MONTHLY CHALLENGE | WATERFALLS | BEAUTIFUL BALI
From Tegallalang to Tegenungan
In a matter of a few hours we made our way from the cascading fields to a stunning cascade
It was our first trip together. I had taken up the responsibility of making all the related plans. It was meant to be a pleasant surprise for my better half. While she was aware of the destination, what was deliberately kept a secret from her was the elaborate arrangements that I was making to ensure it became a vacation to remember.
The Indonesian island of Bali is a major travel destination. For most tourists, Bali offers a cheap travel alternative. In fact, I made touristy trips to the island in my early days as a traveler. Over time, though, I understood that Bali offers immense possibilities to ensure comfortable travel, provided it is taken.
My travel experiences have, in any case, made me understand over time that if you want to have a memorable travel experience at a destination tourists throng to, you shouldn’t hesitate to loosen your purse strings. As such, I ensured things were carefully planned.
Combining leisure and luxury
I broke up the journey into two legs. Considering the first leg was elaborate and involved frequent travel, we were booked in a centrally located luxury hotel. These few days were meant to explore Bali’s major attractions, get done with the shopping and also to indulge in a multitude of water sport activities in Nusa Dua.
For the second leg, I had booked a private villa in a luxury resort located in a comparatively remote corner. This period was intended as quiet relaxation, a walk by the beach, spending time in the local coffee shops and having candle-light dinners.
Previous trips to the province had made me aware that public transport is anything but reliable. As such, I had booked a chauffeur driven car. It was going to be at our disposal throughout, from picking us up at the Ngurah Rai International Airport to dropping us off at the same location. It was our first trip after our wedding, and I wanted it to be a memorable experience.
On the first morning we visited two picturesque temples. Starting with the 17th century Pura Taman Ayun, or the Taman Ayun Temple in the Mengwi subdistrict, we proceeded to Pura Tanah Lot, or the iconic Tanah Lot Temple in Tabanan. The latter is perched atop an impressive rock formation off the island, and is completely surrounded by the Indian Ocean during high tide.
The next few days were spent indulging in a gamut of activities, attempting to soak in the eclectic Balinese culture. Among other things we enjoyed a Tari Barong dan Keris (Barong and Kris Dance) performance in Batubulan, visited the villages of Batuan and Celuk in the Ubud district, and witnessed the traditional art, crafts and paintings.
We also indulged in agro-tourism alternatives in Ubud, exploring the spice and coffee gardens at various places, and getting to learn about the famous Luwak coffee. Then, there were the water sport activities of course. In fact, an entire day had been kept aside for this purpose.
Cascading fields… And a cascade
However, the best was palpably reserved for our last travel day, before we were scheduled to check out of the hotel, and check in to the resort. We began with a visit to a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Tegallalang Rice Terrace is a gorgeous destination. It is a series of cascading rice fields. This beautiful arrangement follows a traditional Balinese irrigation system, called subak, that dates back to the 8th century. We spent considerable time exploring these terraces, and also visiting the nearby Bali Pulina plantation. The region is a stunning green landscape.
Once we were done, our driver took us to a traditional warung, a small eatery that served excellent pork. While Indonesia is an Islamic country with a Muslim majority, and dietary law forbids the consumption of pork, Bali is a Hindu-majority island. Hindus are a bit more flexible when it comes to food. I have also savored pork dishes while visiting parts of India.
After Tegallalang, we headed to a scenic waterfall in a lush jungle, and spent the entire afternoon in its beautiful surroundings.
Tegenungan is really beautiful
Located in the Gianyar Regency district, in the village of Kemenuh and on the sacred Petanu River, the Tegenungan itself is very impressive and nestled in the lap of nature. The cascade’s current is reliant on rainfall, but there are green surroundings with abundance of water. It takes 168 steps to reach (and return from) the waterfall, and is a test of fitness levels. That being said, this journey is also part of the adventure.
The area is perfect for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. The crashing sound of the waterfall is calming to the mind. The greenery in the surrounding areas makes it a unique and immersive experience overall. We also saw some people swimming, or getting ready to swim, in the surrounding waters.
There were others on the lookout for some nice photos. In fact, like most of Bali, everything around Tegenungan is designed for tourism. In fact, the lead up to the entrance is lined up with small shops and restaurants. That being said, we got lucky. There were a lot fewer tourists on the day we visited. Our driver, who happened to be a native, was left surprised at the numbers rather the lack of it.
It had been a while since he had seen such fewer numbers visiting this famous waterfall on a given day. Needless to say, we made the most of our good fortune. It was an unusually tranquil atmosphere. The cascading water made for a graceful charm, and provided for a mesmerizing spectacle overall.
Our trip was a peaceful escape from the nearby urban congregations to a harmonious blend of a beautiful waterfall and natural beauty in the background. Amid all the greenery it is a great panorama and there are small platforms along the way to take as many photos as possible. We palpably took a few photographs of the main highlights, of course.
However, the most memorable of photographs happen by chance. In our case, it was no different either. A cute little girl, accompanied by her grandfather, had been attracted by our camera. She was delighted when it was handed to her, the smile on her face was worth a million bucks. The grandpa spoke broken English, but enough to engage in a conversation.
Before leaving, we sought the elder’s permission and got photographed with the little girl. It remains another sweet memory of our visit to Tegenungan. In fact, the time spent at the Tegenungan Waterfall ensured a perfect end to our Bali sojourn. It was a trip that was memorable in every sense of the term, more so because we had been fortunate to avoid tourists in an otherwise touristy destination.
It defined our travel pattern
We have been married for quite some time now. If I plan an elaborate vacation, she does not get mad at me. Over the years, she has come to understand that when you go out as a couple, it is not only about shelling out a few dollars more. It is also about comfort, safety and enjoying the vacation to an extent that it becomes a good memory.
Besides, every time we have headed to a waterfall since, our experience has inadvertently been compared to our first. In that sense, our visit to the Tegenungan Waterfall has become a benchmark of sorts.
Among the “monthly challenge” stories by fellow writers (published so far), below are the two that I enjoyed reading the most. I have not visited either of these waterfalls. As such, I enjoyed reading both of them.
First, it is The Pristine Beauty of Angel Falls, brilliantly written by Brad Yonaka. Secondly, there is this detailed narration that I happened to read yesterday. It is titled Mosi-oa-Tunya, and is admittedly also a “geology lesson” written by Ronald Smit. I have complimented both for writing such interesting stuff. If you haven’t read it yet, please do.
It is still early March, and I have no doubt that many more stories will be written as part of the monthly challenge. Now that I am through with my contribution, I can focus on reading narratives by fellow writers.
Lastly, a big shout-out, and a heartfelt gratitude to the Fabulous Four, our esteemed editors. I also have a humble request along with the gratitude. Last month, rather less than two weeks after I used the phrase Famous Five, I read Anne’s post to know what we all do now. Ladies, please don’t make me feel jinxed :)
