Making Each Day Count

I hope you’re having a fantastic weekend. This week I am excited to share more about my recent Bali trip. Last week I wrote about my first day chilling at the beach with my friends. If you missed it, you might want to check it out. Today I’m diving into Day 2’s adventures.

We woke up at the crack of dawn, or rather, long before it. Our tour guide was set to pick us up at 230 AM (yes, you read that right), giving us enough time to make the two-hour drive from our villa in Seminyak to our next destination. Why so early? Because our Day 2 challenge was all about endurance and cardio. It was a pre-dawn hike up Mount Batur, an active volcano known for its stunning sunrise hikes. As my girlfriends and I geared up for the climb, we could not help but reminisce about our university days, when hiking Mount Makiling was just another requirement for our Physical Education class. Back then, I tackled the trail with youthful energy. This time I felt the stakes – i.e., my pride – felt much higher. With minimal cardio and training (I only started a little over two months), I decided to come clean and set expectations that I would probably be the straggler on the trail. But hey, as long as I made it to the top, that was all that mattered, right?

Our guide dropped us off a meeting point where our hike hosts greeted us with warm smiles. Soon after, we boarded two jeeps and set off toward the base of Mount Batur. It was a fun, bumpy ride which added to the anticipation of the climb. When we got to the base, our hiking guide gave us a quick rundown of what to expect. We strapped on our headlamps, held on to our walking sticks and before we knew it, we were off ascending straight into the darkness. No warm up nor easing in, just an immediate steep climb into the (fun) challenge that awaited us.

Along the way I learned that the last time Mount Batur erupted was in 2000. While it remains active it is currently considered safe for trekking, making it one of Bali’s top hiking destinations.

After a little over an hour of steady climbing, we finally reached the summit just in time for sunrise. I was surprised to see that a crowd had already gathered, yet the atmosphere remained peaceful and finding a good vantage point was easy. As my friends and I snapped photos and soaked in the breathtaking view, our guide set off to prepare a simple but satisfying breakfast: boiled eggs, toast and freshly brewed coffee. As I savored my coffee I admired the view of Mount Agung (Bali’s highest and most sacred volcano), Mount Rinjani (Indonesia’s second highest volcano located in the neighboring island of Lombok), and Lake Batur.

After breakfast we explored the summit’s surroundings. Our guide led us to areas where steam was rising from the volcanic vents. He demonstrated a cool trick holding a small flame from a cigarette near the steam, which instantly made the steam stronger.

As the sun climbed higher in they sky I heard a cry from a distance. My guide said it was the monkeys. Sure enough they had begun to stir, a sign that it was meant it was time for our start our descent.

Now if I thought going up was tricky, going down was an entirely different challenge. The moment we took our first steps downhill, our legs trembled from exhaustion. That’s when we spotted the locals offering motorcycle rides down the mountain for a fee. With little discussion and less hesitation we decided to take them up on it. To this day I can’t believe I actually braved that ride! It was equally thrilling and terrifying, but one thing was certain: it was a descent I would never forget.

Our next stop was a natural hot spring where we could soak our tired bodies and relax. To my delight the place offered massages. Without a second thought I booked one immediately. After the intense activity it was exactly what I needed.

On our ride back home we stopped by a fruit stand for some snacks. I got this snake fruit or salak in Indonesian. It was the first time I’ve seen it, and true enough its skin resembled a snake’s scales. The fruit was cripsy and its taste reminds me of an apple.

As our eventful morning came to an end, I reflected on the adventure we just experienced. Bali has already given me and my friends so many unforgettable moments, and we were only in Day 2. With my bag of snake fruit in hand, I had a satisfied smile on my face knowing that this trip was shaping up to be the one for the books. Stay tuned as there is more to come from my Bali escapade!