Sofie's journey of personal growth on Bali & Gili Trawangan

Let me clear this up right away: my Bali getaway was no ordinary itinerary. I got to experience a perfect combination of adventure, relaxation, and skill-building with a range of activities including surfing, yoga, diving, fitness, and biking. Early mornings were filled with exhilarating surf sessions, followed by yoga classes that stretched and energized my body. I even had the chance to explore the abundant marine life during my first-time diving experience in the bluer-than-blue waters surrounding Bali and Gili Trawangan. Later on, I attended a multiday fitness boot camp and took some time to explore the picturesque Balinese villages on a bike. This trip catered to both my thrill-seeking side and my desire for peace and tranquillity, making it an amazing cocktail of excitement and rejuvenation. So, let's dive right into my story!

During my trip I felt like everything was a blast, time flew by and there was never a dull moment. But if I had to pick one thing that I will remember forever, it would be my first experience with scuba diving. My journey included a few chances to dive, but my very first time was in Ahmed. I am so happy for having my first dive here, as you can literally walk from the dive centre right onto the beach and into the water. Before all that though, I got to practise in the pool at the dive centre. The program I took was called ''Discover Scuba Diving'', and that consisted of an introduction to the Padi certification, trying on the right wetsuit and tank before plunging into the pool. I was the only newbie in my group that had never taken a dive in the ocean before, but the instructors at the dive centre were super helpful and patient, both when getting ready in the pool and in the actual ocean. It all felt really professional. As the dive centre is right on the beach the view is beautiful, but it also helps you can slowly ease yourself into the water as opposed to jumping in from a boat.

I was amazed at what I got to see on this first dive, there are SO many tropical fish below the ocean surface. I even saw a giant sea turtle that the rest of my group completely missed, that made my day! For a first dive, this was super exciting. In the end, I got a certificate that I'd taken my first fun dive, including the amount of time I spent underwater and how far down I went. It's a really nice souvenir of this trip.

But that wasn't all. A few days later we went to Manta Dive on Gili Trawangan, where I got to dive again, this time supported by the lovely Harriet and her team. At this dive centre, there are instructors from all over the world. You could really feel the international atmosphere of the Gili islands. Here I got a private diving instructor from Italy. Since I was still a newbie at diving I got to go in the pool again to start off. My new instructor learned me some different techniques that could come in helpful in the water and after that, we got on a boat further out on the ocean to get to the first diving spot of the day. The water here was insanely clear, with a beautiful coral reef and many different kinds of fish we didn't see during the first dive. Lionfish, triggerfish, and like 18 turtles. I stumbled on this spot where an entire turtle family was chilling out, from babies to bigger turtles. We also saw some smaller sharks, seahorses and more. It turned out to be a really good dive. After that, we went back for lunch at the dive centre before we went out again with the boat. I'm now certain I want to get my full Padi certification soon!

I felt like this was a journey of many firsts, as it was also the first time I actually enjoyed surfing. I've tried it before in Hawaii and Mexico, both times with good instructors, but the circumstances simply weren't great with big waves and wilder water. On Bali, it felt like the perfect environment for surfing newbies like me.

I really enjoyed the success of finally standing on the board, there was such a big improvement over my last two attempts at surfing. The atmosphere was also very welcoming. No one was yelling at me, and the instructors were brilliant and patient. Even though it was quite a big group surfing that day, I never felt left out and we all got our turns. The great thing about this particular surf camp was that we had a photographer in the water to take pictures, but he was also giving out tips in the process. I got some amazing action shots to keep afterwards. If you want to take a break from all the waves you can just sit on the beach a bit to chill and watch the others which was very nice.

I can really recommend Bali as a destination for people who want to learn how to surf. There were some first-time surfers in our group that managed to stand up already which I was impressed by. The more experienced surfers in our group weren't disappointed either, there were great waves for them as well. But yeah surfing on Bali is definitely suitable for beginners. Before we went into the water we got extensive instructions about the basics like the tides and universal surfing signs. All the gear is in place so there's nothing you have to bring.

All of that action can be a little overwhelming, so to balance out my journey I visited this amazing yoga studio. Funny thing is, there was this sacred cow next to the yoga studio ensuring good spirits, so you can imagine that the scene was set right away. The studio itself couldn't be more perfect: an open building completely made of bamboo completely surrounded by greenery. The yoga room was on the first floor, with all the equipment you could need from blocks and mats to towels and more. I have to say I wasn't very experienced with yoga, but the instructor focused on relaxation and removing tension to completely relax your body. Some of us were actually shaking from the tension release which really surprised me. I honestly almost fell asleep at the end of the first session, so that says it all. It was such a great experience, we all enjoyed it even though yoga isn't normally my thing I'm glad I tried it out here. The awesome thing is you can follow a longer program if you're staying in the area, or you can try it for a single class if you're curious so I urge anyone to try it for themselves even if it's only for the cellphone-free zone. We all need that digital detox sometimes, right?

The fitness camp was another real treat. The set-up here was amazing, almost too nice. All the machines you could ask for and a beautiful pool area to take a dip in after an intense daily CrossFit workout. The entire premise was built around a healthy lifestyle, with a protein shake bar in one of the dorm rooms and a restaurant focusing on vegan/vegetarian dishes for those all-important protein gains. During my stay there I tried a lot of the equipment, and I must say, the facilities were great. It's also right by the beach, so within minutes you can take a swim there. I also participated in some yoga sessions on the roof with a gorgeous ocean view which really added to the experience. 

With all of these different activities, my journey on Bali inspired me to look differently at my habits and how I usually travel. I had so much fun trying out all the different activities Bali has to offer and I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a little more adventure in their life or someone who wants to change routines and patterns. It's really easy to mix and match diving, fitness and surfing with some yoga, meditation and relaxing moments ensuring you won't feel stressed during your travels as well as finding a mix between trying something new and some good old-fashioned sightseeing. 

We can help you out. Whether you want to try some of the activities highlighted in this story, or want to create your own tailored travel plan, our travel experts know all about Bali and Indonesia. Share your dreams with us and we'll get cracking! 

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