A CHEERFUL morning in Bali in 2045 is warmed by the sun’s rays with the same intensity as before, but with a subtle touch of futuristic technology. A group of tourists, complete with augmented reality (AR) glasses and solar-powered anti-theft bags, enthusiastically follow their tour guide, an energetic young man named Arya, towards a swing ride that promises a different sensation.
“Welcome to the ‘Bali Sky Swing‘! Here, we not only swing above the abyss, but also feel the sensation of antigravity for a moment!” Arya exclaimed with a wide smile while pointing towards a futuristic swing made of light but very strong material, hanging between two cliffs with a sparkling mechanism.
Among the group, there is an elderly American couple, named Bob and Martha. Bob, with his AR glasses, looks a little confused.
“Antigravity? Isn’t that dangerous?” Bob asked with a worried tone.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Bob!” Arya replied cheerfully. “This technology is very safe. We will only feel the sensation of floating for a few seconds at the top of the swing. Like… becoming an impromptu astronaut!”
Martha, who was more adventurous, nudged her husband. “Come on, Bob! This must be fun! Imagine our selfies floating above this spectacular view!”
As Bob and Martha prepared to try the swing, another young tourist, a technology blogger named Luna, was busy recording a video with her drone equipped with an automatic stabilizer.
“Here’s the next viral content! The first antigravity swing in Bali!” Luna muttered enthusiastically.
After several tourists tried and screamed with joy at the sensation of floating for a moment, it was Bob and Martha’s turn. With a little hesitation, they sat on the swing equipped with a sophisticated safety belt. Arya gave the operator a signal.
“Ready to launch into mini space, Sir and Madam?”
The swing began to move slowly, then faster. When it reached its highest point, the antigravity mechanism was activated. Bob and Martha felt their bodies light, as if being pulled upward for a few seconds. Expressions of shock mixed with amazement were visible on their faces.
“Oh my gosh! This… this is amazing!” Martha exclaimed, laughing happily.
Bob, who was initially afraid, now smiled broadly. “You’re right, Martha! This is much more exciting than I thought!”
After being satisfied with swinging, the group continued their journey to the civet coffee plantation. However, Arya gave them a surprise.
“Today, we will see the cultivation of civet coffee… the future version!”
They arrived at a modern building with glass walls that showed a row of sophisticated machines. Inside, there were no civets roaming around.
“Where’s the civet?” asked a tourist in confusion.
Arya smiled mysteriously. “In this era, we value animal welfare. So, the civet coffee that you will try is the result of microbial fermentation that perfectly imitates the civet’s digestive process!”
Luna, the technology blogger, was immediately interested. “Synthetic civet coffee? This is an amazing innovation! How does it taste?”
Arya invited them to a room with a tempting aroma of coffee. There, small cups of strong black coffee were served.
“Please taste it! The taste is guaranteed to be authentic, even experts find it difficult to distinguish it from ‘traditional’ civet coffee,” said Arya proudly.
Bob and Martha tasted the coffee carefully. Their eyes widened.
“This… is exactly like the civet coffee I tried before!” said Bob in surprise.
“It’s smoother and there’s no strange bitter taste,” Martha agreed.
Luna was busy recording her reaction. “This is a breakthrough! Civet coffee without involving animals! It’s ethical and delicious!”
After enjoying the futuristic civet coffee, the last destination was the souvenir market. However, once again Arya took them to an unusual place. They entered a large room that looked empty.
“Welcome to the Hologram Souvenir Market!” exclaimed Arya as he activated a device in his hand.
Instantly, the room was filled with hologram projections of various Balinese goods: colorful endek cloth, wood carvings, silver jewelry, and traditional snacks. Tourists could see, hold (the holograms felt like real ones thanks to haptic technology), and choose the items they liked.
“How do I buy it?” asked a tourist.
“Just touch the product, and the details and price will appear on your AR glasses. For payment, you can use a digital wallet or crypto transfer,” explained Arya.
Bob and Martha looked amazed to see the hologram market. They could see various items without having to jostle with other visitors.
“This is very efficient! And there is no tiring bargaining,” said Martha happily while choosing some hologram fabrics.
Luna kept taking pictures. “A market without physical traders! This is the future of commerce!”
While shopping, Bob was interested in and a very detailed hologram Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue. Suddenly, the statue moved and made a soft rumbling sound.
“Wow! The statue is alive!” Bob exclaimed in surprise.
“This is an optional feature. Some holograms are equipped with animation and sound to provide a more immersive experience,” Arya explained with a smile.
After shopping at the hologram market, the group returned to the bus with souvenirs… in the form of digital data in their virtual wallets.
On the way back, Luna uploaded a video and her experience to social media. Not long after, her upload went viral with the hashtags #FutureBali #AntiGravitationSwing #EthicalCivetCoffee #HologramMarket.
Bob and Martha, while looking at the hologram photos of their souvenirs in AR glasses, smiled with satisfaction. Their vacation in Bali this time really provided an unforgettable experience, a unique blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and a touch of future technology that entertained and tickled their curiosity. And they agreed, Bali in 2045 turned out to be much more exciting and… a little weird! (*)
