Shalin Zoya wears many hats- she is a TV anchor, a dancer, a director and a good actor. She made her entry into the TV serials as a child artist and has since done many films. Fondness for these pursuits apart, Shalin is passionate about travelling. Shalin has no qualms about solo trips. She had shared her travel experiences in Bali and the details of her stay in Nusa Isalnd in the Instagram. “This is my birthday gift to myself! A trip to Bali” reveals her Instagram post.
Shalin has her own perspectives about travelling. She does not find any need to ask anyone’s permission or to seek opinions on where to travel and how. Travelling solo allows this freedom. She makes it a point to find time for herself from her busy schedule.
Bali is a favourite destination of the travellers worldwide. This time, Shalin had a friend with her who guided her through the tour. The company of a guide helped her to know the finer details of the places she visited.
Bali, compared to the other 17000 odd islands of Indonesia is more scenic and has calmer beaches. Bali is also a lot richer and the people friendlier. These features make Bali a unique island even within Indonesia. It is not an expensive place to visit.
Though Bali has tranquil beaches, green forests and gentle hills, it is also home to some fuming volcanoes. The Kintamani Volcano (Mount Batur) is one of the active volcanoes in Bali.
Apart from the regular Bali tourism circuits covering the Kuta beach, the stone caves, the rock temple of Tana lot, the Uluwatu temple, the Semiyak Township, the Ubud village-home to traditional handicraft, the Jimbaran Bay, the Sekumpul Waterfall, the monkey forest, the Augung Rai museum, the Tirtagangga water palace etc., Bali has many less visited attractions.
The Nusa Island (Nusa Penida) is one such location in Bali. Though not a mainstream destination, Nusa Penida has everything a traveller can ask for. It has many safe diving spots and the Crystal Bay on the western coast is famous for snorkelling and other aquatic activities.
Bali is a round the year destination. Booking air tickets at least a month in advance will make it a lot cheaper. The cost of local transportation is relatively low and there are plenty of hotels suiting all budgets.
Unlike many others who love to travel abroad, Shalin desires to travel more in India and to know it from up close. India has a wide range of attractions. Though she does not travel more than once to one particular destination, she feels her tour of Rajasthan has remained incomplete. Pushkar is one such place where she wants to go again. The majestic mountains on three sides and the serene lake on the other makes Pushkar unbelievably picturesque. Varanasi is another place she wants to visit.
While travelling in India, Shalin prefers villages to towns or cities. She travelled to an interior village off Ajmer in Rajasthan with the help of a friend. There were no bus services or even a police station there. She felt pity for the people, especially the children, of that village. With the desire to do something for them, Shalin stayed there for three months and taught the children English. It was an unforgettable experience for her. While preparing to return from the village, a child gave her a short note in English. It said “Thank you. I too have a dream”. It was an emotional moment for Shalin.
Shalin made a solo trip to the Himalayas. From Delhi, she travelled to Manali by bus. She found the scenery quite captivating. Many locations on this tour made her wonder if the heavens had descended on Earth.
Spain is one of her dream destinations for luxury travel. Spain had made wonderful impressions in her mind watching the place in films and photographs.
