SERENE and intriguing—In a beautiful tourism village in Bali, a tourist named Kevin from America arrived with high spirits. He wants to take photos as many as possible for his social media. “I want to experience authentic nature tourism and share its photos with my followers!” he said to the local guide, Mr. Made.
“Okay, we will trek to the bamboo forest, then enjoy herbal concoctions in a riverside hut,” said Mr. Made with a friendly smile.
Kevin nodded enthusiastically. However, after fifteen minutes of trekking, his face began to sweat. “How much further?” he asked breathlessly.
“Only five percent of the way, Sir,” replied Mr. Made casually. Kevin began to regret his decision.
After an hour of walking through the shady bamboo forest, Kevin arrived at a small bridge made of bamboo. “Is this safe?” he asked doubtfully.
Mr. Made patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Sir. This bridge has survived for years… although yesterday it almost collapsed because a buffalo passed by.”
Kevin’s face was pale, but he finally walked slowly. As he almost reached the end, a creaking sound was heard. “Aaaargh!” he shouted as one of the bamboos slightly sank. Luckily, he didn’t fall and made it to the other side with trembling knees.
After the dramatic journey, they arrived at a hut by the river, where a village elder, Pak Nyoman, was preparing herbal concoction. An exhausted Kevin immediately sat down and said, “I need a refreshing drink.”
Pak Nyoman handed him a bowl filled with a dark green concoction. Kevin drank it without hesitation. Instantly, his eyes widened. “It tastes like a mixture of mud, chili, and… rubber tires?” he exclaimed.
Pak Nyoman laughed. “It’s a special concoction for stamina. The effects are immediately felt!”
Not long after, Kevin felt his body fresher and full of energy. He was excited again. “Let’s go trekking again! I feel like Tarzan!”
Pak Made and Pak Nyoman looked at each other, then laughed. “Tomorrow morning, Sir. Now, let’s eat first, so we’ll be getting stronger.”
Kevin finally gave in and enjoyed the delicious Balinese mixed rice. His adventure that day was full of surprises, but one thing was for sure: he would have lots of funny stories to share with his friends!
The next day, Kevin prepared to continue his adventure. “Today I am ready for any challenge!” he said confidently.
Pak Made nodded. “Okay, we will go to the hidden waterfall behind the bamboo forest. The path is a bit difficult, but the view is amazing.”
Kevin, who now felt like a true adventurer, walked with enthusiasm. However, after only walking a few meters, he slipped on a tree root and fell into the mud.
“Oh no! My shoes!” he shouted in panic.
Pak Made just smiled. “That’s a sign that nature has accepted you, Sir.”
With a resigned face, Kevin stood up and cleaned the mud from his body. He finally realized that this experience was much more valuable than just an Instagram photo. With a laugh, he continued walking, ready to face the next surprises in Bali. (*)
