'Our Exotic Honeymoon in Bali'

Bali, Yes Bali !!! That was the destination we intended to visit after the marriage. A month later, after being married, my spouse and I fulfilled our plan together.

We left Jakarta on Saturday 1 April 2000, and arrived in Sunday evening at Ubung Terminal. By having the address of the place, we went straight to the motel in Legian area, Legian Beach Bungalow. Soon the air of hospitality embraced us around and the night became the shades of romantic nuance there. How glorious I wondered what could be happen in the next day.

When we got in the motel, there was a bell-boy with his friendly look welcomed us. He directly showed us the room. It was so dark and damp. However the experience of long exhausted journey made us fell asleep immediately.

That following day day was the time to begin our trip in Bali. We also realized there would be Seclusion Day tomorrow. Therefore, we decided to spend a day left. Before noon, we agreed to take a walk to Kuta beach which took twenty minutes from the motel. In fact, it was far enough, however we did not realize it all. What an exotic place! Every corner of the building or house had sculpture which blanketed by clothes with the motif color like chess board. We just walked and walked. Surely, the moment was so priceless to be missed by seeing the unique life of Balinese including Ogoh-ogoh festival preparation.

We noticed the Hindu Balinese people prepared to welcome the Seclusion Day. In fact, only this people who celebrate the day when they have to isolate themselves from any activities except only doing asceticism within the day.

Before the day came, they had already made a lot Ogoh-ogoh - the big frightening puppets to be carted off the night before. The demonstration of Balinese dance performance was performed in the festival. At that time, the tourist mixed to the Balinese were drifted with the spectacular event including us. The parade itself was over around 10 p.m. No wonder, they became so eager to view the parade as tomorrow was the day they had to do no activity.

The following morning was 4 April, all electricity had turned off within the day. We were just in our room. In order to make the holiday become merrier, playing riddles was the only way. We made a lot of laughter, very quiet laughter. No light, no sounds are allowed at the moment. When the night came, we tried to light the candle up but kept the light in our room only. Outside we learned that there was no people who walked around. The only things we saw and heard were the darkness and cricket sound which so peaceful and quiet.

Obviously, religion is a dominating force on Bali and pervades every aspect of life. Therefore it is impossible to separate the Balinese from their religion. People obeyed the day by staying at their places and did no activity.

The following morning, the life was back to normal again. It also became the day we started our journey in Bali. By hiring a car, we would visit some places; Sukowati market, Tampak Siring Presidential Palace, Kintamani and Goa Gajah. When at Kintamani there was something bizarre we had at that time. It was raining, therefore we had to look for a shelter where was at the edge of the lake. Surprisingly, the land seemed to be lower than the lake. With the declivity of the surface, the water did not reach to the land even, in the hard raining. What an incredible view! Finally, Goa Gajah was our last visit. On the way back to the motel, the hard raining still went down, making my husband drive slowly along the road. I held my husband's thigh to reduce my worries. Soon after arriving at the motel, my husband and I decided to package our things before going back to Jakarta tomorrow.

It was 6 April in the morning, it had been the fifth day we were in Bali. After preparing and making sure that the things already set in, we said farewell to the people in the motel. In fact, our feeling would not so easily to say good-bye. Nevertheless, there was something remained In our minds that soon or later we would go there again. Bye Bali...So long.....

Elza Oktora