Devin and Lauren’s Honeymoon Gift Registry
The folks that know Lauren and I best and are undoubtedly reading this have probably come to a very important realization…we aren’t exactly a typical couple. Our hobbies include a wide array of different activities from showing animals of the equine variety to participating in cerebral board games but one hobby and passion that stands out among the rest is our mutual love of traveling. The origins of such wandering pursuits differ between us but it has been this love that originally brought us together and was the catalyst that fueled our love together. As you may recall, Lauren and I travelled to Italy together in the first few months of dating and that trip may have been the event that sealed our future.
Most couples that I’ve known to get married, tend to put an extraordinary amount of time in the actual wedding and then simply brush off the honeymoon for one reason or another. In my eyes, the honeymoon is the cherry on top that ties the whole occasion together. It allows for the couple to celebrate the beginning of their lives together and a reward for the work going into the wedding. So again, it shouldn’t be any surprise to anyone reading this that Lauren and I have not just decided to take a honeymoon but one that takes our adventurous nature to the opposite side of the world…an Indonesian honeymoon.
Almost exactly a month after the wedding Lauren and I will be hopping on a plane to take us the nearly 8000 miles and two days to land in the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta. From there we will meet up with our connecting flight to Yogyakarta to begin our two week trip to paradise.
For the first three days, we will find ourselves in Yogyakarta learning details of the Indonesian culture, exploring the temple of Borobudur various farming villages and Old Town Yogyakarta. These experiences will allow us to delve into the spiritual Buddhist culture that thrives in the area and see the temples that were built in 800 CE.
From Yogyakarta we will board our next flight to Ubud, on the island of Bali, extending our trip further east on the island of Java. Here we will stay for four days and experience a wide variety of cultural activities such as the wood and stone carving that is rampant through the local villages to a traditional Balinese ‘Kecak’ dance performance, a walking tour through the countryside and even a local house call in a neighboring village to extend our knowledge of Balinese culture and maybe even pick up a culinary trick or two. Our time in Ubud is rounded out with a trip to Mount Augung (Bali’s tallest mountain) and a tour of Lake Bratan which houses UNESCO protected rice terraces and the Pura Batukaru temple.
Finally, the last portion of our trip takes us from the island of Bali to the tropical paradise that is the island of Lombok. After the cultural experiences of Yogyakarta and Bali, we will have the opportunity to relax on the pristine beaches of Lombok. Here we will have the opportunity to take in a variety of water based activities and a tour of the nearby Gili Islands. This will allow us to relax and prepare ourselves for the very long trip back home.
Whenever someone asks about the honeymoon and I give them the details, one lingering question always follows: Why Indonesia? When Lauren and I were looking at potential destinations, we tossed around a variety of places. Japan, Thailand, China, Italy, Western Europe but I was adamant in selecting a country that neither one of us had been and that were still reasonable price wise. Lauren went to Thailand a few years back and absolutely loved it. When discussing this with our travel agent, he came up with the idea of Indonesia so we checked it out and were sold. It had the cultural activities that we both enjoy and the beaches that I find necessary. After a few discussions around itinerary and pricing, we were sold.
In keeping with the oddities that define Lauren and I, we have decided to do this honeymoon a little differently than most. Lauren and I have been living together for almost a year now and haven’t much desire to accumulate a wealth of possessions as we have everything that we need to continue our lives. Instead, we’re seeking to fulfill our lives with unique experiences that no possession could ever satisfy. On that note, we have a Honeymoon Registry in lieu of a traditional wedding registry. Here (if you are so generous) you can contribute to the honeymoon by sponsoring specific activities or to the trip as a whole and allow us to revel in the Indonesian culture and continue building our lives together. Naturally you are not obligated in the least to contribute as the most important part of a wedding is making sure our family and friends are there to celebrate! (September 16, don’t forget!!)
If you’d like to contribute to our wedding registry or learn more about our trip, you can do so by clicking the below link:
Devin and Lauren’s Honeymoon Gift Registry
Featured Image Source: Audley Travel Group
