We thank our reader Agi for this article 🙂 Bali is a small Hindu island in predominantly Muslim Indonesia. It is located on the eighth parallel south of the equator, so the sun rises and sets at the same time here and spends only 12 hours in the sky. All year round. Thanks to the Indian Ocean, it is a surfer’s paradise not only for Australians. It is the right choice for those seeking a paradise on earth.
Detailed Google map with attractions
Content
1. Travel tips
2. Let’s go
3. Tips after landing in Bali
4. Transportation
5. Something to eat
6. Fairytale nature and landmarks
7. Beaches
8. Interior
1. Travel Tips
- Flight tickets: I bought them 2 months before the trip
- Tourist visas for 30 days: have been free of charge for Slovak citizens since 2015
- Vaccination: not mandatory, consider typhoid fever (approx. 50 EUR), but that depends on your diet preference, and hepatitis (3 doses approx. 150 EUR) is usually done by most travelers. I didn’t get vaccinated for anything. Dengue fever is a risk, as warned by the Tropical Diseases Clinic (consultation 10 EUR), however, there is no vaccine, only a lot of repellent helps. You can buy it locally, it will be more effective than the one brought from home (for buying medicines and cosmetics, especially sunscreens, I used the Guardian store network in Bali).
- International driver’s license: (6.50 EUR) can be obtained instantly wherever documents are issued. You need a printed photo to exact dimensions and your Slovak driver’s license, more info http://www.minv.sk/?vodicske-preukazy. There are two types of international licenses, according to the Geneva and Vienna Convention. Even the lady officials didn’t know which one is valid in Bali, they told me to choose. I opted for the Geneva Convention, valid for one year, but no one cared during the entire stay. The only policeman who stopped us at a crowded intersection just wanted to take a picture with us ☺
- Travel light, bring t-shirts, shorts, flip-flops, swimwear… Everything else can be very conveniently obtained in Bali.
2. Off We Go
It’s March 14, 2016, in Slovakia we have around 10°C, so I’m heading to the airport in Budapest with 3 layers of clothes. For my trip, I chose Qatar Airways because they offer a direct flight to Bali with only one layover at their hub in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The economy class ticket with all the essentials like insurance and an incomprehensible card payment fee at Pelikán cost me 670 EUR. In the end, I didn’t regret my choice of airline. Onboard awaits me top-notch service, a choice of 2-3 excellent meals, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, all included in the ticket price. During night flights (one there, one back), a night kit is provided, including a toothbrush and paste, earplugs, an eye mask, all in a practical pouch that I used in Bali as a backup wallet and document holder.
TIP: Qatar Airways offers free seat selection immediately after purchasing the ticket on their website
The journey from Budapest to Doha takes five hours, and from Doha to Denpasar another 9 hours. All flights were on time, like Swiss watches. On the first leg, I have a 7-hour layover at Hamad International Airport. A place where you won’t get bored if you’re a fan of shopping of all kinds. If, on the other hand, shopping doesn’t appeal to you, the airport provides free access to Apple computers to stay connected with the world. Wi-fi also works flawlessly on your personal device, just register. In case your phone, tablet, or laptop runs out of power, you’ll find sockets directly at the airport seats to pass the time before your flight. Food at the airport is slightly more expensive, you are in the country with the world’s strongest economy. For a dinner consisting of average spaghetti and a bottle of water, I pay around 15 euros. Drinking water is also available for free at the airport in fountains near the toilets. After seven hours, when I already know the entire airport by heart, we fly towards Denpasar, and in 9 hours, I’m at my destination.
After a somewhat restless sleep on the plane and watching about 4 feature films, I see the island of Bali from the airplane window. It is surprisingly green and forested. We land at the international airport in Denpasar. The 10 degrees I left Bratislava with turn into 30°C. With almost 100% humidity, it’s quite bearable. In the arrival hall, my friend Michel awaits me; she has been living, studying, and working there for 7 months (more about her experiences at http://theonewhowanders.com/)
3. Tips after landing in Bali
- During the winter time at home, you need to adjust your watch ahead by 7 hours, during the summer time only by 6.
- At the end of the long queue in the arrival hall, you will receive your free 30-day tourist visa stamped in your passport.
- At the time of my visit, 1 Euro was approximately 15,000 IDR (Indonesian rupiah).
- Withdraw rupiahs from ATMs or pay by card, as money exchange offices offer disadvantageous rates and with the amount of money you receive, it’s hard to quickly calculate whether you were given the correct amount. The ATM gave me a maximum of 1,200,000 IDR, yes, that’s one million two hundred thousand. So, I am finally a millionaire. ☺
- If you have no other option to get to your accommodation, use a taxi; they will offer you their service directly in the airport hall or in front of it. Always negotiate the price; you can get it down to a third or even a quarter of the original quoted price!
- DO NOT DRINK tap water. Nobody drinks it, not even the locals. You can buy gallons of water at every corner, which they use for their households and also in restaurants where they make ice from it, so in this case, no stress.
- With roaming, it was a bit hit-and-miss, but most of the time I was able to connect.
- Negotiating in Bali is a must, except in places where prices are fixed and clearly displayed. From my experience, the price they initially told me was often four times higher than what I ended up paying for the item. In case of unsuccessful negotiation, it worked for me to turn around and pretend I was leaving; magically, a deal could then be reached. However, always approach this with a smile, just like the locals. If they tell you they will sell you the item you bargained for, it’s impolite to refuse. Therefore, think in advance about how much you are willing to pay and if you even want the item.
4. Transportation
Transportation in Bali is quite chaotic, but paradoxically it works. A liter of gasoline costs around 0.50 EUR, which is why scooters are used everywhere; Michel even takes me on his scooter after arrival. It is quite fun with a 10-kilogram backpack on my back. We are heading to his home in the town of Dalung, the journey takes about 45 minutes.
I dared to ride a scooter on my own only after a few days (Renting a scooter for a day costs around 50,000 IDR, the price is even more advantageous for rentals of 10 days or more). Fortunately, there are several options available for even a timid tourist to safely reach their destination. The first one I tried was Go-jek, which is a local version of the Hopin taxi app in our country. The fundamental difference is that Go-jek operates on scooters, of course. I paid 15,000 IDR for a ride that took about 20 minutes, quite decent. You need not fear this mode of transportation; you can track the journey via GPS and see the price when ordering. I recommend it for short distances if you are not confident in driving a scooter. I believe the app can function only if you purchase a SIM card from a local telecom provider because the driver will call you before the trip, and I don’t think he would dial international numbers.
If you are planning a full-day trip to various places, it is more appropriate to rent a car. The driver will take care of you all day for about 500,000 IDR. A common sight, especially in tourist spots, were large billboards prohibiting go-jek, Uber, and drop taxis. As I learned, it was some kind of “mafia war” against these advantageous modes of transport. In such a case, just agree for your pick-up to be slightly off the center of action.
5. Something to eat
Fifteen to twenty minutes by scooter from our accommodation was the village of Canggu, where we spent quite a bit of time. Almost every day, I went here for excellent breakfasts at Monsieur Spoon or Betelnut Cafe. The complete breakfast menu, consisting of eggs prepared in various ways or granola with yogurt, coffee, and a small salad, costs 60,000-80,000 IDR. Don’t forget to order a fresh juice, which is truly fresh. The flavors of the locally grown fruits are simply indescribable, and one costs around 25,000 IDR. These are tourist prices at tourist restaurants. However, we often dined at traditional warungs, where prices were fractions of these. In our village of Dalung, it was mainly Warung Adin. It is run by two Muslim spouses, very kind people; he is the chef, and she helps him with everything. The prices here are tailored to locals and their income; I pay 25,000 IDR for a full bowl of rice with grilled shrimp. Rice is ubiquitous on Bali. The most popular way of preparation is nasi goreng, fried rice. I, however, fell in love with nasi campur, which is again fried rice but combined with everything possible and impossible. It includes grilled shrimp, satay (chicken skewers), some vegetables, hard-boiled egg, etc.
Do not hesitate to eat at warungs if you see locals dining there and food is rotating; nothing will happen to you. Before the trip, I didn’t take any vaccinations and was a bit wary of the eggs that were stored openly. However, as long as the eggs are fresh, they don’t spoil even if you don’t refrigerate them on the first day. These people want to give you their best, so choose your warung carefully but don’t be afraid to try new flavors. As part of a culinary window, we had the opportunity to visit a homemade tofu factory in the town of Tabanan, where they prepared it from scratch in front of our eyes in just a few minutes, and it was excellent. And I am not even a fan of this dish.
6. Fairytale Nature and Landmarks
The main reason why I came to Bali is the fairytale nature and landmarks. There is never a shortage of traditional rice fields. You just have to keep your eyes open. Landmarks are scattered all over the island, so you have to travel a bit to reach them. On the map, they are marked with a swastika, a hooked cross, a religious symbol that means happiness, in Hinduism it is exclusively a positive symbol, but it is also used by other philosophical-religious traditions of Indian origin. You will often come across it in Bali. Unfortunately, the Nazis gave a bad reputation to this symbol by using it exclusively in a right-facing form.
The first place I visit is Tanah Lot. I use the Go-jek service for transportation, the journey from Canggu takes about 30 minutes, so I pay 25,000 IDR. It takes me right in front of the main gate to the temple complex, where I pay another 30,000 IDR for entry. From there, it’s about a 20-minute walk to the main temple on the sea shore. The main temple stands on a rock literally in the sea, and only locals have direct access to it for prayers or ceremonies. When visiting such locations, it is advisable to have your legs and shoulders covered. In some cases, they will lend you a sarong, a long cloth for your legs, at the entrance. You should reserve at least two hours for a visit to Tanah Lot, the complex is really big and there is a lot to see. Around Tanah Lot, there are plenty of souvenir shops where you can buy gifts to take home without much bargaining, as their prices are fixed and quite reasonable.
Plan a full-day trip to visit Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, which I would describe as a “must-see” in Bali. Again, the entrance fee is 30,000 IDR. Although there are temples in every village, at least three, each main deity Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva has one, some are simply more breathtaking. Ulun Danu Bratan is one of those exceptional ones. It is located right on a lake, which makes it even more majestic. Moreover, it is situated in the mountains, so the temperature here is nowhere near a pleasant 30°C as in the south. You can endure it in a short-sleeved shirt without any problems, but you should bring a raincoat if you are travelling by scooter like us. There is a large parking lot in front of the complex, where the guards only needed a glance at two Western women and parking was free. Across the road from the parking lot, we had a tasty lunch at a Muslim warung to fuel up for the journey back, which lasts about an hour and a half. Long scooter rides are a true “experience”.
To conclude the chapter of temples, we move on to the last, but my favorite Pura Uluwatu. Located on the south of the island, we combined our visit with exploring local beaches and stayed at a nearby hotel. Uluwatu Temple is a popular spot for watching the sunset. And rightfully so. The view of the main temple perched on the edge of a high cliff with nothing but the vast ocean and the setting sun behind it. I believe it’s something that can’t be described, it must be experienced. It’s a beautiful place where I understood why the local people are so deeply religious, why they believe in good gods and fear demons. Pura Uluwatu has an amazing power.
7. Beaches
Uluwatu offers several beaches, and we chose Padang Padang Beach as our choice.Blue Point Beach. The first one mentioned was the only one where we had to pay an entrance fee, even though it was only about 10,000 IDR and 2,000 IDR for scooter parking. Both beaches are accessed through caves, which is a very unique but pleasant experience. They are not long beaches, they only have a few meters, but it is not crowded there. Due to the waves, swimming options are limited again. On the way to the beach, we discovered Warung Heboh. It works in a way that you have tons of various freshly cooked food in front of you, you pick what you like, the lady looks at it and tells you the price. Don’t be afraid to pile up according to your taste, the prices are very pleasant.
Above Blue Point Beach, there are plenty of tourist cafés and restaurants right on the cliff, sitting in them completes the true holiday atmosphere in paradise. We ended up at the Single Fin club at night. The venue is built in a way that you are literally on the edge of the cliff, below and in front of you is nothing but the ocean and you sip your drink on the terrace. Unforgettable.
TIP: Since the trip to Uluwatu was more demanding, we used accommodation we found through booking.com. The Hill Ungasan is a very nice clean hotel with a pool. The downside may be that it does not offer food, but you can find it anywhere on the street or in 24-hour supermarkets like Cocomark. The price per night for two people was also acceptable at 180,000 IDR.
Other beaches Batu Bolong Beacha Echo Beach, which I visited in our almost hometown of Canggu, were much larger and also offered the option to rent a sunbed with a parasol for 25-30,000 IDR and stalls with refreshments, where you could secure a refreshing fresh coconut for 15,000 IDR, which they of course brought directly to your sunbed. In the evening, you can enjoy a party at Old Man’s by Batu Bolong beach. During the day, the restaurant turns into a great party venue twice a week. Additionally, every day from 5 PM there is a happy hour, where every second drink is free. Although Bali is a cheap country for us Europeans, alcohol is the most expensive item here. Locals don’t drink it, so it’s just for fun for foreigners. For example, a 0.33l Bintang beer costs 25,000 IDR, a mixed drink from 60,000 IDR and up. On the other hand, locals can compensate for the absence of alcohol with cheap cigarettes. A pack of 20 Marlboros costs around 16,000 IDR, but ends up being around 25,000 IDR, as no one takes the pole into account.
We found a bit more luxurious version of the beach in Seminyak. It is the beach at the Potato Head Beach Club resort. Before they even let us into the facility, we and our scooter have to go through a security check due to terrorist attacks that have occurred on the island, which is not uncommon, especially in such busy tourist areas. It doesn’t bother me, at least I feel safe. This beach club is slightly more expensive than the usual Bali, but the entrance is free. You can swim in the pool with a view of the sea, have a drink at the poolside bar, or just relax. The club offers large beds with a parasol for rent right by the pool at a consumable price of 500,000 IDR/bed. In Seminyak, we also visited the local market. My catch – beach dress for 100,000 IDR, yes, the lady originally wanted 280,000 IDR.
8. Inland
A great attraction for both kids and adults isMonkey Forest in the town of Ubud. Entrance fee 40,000 IDR. It’s literally a forest with tall trees, lianas, and of course, little monkeys. Some are small, some are big. They were not as bold as I feared. They only react when you have something in your hand that they could eat; otherwise, they take care of themselves and are happy to strike a pose for you. Buy bananas for the monkeys somewhere along the way; you can also buy them directly at Monkey Forest, but the price is adjusted for tourists.
Ubud is not only home to this attraction, but also a haven for artists and a destination for travelers who enjoy yoga and meditation (also thanks to the book Eat, Pray, Love). We tried the Zen spa, where we were pampered for two hours. The services for 200,000 IDR included an amazing full-body massage, scrub, and a flower petal bath. As a gesture of hospitality, they also served fresh fruit and tea. Massages are a highly offered and utilized service on Bali. I must say, rightfully so. The local masseuses are incredibly skilled; after each massage, I felt rejuvenated. The cheapest massage we experienced was at Carla spa for 65,000 IDR, but local masseuses will offer their services even directly on the beach at your sunbed, and beware, bargaining is necessary here. If you want to experience true relaxation, definitely take advantage of their services, whether you choose a salon or the beach is up to you.
The aforementioned Carla spa is located in the city of Kuta, just steps away from Ground Zero, a memorial to the victims of the terrorist attacks that occurred at this location in the Sky Garden club. We were thoroughly checked at the entrance as well. However, our goal here was the unlimited 4-hour all-you-can-drink and eat for 100,000 IDR, starting every day at five in the afternoon. The food offering is themed every day, and they do not skimp on alcohol either. After nine o’clock, when this feast ends, a great party at a world-class level begins. Nightlife enthusiasts will enjoy it here; world-famous DJs perform, and the complex itself has several floors with different music. As you can see, Kuta has nothing in common with traditional Bali; besides what was mentioned, you’ll find branches of all the fast-food chains you can think of, making it look like a typical metropolis.
Travelers looking to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the city should focus more on the island’s natural beauty, which is abundant. Sometimes we even had to pull over by the roadside to capture all that beauty. However, the terraced rice fields Tegalalang Rice Terrace near Ubud must not be overlooked. Again, it is an indescribable beauty. The green here has all possible shades, and it’s impossible to stop looking at it. Entry is neither limited nor charged. If you want to enjoy this beauty with a coffee or a drink while having a direct view, there are several cafes and seating areas on the edge.
Another natural wonder is the Tegenungan Waterfall. There are several waterfalls on the island; due to time constraints, we only visited this one. The water is cooler, but it’s refreshing. The path to the waterfall involves several dozen steep steps, so it may be more challenging for lazy travelers. The staircase leads you down to the waterfall, but you can also reach it from above on a side climb. I managed this climb even in flip-flops, as I was not prepared for it, but I thought through each step.
After just a few days, I felt at home in Bali; I dared to ride a scooter, got lost once, but GPS got me back on track. The locals make you feel appreciated and want to help you, although there is often the prospect of making a quick buck. It’s not surprising; they live in poverty that we find hard to imagine, and a white tourist is simply a walking wallet. Despite that, as I mentioned, a visit to Bali won’t break the bank of a Slovak or Western tourist. Before heading home, I also used the services of a local laundry, where they beautifully washed, ironed, and scented my luggage for only 15,000 IDR, so I had one less thing to worry about at home. The worst part of the whole trip, as always, was that it ended. My hunger for traveling only grew.
