My first day in Indonesia

While hiking up to Mt. Fansipan in North Vietnam in April 2026, I overheard another traveller speak about his plans to travel to Indonesia. Lo and behold – I was hooked. Within a few weeks of coming back home, I started planning my adventures in Indonesia. It was all meant to be. Fast forward to June 2026: I landed in Denpasar, Bali – and the rest is history.

As we approached the coastal town of Amed, I was overcome with a sense of calm. I knew this was where I wanted to be. This was the beginning of a month-long adventure, and I wasn’t here just to chill. Sprawled with black volcanic beaches overlooking Gunung Agung – the highest volcano in Bali – I was in Amed to get certified as an Open Water Scuba Diver, and this was going to throw me into unfamiliar waters – quite literally.

My first culture shock was the hospitality and the thoughtfulness with which the villa’s staff welcomed me. With pleasant smiles, I was offered a welcome drink with some peanuts to snack on while the staff did a final readiness check of my room. Despite being on the main road, Villa di Amed created a peaceful sanctuary within its walls. The gentle rustling of the tropical leaves, the filtered afternoon sunlight reflecting off the pool, the sea mist bringing in a breath of fresh air – it was a sensory orgasm. It was at that very moment that I realised I had made it; I had manifested travelling like this years ago, and I was finally doing it. I took a long-awaited shower and hit the bed at last. O sweet mistress of sleep, how I longed for you!

Feeling almost rested, I was ready to step out and devour some food as late afternoon hit. It should come as no surprise that I had already shortlisted what I wanted to eat and where I wanted to eat, long before landing in Indonesia. A short walk brought me to the beach just across from the villa, and I headed straight for Warung Bubu to try their Tempe Satay with Peanut Sauce. I could see the fishing boats on the horizon, returning ashore with bounty aplenty, as I made myself comfortable at a table right on the sand. The song of the evening waves and the mellow hues of the twilight sky permeated my senses.

Soon, my food arrived, and boy, it looked scrumptious. The flavour, the freshness, the aroma – it was a delightful evening by the sea as the sky gradually lost its light, and some much-needed energy flowed back inside me. The fresh coconut was so big and heavy that I could barely hold it with one palm. I had never seen a coconut this big. I found myself sitting under the warung’s fairy lights, pondering over the day, the tides putting me in an almost meditative state. My first day was drawing to a close.

The day, however, was not yet over. I headed straight to Indomaret – the infamous Indonesian supermarket chain – on my way back to the villa. I needed to buy supplies for my upcoming days in Amed – especially for breakfast. I was carrying a month’s supply of oats and protein just to start my days with the right nutrition. This was one meal under my complete control as I balanced travel with hitting my daily protein goals. With some oat milk and assorted seeds in hand, I headed towards the villa to get my first Balinese massage.

Getting a massage was, without a doubt, the perfect way to end my first day in Bali. I specifically requested deeper strokes to alleviate the soreness of the transit. I could feel myself melting away on the massage table as the masseuse worked on my body. Feeling invigorated, but also ready for a full night’s sleep, I clocked out. The adventure had kicked off just right, and as I would soon discover, this was only the beginning of an unforgettable journey.