A Transformative Experience to Reset the Western Clock!
When you arrive in Bali, you soon realise that it takes at least 72 hours to adjust to the Bali way of doing things. It’s a slight adjustment, that requires you to give into the ‘Bali clock’ as oppose to fighting it.
This is less startling for those that stick to the confines of their resort and these tips are far more for those that have decided to venture out from their catered resort compounds.
Now I am no stranger to Bali, but it still can be a shock to the system when everything is simply not set in stone nor straight forward. For example, maybe don’t expect when you order the floating pool breakfast for 8am at your villa to arrive at 8am. In fact, depending on a myriad of things, it may arrive at 9.30am.
Does it really matter? No.
Be prepared that if you are looking for destinations in the Grab App a lot of the names have a few businesses associated, and they can look similar to a foreigner. Grab is a fairly new Uber like service in Bali that is handy if you don’t ride a scooter. This confusion with destinations has caught me off guard a few times, with myself vaguely unaware that I have chosen the wrong destination and ended up going in circles. Usually because I have entered an address that is same same but different. Great for the driver, as an extended trip means a nice tack on extra to the car ride fair.
Does it really matter? No.
Bali will test your patience and spiritual stamina for sure and at the end of the day,
you soon realise these annoyances contribute to you slowing down,
and simply going with the rhythms of Bali life.
For instance, mine was truly tested only just a few days ago and delivered with a perfect experience for my very own spiritual lesson. It’s always lovely dining in Ubud with menus set for any health guru. I picked a favourite dining spot and decided to go out for a tasty meal with my travel buddy. Now this is a top notch popular health restaurant and what was to come was nothing I anticipated. To set the scene, it is custom to take off your shoes before entering an eatery and I am happy to oblige, I just love the Balinese rituals and their culture is close to my heart. I proceeded upstairs with my friend and was directed to our table, when I felt something soft underneath my foot - dog shit! How could this be happening to me?
Internally a volcano was erupting inside of me. How was I going to eat now (poop on the mind) and how is dog shit in this popular restaurant ruining my dinner. I gained a glimmer of hope when I realised the toilets in Bali have fixed hoses and I would be able to clean my sacred feet and distance myself from this unexpected chaos!
By the time I got back, I saw the dog owner with a tissue in hand and the cute adorable Chiwawa responsible. I let it out and said, ‘I just want you to know I stepped in that dog shit and had to clean my feet.’ Of course, the owner apologised profusely but I was annoyed to say the least.
Where was my spiritual prowess now?
Bali will test you every time just like your family does every time you all revisit and gather at Christmas.
Of course, I calmed my farm and did manage to eat the most delicious pulled jackfruit tacos and berry delicious drink. The next day all had faded to a long distant memory as I grappled with the Grab App again and decided where to eat next.
Did it really matter in the grand scheme of things that my foot ended up in dog shit? No.
I am reminded, emotionally charged situations always seems bigger than they are, and thankfully, the next day all is but a distant memory.
Is Bali your next trip?
Here are my 5 tips for a transformative experience in, Ubud, Bali!
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With Punnu Singh Wasu and son Dhruv Wasu. This is a transformative, powerful meditation that works on your chakras through a very special breathing technique. The teacher will explain in detail, the method prior to the start of the practice and then simply prepare for an experience to be remembered. You can find session times and more about Punnu’s: Kirtan, Sound Healing, Meditation offerings and the health cafe at Yoga Barn in the link here.
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This place is inspirational as the story goes, these Australian owners received messages from Spirit to come to, Ubud, Bali, and were directed to build pyramids for offering sound healing sessions. Yay for us, as the owners answered the call.
Four sessions a day are available for the Ancient Sound Healing and LSV - Light Sound Vibration. I booked in for the Ancient Sound Healing and left the session feeling as light as a feather. I must admit, I did contemplate how wonderful it would be to have a place like this in every major populated area for healing.
Pyramids of Chi beds are super comfortable and you are treated with an array of sound healing instruments, that will most certainly facilitate a relaxing journey. You can find out more on the Pyramids specific constructed design alignment and book a session, or eat at their health cafe here.
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For an authentic Balinese dining experience Sun Sun Cafe is a favourite for any traveller after a wonderful vegetarian dish. You can order Nasi Campur at most warungs (Balinese cafe), but Sun Sun is my absolute favourite in Ubud for sure. A most authentic Balinese dining experience with my Balinese tour driver giving it the thumbs up! We like to shout our drivers’ lunch when being escorted around for the days activities.
Sun Sun also provides a sweet touch at the end of your meal by gifting a Tridatu bracelet made of cotton thread. This is a black, white and red thread symbolising the three phases of life, birth, life, death and the three powers being Hindu, Brahma, Wisnu, and Siwa. Tip: don’t make the mistake like I did and wear on the left wrist, you must wear the Tridatu on the right.
Link for Sun Sun Cafe, click here.
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You can visit the Holy Water Temple for purification (about 35 minutes outside of Ubud) and find many tour guides to take you there. Such as my wonderful driver of 27 years Eddie Santosa. Bali has a plethora of waterfalls to explore, relaxing in nature and taking the perfect snap! My favourite would be Tukad Cepung as this is a waterfall set in a cave and at certain times of day features the most beautiful light cascading through.
Now of course, you will need to pick good times to go as this will determine how populated and crowded the waterfall spot will be (ask your driver). We found this out when visiting Kanto Lampo Waterfall and left within minutes, due to a line up we were not up for, and visited instead the much more less crowded Goa Rang Reng Waterfall. I will also recommend one more magical waterfall to visit, if you are up for a steep climb on the way back up — medium trek strength. Nungnung Waterfall is about 45 minutes drive from Ubud. It has a waterfall that is released into a small pool of water at the bottom, making for a natural back massage as you swim closer to the water’s impact. This place’s surroundings is like a fairy paradise and well worth the hearty trek down, and then back up again, after a delightful swim.
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To be honest, I find the whole ceremonial and ritualistic presence that is engrained in Balinese culture transformative. It starts from giving gratitude to OM as is the Hindu greeting Om Swastiastu (Hello) to watching throughout the day the Balinese ritual offerings (Canang Sari) of flowers, incense and rice. It is like a song that weaves its way through Balinese life and makes for the very fabric of their culture.
Bali villages also have what is called a Balian (Shaman) who cares for the villages ills, purification and ceremonies. The Balian is a ‘special person’ who uses energy to move discord to optimal wellness and provides insight into right lifestyle. This healer can also extend out to channeling advise from love ones passed and how they would like their ceremony (funeral) to be organised. For instance, what attendees should wear, to what duration and where. Some of these ceremonies can go as long as seven days and take great effort to organise.
Now there are many Balinese healers to find and I found my path visiting Wayan Wyasa at Yoga Barn healing centre. Wayan is experienced in scanning the physical body and reading your chakras for under activity, overactivity and restoring balance. Through the use of intuition and super sensitive touch, you can receive profound insight for your life journey by clicking to book his healing sessions here at Yoga Barn.
