Bali has almost seemed like a mythical place and my first glimpses of it were, in fact, quite dreamy. But that may because my first looks at the island were as I groggily woke up from my overnight-bus-ride-slumber. My first sight that morning was a beautiful view of the paddy covered hills. It made the volcanic mountains look like a green topographical map. Beautiful, but I needed sleep. I turned my head away from the window to get a couple more minutes of sleep, but before I closed my eyes again I caught sight of the ocean out the other window. Although it was early still and the beach relatively far from the road, I could see the light blue waves crashing on an offshore reef. Big waves- perhaps the one that originally put Bali on the map. I slept on and off for the next hour or two, from dreams to the dreamlike landscape. Every waking moment was spent admiring the beauty of Bali.

Arriving at our final destination of Ubud, it became apparent that Bali is totally unlike Java. Firstly, there’s a lot more foreigners in Bali, both tourists and expats. The Balinese, as a result, seem to enjoy a much higher standard of living than their Javanese compatriots. Secondly, its Hindu overwhelmingly Hindu rather than Sunni Muslim. The Hinduism is quite different from Indian or Nepali Hinduism, which is also readily apparent. Small offering dishes, constructed of leaves and filled with flowers, rice, and incense, litter the side walks and numerous shrines and lanterns. Supposedly, these are offerings to appease the spirits, since Balinese Hinduism is really a mix of native animism and the Indian religion. Meat, including beef, is on all the menus, as well. Bali looks different too. Its true what they say about art being an innate part of Balinese culture. From the family/clan compounds with their ornately designed temples, walls, and statues to the flower-draped shrines, to the peoples’ traditional dress, Bali is pretty aesthetically appealing. So far, Bali seems beautiful and unique.