WorldWise Wanderers
Travel brings textbooks to life! It is a wonderful way to boost
not just academic skills in children but to practice life lessons.
We have learnt so much about currencies, time zones & geography while travelling.
But what makes for true learning is the ability to broaden a child's worldview,
encourage appreciation for different cultures and ways of life.
Travel pushes children outside their comfort zones, building resilience and adaptability.
Little Explorers in Bali: Temples, Beaches & Fun
I had my heart set on Bali ever since I read ‘Eat Pray and Love’. Unlike the key character who travels alone seeking ease of heart, I had my family along. We as parents know that moments of stillness are a distant dream when you are travelling with kids. They find joy and excitement in little things and are in general state of activity and buzz.
Having said that, we were working towards keeping everyone happy. Also overtime, I have learnt to enjoy the small pockets of stillness that can be just as refreshing as a long meditation. Here are my experiences from Bali, loaded with an itinerary seeking balance in fun, peace and newness.
1. Temples:
Bali, also known as the Land of Gods is filled with temples. Being an Indian we understand them well, culturally. At the Beshaikh temple which is amongst the oldest ones, the guide dished out life lessons that were familiar and a mutual exchange of understanding enriched us all. I smiled as a saw different artistic versions of Lord Bramha, Vishnu, Siva and Ganesha. Prayer is a way of life there, and their respect for Mother Nature is humbling. Each morning people give a small offering to their house/ establishment/ business, praying for protection and abundance both. I guess this simplicity is what keeps them so content and warm in their demeanour. They strive to give their kids just a little more than what they have received from their parents.
Recommendation:
2. Beaches and WaterSports:
Bali is pure paradise for the beach lovers, whether you are seeking a quiet sunset or some thrill and adventure, especially when it comes to extreme water sport. Most of the resorts have gorgeous private beaches while central Kuta has the popular party hangout scene. When it comes to the thrill, surfing, para sailing, jet ski, jet-o-vators, under sea walk, it’s all there. There are various companies at all the popular beaches, and our kids had a blast trying out one thrill after the other. We narrowed down on an adventure company prioritising on quality safety equipment, hygiene and child friendliness. One can easily spend half a day to a whole one, simply exploring new thrills.
On our arrival we seamlessly co-ordinated with the chosen adventure team through Whats App and only confirmed after our kids had seen the thrill and felt ready for it. They were very supportive and signing up for their photo package option turned out to be a blessing as the pictures were outstanding.
3. Rice Terraces and Volcanoes :
I had never seen rice terraces before leave alone staying in a valley surrounded by them. Almost by divine intervention we changed our second place of accommodation, just a few days before travel. It turned out to be the best decision ever, as the greenery of the space filled my heart with stillness. There was a nip in the air, lotuses and dragonflies at arms length. I have observed that children naturally calm down if they are midst nature, she simply takes over. I received the ease and silence I was seeking just by witnessing her beauty.
Recommendation:
One can stay at a gorgeous beachside property in many places around the world. But very few countries offer the option to stay or trek at the foot of an active volcano or a rice terrace. While we didn't trek up the volcano but surely enjoyed fresh coconut at the backdrop of one. Bali is also a trekker’s paradise and has many hidden waterfall getaways.
4. Spa and Meditation:
The perks of travelling in South East Asia include the wide variety of authentic spa treatments available at an affordable cost. Bali, is one of those rare places where is INR is strong and you can afford to splurge guilt free. All the resorts offer healing therapies and there are various inexpensive places all along the hip Kuta beach side.
Recommendation:
As a rule go local and experience a Balinese traditional treatment, it will never fail you.
5. Food:
I love exploring different cuisines and expanding my culinary skills. While Bali is a sea food lovers haven, being vegetarian wasn't tough. Thankfully there’s a growing understanding of veganism and most touristy places support it. All the hip, central places like Kuta, Ubud are filled with cafes and restaurants where you can get pizza, spaghetti and falafels with ease. For the more conventional eaters, there is a decent choice of authentic Indian restaurants at many places. The resorts generally do not have many vegetarian options but they accommodate their guests well, on special request.Recommendation:
Try the local Balinese cuisine it’s delicious. They use a little palm sugar that gives the cuisine a sweetish spicy nutty taste. We ate their version of the vegetarian thali (Nasi Campur) and Nasi Goreng, Mie Goreng, Gado Gado, all the options are available with meat too. We also took a cooking class at the resort and learnt how to make Sambhal.
6. Shopping:
While I didn't really have shopping on my agenda, I thoroughly enjoyed the Ubud Art Market, its filled with local clothes, woodwork, bags and souvenirs. Its an upgraded version of our Mumbai fashion street. The winding narrow by lanes of Ubud are filled with petit boutiques offering some glorious goods. The heady mix of cafes and boutiques give it a charming bohemian spirit.
Recommendation:
Bargaining well at the street market is key, they give a better price for the first sale of the day. One should pay somewhere between one/third or half of the asked price.
7. Hidden Gems for kids:
We stumbled upon
Upside Down World while reading up online but didn't expect it to be such fun for the whole family. It’s a house that is actually made upside down and makes for a great place to take pictures and laugh out loud. The kids had a blast walking through upside down beds, dining tables and bathrooms, making jokes galore. An absolute Instagram hit!
Waterbom is a water amusement park. Unbelievably clean and massive fun for the entire family.
is a rescue centre for little dolphins who are attacked and hurt by sharks. Here they are cared for and one can sign up to interact/swim with them. It was amazing, they take you to a raft in the middle of the ocean where you can get into a dolphin pen and play, hug, kiss and swim with one. My kids have a new found respect and love for other life forms.
Bali grows the cacao bean and has factories with chocolate making and tasting tours. Our children had a feast tasting 20 different types of vegan chocolates. I personally loved the pure cacao nibs.
If your children are fond of animals, you can visit the
Sacred monkey forest
, filled with glorious tall trees, and packs of monkeys. Beware, please do not carry anything in your hand, simply walk in and witness their presence closely. I recommend feeding a monkey only in the presence of their guards/ staff.
Yes a massive swing on the top of the rice terraces. You can sit on it with your child/alone, well secured with a harness and enjoy the view of the entire valley. It’s a thrill like no other.
Gorgeous view with cool breeze and hints of fear or anxiousness.
Written by: Neha Mital, originally published in Jan, 2020.