Island of the Gods and Active Volcanoes

Bali, the enchanting Island of the Gods, offers a kaleidoscope of experiences that enthrall both the soul and the lens. Nestled in the Indonesian archipelago, this tropical paradise unfolds with a vibrant tapestry of rice terraces, cascading waterfalls, and pristine beaches. Bali's rich culture and spirituality infuse every corner. As a photographer and avid traveler, Bali's allure lies not only in its breathtaking landscapes but also in the hospitality of its people. This is truly a special island.

So many beautiful places exist on Bali that it’s impossible to see them all, but I did my best with the time I had. The first few days I spent in Canggu where I found all the Aussies that followed me from Sydney for holiday. The beaches were dark, almost black from volcanic rocks, and the surfing looked great. If you know how to surf. I was very close to taking some surfing lessons, but it’ll have to wait for another time.

I also popped over to Nusa Penida for the day to see some beautiful beaches, snorkel with manta rays, and relax in a new beautiful location. What I got was extremely crowded (still beautiful) beaches of Instagram “models”, snorkeling in a different area due to strong currents, and spending a lot of time driving around in a car to get from place to place. Nusa Penida was beautiful, but maybe go stay on the island and enjoy the area before/after the day tourists hang around.

Then I traveled beyond Bali's serene shores to find Indonesia's volcanic wonders—Bromo and Kawah Ijen—an enticing experience for any photographer. These two active volcanoes are located a short ferry and a long drive away on the island of Java.

Bromo's smoke envelopes a sacred caldera in the middle of a sunrise-drenched sand sea. My group ascended under the cover of darkness where we could see a peek at the lava below before the sun came over the ridge, only the stars and the rumble of the volcano to accompany us on our trek. After our morning exercise, we enjoyed the view from the opposite ridge while sipping on some javanese coffee.

Meanwhile, Kawah Ijen's turquoise acid lake shares the crater with the sulfur miners navigating its steep slopes. These miners work tirelessly to carry 80kg of sulfur at a time on their shoulders down the mountain, only making around US$5 a day. My guide was a former miner who had destroyed his shoulders after years of work, unable to continue the haul after his recovery. Fortunately for him, tourists like me mean he takes home more money for less physical labor.

After taking more long rides in a van, I returned to Bali and headed to the town of Ubud near the center of the island. Ubud is commonly known as the cultural center of Bali with history, temples, and museums all around. It’s also where I tried Kopi Luwak, a coffee made from the defecated coffee cherries which have been digested by a Sumatran tree cat called a Luwak. While it’s not as disgusting as it sounds, it wasn’t as good as it sounds either. Also near Ubud are the Tegallalang Rice Terraces (which are much less crowded at sunrise) and some frankly amazing waterfalls.

On the way to my last stop, I headed to the Pura Agung Besakih (Great Temple) which was literally empty. This is the largest, holiest, and most important site in Balinese culture with over 23 temples on site, yet my wife and I were the only ones there. It was a relief from the crowds of Nusa Penida the week before. That all changed immediately when I got to the most crowded of Bali temples: Lempuyang. This is the temple you may have seen in photos online: huge temple gates, clouds or Mt. Agung in the background, and a reflection pool on the ground. Let me burst your bubble here, the reflection pool is just a mirror held next to the camera. Upon arrival I was handed a number, like at the DMV, and I had #312. When I got to the waiting area at 11am, they called for #133. After lunch, beer, and two hours had passed, they had only made it to #170. Cue disappointment. Even though it’s crazy crowded, it still would have been a beautiful photo.

So then on to our last stop: The Hideout Beehive. One of the most favorited stays on AirBNB and my wife’s dream to build something similar herself. This bamboo home was two levels: the upstairs devoted to 360° windows with the bed in the center, the downstairs including the living area, kitchen, and bathroom (with outdoor shower!). The whole thing is built along the river including the infinity hot tub which overlooks the water, truly a relaxing place to spend the last two days in Bali.

But that’s the end of Bali. Eventually all travel must come to an end, but this time I still had two more countries to visit before heading back to the states! The full Bali and Volcanoes galleries are up now here on journeywithryan.com, the full video of my time in Indonesia is at youtube.com/@journeywithryan, and I’ll be posting the highlights on my instagram, @journeywithryan. I’ll see you back here on the blog for my next adventure!

-Ryan