I went in expecting the Bali Swing experience to be a tourist trap. It turns out I was right, but it also was an unexpectedly enjoyable time.
Unlike the rest of Bali, which was overcrowded, the Bali swing was quite empty. We were the only visitors.
This could be because there are many Bali swings – hundreds of them. But the most famous ones are those in Ubud. The original one, the one that kickstarted the swing trend, is simply called the Bali swing. We didn’t visit that one, but just round the corner was another swing advertised that our cab driver recommended.
We went with what he suggested. Yes, we knew he was probably getting a commission from the Swing folks, but his recommendations had been spot-on generally, so we trusted him, and it was the right decision.
The glamour of the Bali swings
The Bali swing is typically a glamorous experience. It’s usually young couples getting their wedding photoshoots done, or women in glamourous evening gowns getting their portraits done.
The folks who run the swings have a photographer who”ll take fancy pics of you on the swing. A few couples were extremely well-dressed in evening gowns, posing for the pics.
But, we were just pretty much everyday simple dimple style. The photographers were a tad disappointed that we didn’t bring a change of clothing, but hey, this is us. And I am happy with the pics we got. They are memories of a great day out as a family in a lovely place.
Photo dump incoming
The Bali swing experience was lovely. The swing goes out over the river, and you get a lovely view of the greenery and the river below. But if you’re not fond of swinging or afraid of heights, there are other ways to get a photo – like lounging in one of their hanging nests or even sitting in an igloo!
Shots from the nest and the igloo
The rest of us felt too claustrophobic in the igloo, but Piglet enjoyed it, thoroughly relaxing there long after we had all moved on.
Both these photos are wallpapers on my phone
The swings themselves were lovely. The kids and K were scared of the height and so went only a short way, not facing the scenery. I decided to go all the way and swing high.
The photographers have this crazy fascination for reflection photography. Everywhere I went, they put these mirrors below the camera to get an effect like the one above. I am not a fan of this effect, honestly; the scenery around was beautiful enough that there was no need for stupid effects; just a simple, straightforward shot would have been enough.
The photos below were taken by us, and they just look so much more beautiful and natural!
My two loves 😍
And ending this super-long photo-heavy post with one family shot.
Overall, we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. What we originally thought would be a tourist cliché turned out to be a fun way to spend an afternoon and build some great family memories!
