A Glimpse at Local Balinese Culture and Traditions

Elijah Solidum July 6, 2019

The serenity of the secluded jungles clashing with the chaotic city streets. The violent roar of its waterfalls eventually settling down into the still and quiet rivers. The majestic, centuries-old temples contrasting with the middle-aged woman and her modern selfie stick.

Because of those contrasts, it is hard to answer the question often posed "is Bali still worth going to?" The answer truly depends on each individual, because as widely diverse each individual is, so too, is Bali. You can find yourself trapped in the day-to-day tourist lifestyles of cafe-hopping and beach bumming. Or, you can find yourself amidst the local rice paddies, cycling down isolated villages that Starbucks or Australia has yet to spoil. Bali is the ultimate travel destination, yet in some ways, it feels like nothing more than just a playground for tourists.

Bali is what you make of it. If you come to Bali expecting to immerse yourself in traditional life and local culture, you might have to dig a little deeper but it is still very possible.

Snowy Adventures in Banff, Canada

Elijah Solidum June 25, 2019

Maybe it was because the end of the arduous 4-day journey was finally in sight, but as we closed in on Banff, we felt rejuvenated and the magic began to feel real. I had high expectations for Banff. All of those were blown out of the water within minutes of seeing the Canadian Rockies looming in the distance. It was foggy and the mountains could hardly be seen but for a brief moment, the sun came out for what felt like the first time in a week. Three days of dealing with snowstorms and endless fog in South Dakota, Montana, and Southern Alberta had taken the wind out of our sails but we felt as refreshed as ever once we spontaneously pulled over to take in our first breaths of the crisp mountain air.

The Otherworldly Landscapes of Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni

Elijah Solidum June 24, 2019

Few places have made me consistently go “wtf?” as frequently as Bolivia. In La Paz, it was the culture. The city was chaotic and few things made sense to a foreigner like me. Old lady wrestling matches, dead llama fetuses, witch markets, it goes on. I could tell right away that Bolivia was not going to be adventure as usual.

Once I got out of La Paz, the surreal natural landscapes of Bolivia grabbed the baton, firmly stating that it was their turn to make me consistently go “wtf?”. From islands of cacti in the middle of endless salt flats, to red, pink, green, and white lakes, it was just one knockout punch after the other. Nothing made sense about what I was seeing. We were 12,000 feet above sea level in one of the harshest and least livable environments in the world. It was freezing, windy, and the only tree that grew was a large rock that had eroded into the form of a tree. And what animal had decided that that unwelcoming environment would be the best place to settle?

Nope. Not some obscure prehistoric bacteria that thrives off of acid or something like that. A fucking flamingo.

A flamboyance of flamingos makes it home in the toxic wastelands of Bolivia. An island of cacti has formed in the middle of the vast Salar de Uyuni. There is a lake that is just red and pink and white surrounded by mountains in the middle of the desert. There are natural hot springs formed by volcanic activity. And all of this takes place 12,000 feet above sea level.

Bolivia is a weird, ethereal, surreal, extraordinary place.

The Moody Cordilleras of Peru

Elijah Solidum June 21, 2019

Mountains have always been a source of inspiration for me. Whether it’s traveling or photography, I simply love looking at mountains. Admiring them, conquering them, and anything in between. There’s something incredible about them. A feeling that makes you feel powerful yet powerless all at once. From atop a mountain, you feel like a conqueror. You feel larger than life. Yet at the same time, you realize just how small and insignificant you really are.

In Peru, I was met with this feeling time after time. The high altitudes and jagged snow-capped peaks were a reminder that I was in their territory now. Being at the mercy of nature is an exhilarating feeling. You see it at its unadulterated strength. The whirling clouds and the crisp, thin air bite at you as you trudge ever-forward along the seemingly endless trail.

One trail led me 90 kilometers to the world wonder of Machu Picchu. Another took me 5,000 meters above sea level to a mountain whose surface looked like cascading rainbows. Every step I took in Peru was, quite literally, breathtaking.

An Unforgettable Sunset at Lion's Head, Cape Town

Elijah Solidum June 18, 2019

I had just arrived at our apartment in Table View after finishing a brutal hike up Table Mountain earlier that day. I had managed to beat the clouds that usually begin to cover the mountain right before the evening hits. I looked across the bay from the balcony of our apartment, a spot that gave me a clear view of Table Mountain. The clouds were going absolutely crazy, weaving in ways that I had never sen before.

My friend texted me asking if I wanted to hike up Lion’s Head. I had already hiked it twice before, and was frankly exhausted from the earlier hike this day. I searched for an excuse not to do it. My South African friend recommended that we not go because it might be too risky. The clouds from Table Mountain might blanket Lion’s Head by the time we even got there. It was a 45-minute Uber from Table View to the trailhead of Lion’s Head. I gazed at those clouds again from the balcony.

Call the Uber - I texted my friend. A few minutes later, we were hightailing it in Cape Town traffic to try to reach the top before the sun went down. We sprinted up the mountain, while I stopped nearly every minute to snap a picture. Somehow, the thick quilt of clouds kept dissipating just before they reached Lion’s Head. They continued to put on an extraordinary show for the entire city.

A half-hour later, we made it to the top. It had taken me more than twice as long to finish the hike the first time. The frequent hiking had sculpted my calves into Cape Town calves. The feeling at the top was electric. It was golden hour and the vibe at the top was unlike any other. While some might complain about the number of others at the top, I found it extremely special. Very few things can captivate a group of humans from diverse backgrounds but I’ve found that an extraordinary sunset can do the trick. This was beyond extraordinary.

The top of Lion’s Head was buzzing. This was one of the most unforgettable sunsets I have ever seen and remains one of my favorite spontaneous adventures.

Pastel Skies At Sunrise From Atop Adam's Peak, Sri Lanka

Elijah Solidum June 10, 2019

Adam’s Peak is one of the most revered sites in all of Sri Lanka. For Buddhists, it is believed to house the footprint of Buddha himself at the top of the mountain. For Hindus, it is the footprint of Shiva and for Muslims and Christians', that of Adam’s. For those hiking just to catch the unforgettable views at sunrise, let’s say it happens to be the footprint of the guy who created Instagram.

At 2 AM, my phone alarm rang and I groggily prepared for the monstrous hike up to the top. With an intimidating 5,500 stairs to reach the top, it was going to be as much a mental challenge as it was physical. Every flight of stairs led to a corner where you look up to see yet another flight of stairs. On and on, it went like that. Before the sun starts to bask the countryside in its golden rays, you see absolutely nothing except for the steps in front of you.

You have no idea what you are getting yourself into. You have no idea what view you are working towards. Just step after step while you blindly hope that it will all be worth it in the end.

It is.

I shed a few tears once the skies turned into pastel blues and purples as the fiery sun started peeking out from behind the mountains. Life was beautiful at that very moment. Nothing else mattered. It was a reminder of exactly why I traveled, a purpose that had been lost as I got sucked in to the all-too-artificial throes of Bali’s expat culture. Nothing felt genuine while I was there, but this, this was genuine. People from every culture and background offered a friendly smile as we passed each other along the way. The whole world stopped for a few serene moments. All of this indescribable beauty shared with friends and strangers all the same.

When the terrorist attacks rocked Colombo not even two weeks later, I thought of Adam’s Peak, a place deemed so holy by four major religions as well as a major attraction for international travelers. A place where everyone from every background, every age, and every culture struggled and succeeded in unison and in harmony. This is Sri Lanka. And it will always be Sri Lanka to me.