#11 - Monkeys in Temples

Back when he was in undergrad, my husband took a summer trip to Bali, Indonesia. He loved a lot of aspects of that trip and would love to bring me back there one day. His trip then involved following monkeys around for anthropology research. Our imaginary trip together would include less monkey-following, and more sight-seeing!

For a fun, tropical vacation in the middle of winter, I choose

Wishful Vacation #11

Bali

Why I imagine I would go to Bali:

Photo by alfaneque

I love hearing my husband's stories about his trip to Bali, and I want to experience it, too! The style of the old temples is incredible. The coast is rocky and gorgeous with a huge surf. And if I needed another reason to go, food there is inexpensive and delicious.

Photo from here.

Where I imagine I might stay in Bali:

My husband got to stay with a home-stay family, which was perfect for getting the feel for the culture, language, and food. I imagine I would like a similar experience. I read that in Bali, it is hard to get real Balinese food at restaurants or hotels because of the preparation methods. Bali also knows that it pays to cater to tourists. I don't want tourist food, though. I want the real thing. So, staying with a host family would be a great way to experience Bali.

This photo of Bali Homestay Programs / Bali Homestay is courtesy of TripAdvisor

The picture and link above features a home-stay family that seems great. By staying in a house rather than a hotel, I would get to experience life in a village. I think it would be really fun and a really different experience. It sounds awesome!

What I imagine I would eat in Bali:

Seafood, vegetables, spices, meats, rice, whole foods. Food in Bali is often served on banana leaves. They use coconut milk, herbs and spices in their cooking. The flavors are right up my alley. Here, I'll list a few more to whet your appetite: ginger, galangal, peanut sauce, sweet soy sauce, sweet potato, coriander, garlic, tamarind, lemon.. oh my. Meals usually include multiple dishes.

Photo from here.

Satay is an Indonesian dish which is very popular throughout the islands.

 Photo by Gunawan K, Wikimedia Commons

My husband remembers drinking a mushroom tea which was totally delicious while he was in Bali. We think it might have been kombucha. It's worth trying that again. He also loved the avocado smoothies which were available everywhere.

What I imagine I would do as a fun activity in Bali:

I would love to go on a tour of the temples to get a sense of the history of the region. There are many tour companies which provide temple excursions. I also want to do some shopping with the local village vendors. Balinese crafts - wood, fabric, stone, silver - are really beautiful, and it would be fun to try bargaining with the sellers.

Where else should I imagine going in 2012?

Happy travels!

xoxo - Erika