Day 3- People, Patterns, and a Proper Tourist Day in Bali
People, Patterns, and a Proper Tourist Day in Bali
When I moved to Barcelona years ago, my goal was pretty simple: to gain experience working internationally—in a foreign country, with people from all over the world. But, as life tends to do, it quickly turned into a much bigger cultural experience - one I wouldn’t want to miss for anything.
You don’t just meet people from different countries - you live alongside them, learn their customs, and begin to understand the place you now call home in a totally different light.
The people around you - friends, colleagues, even those who become like family - can inspire you in all sorts of ways, whether you notice it or not. The same thing happens when you travel. Depending on how you travel, you either stay in a comfortable bubble or open your eyes to the world around you.
I tend to observe people. At airports. On planes. Sounds a little creepy, I know - but watching how people from different cultures behave, interact, and react is fascinating. You start to see patterns. Of course, not all people from one country are the same, but cultural traits and shared behaviors often shine through.
Day Tour: Tired Legs, Sacred Sites, and Waterfalls
Yesterday, I did my first big tour of the island. At around 60€, it was on the pricier side, but absolutely worth it. I rented a car with a driver for 11 hours to visit three different places.
As a true overenthusiastic tourist, I planned way too much. My driver told me immediately that we wouldn't fit everything in. And he was right.
Stop 1: Goa Gajah – The Elephant Cave
The car and driver were set to arrive at 9:30am, and wow—he was on time. At 9:29am sharp, he stood in front of my little bungalow, greeted me with a warm “Selamat pagi!” (Indonesian for “Good morning”), and told me he'd wait in the parking lot.
First stop: Goa Gajah, the Elephant Cave, right here in Ubud. Its exact origin isn’t totally clear, but historians estimate it dates back to the 11th-century Bali Kingdom. The site blends both Hindu and Buddhist symbolism - you’ll find lingam and yoni (symbols of Shiva), an image of Ganesha, and near the river, carvings of stupas and chattra (symbols used in Buddhism).
(Okay fine, I stole that last bit from Wikipedia. Forgive me.)
Despite being here at tourist season, it wasn’t too crowded when I arrived around 10am. The sun, however, was already hard at work - around 30°C, with enough humidity to make it feel like a sauna.
The mist from the waterfall helped, and the lush green surroundings - palm and banana trees - made the area feel like a hidden oasis.
About 50 photos later 😄, it was time to move on.
Fun side note: My driver kindly lent me a sarong to cover my legs - respect for local temple dress codes is important, but who decided we should wear long fabric in 90% humidity? It created its own microclimate under there!
Stop 2: Tukad Cepung Waterfall
This one was just 26km away, but thanks to Bali traffic and narrow roads, it took us nearly two hours to get there.
Perfect chance to have a deeper chat with my driver, Hendra - a local Balinese, father of two daughters, and fluent English speaker. Not that I’d have minded using gestures and broken phrases - miscommunication can actually lead to great stories and a real shift out of your comfort zone.
We arrived around 11:30 am at Tukad Cepung Waterfall, near Kota Bangli.
What. A. Place.
The waterfall has only been open to tourists for a few years. To reach it, you go down steep steps clearly designed for 2.20m tall giants. Still, totally worth it. Pro tip: bring swimming shoes or anything that dries quickly. The sharp volcanic rocks in the stream feel like they could double as kebab skewers. 😅
The trail winds through narrow creeks and between massive boulders - often only wide enough for one person. The reward? A magical waterfall, not overly crowded, and visited by travelers from across the globe.
Which brings me back to my earlier observation:
Americans: sport shoes and white socks
Germans: sandals with socks
Asians: barefoot
Some clichés are rooted in reality. 😄
3rd Stop: Lempuyang Temple – The One with That View
Our third stop was Lempuyang Pura, one of Bali’s most famous temples.
As I mentioned - classic tourist mistake - I overestimated my schedule. You could easily spend 4 hours here alone, but we arrived around 2:30pm, and little Tofu still had dreams of catching sunset at Tanah Lot Temple on the south coast. Spoiler: that didn’t happen.
Lempuyang sits dramatically on a steep mountainside, about 600 meters above sea level.
And the view? Just wow. Especially looking out toward Mount Agung, Bali’s 3,000-meter-high active volcano. Standing at the temple, facing the mountain, you suddenly feel very small.
As a hobby photographer, I of course wanted the shot.
So I waited…60 minutes in the scorching sun…to get that iconic photo at the temple gates. I'm actually surprised I didn’t get sunburned, even though I forgot sunscreen. Luckily, I had a hat from two of my best friends in Barcelona and paired with my sunglasses, I probably looked ridiculous. But hey - function over fashion, right?
Back at Base
We returned around 6:30pm, just as darkness set in.
I stayed in, read a book, and treated myself to a cold beer. After a packed day full of heat, temples, waterfalls, and cultural immersion—nothing hits better.