What you need to know about Bali
Bali Blues
When I went to Bali I went alone. I know when it comes to Bali, everyone screams *couple goals* and I won’t lie, it’s a gorgeous location for a honeymoon but you can totally go it alone and have fun too! Believe me, I did… I also met a lot of couples, but that just means more friends in my world.
Airports are very inventive… yes he’s a picture!
I arrived in Bali after quite a turbulent start to my stay in Indonesia (we’ll get to that in my next post) and I didn’t quite know what to expect other than the fact that it was one of those locations I just HAD to tick off my list. Upon arrival, I was not disappointed. Denpasa airport was super cute and there was something about the place that just felt different and exciting as I was driving to my accommodation (although it might have just been my excitement and relief of landing alive). I can never forget that landing. That flight from Lombok was one of the most intense 20 minutes of my life! I can laugh about it now but I was shooketh because I honestly thought we had landed on an earthquake. That was my shortest, but most memorable flight ever … but we move.
For all of my Popeye fans - This was my Taxi which he modified himself! Super cool
As you may know from my other travel posts, I was winging my trip in true Liz style. This meant that I had not really done much research into where to go in Bali or where to stay. I’ll admit it, a little research is much better but figuring it out also adds to the experience… LOL! After talking with a few new friends who had come from Bali and friends I knew that had gone, I realised there were a few places that were good to stay in - Seminyak, Kuta, Canggu and Ubud. In an ideal world, I would have stayed in each location, however, I only had about a week in Bali and didn’t want to hop around so much (for once)! After all, wasn’t this supposed to be the place to chill, relax and enjoy my surroundings? I settled for Seminyak as it was a pretty decent location and around places that had been suggested. Although I didn’t stay in another hotel this time, I did manage to tour around (with the help of locals I had befriended) and explored a bit of Kuta too! It also seemed to be a popular place suggested to me by fellow travellers so I thought it was best to go and stay somewhere close-ish to the airport and the fun.
Before I tell you what I got up to, it’s probably best that I give you a few places to look at in Bali should you want to go yourself and some great tips that will make your life a little easier:
6 things to know before your trip to Bali
Your best sim deals are at the airport - I already bought a sim from Lombok airport which meant that I got a better deal than some of the locals themselves. This is because they sometimes have better bundles with more data so you can enjoy more for less. I’d advise that you get a big enough package to last you the entire time so that you don’t have to worry about topping up. Obviously, if you plan to stay at resorts or places with wifi then you won't have to worry so much but it’s something I would recommend and they can set it up for you. Remember, you will need to have an unlocked phone to do this.
Not that I do drugs and I'm not assuming you do either, but traveling abroad often leads people to experiment. Just know that the penalty for drugs is death. Don’t play games. Take it seriously. You’re in a new land so be cautious about your surroundings so that drugs aren't planted without your knowledge. Be extra cautious when going through airports and check your bags before and after and make sure that they haven’t been tampered with. These countries do not play around. My bag was searched in Lombok - Indonesia with a whole interview of questions of where I was from and my purpose for being there along with scrutiny at my passport (British). I honestly think they were bored (plus it’s a running joke that I’m always stopped at customs) so it was just another “here we go again” moment for me. Clearly I had nothing dodgy and I think they just wanted to ask me about my hair since that’s all they kept looking at (my afro gained me many names in Indonesia but it was all love) AND I was a female travelling alone but it’s worth noting as the stakes are high.
Make sure you have your flight documents and a RETURN trip to present on entry. Arriving with no documents will cost you a fine and an unnecessary wait. It’s also worth having a bank statement printed showing that you have significant funds as it comes in handy. For more on what documents to bring on your travels, check out the end of this post.
Tap water is not safe! This includes ice... and be careful of salads! This is particularly important to note if you don’t get jabs beforehand. You will end up seriously sick otherwise and i’ve personally known people to be sick for a good week or so because of it. I would always make sure you request bottled water although ice from good hotels and restaurants are generally OK.
Be careful when taking money out of ATMs for people swiping your cards. Give the card reader a good shake or toggle to make sure it’s not a dummy cover before using it and go to official buildings and reputable machines. Shaking a machine may look strange but that’s better than having your details stolen. I personally never had any problems but you can’t be too careful. The Machines dispense IDR 50,000 or 100,000 bills and you’re charged per transaction so it’s wiser to take out more in one go (but work out realistically what you’ll need).
There’s room to barter/haggle - once you have a feel of the general prices and local prices, you might find it good to haggle the price when you are being overcharged. The more confident you are, the more chance you have. Don’t be rude or cocky though - there’s a difference!
Views from my hotel in Seminyak - The rooftop had a bar, sun loungers, two hot tubs, a restaurant and dining space with a 360 view!
So what areas are good to visit and what can I do there?
Seminyak:
Potato Head in Seminyak (also thumbnail location with credit to Kate Hair for that gorgeous shot)
Seminyak is great for beaches, beach bars, and some great restaurants and hotels! Come here if you’re down for a little boujie experience. This is also home to the famous potato head beach club where I witnessed some amazing sunsets and vybsed with some great people. I spent a day at the beach club where they have a bar, restaurant, loungers and an infinity pool. If you want a good spot or a chance to book out a sun lounger, you’ll need to go early to avoid disappointment (10 am).
I didn’t go but you can scuba dive here and collect a PADI certificate if you really want it. Alternatively, if you're feeling the water-sport vibe you can give surfing a go (honestly it’s harder than it looks) on Seminyak beach. If you’re down for a more relaxed evening you can visit Ku De Ta which is a massive beachfront bar with incredible views OR you can visit double six beach for a chill! Yoga is also a popular thing here and I can imagine that meditating in such a tranquil location is second-to-none!
Canggu:
Finns beach bar in Canggu. My favourite spot to visit!
Old Man’s - Canggu
Canggu is honestly the spot for good energy, lively nights and a laid-back feel! You can do pretty much everything that you can find in Seminyak including horse riding, surfing, visiting temples, check out the markets or even hike a volcano! It’s home to the incredible Finn’s beach bar which is a personal favourite. Anyone I see going to Bali, I advise them to check out Finn’s. They have live music, sun beds, amazinggg food and drinks, another pool, great views… do I need to go on? Personally, I feel like this has a classier feel than Potato head in Seminyak and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Aesthetically it’s absolutely stunning too so don’t miss out on this hotspot when you go! Another popular spot is Old man’s - a bar right by the beach with live music, loads of space and loads of people! I made sure to check it out and catch a vibe. Something I didn’t do but you can certainly check out is the water park too!
One thing to note about Canggu is that it can be quite hard to navigate transport-wise particularly later on in the night. The best way to travel is by bike but I won’t lie, it can be a bit out of the way. For reference It was at least a 30-45 min drive to Seminyak. I was lucky to have made friends with someone with a powerful motorbike so when I had problems with transport I was lucky enough to be picked up. This is just something to note as transport such as Uber and Grab are illegal and the journey can be really risky (and they don’t go to all parts of Bali - this area included). The fine is hefty and sometimes the drivers can honestly move mad but that’s at your own risk. The area is for taxi’s only but be careful of fakes (fun fact - the colour of the number plate tells you if it’s public, private or official - you can read more here). The roads are often long and isolated so you really don’t want to be stranded for too long at night!
Finn’s is for chilling and drinking out of coconuts!
Kuta:
Kuta is a fun place. I had good vibes there and it wasn’t too far from my hotel in Seminyak either. Here you’ll find clubs, the famous Kuta beach, and more waterparks. There are also many markets and plenty of shops and malls! This is a good place for younger people on smaller budgets and people who want a great nightlife!
Night life in Kuta with Moira, Joshua, Dom and Kate - From the beach bars to the club strip, we had a great day!
I honestly wish I knew about this place before I went but Armada flow house is a great spot to do flow riding (surfing artificial waves) and there is a place to eat and chill right next door so this could be quite a fun day or afternoon out. You can grab a drink at Apache Reggae bar and live music. Alcohol is cheap but be careful as there is a lot of fake alcohol going around so it’s safer to stick to bottled drinks! There is also an upside down world in Kuta which I’ll definitely check out whenever I find myself there again! This would be best with a group of people and you can get some amazing shots for the gram! If you’re an adrenaline junkie there is also a reverse bungee place and another water park! Honestly, This place is packed with fun things to do and some really cool clubs. I had one of my best clubbing nights in Kuta in a club that felt more like a mansion house with three floors, random rooms, and really cool aesthetics! This was called La Favela but other great clubs are local and close late. If you’re stuck with where to go don’t worry there’s plenty! Check out Eden Club and Soka nightclub which are top clubs in the area!
Note* The roads can get reallllly busy at night and there are some fake motorbike taxis that are actually locals who want to make money and so will try and get as many drops in a night to make as much as possible. BE VERY CAREFUL especially if you’re alone and female. I had a great night but didn’t realise my driver was a local. He took back roads I didn’t recognise, sped VERY quickly and I honestly wasn’t sure if he was going to take me back to my hotel at one point because of the way he was acting. Let this not be something you experience and please just get a taxi and preferably travel in a group of people. Let’s just say my 15 min journey was literally 5 minutes and at one point I really considered jumping off the bike for fear of my safety (thankfully I didn’t or that would be a different story). You can have a really great time here but safety is a MUST! Keep people updated and look at the number plate colours (check the link above but the basics are red background - government, black background - private and yellow background - public… a local told me that!).
Ubud:
Ubud is famous for its River Valleys and rice terraced landscapes. This is the green place you see everyone post and is popular with celebrities, newly-weds, couples and people who just want to relax and enjoy the blessings of natural beauty! I’m talking the cute spas and amazing villas with petal baths and all that jazz! This is the one place on my list I didn’t visit simply because it’s pretty deep in Bali and I just didn’t have the time. I recommend that you pre-book transport (especially if you're going alone). I have had a few friends who have been and it really does look amazing. This is the best place to be if you want to be at one with nature and want to get away from busy city life.
The best things to do in Ubud include walking through rice fields, enjoy a cooking class, visit the monkey forest, enjoy the water temples and Tegenungan waterfall, brave the Bali swing with a breathtaking view, book in as many spas as possible or simply enjoy the villas and take in the views.
Pandawa Beach
Of course, there are plenty more areas to see in Bali but I’ve mentioned the ones I think are worth visiting. Feel free to do your own research and explore as much as Bali as you can! There’s a place for everyone and you won’t regret it. During my time in Bali, I managed to book a driver for the day with a girl I met at my hotel and we visited many beaches, a few temples, and other scenery. I’d 100% recommend doing this as you’ll be able to travel to the further areas and learn more about the culture! During my day tour, we visited Pandawa Beach (beautiful!), Dreamland beach in Warung, Uluwatu Temple and La Plancha beach and got some nice pictures over the day (drivers often double up as great photographers!). During my stay I even managed to attend a Sunday service at Hillsong Bali which was an incredible experience. We live streamed with the services in Australia and New York which was DOPE and I am really happy I managed to go. They have a fantastic community and prayer was certainly needed after the major earthquakes the week prior.
I definitely need to go back (boo’d up or not) and check out Ubud along with the other places I didn’t get a chance to enjoy such as the Gates of Heaven at Pura Lempuyang! There are so many things to check out in Bali as well as some incredible views and sunsets! Seeing people starting to go to Bali on my gram is giving me some serious Bali blues, however, I will be back again to enjoy everything it has to offer! If you haven’t already been, I’d definitely put it on your bucket list! Indonesians are one of the friendliest people I have ever met (despite the few poor experiences I may have had) and you can really learn a lot from a country such as Indonesia! If you do go this year or have been, be sure to let me know what you think and recommend any spots I haven’t already mentioned!
Please note that Indonesia falls in the ring of fire where the tectonic plates are the most active in the world (a volcano only just erupted the other day). This means there is far more activity (around 90% of the world’s activity happens here) and it is prone to earthquakes, volcanoes and in extreme cases tsunamis. Extreme cases are very rare, however, low magnitude earthquakes are pretty common (sometimes so mild you won’t even feel them). During my stay, I experienced many earthquakes - my first being less than an hour into my arrival. This is because the activity around the ring of fire was pretty intense the week before and we were still feeling the aftermath.
Enjoy your travels
Liz x