BALI
THANK YOU to the amazing and talented Peter Bannan for spending a good portion of your day shooting these great photos for this post and a few more posts to come. I appreciate all the hard work and effort you put in to make me look beautiful on camera hehe.
Bali-- An island of mystery, color and a diverse cultural contrast.
Over time, there has been an increasing influx of tourists looking for a nice vacation villa, a good night out at Kuta beach (accompanied by cheap booze) or a stay in a relaxing retreat that includes days filled with yoga, smoothie bowls and lots of meditation.
While I have been living in Jakarta for the past two years, I have opted to vacation in quieter locations with fewer tourists such as Lombok. I was a bit hesitant in making the decision to venture out to Bali as I have never been an avid party-goer, a scene that Bali is quite popular for. In addition, many of the resort retreats are not accessible for those with physical disabilities, as they are more often than not located on mountains or beaches with little to no wheelchair access. Despite all of my initial concerns, I finally came around to visiting Bali in October, and I absolutely loved it! I am a firm believer in the age-old saying "never knock it till you try it". I've never let my disability stop me traveling anywhere else, so why start now?
A few weeks after making my decision, I found myself sitting by the pool of the Sofitel Nusadua (that was relatively accessible) sipping fresh coconut juice and enjoying the sunshine. It was a great environment to relax and find inspiration to rack my brain for concepts for my photo shoot with the amazing Peter Bannon, who shot the photographs you see below. All in all, I enjoyed my time in Bali. The tropical sun, swimming in the warm waters, fresh seafood dinners, reading by the pool and the lovely atmosphere made for the perfect and unforgettable escape from the crazy city life I love and live for everyday.
