Another Holiday to Bali, Explore GWK Cultural Park

The memory of my first holiday in Bali is still fresh, even though it’s been almost seven years. That memory makes me want to relive the experience. Without much thought, I decided to go back to Bali, and also visit Lombok for the first time.

 

At first, I had planned to add Jakarta to the trip for handling my Schengen Visa application for the Netherlands, as I was planning to travel to Europe the following month. But after searching for information, I discovered that there was a VFS Global representative in Bali who could assist with the visa application.

 

I eventually decided to head straight to Bali. The excitement of visiting Bali again was overwhelming. I flew from Batam on an afternoon flight and arrived at Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali just as night was falling.

 

Unlike my first trip to Bali, when online ride-hailing services didn’t exist, now they are available, although you have to step out of the airport area to access them. Once on the main road, I booked a ride through the app, and it wasn’t long before the motorbike taxi arrived.

 

The online ride-hailing service was the most budget-friendly and convenient option for me as a solo traveler. Especially since the route from Ngurah Rai Airport to the Kuta area is often congested during the evening. The driver took me to my accommodation at Poppies Lane II in Kuta.

 

Poppies Lane is known among backpackers for its affordable hotels and hostels. The place I booked online was Taman Sari Beach Inn & Hostel. For two nights, I paid IDR 152,000, which included breakfast.

 

Given the name and the affordable price, I didn’t have high expectations. The room I booked was a dormitory-style room with three sets of bunk beds for six guests. When I arrived at Taman Sari Beach Inn & Hostel, I was pleasantly surprised—it was a great hostel with a swimming pool.

 

The hostel is located very close to Bali’s entertainment and club scene, and only about a five-minute walk from the Bali Bombing Memorial or Ground Zero Monument. When I arrived, the nightclubs were already lively, and the booming music filled the air.

 

Although I’m not a party person, I still wanted to experience the lively nightclub scene. After a quick shower, I ventured to the area around Jalan Legian, which is famous for its vibrant nightlife, bars, and souvenir shops. As tourists crowded the street, starting their night at the pubs and cafes, I headed to a Padang food stall. Even though I traveled all the way from Batam, I couldn’t resist craving Padang food.

 

After dinner, I continued my walk along Jalan Legian, a hub for entertainment, socializing, and souvenir shops, before returning to the hostel to rest, as I had to visit the VFS office the next day to process my Schengen visa.

 

Relaxing at Taman Sari Beach Inn

 

After finishing my visa matters at the VFS office in Bali, I returned to the hostel. I didn’t have any other plans for the day, just wanted to relax and enjoy the hostel’s swimming pool. Not many guests were using the pool, so it was quite peaceful. Occasionally, a few other tourists would swim briefly.

 

From my room on the second floor, I went down the stairs and headed straight to the pool. The pool was relatively large, with chairs and loungers to relax on. Since the sun was still strong, I chose a lounger and started reading a book. The turquoise-blue water of the pool was soothing to look at.

 

The calm atmosphere made me feel like I was at a resort. The pool felt almost private, with only me and a couple beside me. I couldn’t resist for long and decided to jump into the pool and swim on my own.

 

The pool was equipped with a waterfall feature. The water falling onto my head and back was incredibly relaxing. There were also seats along the poolside connected to the restaurant, so if I got thirsty, I could order a cold drink or juice. The vibe felt just like a resort. So, I decided to stay for another two nights.

 

Day Three in Bali

 

On the third day in Bali, I spent most of my time relaxing, enjoying the hostel’s atmosphere and facilities. After breakfast at the restaurant, I took a stroll with no specific destination in mind. I simply walked wherever my feet led me, exploring Kuta’s streets, visiting the markets, and browsing souvenir shops. Then I returned to the hostel and relaxed by the pool until late afternoon.

 

In the evening, I went to Kuta Beach. It wasn’t far from the hostel. I could still walk there. From Poppies Lane II, I passed a street lined with souvenir shops and Bali-style clothing, and before I knew it, I had arrived at Kuta Beach.

 

The beach was still crowded with tourists sunbathing or sitting and enjoying the atmosphere, although most were domestic tourists. I sat a bit farther from the shore, on the sand, and watched the activities of other tourists.

 

Vendors walked back and forth offering their goods, but they didn’t disturb the visitors who were relaxing. The waves at Kuta Beach were a bit strong that afternoon, providing an attraction, along with the sight of planes descending toward Ngurah Rai Airport.

 

I wanted to stay at Kuta Beach until sunset, but suddenly, a friend who lives in Bali invited me to dinner. He lives in the Seminyak area and sent me his address via WhatsApp.

 

Two hours later, I took a motorbike taxi to my friend’s house, a villa located by the rice fields. We chatted briefly before he suggested we head to Seminyak Beach. He planned for us to have dinner around Seminyak Beach.

 

As the sun began to set, we made our way to Seminyak Beach. The traffic was a bit dense, but the motorbike ride helped us bypass the congestion. We rode along the beachfront road, which was lined with cafes, hotels, and resorts.

 

My friend seemed a bit tired from riding, so he suggested we visit a sauna before dinner. I agreed. The sauna had a classy interior and facilities, seemingly one of the best in Seminyak. But, unfortunately, I was mistaken.

 

We were there for less than 30 minutes before leaving because the hot water tap wasn’t working. My friend complained, and we were disappointed. The sauna staff couldn’t fix the issue, and they ended up refunding our money.

 

We then went to a restaurant for dinner. I didn’t catch the name of the place, as I was just following my friend’s lead. That’s what happens when you go along with someone else’s plans—you forget to pay attention to names and places, including the sauna we visited earlier.

 

It turned out my friend was quite familiar with the restaurant staff, and they chatted before ordering. Once again, I let my friend order for me, which is typically the etiquette when a friend treats you to a meal. We either let them order or choose the least expensive item ourselves.

 

My friend ordered dishes for each of us and a shared dish for two. We spent nearly two hours at the restaurant, chatting and enjoying our meal, before I said my goodbyes and headed back to the hostel.

 

Visiting Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK)

 

As usual, I don’t have many plans during my vacations. I’m not keen on visiting too many places just for the sake of ticking them off a list. Instead, I prefer to visit a couple of places and enjoy them leisurely. On the fourth day in Bali, I decided to visit Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK).

 

The GWK Cultural Park is a 240-hectare cultural park located on Jalan Raya Uluwatu, Ungasan, in South Kuta. It’s about a 30-minute drive from Kuta Beach. You can get there by private car or taxi, but there’s also a Trans Sarbagita bus that goes to GWK, similar to Trans Jakarta buses.

 

The Trans Sarbagita bus is the cheapest option, with a one-way ticket costing only IDR 3,500. Unfortunately, none of the buses pass by my accommodation. Not wanting to deal with the hassle, I booked an online motorbike taxi, and the trip took about 30 minutes.

 

On the way to GWK, I passed Udayana University. From there, the GWK statue became visible, even from the road toward Ngurah Rai Airport. The statue stands 121 meters tall, making it visible from over 10 kilometers away. It’s even taller than the Statue of Liberty in the United States, which stands at 93 meters.

 

About ten minutes later, I entered the GWK Cultural Park area, although the entrance wasn’t yet in sight. The actual entrance is behind the ticket sales counter. The entrance ticket for the GWK Cultural Park costs IDR 125,000 for adults, and a separate ticket is required to enter the GWK statue area, priced at IDR 200,000.

 

I stood in line to buy my ticket and decided just to buy the park entrance ticket. From the ticket counter, I walked toward the back and explored the Street Theater area, where there are many shops and restaurants. It’s a great place to grab a bite or buy souvenirs.

 

To reach the main entrance of the GWK Cultural Park, visitors must climb a set of stairs. A small traditional Bali pond with green water greets you before entering the park. After the pond, there are more stairs leading to the Wisnu Plaza. Here, the half-body statue of Wisnu surrounded by fountains is a major attraction.

 

Tourists often take photos with the statue as a backdrop. Wisnu Plaza also offers a panoramic view of the surrounding GWK Cultural Park, as this area is the highest point. Behind Wisnu Plaza is Garuda Plaza, which can be reached by descending more stairs.

 

Garuda Plaza is the focal point of a large square-shaped space with limestone walls spanning more than 4,000 square meters. This is the Lotus Pond. To reach the Lotus Pond, you must descend another set of stairs from Garuda Plaza.

 

The Lotus Pond can accommodate up to 7,000 people and is often used for international events, such as concerts. Besides the large space, there are also colossal limestone-walled corridors that are incredibly exotic to look at. I was in awe of it all.

 

I walked through the corridors and found a great view of the GWK statue in the distance. Since I didn’t have a ticket to enter the statue, I simply admired it from afar and took some photos. The photos of the GWK statue framed by the limestone walls came out beautifully.

 

After taking a few photos, I returned to the Lotus Pond. After walking around, I was a bit tired, so I sat on the grass and watched people walking from the Lotus Pond to Garuda Plaza.

 

In addition to the stunning views and sculptures, visitors can also enjoy cultural performances at the GWK Cultural Park. There are scheduled performances, including the famous Kecak Dance at 6 PM every evening.

 

The performances take place at the Amphitheatre, which is located outside the Lotus Pond. I left the Lotus Pond and headed toward the Amphitheatre. When I arrived, the performance had just ended, and the audience was dispersing. I had to wait for the next show.

 

I waited for over an hour before the audience was allowed back into the Amphitheatre. By the time the performance started, the venue was almost full. The show included Balinese dances such as Barong, Monkey, and Rangda. This was my first time watching a traditional Balinese performance in Bali itself, so I was really excited. The performance lasted about 40 minutes, and I was thoroughly satisfied with my visit to the GWK Cultural Park.