I went to Bali, Indonesia, 3 times in total as cabin crew. The flight from Dubai International Airport to Denpasar is about 9 hours long (airport abbreviation: DPS). Denpasar is the capital of Bali but the name itself is not popular at all. Most people know Bali like, well…like Bali. If you go on a trip, however, your boarding pass will show DPS.
Like I said the flight from Dubai is 9 hours. On the way to the Indonesian island the flight departs in the afternoon and on the way back it is a night flight. No need to mention, it is one of the most tiring flights of the whole airline’s network. Bali is a holiday destination and all passengers are usually young and ready to party. The holiday goers begin their vacation on the aircraft itself! That’s great for them but not so much for the crew - the work is double the amount but hey, we are all going to a nice place, anyways!
The crew hotel is located at the airport terminal itself - such a location has its ups and downs. Up until that moment I had never seen a hotel located inside a terminal! We did not even have to leave the airport at all, not even to cross a street. There is an inside connection without having to go out. In terms of ups and downs, such a hotel is very comfortable in a sense that you enter your room almost straightaway after arrival. A downside is that Bali itself, with the sights and all, is 2 hours away by car!
By the time I checked in my room, it was already 10pm local time. The usual 24-hour layover was ahead of me but it is hardly enough to have a rest and do proper sightseeing. The tour the next day was supposed to leave from the hotel at 5am…
I showed up at the lobby half an hour later next morning, which did not appeal too much to some of my colleagues. Anyway, we left with a local Balinese tour guide who works a lot with crew. The trip was done by car and the first destination was the Bali Gates of Heaven. The whole trip was supposed to cover the following stops:
Bali Gates of Heaven
Water Garden
Local Beach
Sounds like not too much but, believe me, it is more than enough given the distances and lack of sleep.
Bali Gates of Heaven
The first stop was the very famous recently Bali Gates of Heaven. Locally, it is known as Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang. It is actually a sacred place on the island with one of the most important temples. Lempuyang is the mountain and sits at 1775m above sea level. The part of the mountain that is majestically located behind the Gates is a volcano!
The temple of Mount Lempuyang is the highest temple in the area and you have to climb steep stairs to get to the top. The view is magnificent and you have a wonderful view of the Gates of Heaven from above.
Access to the complex inside is not always possible - sometimes it is closed because of prayers which only local people have access to. Even if you don’t manage to go inside going up the stairs and passing by the decorated dragon figures is more than enough. According to Balinese beliefs, the temple is a focal point of the island and provides the spiritual balance of Bali.
What to Expect When You Get There
Once you arrive, the car will drop you at the Gates - a reason why this place is so popular among tourists is not spiritual or any other superior phenomenon - it’s because it’s a great Instagrammable place. The idea is to stand inside the Gates, as if passing through them, and local staff takes your picture. There is also water in front of you and you see your reflection and the reflection of the Gates below you. The picture looks amazing BUT it is fake! There is no water at all and there is no way for you to see your reflection anywhere in reality.
When we got there we found out that we had to wait 3 hours to take that picture, which was also the reason for the tour to start at 5am. We didn’t wait and we took the picture in the best way we could. Well, there was no water for us and there is a bunch of crowds at the background in the photos but what to do…
How Should You Dress
In Hindu temples (as is this one) it is strictly not allowed to enter with your shoulders, arms, and legs naked (meaning showing up too much skin). Shorts, T-shirts and sleeveless tops are not welcome. Ladies, make sure you bring at least a scarf with you to toss over your shoulders. Since it is a very hot place you are not expected to wear long trousers. At the door your will be provided with a sarong - something like a skirt to cover bare knees and legs. By the way, dressing rules apply to both men and women and gentlemen are given a sarong, too!
Personally, I had my own blazer with me but I was wearing shorts, of course. I was given a sarong at the entrance and I was good to go.
Also, upon entering, a local Balinese will reach out to pour a few drops of holy “liquid” - something similar to holy water. Without this ritual you will not be allowed to enter. If you don’t want any on your skin, it is okey to turn your hair and get it sprayed a little bit.Remember, the temple is beautiful and all you need to do is show respect and follow rules.
Even though, we were on a tight schedule, we took our time and enjoyed the Gates of Heaven. Our next stop was one of the most prominent water gardens in Bali.
2. Water Garden
The second stop of our tour was Tirta Gangga Water Palace or Garden - for short, I will call it Water Garden. This is serene and balanced place where in a perfect symbiosis water, green scenery and people co-exist together. This was the first place from my 3 visits where I could feel the real Bali as it is - green, peaceful, humid and spiritual.
The Garden is a natural complex of ponds and water installations like waterfalls. There are also decorative bridges and abundance of flowers and plants. Among all this, a couple of restaurants and cafes are skillfully accommodated to sit down and enjoy the tranquility.
Upon entering you see the biggest pond in the complex inhabited by shiny and orange Japanese koi fish. You can take a walk “on the water’’ thanks to decorative stone plates installed to step on. Be patient - the place cannot be more perfect for Instagram snapshots and people take their time there!
As you go inside the garden, you stroll along alleys and paths full of bright greenery and a unique selection of local flora. The colors are something that really impressed me in the Garden!
Before you leave, sit down and have lunch (or breakfast) at one of the cafes or restaurants located there. The food is tasty, cheap and, by the way, service in Bali is of the highest level. The local people are very friendly and truly happy to pay attention to you and help you.
After this paradise-like experience we headed to the final stop of our tour - a Balinese beach.
3. Local Beach
The final stop of this layover’s tour was a visiting a beach - truth is, we were supposed to visit another temple but we were too tired and we had to go back to the hotel soon. Luckily, there was a beach on the way and we decided to pay it a visit before going back.
Visiting a beach really is a must in Bali - in the end, this is a holiday destination. To be honest, I don’t remember its name but I remember other…feelings: bright blue horizon ahead of me and crystal clear waters that seemed to go on to an infinite horizon. The beach we found was not a touristic place - it was carefully hidden away from the main road amongst palm trees, sands and a couple of forgotten wooden boats. Another place where I could feel Bali for real…
And this gorgeous view and many pictures taken concluded my first layover at Bali Island. It was totally worth it the 5am start, cranky colleagues, lack of sleep and busy Balinese traffic!
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