Sometimes the most meaningful trips begin with one simple idea. For River Ranch resident Kristy Kennedy, that idea came from her daughter, Lilly. Drawn to Bali’s reputation for wellness and spirituality, Lilly chose the destination, setting the tone for a trip that would be both eye-opening and deeply memorable.

We traveled to Bali, Indonesia.

My daughter, Lilly, picked it out. She was very interested in Bali’s focus on wellness and spirituality as a travel destination, and that really shaped everything we did while we were there.

We leaned into the experience Lilly was hoping for. We took yoga and sound bath classes, visited temples, hiked to waterfalls, made jewelry, and learned traditional batik dyeing techniques. It was a mix of culture, creativity, and wellness, and it all felt very intentional.

We participated in a water purification ceremony at a Hindu temple built around two natural waterfalls. It was unlike anything I have ever experienced.

A central belief in Hindu culture is that we are one with all humans, animals, and the earth, so it felt very inclusive from the beginning. Before we even started, our guide explained that as we moved through each step, we would pray to our own God according to our own beliefs.

We walked through different stations, offering prayers of gratitude and flowers. Then came the most powerful part. The tradition is to go under one waterfall and scream to release the negative, and then go under the second and sing and dance to bring in the positive.

It was such a beautiful experience to share with my daughter. I remember standing there, listening to her scream under the first waterfall, and I found myself crying. Then, moving to the second waterfall, dancing and embracing the moment together, is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.

I would recommend staying in Ubud. It really is the heart of Bali’s wellness and spiritual culture and gives you a more authentic experience.

We stayed our last night in Canggu to be closer to the airport, and it had a completely different feel. It was much more of a younger, see-and-be-seen crowd. If that’s what you’re looking for, it’s great, but for us, one day was enough.

We planned our trip over Mardi Gras break, which is toward the end of Bali’s rainy season. It worked out really well. We had short afternoon rain showers, similar to summer in South Louisiana, but nothing that disrupted our plans. It also helped us avoid the extreme heat and larger crowds.

For Kristy, what made this trip so special wasn’t just Bali itself, but seeing it through Lilly’s eyes. What began as her daughter’s idea turned into a shared experience filled with meaning, connection, and moments they will both carry with them for years to come.