Grand Wedding in Bali & Uluwatu Holy Spring Water Chapel & Ten-Year Romance Finally Sealed

Preface: The azure sea, palm trees swaying in the wind, pristine beaches and beautiful villages, rich culture and customs, and various religious festivals weave into a most splendid paradise island nation—this is Bali.

In the Balinese language, there is no word for 'paradise'; perhaps those living in paradise have no need to utter it often. Indeed, this is paradise...

As the most renowned among Indonesia's 13,600 islands, Bali has become a gathering place for surfers worldwide.

With excitement and anticipation... just like that, my husband and I set foot on this magical island located south of the equator in the Indian Ocean (8°S), beginning our unknown 'wedding honeymoon journey'.

Day 1 (October 5th): The plane arrived half an hour late. After exiting the airport, we took a taxi to our first hotel in Bali, 100 Sunset 2 Hotel. It's a three-star hotel—small but well-equipped!

The hotel was somewhat ordinary, but considering the convenience for the wedding and our plan to stay in the south for a few days, it was fine since we only came back to sleep.

Day 2 (October 6th): Uluwatu Holy Spring Water Wedding

Uluwatu is stunning, right next to the Indian Ocean. Waves crash against the cliffs, creating countless shapes of spray and forming white lines. In the distance, the sea and sky merge into one line, birds occasionally trace beautiful arcs, clouds hang low, and the sea's color is a gradient...

My husband and I got our marriage certificate in Wuhan at the end of September. We had always had ideas about how to get married, and a destination wedding was an early thought. After communicating with our parents, we were happy to get their support. Because we work in Shanghai and only had ten days of wedding leave, the ceremony and honeymoon had to be combined. We decided on a trip for two with a wedding, and then a thank-you banquet for relatives and friends back home.

Then I started searching for various destination wedding locations and costs: Mauritius, Japan, Maldives, Saipan... Finally, I was deeply drawn to the Water Chapel in Bali. The moment I saw Tirtha, I knew this was the scene for my dream wedding...

Having seen photos of Tirtha Chapel online countless times, being there in person made me feel that words were superfluous. Such holy white... paired with the blue sky, white clouds, and seawater on our wedding day, it was an indescribable beauty...

Tirtha translates to 'Water Chapel' in Chinese, and the wedding planning services were provided by a local team. After sending an email to their website from home, we received a quick reply from their staff with details on available services and pricing.

Actually, I also consulted several domestic companies handling overseas weddings (I wasn't very satisfied with their photography results). The official services from Tirtha were comprehensive, but photography and videography post-production required extra fees, sigh. My husband and I thought if it came to it, we could bring our own photographer and videographer. While in a dilemma, I stumbled upon a local company—startinbali—on a travel website, which was quite famous locally, offering bridal photos and wedding services. After communicating with their staff, I felt very good about it. The photos and videos looked great, so we decided to entrust all wedding arrangements to startinbali.

The wedding is a very important milestone in our life journey. Special thanks to all the staff at startinbali, especially Emily for makeup and particularly the coordinator Jemes for his meticulous arrangements. The whole process was very pleasant, like meeting old friends. The service was considerate, and of course, the photos and videos received unanimous praise from friends and family. Even now, when my husband and I look at the photos and videos, we still get emotional. I call this video the 'tearjerker'...

Day 3 (October 7th): The alarm went off at 9 am sharp. We had arranged for a driver to wait at the lobby at 10 am. First stop: Tanah Lot (TABANAN). We had been busy with the wedding the previous two days and hadn't had a chance to observe the streets. Now we could finally take it all in.

The roadside was lined with small bungalows and shops, looking a bit run-down. It didn't seem like much business was happening. There were tons of motorcycles on the road, quite a sight! We asked the driver to first take us to a better money changer in the Kuta area and exchanged 500 RMB worth of rupiah. It was amusing—holding these Indonesian rupiah felt like playing Monopoly! Haha!

After about an hour's drive, we arrived at the famous Tanah Lot! As soon as I got off, I couldn't wait to ask my husband to take pictures!

From the main entrance, there were rows of small shops. I couldn't resist buying a large straw hat, and my husband said it looked good on me. A small path lined with shops led all the way to the 'split wall' facing the sea, haha! Looking through the wall, the ocean was in the distance.

Suddenly, we came across some Chinese people. Hearing Mandarin felt familiar, so I couldn't help but strike up a conversation. I noticed they had a few grains of sticky rice stuck to their foreheads and asked about it curiously. Oh—apparently, there's a small cave on the side of Tanah Lot where many gather, and locals perform blessings for tourists. That's part of Bali's culture—quite interesting! We went over too.

About an hour later, we reluctantly left Tanah Lot. The driver said it would take over an hour to drive to the next stop—the rice terraces. That startled me. Looking at the map, it didn't seem far, but it took that long! No more talking; let's hit the road!... After a bumpy ride, we finally reached the TEGALLALANG rice terraces! Honestly, if you come just to see the rice terraces, it's not that impressive. But they are about a 20-minute drive from the Ubud market, so if you have time after visiting Ubud, it's worth a quick look. Although it's a scenic spot, it's just one small area with a limited view.

Just this patch behind me—ordinary, ordinary!

After 15 minutes, we set off for the next stop: Ubud Palace and Market. After reading many online travelogues and guides, they all said you must try the roast suckling pig rice next to Ubud Palace. My husband and I eagerly went to get some, sigh! We were full of anticipation, only to be thoroughly 'disappointed'!!! It turns out the online hype was just hype! It was far from delicious—actually awful. I only ate a few bites and gave the rest to my husband. Luckily, we hadn't ordered much. My husband forced himself to finish it so as not to waste food. The coconut was also bad—the juice wasn't sweet and had a strange taste.

Next, we visited Ubud Palace. According to online info, the palace is very small, and that's no exaggeration—it consists of just two small square courtyards. Compared to the Forbidden City in Beijing, it's a world of difference!

After leaving the tiny palace, we wandered around the Ubud market. There were many shops on both sides of the street, some selling souvenirs, others clothing. There weren't many people, and many shops were empty. My husband and I walked and looked, wanting to buy some souvenirs, but the prices were quite high. Since it's a tourist spot, prices wouldn't be cheap. We just browsed with no intention of buying. We had printed a simple map of the Ubud market earlier, but I still had no sense of direction, so my husband led the way. After a while, every shop looked the same. Getting a bit tired, we decided to find a place to rest. Across the road, there were two places: a bar, open-air and looking nice, and a café with a small door, dimly lit. We chose the unassuming café. That was a wise choice! It was a café called Wayan—small on the outside, but once inside, it opened up! It was beautiful! This wasn't just a café; it was a large garden with quiet little pavilions, surrounded by greenery that made you feel relaxed. There were small yellow fish swimming around in the pond. We found a large pavilion with about ten tables and sat down. My husband ordered a beer, and for me, in such an elegant setting, of course, a natural fruit juice! Mango + fresh orange juice! Wow! Enjoyable!

For dinner, we went to the POPPIES restaurant recommended in the travel guide. I was already worried whether this place would disappoint us like the roast pork rice did.

It was also in a small garden style, very elegant. Bamboo and rattan chairs, vine-covered roof decorated with Bali's iconic flowers. Without hesitation, I first ordered two glasses of fresh mango juice (recommended online) and then two main dishes. The mango juice arrived first. I took a sip—wow! The taste was amazing! Pure mango juice, sweet and smooth. That made me look forward to the food.

Roasted pork ribs rice—I asked to change the pineapple rice to Indonesian fried rice (no extra charge). The flavor was 'awesome!' The meat was so tender it fell off the bone with just a fork. Grilled skewers were recommended by the waiter, served with pineapple rice, beef, pork, chicken—still sizzling when brought to the table, very fragrant. A great recommendation. Finally, we ordered a strawberry tiramisu as dessert. After this meal, I gradually became interested in Indonesian food. Thank God!

Day 4 (October 8th): It was a sunny morning. We got up early because today we were going rafting on the Telaga Waja River! My husband and I were super excited. Before coming, we had asked the wedding company's customer service to book the rafting tour: USD 40 per person, including 3 hours of rafting, hotel pickup, and lunch. At 8:30 am, the rafting driver was waiting in the hotel lobby. We hurriedly toasted two slices of bread in the restaurant, grabbed a few pieces of watermelon, stuffed them in our mouths, and got in the car. Let's go! Oh my god—the drive took an hour and a half! First, small roads, then winding mountain roads. My stomach was churning. Just before arriving, I couldn't take it anymore and asked the driver to pull over. I got out and vomited violently... Phew... Feeling better. Within five minutes, we arrived. Wow! In a valley surrounded by mountains, a fast-flowing stream—it was an indescribable feeling.

Each raft carried four tourists and one instructor. Joining us were two friends from the Netherlands. We introduced ourselves. The Dutch names were so strange that I forgot them as soon as I heard them, haha! The instructor gave us a quick briefing: during rafting, he would give commands: 'forward' meant paddle forward, 'backward' meant paddle backward, and 'boom boom'—the funniest one—meant hold the rope beside you and lean back. Because some tree branches hung low over the water, you had to lean back flat to pass under them. Rafting was amazing! Drifting along with the current! Occasionally, a wave would splash over us. My husband and I sat in the front, and the Dutch friends in the back. A wave hit 'smack,' splashing water all over us. Pants wet, shirts wet—everything wet... All we heard was my husband and me giggling! As we rafted, we admired the mountain scenery. The sun was shining—what a joy! About an hour later, we went ashore for a short break. The instructor returned our cameras, phones, and wallets. My husband bought a bottle of Coke to quench his thirst, and I, of course, couldn't wait to take pictures with my iPhone, eager to capture these fleeting memories.

After the rafting ended, we gave the instructor 20,000 rupiah as a tip—he was happy. We took a quick shower, changed out of our wet clothes, and at a nearby pavilion, had a buffet-style lunch: meat dishes, vegetables, rice, soup—about ten different items. It tasted quite good. We both agreed it was the best meal we'd had so far. And now, the best meal was a free one... Speechless...

After lunch, the rafting company's driver took us to our second hotel: Melia Villa. We booked a one-bedroom pool villa for two days. My husband and I were thrilled—we had never stayed in a villa with a pool! We were going to make the most of it.

Melia Villa is in the Nusa Dua area.

It was grand. Walking through this corridor led to the hotel lobby.

Day 5 (October 9th): The driver arrived at the hotel lobby at 11 am sharp. We had hired a car for another day. First stop: Tanjung Benoa Water Sports for water activities.

We were most looking forward to snorkeling/deep diving. Honestly, I was a bit scared. I don't know how to swim, and going underwater for so long made me uneasy. An instructor guided us underwater and would take photos and videos for us. Before diving, he taught us basic knowledge: how to bite the oxygen mouthpiece, what to do if water got in our ears, goggles, or regulator, etc. After setting off, we first took a boat to the middle of the sea. We entered the water. At first, I was really scared. The seawater was a bit cold. I breathed oxygen heavily, telling myself not to be afraid—just go for it. That calmed me down. My ears hurt at first, but swallowing once underwater made it better. The instructor saw we were adapting, so he let go and moved in front to take photos. He took out a packet of bread, waved it, and suddenly, a swarm of small fish came rushing over to eat. It was so fun! We also took out the bread given to us and fed the fish! More and more different kinds of fish gathered. I tried to scoop some up with my hand, but they were too fast—as soon as I reached out, they darted away. I was still a bit scared. The buoyancy was strong; I felt that if I moved, I would float away, so I held tightly to the coral rock.

After about 15 minutes, we surfaced. I didn't know what I had touched underwater—maybe coral—but my left arm felt a stinging pain, like needles, and a red rash appeared. The instructor said to wipe it with alcohol and it would be fine. My husband said my skin was too sensitive, that I must have had an allergic reaction. I cried! Later, I learned that some coral in the ocean can be toxic. So a warning to everyone: when diving, never touch marine life casually—many corals and fish are poisonous. A sting could be fatal. Also, possibly due to the change in environment, my stomach was unsettled. After being underwater a while, I felt dizzy when I came up and vomited on the boat. That was the second time! Why was I so unlucky!

Watching my husband play a bit more, we then headed to Jimbaran Beach, which he was most looking forward to—watching the sunset while enjoying a grilled lobster dinner. The driver took us to a restaurant on the beach. We chose a table closest to the sea. Since we arrived around 4:30 pm, there weren't many people. We were immediately captivated by the beauty of Jimbaran Beach.

There were too many clouds, so we didn't see the 'salted egg yolk' (sun) set below the horizon. A bit disappointed, but soon our dinner arrived!

Day 6 (October 10th):

Early in the morning, 5:30 am, we set the alarm. Rubbing our eyes, unkempt, we rushed out of the villa toward the beach. Full of anticipation, but the 'salted egg yolk' was hidden behind thick clouds. However, the clouds were lit up by the sun into gold and red, and a red cloud in the distance looked like a giant wave! Nature's wonder—indescribable beauty, something no camera can capture.

The sky gradually lightened. My husband didn't want to leave and kept taking pictures of the beautiful clouds. I insisted on waiting for the sun to appear, but he said even if it did, it wouldn't count as sunrise. I couldn't argue with him, so we gave up. I knew he actually wanted to go back to the villa and sleep more! Lazybones! Back at the villa, we continued sleeping. Breakfast arrived punctually at 9 am. The doorbell woke me up. I looked at my husband—still snoring. The loud bell didn't even wake him. Speechless. I had to get up and open the door myself. The waiter placed breakfast on a table in the small pavilion by the pool. Wow, it was quite rich! Did we order too much?

Bacon, ham, sausage, fried eggs, fruit, juice, coffee, milk... Seeing such a delicious breakfast, all sleepiness vanished. My only thought was that if it got cold, I would be doing myself a disservice. I sat down and started eating. I really was hungry. This deliciousness attracted not only me but also mosquitoes. A black mosquito with white stripes bit me twice before I realized I had forgotten to apply mosquito repellent in my hurry to eat! Sweat! I wanted to wake my husband to eat together, but he was sleeping so soundly that he definitely wouldn't get up. Fine, I started eating alone. But I wasn't lonely at all! A little squirrel came over upon seeing good food. I put a small piece of bread on the railing, and it ran over and snatched it up. There were many birds too. I remembered the first night we left three bananas by the pool on a small table, and in a blink, birds had eaten half of them. No wonder the delivered breakfast was covered with lids and plastic wrap—otherwise, the animals might have enjoyed it before we did! Haha! After breakfast, my husband still hadn't gotten up. I thought I shouldn't waste the bright sunshine and clear pool. So, I rushed into the room, took out a float from my bag, opened it, and started blowing it up. I originally wanted to jump in and play, but I was a bit scared since I can't swim and my husband was asleep. Although the pool water was only 1.2 meters deep, what if that 1.2 meters drowned me? That would be too unfair. Then I had an idea: wearing a float would keep me safe. I kept blowing into the float. Huff and puff! Just as my face was red from blowing, I heard my husband chuckle! He was awake! I felt embarrassed! I shot him a dirty look, and then I couldn't help but laugh, too! With me making such a fuss, he couldn't sleep anymore. He got up, ate breakfast, and took a couple of pictures with the camera. I can't swim, but sitting in the float, I felt carefree!

After breakfast, we packed and checked out, then headed to the airport.

Well, we will all live peacefully and happily through every ordinary day. Bless all the loving people in this world...

Thank you for reading about us...