‘Bali is the sort of place where you can walk down the street and find something picturesque’
– Malaysian-born British actor, Henry Golding
‘I think I left my heart in Bali’ – this is a sentiment shared by many who have been fortunate enough to experience the Island of Gods’ enchantment.
Although it was a short trip and I only managed to explore Kuta, I am determined to go back and explore more of what Bali has to offer.
In the bustling streets of Kuta where the vibrant energy of the island came to life, I found myself swept away by the electric mix of modernity and tradition.
The lively markets were filled with artisans proudly displaying their creations which offered a glimpse into Bali’s rich artistic heritage.
Intricately carved wooden masks, colourful batik fabrics and delicate silver jewellery adorned the stalls, each piece telling a story of Bali’s craftsmanship and creativity.
It was impossible to resist the urge to take a piece of this artistry home, a tangible reminder of the island’s allure.
While roaming through the streets, I was fascinated by the architecture of buildings – modern and traditional interweaving with one another.
Balinese temples with their ornate gates and towering pagodas stood in harmony with stylish cafes and boutique shops.
It was a testament to Bali’s ability to seamlessly blend its ancient heritage with the demands of the contemporary world, creating a unique atmosphere that is both timeless and dynamic.
Despite my limited time, I could not resist the allure of Kuta’s famous beaches. The golden sands stretched for miles, caressed by the gentle waves of the Indian Ocean.
The sunsets were nothing short of spectacular, painting the sky with hues of pink, orange, and purple, casting a magical glow over the horizon.
I think the best souvenir I brought back with me is the Bali tan from my time at the beach and by the poolside – a sun-kissed glow that serves as a tangible reminder of the peaceful moments spent in paradise.
Unfortunately, the trip ended on a slight damper as our flight back to Kuala Lumpur was retimed not once or twice, but four times.
Our flight was originally scheduled to take off at 1.05 pm, but upon arriving at the airport, we received a notification saying that it was rescheduled to 2.05 pm instead.
This one-hour delay was acceptable and we did not mind as Ngurah Rai International Airport had plenty of shops and cafes to visit for us to kill some time.
However, another notification came, and it said the flight was now departing at 6.40 pm, which made us rather restless because we had another four to five hours to kill.
By that time, we accepted the fact that we were going to miss our connecting flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching at 7.15 pm.
After that, the airline put us on the 9.45 pm flight, the last one for the day, and provided us with a food voucher of 150,000 rupiah.
After making several rounds at the different shops in the airport, we received another notification stating that the flight would now depart at 8.20 pm.
Needless to say, we were exasperated because we knew for sure we were not able to make it to Kuching on the same night.
In fact, our media friends who were scheduled to fly after our original flight time were not affected by any changes and they made it home before us.
Overall, we were stranded at the airport for almost eight hours. It was my first time I experienced such a conundrum and I do not wish to experience it again.
It almost felt like we were traveling back home from some European country instead of our neighbouring country.
Having said that, I am really looking forward to our own boutique airline taking off so that we can eliminate the need to transit in Kuala Lumpur to reach the next destination.
Did you know that it only takes approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes to travel from Kuching to Bali?
Presently, the travel journey from Kuching to Bali takes 6 hours 20 minutes with the connecting flight in Kuala Lumpur.
With Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s vision of making Kuching a hub, I am certain that travel enthusiasts including myself are looking forward to reaching destinations across the globe without long hours of layover or transit.
This would give Sarawak’s tourism industry an upper hand as I believe it is best for tourists and travellers to see what the state has to offer first before they explore other parts of Malaysia.
Once they have fallen in love with Sarawak, I am sure they will come back to explore more and perhaps even sign up for the Sarawak-Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H) programme.
