The Rockstar | Bali, Indonesia

Over the years, ever since my last visit to Bali, it had merely occupied a tertiary spot in my mind. The Kuta crowd-shock from that trip was acute enough for my indomitable spirit to cave in. Ironically, Eat Pray Love was actually pioneered only a year back to that fateful trip but it took me almost 9 years to even register that a movie of that kind existed. Anecdotes aside, and for the longest time, I had always denoted Japan as my point of spiritual salvation - seeking and replenishing my soul and senses over and over again. And all this while, right beside me, lied one of the greatest joys that I have ever experienced in my life - Bali. Beyond the racket, the hoopla, the glitz, exists a world that is powerful enough to heal the most derelict of wounds, people so humane that you'd discover what kindness truly means, food so appetizing that you'd contest your mom, and scenery so magical that you'd espouse it as home. Bali is all it takes to make you fall in love with life and leaves you with memories endearing enough to never hate it again.

Some of the best golden hours of my photographing life have been in Bali as well. This particular beach demands quite a bit of manoeuvring and toil to get to but it was all worth it. The sunrise made it particularly special, especially when it was just us in the audience for two whole nights staying by the beach. The morning disco glow and the corals skirting the peaky cliff somehow tricked me to believe it to be a Freddie Mercury act. Yes, I do hallucinate while in nature.

Shot details: Two exposures, time-blended, tripod hosted.