This was the trekking journey that has become my favorite—it was in Gianyar, heading to Petanu Waterfall.
I joined my clients for a trek in a village called Bayad. We walked through gardens with different plantations, including those grown by the staff in Bayad village and also plants that grew naturally, such as a bamboo plantation.
The beginning of the journey was easy as the path went through flat gardens. Wayan, the guide, introduced many different types of plants, including local spices like turmeric, ginger, and other local herbs to my clients.
As we went deeper into the garden, the trekking became slightly more challenging. We descended into a valley through a dirt path lined with bamboo plants. The walk was tricky as we could easily lose our balance. After about 15 minutes of descending, we arrived at the riverbank.
From there, I saw a bridge and some ropes hanging. I thought they might have been used before for scout activities or perhaps by a student nature club.
We walked along the riverbank, enjoying the sound of the flowing water, the green bushes, and the tall trees.
We did not cross the river yet. Instead, Wayan led us through an old water tunnel. The tunnel no longer had water but had become part of the trekking route. It was dark, but Wayan gave us flashlights. While walking through the tunnel, we sometimes had to duck because the roof was so low.
Finally, we came out of the dark tunnel and reached a part of the river that was easier to cross. Some local kids were playing and fishing in the river. We greeted them and continued our walk across.
After walking for another ten minutes or so, we heard the sound of the waterfall crashing onto the rocks. When it appeared before our eyes, the waterfall looked mesmerizing. All we could say was that this was the perfect ending to our journey today.
