Whose Stupid Idea Was This? – My First Visit to Tukad Yeh Cepung Waterfall

This was my first time visiting Tukad Yeh Cepung waterfall. There are plenty of waterfalls in Bali—especially in Bangli, Gianyar, and Singaraja regencies. Many are already popular, and many more are still waiting to be discovered. But somehow, I had never made it to this one—until today.

Over the years, this waterfall has gained fame. A lot of tourists have been here, and I finally decided it was time to see what the fuss was all about.

Now, there’s one thing that almost all waterfalls in Bali have in common: challenging tracks. And yes, this one didn’t disappoint. From the parking area, I walked along a dirt road that winds through a quiet village, with local stalls and shops on both sides. A few minutes in, I met a local man standing by the path. He seemed to be in charge of checking visitors—but mostly, he just pointed us in the right direction.

This time, I was told to take a slightly different route, passing a Balinese temple on the right. I walked past it, then came the stairs.

“Oh boy... here we go again,” I thought.

The stairs weren’t just steep—they were oversized. Maybe it was a clever way to save on building materials, but climbing them felt like a leg workout I didn’t sign up for. After that, the path leveled out, leading me through a small river and a farming area. But the peace didn’t last long. A steep staircase waited ahead, plunging down into another riverbed.

As I was slowly descending, a man was climbing back up with his family. Judging by his accent, I guessed they were from Australia. With a dramatic sigh, he yelled out,
“Whose stupid idea was this?!”

I burst out laughing and shouted back,
“Yeah, whose idea was it?”

He grinned and said,
“Mine. Now we all have to climb back up!”

Classic. I loved the humor—and the honesty. I knew I’d be saying the same thing soon.

I continued my way down until I reached the shallow river. The water was gentle, and the rocks weren’t too slippery, but I still had to tread carefully. Then came a tunnel with large rocks partially blocking the way. I ducked under a low opening, and after squeezing through, I found myself in a stunning cave.

And there it was.

A waterfall, flowing through a crack in the rocks, looked like a sheer curtain of water falling softly from above. Light streamed in from the top, making it look almost magical. It was breathtaking.

Tourists stood inside the cave, posing for pictures with the shimmering curtain behind them. I, on the other hand, was already exhausted. I didn’t go in. I just stood there, soaked in the moment... and mentally prepared myself for the climb back up.

And then it hit me.

Whose stupid idea was this?

Oh right—mine.