercialized temple with vendors lining the streets up to the entrance, fighting through the throngs of tourists was worth the view of the sun setting over the ocean. As the sun disappeared, the crowds that had gathered to watch the view erupted in cheers – a fitting end to my first weekend in Bali.
Tanah Lot
Ben Z Samples
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Andrew – To answer your question from my previous post: The price of meals depends on where you eat. If you decide to dine at a touristy location, you can spend $45 for a nice dinner (per person), and if you choose to eat at a local hole in the wall, 45 cents for a noodle dinner. Same goes for the overall cost of living. If you live in areas with locals it would be fairly cheap because of the favorable exchange rate, but I’m sure you can easily find beachfront property on the other side of the cost spectrum.
Please feel free to ask any questions and I’ll answer them to the best of my ability or seek out the answers for you!
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