Just Back: Bali + Sumba, Indonesia
Finding Balance in Indonesia
By Caitlin Humphreys
I KNEW I would fall in love with Indonesia. Darren and my trip exceeded all expectations and spoke to my heart in a way that resonates. I have been back home for a week and the trip is still with me, despite the craziness of everyday life and small children—that does not always happen.
The Hindu island of Bali gave us the special gift of lessons in BALANCE that we could take home. We cooked with a chef who uses superfoods as medicine (do you know about moringa?); we meditated with a master who finally made the concept resonate with our Type A brains; we walked with a Hindu priest who gave us a blessing at his home temple; and we had massages with organic ingredients made in an on-site “nature lab”. Profoundly, we did yoga with Budi, a local healer, who fixed both of our back pain, among many other miracles (I have him on speed dial).
Darren and I walked the lovely city of Ubud, with its many coffee shops, furniture shops, and temples. The locals have glowing smiles (lots of dimples) and a soft, gentle nature. They could not stop giggling when Darren lent a hand in plowing rice fields and mixing cement ...
My new favorite place on the planet is a small island that neighbors Bali–the utopian Sumba. We resided at Nihi Sumba, unabashedly luxurious and exclusive, on the “Edge of Wildness”. The resort’s foundation is committed to preserving the Sumbanese culture and supporting the locals.
Nihi BALANCES the extremes. We took challenging hikes through the rice fields and local villages, only to end on a peak overlooking the ocean with massage therapists waiting with coconut water to give us reflexology on our tired feet. We had chia pudding for breakfast, fresh sushi for lunch, and wagyu beef for dinner, we did morning yoga with a view and then lounged at our villa’s pool, we rode horses on the beach at sunset and watched the surfers who were lucky enough to get a coveted slot on the epic wave.
Thrill seekers can sportfish and spearfish (Jackfish and Tuna) and then enjoy their catch grilled beachside. Wellness seekers can sip ginger tea at the stand-alone Spa while soaking in the infinity pool overlooking the crashing surf. Nihi has a cult following–many families return every year, so the staff gets to watch young children taking surf lessons grow into masterly surfers entertaining everyone during evening sundowners. We WILL be back.
Indonesia is made up of a group of islands with draws such as temples, orangutans, Komodo dragons, and diving, yet the infrastructure is tricky so mapping a course is not easy. Properties all have distinct feels and differences from place to place and room to room. Travel Sommelier can add extraordinary value to Indonesian travel, and we are genuinely excited to send you!