Traveling from Perth to Indonesia, I was in the air for less time than I’ve been for my flights from Perth to Sydney.  That is just bizarre.

Traveling to Indonesia, mainly Bali, is a frequent trip for many West Australians, as direct flights connect the two cities offer working class Aussies, or Americans, the chance to live like kings in some of the finest resorts in Southeast Asia.  Having an exclusive villa and private driver, maid, chef and even security guard during a stay in Bali is not out uncommon, and is extremely affordable.

When I visited Bali in April 2011, I decided to take in as much of the local culture as possible, while also taking full advantage of the first-class service. Getting massages on the beach (by nine different women at the same time), renting a surfboard and a private surf coach for an hour and enjoying a few fruity beverages at the swim-up bar at my resort were just a few ways I took maximized the available luxuries in Bali. Mo-peds (scooters) are the most popular way to navigate around the island, so enjoying an inexpensive and extremely thrilling ride with a local, was a must.  Traversing through Seminyak’s intricate alleyways as rain pelted down wasn’t the most luxurious way to travel, but it felt right.

Getting inked up with a fake tattoo at Legian Beach gave me a taste of the touristy side of Bali, and the nightlife on offer in Kuta was casual, to say the least.  Sandals, better known as ‘thongs’ to Aussies, are appropriate footwear, and I donned a Bintang (local Balinese beer) singlet and boardies (‘swimming trunks’).  In comparison to some of the others in attendance at a few of Kuta’s nightclubs, I felt overdressed.

An elephant ride in Taro at the Bali Elephant Park – amidst the dense Balinese jungle – took my Asian adventures to new heights, literally.  These magnificent creatures are so powerful yet so peaceful, it made my first elephant experience incredible. Interacting with wild monkeys at the Uluwatu Temple and in Ubud made for an authentic Asian experience, and one I will never forget.  Those animals are very territorial, extremely smart and can be quite aggressive, so I had to ensure all of my belongings were tucked away safely so nothing disappeared forever into the Indonesian jungle.

Playing beach soccer with local Balinese kids in the pouring rain at Tanah Lot made for a multi-cultural experience.  Tanah Lot is a rock formation off of the southwestern coast of Bali, and is home to the Tanah Lot temple (Pura Tanah Lot).  The temple sits on a large offshore rock, which over time has been shaped continuously.   During high tide, it is impossible to reach Tanah Lot so, religious or not, one would have to choose the timing of his journey to Tanah Lot wisely.

A very early-morning hike to the summit of Mount Batur (1,717m, 5,633ft) – an active volcano – evoked mixed feelings: anxiety, exhaustion and excitement.  In the early morning black, nothing was visible beyond my private driver’s headlights on the road.  The hike began at 1am and was led by my Sherpa, whose name was Made (pronounced ‘mah-day’).  Made had done this hike in his sleep, as he took me through the pitch black night as though he was navigating down a well-lit street.  With every step, we climbed higher into the mountainous region of this little Indonesian island. 

Ascending Mount Batur was not an easy task, especially in the dark.  We reached the summit – and the tiny mountainside hut where we made our first stop for some Indonesian coffee and a light breakfast – well before sunrise.  Note that this was the first time I ever consumed coffee, and will likely be the last.  The views over Lake Batur as the sun crept over the horizon were breathtaking.  Indonesian villages beneath cirrus and stratocumulus clouds painted a beautiful picture. The descent from Mount Batur offered even more Indonesian cultural encounters.  Mingling with locals in their vegetable fields at the base of the mountain provided me with a surreal moment, as children picked tomatoes with their parents and younger siblings. 

Injecting a dose of my own culture, I decided to play catch on a relatively flat part of Mount Batur.  ‘Tossing the rock’ amongst Indonesian peaks as I made my way down the mountain was amusing. Visiting immaculate rice terraces and watching a cockfight in a rural village outside Ubud – where the entire community seemed to be present – felt like I was in a Discovery Channel documentary.  Markets surrounded the cockfighting arena, where, once released from wicker baskets, ruthless chickens attack one another with razor-sharp blades attached to their already pointy talons.

Stopping in a tiny Balinese community, I helped local elders prepare for a religious ceremony, and had some fun of my own by chopping open a coconut.  These spontaneous stops off of the beaten path made for full-immersion Southeast Asian experiences.