Bali is Easy

That is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Bali. For me, Bali is easy to love and easy to live. However, on the contrary, Bali is a poor island, and the locals live the opposite of our taken-for-granted comforts. Through it all, the Indonesian people have adapted to Westernized tourism while keeping their traditions and faith. This is the first country I have repeated, yet it is literally on the other side of the world from my home. I came here searching for comfort. After 4 months of new experiences in Europe, I wanted something familiar. So I sought the humidity, locals, and Bintang Beer of Indonesia.

I turned 34 in Bali. My first birthday was solo. So, I indulged. I took a weekend trip to Ubud to stay at a luxury villa that included a private pool overlooking a rice paddy. Because that’s what everything does at 34 right? I stayed at the Ubud Rice Padi Villas. This peaceful resort had dinner with live music on Friday, a masseuse in-house, room service, and a free shuttle to Ubud Center.

A Summary of All the DOs of Bali

Explore the island: This wonderful place has beaches for surfing, temples, rice plantations, and waterfalls. There is so much to see. (I recommend Ubud for plantations, Canngu for surfing, and Monduck for waterfalls.)

Tip the locals: The average salary is 300/month so because it is so affordable for us, make sure you show them gratitude for letting us vacation in their home

Try the local cuisine: Rice, spices, chicken, eggs, and fruit are the mainstays here. The dishes are great and, again, so affordable. The lushness of the vegetation almost seems unreal. Every fruit grows here (except for apples), so heading to the local markets is a must.

Respect the traditions: Don’t walk into a temple with your knees and shoulders showing; don’t step on the daily offerings; and say thank you to all the kind people of Indonesia.

The Definite donts

Rent a scooter: if you don’t know how to drive! The traffic situation is chaotic. Don’t add to the chaos. Instead, download the local app Grab to get around (1-way rides cost between $70 and $1.00) or hire a private driver for the long hauls (Wayan is my go-to-Click to book your safe bali taxi!. He will also take pictures of you if you are alone at the tourist attractions.

Use shady ATMs: When getting cash, use a bank’s ATM, you can get scammed.

Drink the tap water: Once the filtered water situation is figured out, hopefully, it could cut down on 80% of the plastic problem here. Bali Belly is a thing, and yes, I’ve had it. Or, you can just stick to fresh coconuts!

Piss off the monkeys in Ubud: Hide your bottles and anything they will grab. They will jump on you and bite you. For tourists, rabies shots aren’t cheap. I would avoid the sanctuary and head north, where monkeys are hanging out near the roads in the mountains.

Any other tips I missed? Leave a comment below!