Winds of Uluwatu and the Fire Lit at the Edge of the Cliff
After a long journey stretching from Amed to the Uluwatu region, I finally arrived at my accommodation late at night. The fatigue and hunger accumulated from the long ride rushed over me all at once. To comfort my exhausted body, I ordered fried fish and rice through GrabFood. The dish arrived with crispy fried fish and seasonings presented on a banana leaf. Mixing the salty and spicy seasoning into the freshly cooked rice and topping it with the tender fish made me gasp in sheer delight. It was truly the perfect comfort food to wash away the weariness of the long travel at once.
August's Cool Bali Breeze and a Scooter Headed South
The next morning, I went up to the rooftop of the accommodation. The rooftop terrace was lined with neat rattan sofas and plush cushions, making it the perfect spot to lie down and rest. I spent some relaxing time lying there watching YouTube and flying my drone to capture the surrounding scenery. Amazingly, as long as you stayed under the shade in Bali during August, a cool and pleasant breeze blew even without turning on the air conditioner, making me feel great the entire time I stayed.
In the afternoon, I rented a scooter and set off toward Pandawa Beach. There was a famous local restaurant on the way to the beach, so I stopped by. The moment I took a spoonful of the soup dish I ordered, a familiar and welcoming taste washed over me. It tasted exactly like the spicy and refreshing pollack soup I used to eat back in Korea, so I kept drinking the broth.
Since I hadn't tried rendang yet—the traditional Indonesian meat dish—I ordered a plate of nasi goreng topped with rendang. My travel companion took a bite and said with disappointment, "The rendang isn't as good as I expected." When I tasted it myself, the texture of the braised meat was a bit dry and tough, so it didn't quite live up to expectations, but it was still more than enough to fill us up.
A Forest of Grand Mythology, Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park
Just as I was about to leave the restaurant, a massive statue towering high into the distant sky caught my eye. Filled with curiosity, I hopped on the scooter and headed toward the statue right after finishing my meal. The place I reached was Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park. As I drew closer, the overwhelming scale of the monument standing against the blue sky left me open-mouthed in awe.
Walking past a path flanked by sheer, towering rock cliffs, the grand statues of Garuda and Wisnu filled my vision with their diverse presence. The view of the statue looking out into the distance through the gap between the colossal stone cliffs created a unique and spectacular sight.
I walked around admiring the intricately carved mythical figures, including the head of Garuda and the torso of Lord Wisnu. Walking out of the temple under the hot sun, I took a bite of cool gelato. The refreshing flavor spreading through my mouth chased the heat away in an instant.
Pandawa Beach Beyond the Cliffs and the Sunset of Uluwatu
After cooling down with the gelato, I arrived at Pandawa Beach, my main destination for the day. As I approached the entrance, the sight of the name "PANTAI PANDAWA" carved in large letters on the cliff face instantly caught my attention.
Going down to the shore, I saw people canoeing and groups of others strolling along the water's edge. Unfortunately, since I hadn't prepared to go swimming, I had to be content with just walking along the beach and gazing at the wide-open sea. While the beach itself was incredibly vast, what impressed me most were the gigantic, sturdy cliffs unfolding like folding screens on both sides of the access road leading down to the shore.
After taking in the ocean at Pandawa Beach, I made my way to Uluwatu Temple, which was close to my accommodation. Perched on the edge of a cliff, Uluwatu Temple began to be bathed in a soft red glow beyond the horizon as sunset approached. The sunset, formed by the sheer cliffs, the crashing waves, and the burning red sky, was absolutely beautiful.
An Ancient Echo at the Edge of the Cliff, the Kecak Dance
The primary reason I visited Uluwatu Temple was to watch the Kecak Dance. After waiting in line for a full hour and a half, I was finally able to enter the outdoor theater. I took my seat among the massive crowd and waited for the performance to begin. At first, as I watched the dancers' movements and rhythm, I thought, "Hmm, what is this? It feels a bit unpolished..." However, as time passed and the drama unfolded, the atmosphere built up in a raw and passionate crescendo.
When dozens of dancers chanted in unison around the fire lit in the center, shaking the stage, goosebumps ran down my spine. This traditional performance under the night sky at such a unique location—a sheer ocean cliff—made me feel as though I had stepped into the middle of a mysterious and intense ritual from a long-lost primitive era. It was well worth the hour-and-a-half wait, standing out as the unforgettable highlight of my southern Bali journey.
