Greetings from Bali,

I must be honest, as I was sitting on the 15 hour flight to Hong Kong and thinking about the 5 hour flight from Hong Kong to Denpasar, I asked myself…can it really be worth the 20 hour flight???
Arriving into Denpasar at 9:00 p.m. being whisked away to the hotel…the adventure began!

A nosegay of beautifully fragrant frangipani immediately transports you the into ambience of this magical island.
The sound of the surf under the full moon as it crashes to shore…let’s see what tomorrow brings.
Bali is the only Hindu island in Indonesia, which gives it a distinct feel and sets it apart from all others.
The traditional greeting is always a radiant smile and prayer hands with a slight bow of the head… a heart-warming gesture that is touching… a lovely connection without words.
The spirituality of the island is infused in every aspect of daily life…Temples abound; large important temples, smaller village temples and individual home temples…each dotted with lovely elaborate or simple offerings to the gods. Watching shop keepers sprinkle holy water at their door before closing up for the night…truly a delight to behold. Stumbling upon a large temple celebration along the road in all its resplendent regalia…a small window into this remarkable culture.

Greetings from Ubud in the breath-taking hills of Bali.

Ubud is everything one imagines when you think of Bali…lush jungles, verdant rice fields, rushing rivers, ancient temples and smiling faces.

This area of the island has always been highly regarded by the Balinese for its immense spiritual powers. Even the word Ubud is derived from the term ubad, meaning medicine in reference to the traditional healing properties of the array of plants that randomly grow here. Generations of Hindu worshippers have made special pilgrimages to the fork in the Wos River to mediate, bathe and collect holy water for temple ceremonies and cleansing/purification rituals.

Upon arrival, one immediately feels a sense of calm, serenity and overall well-being…there is truth to the spiritual powers of Ubud.

An opportunity for reflection and reconnection in a paradise of tropical mystique.

In short, to answer my own question…can it be worth the 20 hour flight? Hands down, a resounding YES!