Journey to Yourself — Bali

I came to VIBES BALI close to burnout: constant noise in my head, anxiety, and the feeling that I always “owe someone something.” In Bali, for the first time in a long while, I felt that someone had taken care of everything for me — from VVIP Fast Track at the airport to small things like water, fruit, and a well-planned schedule. What moved me most was the mix of practice and beauty. Morning meditation and yoga to the sound of the ocean, melukat in Sebatu — a very subtle moment when it suddenly became easier to breathe, as if part of the anxiety was simply washed away. Sound healing at Pyramids of Chi was something cosmic; I walked out completely reset. Special thanks for the sense of safety: clear logistics, simple explanations before each ritual, gentle support. Not a single second did I think “I shouldn’t have come.” Quite the opposite — I found the state I came for: a quiet, steady “I’m in the right place.” Looking at the photos and videos now, I still feel that inner calm.

I’m usually sceptical about words like “retreat” and “spiritual practice,” but I came along with friends and because the format looked very well thought out. For me it turned out to be the perfect balance: surfing, the ocean, great hotels — and no pressure to “get enlightened right now.” Staying at the Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis is a different level of service. Your body relaxes on its own when you wake up, step onto the balcony, and see the ocean. Softboard surfing, a water photographer, and a drone were great fun, and everything was at my level — no rush and no shame about not knowing how. The practices were much gentler than I expected. The meeting with the healer Mangku Jati and the ceremony became something very personal, even though at first I saw it as “an interesting experience.” Afterwards, for the first time in a long while, I let myself look honestly at what I want next. For me this trip wasn’t about esoterics — it was a chance to press pause and put myself back together in very comfortable conditions.

I went on the retreat alone and was most afraid I’d feel out of place and like a spare wheel the whole time. It was the opposite: the group became so supportive that by day three it felt like we had known each other for ages. I loved the rhythm of the program: days with activities (surfing, practices, trips) alternate with freer ones. You can be alone at the SPA, hang out with everyone by the pool, or go to dinner at a beautiful restaurant. The cleansing at Taman Sari Sebatu and the sound healing at Pyramids of Chi were two key moments for me — afterwards I felt an inner quiet I hadn’t felt in a long time. And the aesthetics are a joy of their own: locations, sunsets, restaurants, photo and video. I brought home not just “pretty pictures” but the memory of a state that was calm, warm, and somehow deeply right. It’s one of the few formats I’d gladly come back to — now knowing what awaits and how deep the change in one week can be.