As the plane landed, warm tropical air wrapped around him like a welcome hug. The scent of incense and the sound of distant gamelan music filled the air.
Bali was no longer a dream. It was real.
Eager to explore, Tom planned a visit to one of Bali’s ancient temple grounds. With Mimi’s leash in one hand and his trusted camera slung across his shoulder, he felt a spark of childlike wonder. This trip would be unforgettable—for more reasons than he knew.
The trip had already felt magical, but fate had more in store. On the very first day, while wandering the bustling streets, he spotted a tiny, abandoned kitten. Her faint cries drew him in, and when he crouched beside her, their bond was instant.
Her fur was tangled, and she trembled with hunger, yet her eyes held a stubborn spark. Tom couldn’t leave her. It was reckless, even impractical—but he adopted her on the spot, naming her Mimi and promising to take her home.
Caring for a kitten while traveling through a foreign country wasn’t easy, but it didn’t matter. Mimi nestled into his backpack, peered curiously from his shoulder, and followed him wherever he went. Together, they were an unusual but perfect pair.
Tom adjusted quickly. Meals, hikes, and even photo sessions became shared adventures. Mimi seemed to adore it all. Her playful antics and purring companionship gave his Bali journey a deeper, unexpected joy.
One bright afternoon, the two arrived at the edge of a centuries-old temple hidden in the jungle.