Bali, Indonesia: My First Solo Trip
- Amin Esmaily
- Sep 11, 2023
- 8 min read
Updated: Dec 11, 2023
Hi everyone! Welcome to my first blog post about travel! I thought it fitting to share with you how I started traveling solo in 2009. As I mentioned in my About section, I have traveled solo on many of my trips over the last 15 years and it has been such a rewarding experience. I believe that everyone can benefit from traveling solo but I know that there is a lot of hesitation for those who have not done so. As such, I will write another post soon with some tips on how to prepare for your first trip. But for now, I hope my story inspires you to consider traveling solo someday.
Pre-Trip Shenanigans
My first solo trip was back in 2009 to Bali, Indonesia. Prior to this, I had traveled to several US states and overseas to Iran with my family, but never alone. These experiences instilled in me a strong desire to see the world. Traveling to different countries and experiencing diverse cultures, cuisines, and customs seemed like such an amazing way to spend one’s life. So then why did I choose Bali for my first solo trip?
As I will discuss in a future post, one of the best ways to get started solo traveling is to find travel opportunities that align with your career, interests, passions, and/or networks. That’s exactly what I did in April of 2009 while in graduate school for pharmacy. I wondered if there was a way to combine my love for pharmacy with my desire to travel the world. So I searched online for “international pharmacy” and stumbled on an organization called the International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF). They were organizing a World Congress in Bali, Indonesia in early August, where pharmacy students from all over the world would come together and learn about various aspects of pharmacy practice. It sounded like such an amazing opportunity!
But this was all the way in Bali!
Did I really want to travel all the way there for my first solo trip?
Was I going to be the only solo traveler?
Would it even be fun?
Was it safe?
All of these uncertainties filled my mind and caused me to delay registering for the conference. Little did I know at the time that registration wasn't as simple as filling out an online form. When I finally made the decision to attend, I discovered that I needed to get approval from my school and one of our national associations as part of my registration. Afterwards, I needed to wire money from my bank to pay for the conference, which I had never done before. All of this took 3 months and by the time I got the confirmation of my registration, it was already July. The conference was less than a month away and I still hadn’t bought my flight tickets.
Unfortunately, I learned the hard way that buying flight tickets at the last minute, especially during the summer, was a bad idea. The prices were sky-high, especially for a student like me. The cheapest option I could find was a long and exhausting journey from Houston to LA, then to Taipei, and finally to Bali. My total travel time was 25 hours and 35 minutes! Not the most ideal way to start my first solo trip.
When I got to Taipei airport, I was exhausted from the long flight as I had barely slept on the plane. Sitting in airport during my nearly 4 hour layover, I wrote the following in my journal:
Friday, July 31, 2009 – Taipei, Taiwan
I’ve been in the Taipei airport now for over two hours. I’m tired and sleepy and a bit worried I must say. I’ve had this worrying feeling ever since I left my dad’s car after he dropped me off at the airport. I don’t know why though but what I do know is that a huge part of it is due to home sickness. I miss my family and I don’t think I’ve really known just how much they are a part of me until now. I think about them every second. Is this because I’m travelling alone? Would I feel this way if I was travelling with a companion? He or she may be able to take my mind off my family every once in a while, but I’d no doubt be thinking of them a lot. I don’t know. I try to close my eyes and say that everything’s going to be okay… that I will see them in two weeks but it doesn’t help. My mind and my heart is always with them and if all I end up getting from this trip is this realization, then it was well worth it. It really makes me rethink everything. How am I going to survive on my own when I have to move out? Am I going to feel this way every time I travel? I don’t know. All I do know is that I have this weight on top of me. It's making me want to cry now. I hate it. I’m so far away from home… the span of the Pacific Ocean to be exact. Only two weeks Amin… only two more weeks.
It's fascinating to read this now. I was so afraid of leaving my comfort zone. Having always been so close to my family (both in the sense of proximity and the nature of our relationship), I never realized that they were such a big part of my comfort zone. And naturally, it's difficult leaving home for the first time, whether it's moving away for college, a job, or just going on a trip to a faraway land. But looking back now, I'm so happy that I took the leap.
First Few Days in Bali
I arrived a few days before the conference began to get settled in and do my own bit of sightseeing. Lucky for me, the taxi driver who picked me up from the airport offered to drive me around the island for the next 3 days for a small fee. He arranged to pick me up in the mornings around 8 AM and would take me to different parts of the island each day.
My base was in Denpasar since the conference would be held there at the Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel (now called the Prime Plaza Hotel Sanur). After I checked into my hotel, I wandered the streets to get a feel for the city. What immediately struck me was the smell of incense everywhere. It was part of the daily offerings that the locals would make to their Gods (as Bali is predominantly Hindu) at altars throughout the island. I had never seen anything like this before. It was truly remarkable to witness the spiritual devotion exemplified by the Balinese people and something that would later fuel my curiosity for exploring various spiritual and religious practices.
The following day, my driver took me to Kuta. It was busy! I don't think I've ever seen so many motorbikes in one place as I did that day in Kuta. The main shopping street, Jalan Pantai Kuta, was lined with them! I strolled through the streets, occasionally going into some of the shops along the way, before soaking up some sun on Kuta Beach.
Afterwards, my driver took me down to Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Cultural Park, which is home to the largest statues of Vishnu and Garuda in the world! It was truly awe-inspiring.
My last stop for the day was Uluwatu, home to a stunning cliff-top sea temple that overlooks the Indian Ocean. On the temple grounds, along the edges of the cliff, I found myself in the middle of a Monkey Forest, which is home to what seemed to be hundreds of long-tailed macaque monkeys. I didn't dare mess with them but it was fun to watch some of the other tourists getting their hats and belongings stolen (yes... the monkeys occassionally do this).
The views along the cliff edge overlooking the Indian Ocean were absolutely breathtaking!
I didn't realize that I could not wear shorts to the temple but luckily, the staff offered tourists pieces of cloth to cover up prior to entering.
Just as I was about to head back to the car from the temple, I noticed people gathering in a nearby amphitheater. Little did I know that the famous Kecak dance show was about to begin. The performance was an hour and cost roughly $10 USD. It was an interesting portrayal of the legend of Ramayana where the exiled Prince Rama must rescue his wife, Sita, from the evil King Ravana. I'm going to be very honest in saying that I had no idea what was going on during the show and had to read up on it afterwards!
The following day, I headed off to Ubud with a few stops along the way. First, I visited Bali Bidadari Batik where I watched talented batik artists weave and design clothes, bags, scarves, etc. I then went up to Sukawati to watch the Barong and Kris Dance Show. It was interesting but after watching the dance show in Uluwatu the night before, I was a little danced out.
From Sukawati, we drove to the Mas Carving Center where I got to witness artists carving stunning wood sculptures. Some of the sculptures were rather... interesting to say the least.
When I arrived in Ubud, I did not have much time to explore the city as my driver offered to take me to Kintamani afterwards. However, I was able to walk along the main shopping street of the city, Jalan Raya Ubud, and see some of the beautiful rice paddies in the surrounding area.
After Ubud, my driver took me to Kintamani. We stopped at a local restaurant called Grand Puncak Sari Restaurant that had a stunning view of Mount Batur and the surrounding landscape. While here, I couldn't help but indulge in some delicious Balinese cuisine.
Unfortunately, that was the extent of what I got to see in Bali. I know there is so much more to explore and I cannot wait to go back. But the following day, the conference would begin and what awaited me was an equally unique and memorable experience!
World Congress Experience
Finally, the day I had been waiting for had arrived. The 55th IPSF World Congress had officially begun. Throughout the next 10 days, I learned so much from the multitude of lectures and workshops I attended related to pharmacy, public health, and the future of IPSF. It was a unique opportunity to gain out-of-the-classroom exposure to the profession I was about to become a part of.
While the lectures and workshops were great, it was the social events that were the most memorable. Nearly every night of the conference, the organizers hosted an event for the attendees.
One of the most fun was International Night, held on the second night of the conference, where attendees shared a traditional song, dance, or game from their respective countries. Students from South Korea showed us how to play a popular childhood game, while students from Malaysia and Bangladesh sang songs in their respective languages. Other countries like Australia, Slovenia, and Taiwan, performed dances. It was truly an unforgettable night filled with great laughs and lots of fun.
On Traditional Night, held on the fourth night of the conference, we were taken to Ubud to experience traditional Balinese culture. Many of us were taught a traditional Balinese dance while others learned how to play traditional instruments.
Finally, on the seventh night, we celebrated IPSF’s 60th anniversary at a restaurant on the beach. The night was filled with beautiful weather, delicious seafood, dance competitions, and an interesting look back at the history of IPSF.
Recap
During the 2 weeks that I was in Bali, I witnessed breathtaking sites, met wonderful people from across the globe, and made lasting memories. Not only did I learn a lot about Balinese culture and customs, but I also gained a great deal of insight on how pharmacy is practiced in various parts of the world. More than anything, though, I learned a lot about myself and what I was capable of. The trip was truly life changing for me in so many ways and sparked a fire in me to prioritize traveling no matter what it took. I'm so grateful to say that I have been doing just that ever since!
I truly hope you enjoyed this post! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them in the Comments section below. And if you are interested in reading more about my travels, stay tuned for future posts!
With gratitude,
Amin
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