Divya and Prayank, Thailand and Bali
This couple backpacked their way across Thailand and Bali to experience the best of nature, enjoy sunsets and party at the coolest places.
Divya and Prayank’s relationship had a shaky start with life throwing one obstacle after the other on their path. But with sheer determination, they faced every challenge head-on and finally tied the knot. To celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in their lives, the couple booked a backpacking trip to Thailand and Bali for their honeymoon. Here, they share some highlights of their experiences there.
How They Met
Divya shares, “Prayank and I first met when we were in the second standard, but we only clicked much later in life as adults. Our relationship had a shaky start and both of us weren’t sure if things would work out in our favor or not. But even though we went to different colleges, we would always find time for each other. We managed a long-distance relationship for six years. And just like any other couple with thousands of miles in between them, we too had our share of ups and downs. But, in hindsight, I think it made our relationship stronger, and we finally got married in a small town called Kanji, in West Bengal, which was attended by all our loved ones.”
Honeymoon Planning
Approaching their honeymoon as the perfect opportunity to indulge their inner explorers, Divya and Prayank considered many destinations for a backpacking trip before settling on Thailand and Bali. Divya shares, “We always wanted to do a backpacking trip together but never really found a chance to execute it. So for our honeymoon, we decided to mix romance and adventure together with a backpacking trip at a beach destination. We had many places on our shortlist, such as the Maldives and Seychelles, but Thailand and Bali stood out for us and made the cut. Our itinerary included Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Ko Tao, and Bangkok in Thailand. In Bali, we settled on Ubud, Penida Island, and Kuta. In order to get an authentic feel of each place, we rented bikes to ride through and explore the town.”
Honeymoon Highlights
Packed with cultural sights as well as natural wonders, Divya and Prayank lived every moment to the fullest on their honeymoon. She recollects, “In Koh Samui, we visited the iconic Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha Temple), the Fisherman’s Village and witnessed the most beautiful sunset at the Sunset Bar in Nathon. At Koh Phangan, we had a lot of fun at the Full Moon party and enjoyed relaxing on the serene beaches. The Malibu Beach there is quite simply the most amazing beach I’ve ever been to with its blue and green hues that look out of this world.”
“The last destination in our Thailand adventure was Bangkok where I had an extra reason to go on a shopping spree since it was on my birthday.
Once we landed in Bali, it was love at first sight! It looked even more beautiful than what one sees online. We made our way to Ubud directly from the airport and feasted our eyes upon quaint terraced rice paddies and lush hills. The famous Monkey Forest, Tegenungan Waterfall, and the thrilling Bali Swing were covered on our expedition. However, we didn’t stop there. In our quest to cover most corners of this giant island, we hired a ferry to Nusa Penida and were greeted with the sight of pristine white sandy beaches surrounded by turquoise waters and steep cliffs. Lastly, we took a ferry back to Kuta where we partied at hotspots such as SkyGarden, Finns Beach Club, WooBar and the Potato Head Beach Club.”
Divya shared some advice for couples planning a Bali honeymoon, “Bali has three main facets. For nature lovers , Ubud is the place to be; for beach lovers, Nusa Penida tops the list with its picturesque beaches, and for the social butterflies Kuta and Seminyak are perfect hubs to keep yourselves entertained.”
Best Meal of The Trip
“We had a delicious Pad Thai feast at Ogix Warung which is one of the best places to indulge your taste buds in Bali!”
Most Romantic Moment
“Prayank and I enjoyed sipping coffee while watching the stunning sunset at Sunset Bar Nathon, Koh Samui. This was the most romantic moment for us in Thailand. But in Bali, it was when we were in the lap of nature at the Tegenungan Waterfall in Ubud. The fresh air on our faces and the splashing water made an intoxicating combination and both of us were lost in the moment!”
Must-experience Activities
“The Malibu Beach in Koh Phangan, Sunset Bar Nathon in Koh Samui, Tegenungan Waterfall in Ubud and Diamond Beach in Nusa Penida are well worth a visit and should feature on everyone’s list.”
Can-avoid
“I don’t think there’s any place you must go out of your way to avoid, but the Wat Phra Yai in Koh Samui and Monkey Forest in Ubud could be skipped if you’re short on time.”
Hotels We Stayed At
Coral Bungalows, Haad Rin
POP Villas, Luxury Boutique Pool Villas
Holiday Inn, Bangkok
Villa Puspa Sari
Cave Beach Bungalow
AMNAYA Resort Kuta
