A Christmas in Bali
I’m Jemma, a Digital Executive at STA Travel, email specialist, and devoted Bali beach lover…
It’s nearly been two years since I marked my first holiday season far from home. No familiar hum of Christmas tunes, no trees wrapped in lights and tinsel, no comforting dishes, or endless chocolate (and I mean the drinkable kind). But don’t worry, Christmas enthusiasts—this tale of being away from home had a happy ending. Here’s what made it so incredibly memorable…
Let’s rewind to December 21st, 2015. I was stepping off a worn wooden boat onto the breathtaking island of Gili Meno. With four of my closest friends, an oversized backpack, and an armful of braided cotton wristbands, we were full of excitement. Who wouldn’t be, with a secluded beach all to ourselves, the majestic Mount Rinjani in the distance, and $2 beers all day long? Still, something felt off. We were just four days from Christmas, and I craved the scent of cinnamon gingerbread men, carols echoing through the streets, or simply wearing a cozy sweater. Instead, I was lathering on SPF 50 sunscreen, taking an outdoor shower, and hunting for turtles on the reef (I know what you’re thinking: What. Are. You. Complaining. About?).
To lift me from my Christmas-craving funk, we were about to reunite with two more amazing friends. The ‘famous five’ were becoming the ‘super seven,’ as one friend traveled from her teaching stint in South Korea and another from Japan to join our tropical Christmas festivities. After a day of catching up, sharing memories, laughing until our sides hurt, and downing over ten Bintangs, we were all feeling joyful, merry, and fully in the Christmas spirit. Soon, we had our favorite Christmas songs blasting from our open-air hostel bar. Friends, both old and new, arm in arm, swaying under the moonlight, belting out at the top of our lungs, “Do they know it’s Christmas time at all.” It was a truly magical moment!
Waking up to blazing sunshine, the gentle sound of the ocean, and having to pee without a roof overhead felt like a strange way to start Christmas Eve. I sat on the sand, thinking about what I’d be doing back home… Hunting for last-minute stocking stuffers, indulging in creamy cheese pastries, and looking forward to a cozy night in front of the TV with my younger sisters, knitted socks, and our annual tradition of watching The Grinch. Instead, I found myself at the bar at 11 a.m., ordering a beer and whispering to myself, “It is Christmas, after all.” Christmas Eve meant a new island, a new hostel, and a quick search for where to grab our Christmas dinner later.
Behold… Gili Trawangan! An island brimming with Western culture set against a pure Indonesian paradise. Our hostel was perfect, right on the beachfront, and we were treated to a huge dormitory all to ourselves. We unpacked our secret Christmas stash, hauled across Southeast Asia specifically for this day. Red tinsel hung from our small bunks, and each of us had a stocking at the foot of the bed, hoping to feel it in the morning and hear the crinkle of wrapping paper covering a surprise token gift. That night, we decked the halls—painted them red, in fact. We sang our hearts out over delicious rum cocktails to “Fairytale of New York,” and our hostel owners were thrilled we’d brought some Christmas cheer. As I drifted off to sleep, I expected to feel sad about missing my mom’s secret-recipe apple pie and that warm feeling of spending the entire day with loved ones. But even though some of my dearest were far away, my travel buddies and I had truly captured what I’d call ‘the Christmas spirit.’ Though it was sun-kissed, far from knitted attire, and set to be spent on the beach, it was full of love, joy, and happiness nonetheless.
IT’S CHRIIIISTTTMAAAASSS! Even with blurry eyes, feeling hot and hungover, we were all up at the crack of dawn. At the start of our travels, I had organized a ‘secret Santa’ gift exchange, so we all had a present to open in the morning. We gathered around—naturally with Christmas songs and hats on—and opened our gifts one by one. Revealing wonderful items from around the world, we smiled, laughed, and enjoyed our morning just as if we were at home. What was I ever worried about?
The morning included beers (of course) and a seaside breakfast to kick things off. Then we danced our way to the beach, greeting every person—backpackers and locals alike—with a cheerful “Merry Christmas” as we passed. We played games, sang songs (yes, we love singing), and chatted our way through a wonderful Christmas day. There was swimming, sunbathing, and it was absolutely perfect. We managed to snag a luxurious roast dinner, complete with ALL the trimmings. Feeling stuffed and full of joy, we had just enough room for dessert, a Skype call home, and more caroling before the day slipped away and Christmas was over.
There were moments when I’d step back from my friends and think, how special are we to share a moment like this, thousands of miles from home, in ultimate paradise, celebrating Christmas with our best friends? There was no need to miss Christmas—it was right here. I have three words for Christmas 2015 in Bali: One to remember.
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