i said yes?
We didn’t ask for the couple’s tour...
Sitting on the beach as the sun dipped below the horizon, I couldn’t believe my luck. It was July 2022 and I was halfway through my two week stint in paradise, volunteering at a school in Denpasar, Bali.
Despite travelling alone, I had made heaps of friends at the volunteer hostel.
One was Kyran, 21, from Sydney, who was volunteering with a turtle rescue organisation.
We hit it o , hanging out in the hostel after work, and exploring the island.
After a week in Denpasar, his work took him to Nusa Penida Island.
“Come visit,” he said before he left.
A few days later, I took my new friend up on the o er, catching a boat over to join him.
Walking to the hostel, a motorcycle driver, Wayan, approached me.
“I’ll show you the island,” he said in broken English, o ering to drive me wherever I wanted to go.
Although his English was almost as limited as my Balinese, he seemed kind, so I grabbed his number.
at evening, Kyran and I made plans for the rest of the trip.
“I really want to go to T-Rex cli ,” he said.
“A guy o ered to drive me around the island, let’s get him to take us,” I suggested.
“Let’s do it,” Kyran agreed.
Texting the driver, I asked if he could take me and a plus-one to the lookout the next day.
I will show you a great day, he replied.
Picking us up from our hostel the next afternoon, he unexpectedly drove us to a fancy restaurant.
“We’re not very hungry,” I said, confused.
“Okay, okay, next stop,” Wayan replied.
Exchanging amused looks, Kyran and I got back on the motorbike.
“I think he’s on his own mission,” I joked.
en Wayan took us to a well-known photo shoot spot for couples, a giant stone hand.
“Give me your phone, I take picture,” he said, guiding us towards the hand.
“No, no, we’re good for photos,” I said, but Wayan wasn’t giving up.
He began gesturing for us to squeeze closer together.
“Put your arm around her,” he yelled. Laughing, we posed for the pictures.
“He thinks we’re a couple,” I whispered.
“Let’s just have fun with it,” Kyran chuckled.
Next, Wayan took us to an archway with a heart on it.
“Hold hands and face each other,” Wayan instructed.
Kyran and I were laughing so much, it wasn’t awkward.
Finally, he took us to a swing overlooking the beach, where he told us to gaze into each other’s eyes.
After four hours, we made it to T-Rex cli , and got some more photos before Wayan dropped us home.
Kyran and I had a great day, and it only cost us $30 each. Looking at the pictures later that evening, we nearly fell over laughing.
“is is the most romantic photo shoot ever,” Kyran chuckled.
Searching Wayan on Google, we learned he was a professional photographer, specialising in engagement photo shoots.
“He must have been waiting for you to pop the question,” I laughed.
Two days later, I said farewell to Kyran and returned to Denpasar.
I haven’t seen him since, but I still often look at the photos and laugh about the day we accidentally got engaged!
‘He thinks we’re a couple!’