“My only dream is that my grandchildren see fireflies the way I did growing up.”
Wayan Wardika, the man behind a wonderful firefly conservatory in Indonesia, said this as the four of us — my wife and I, and an American couple, Johnny and Lulian — sat around a table under the palm trees on his family farm.
We were here deep in the jungles of Taro village, just outside of Ubud in Bali, at the Rumah Konservasi Kunang-Kunang thanks to my wife. She’d refused to settle for the typical Bali itinerary and kept digging online until she found this experience.
The four-hour evening, which cost $54.78 per person (approximately Rs15,400), included a visit to the firefly conservation lab, a walk through organic plantations, cooking and sharing a traditional Balinese dinner with Wardika’s family, and firefly viewing at night. Transport was not included but could be arranged.
Wardika began telling us about his childhood. Back then, Taro had no electricity.
Continue Reading on Dawn
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.