A Hidden Waterfall and Dila — Aan, Bali.

“Nature connects.”

Saying so, Dira smiled at us with a wonderful expression.

Aan is a village in the Klungkung Regency of Bali. Stepping slightly away from the bustle of tourist spots, it remains a place where nature and people's daily lives are beautifully intertwined. Dira, born and raised in this village, is the person who discovered Aan Secret Waterfall and, along with his friends, has worked to restore its beauty.

Until they found the waterfall on May 15, 2018, even the locals were unaware of its existence. Water cascades between steep cliffs about 40 meters high, flowing down into the valley. When first discovered, there was no path leading down; the only way to access it was by climbing down tree roots and using ropes.

However, they didn't just find beautiful water. There was a large amount of garbage carried down by the river's current. Even deep within the untouched forest, traces of human life had washed ashore.

Dira could not overlook that desolate sight. As someone who loves nature and grew up on this land, it broke his heart to see what had become of a secret place hidden deep within their village.

From that day on, he and his friends began a project to restore the waterfall's beauty.

When I asked, he told me his house is located only about 30 meters from the waterfall. Since childhood, he could hear the sound of rushing water. Yet, for a long time, no one knew where it was coming from. He shared that exactly one week before starting the project, on the night of his birthday, the sound somehow reached deep into his heart. That beautiful sound awakened his spirit of adventure.

Perhaps it was destined that he would be the one to discover the waterfall.

I believe Dira also understood our brand's mission.
That's why he readily agreed to be our model, and our photoshoot with him began.

We paired Dira, wearing an orange Kamen (traditional waist cloth), with a shirt crafted from a solid, pale, slightly muted green kimono. At the entrance leading to the waterfall, a bamboo Kul-kul was hanging. He explained that ringing it before entering the trail is a way of announcing one's arrival to the land. A gentle, clear sound echoed through the surroundings.

We started shooting as we descended the path and steep stairway that he and his friends had carved out. When I first proposed the idea of modeling, he seemed a little shy, mentioning he had never done it before, but he quickly became entirely natural. It is truly what you would expect from a dancer inheriting Balinese traditional dance.

He personally adorned his woven hat, a staple for Balinese farming work called "Topi Anyam," with leaves and flowers. The nostalgic color of the woven coconut leaves beautifully contrasted with the white of the Jepun (Frangipani). The petals shifted from a vivid yellow center to white at the edges. Leaning closer, a gentle, sweet fragrance subtly drifted in the air.

In Bali, this flower is often planted around temples and family shrines, blooming close to the scenes of people's prayers. Even under the strong sun, its white was quiet and somehow pure. In Bali, white and yellow are colors that represent sacredness, purification, and connection to the gods. You can catch glimpses of their way of life in every casual action, blending seamlessly into the visual narrative.

The secret waterfall has been transformed remarkably, but the cleanup is still not complete. That’s why there are garbage bags prepared along the way, encouraging visitors to participate in the cleanup—a beautiful style of shared responsibility.

Water pools in the valley where multiple waterfalls cascade down. As Dira stepped into the river, he held the front pleat of his orange Kamen. Though meant to make walking easier, the movement allowed the Endek fabric to catch the light, revealing different expressions. In traditional Balinese dance, even the tips of the fingers and toes possess a beautiful strength. In his hands, I saw not only the traditional weave but the powerful spirit of passing down Bali's beauty.

The plants growing on the surrounding wall-like rock faces were deep and vivid, as if expressing their gratitude to him. The clear water flowing at his feet, the plants dancing on the steep side walls, the sun reaching even the depths of the narrow valley. Dira became one with the space that had regained its original beauty, wrapped in a refreshing atmosphere.

Journeys hold encounters that cannot be merely called coincidences.
People and places connect, as if drawn together by some invisible thread.

“Nature connects.”

Those words from Dira lingered in my heart for a while, much like the sound of the waterfall. Loving nature, following one’s heart, restoring the world in front of you, and passing it on to the next person. His words regarding our encounter—“Nature connected us”—sounded like a ship's whistle, blessing a new voyage.

*Aan Secret Waterfall is protected through donations rather than tickets. The small gestures of visitors help pass this beautiful initiative on to the future.