Making a Splash on the “Island of the Gods”

Once In A Lifetime

What’s your idea of paradise? For most of us, we don’t have to think much further than Bali. A province of Indonesia known as the “Island of the Gods,” Bali is an incredible island nation where culture, spirituality, art and natural beauty intersect. With so many amazing qualities, it isn’t hard to see why the people of Bali are eager to share their warm and vibrant local culture with the world- and it is completely logical that this island haven is one of the most peaceful destinations on Earth.

Visiting a place like Bali is an opportunity that doesn’t present itself everyday- it’s more likely a “once in a lifetime” type of trip. So it makes sense that when the time does arrive, you should try to soak up as much of the sun, sand, and scenic landmarks as humanly possible.

That’s exactly what 17 teenage students are doing with the Global Leadership Adventures “Empowering Island Communities” Service Learning Program this summer! From July 3^rd to July 23^rd, they’ll be in Bali, diving into the culture and connecting with students at a local elementary school, all the while immersing themselves in a community that is worlds away from their hometowns.

Pack It In!

Here’s what Erin B. (Latham, NY) and Jessica M. (New York, NY) had to say about their first few days in Bali!

July 5^th, 2013:  To start off our first full day in Bali, we went on a scavenger hunt around Ubud (climbing trees for coconuts, getting pick-pocketed by monkeys, and asking locals about the Balinese organic movement). It was very exciting. Later in the evening, we had a home cooked meal at our Madra Homestay…

July 6^th, 2013: This morning, we woke up early to the sound of roosters and dressed in our new sarongs for the first time! We made our way to the early local market, where many of us bought exotic fruits and breakfast foods, and I bought way too much saffron. Then, we stopped at rice paddies on our way to the temple we visited. After the temple, we had a wonderful lunch at a buffet that overlooks Lake and Mount Batur. It was incredibly beautiful and the perfect start to our adventure in Bali…

July 7^th, 2013: What a spectacular day! Our group learned so much about the Balinese culture and we were able to experience it firsthand! We went to a Banjar workshop where we learned traditional Balinese dance, played traditional instruments, learned how to make offerings (which is surprisingly very difficult), and even did some woodcarving! In the evening, we met the Prince of Peliatan! He gave us a personal tour of his palace, followed by a delicious dinner. To end the evening the group witnessed a traditional Balinese dance known as Legong….

Clearly, these teenagers are embracing as much of this brand-new culture they can manage, and they are doing so in one of the most picturesque getaways on Earth. Not a bad use for a summer vacation, right?

Learn more about the “Island of the Gods” or explore options for traveling to Bali in Summer 2014 by scheduling an appointment with one of our enrollment advisors today.