Bali is a province of Indonesia which is located between the islands of Java and Lombok island. Bali island is also referred to as The Island Of Thousands Temples, The Island of Gods, and Bali Dwipa (meaning Glorious Bali). It also consists of several small islands called Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan Island, Nusa Ceningan island which can be reached by boat ride.
The capital of Bali is Denpasar, located in the south of the island.
Known for their beaches, wildlife, temples, rice paddies, yoga and meditation retreat, this island has it all!
VISA -US citizens are not required to have a visa to enter Indonesia if staying for tourism for 30 days or less.
LANGUAGE – The Balinese language is spoken on the island and is different from the national language of Indonesian. The next most common language spoken in Bali is Indonesian. However, English is widely spoken here as well.
CURRENCY – The Indonesian Rupiah is the currency of Indonesia. It is currently 14000 IDR = $1. The largest denomination is 100,000.
SEASON – Bali only has two seasons: the wet season ( October to April) and the dry season ( May to September).
CLOTHING – shorts, light shirts, summer dresses, sandal, ponchos, sunglass, good walking shoes
OTHER ITEMS SUGGESTIONS
Head phones noise cancellation – I found a good pair of headphones and I never board a plane or train without it.
Ear Plugs, Eye Mask
Hat, Sunscreen lotion, Poncho Seasickness and motion sickness tablets
Universal waterproof phonecase. All your toiletries including extra plastic bags for carrying dirty shoes, wet swim suits etc
ACCOMODATIONS – From budget to luxury hotels, the choice is vast. We stayed a week in Seminyak and a week in Ubud.
Picking the right area is certainly very essential. It is best to stay a week in two different areas because each town is very different from one another. My favorite town is Ubud, a peaceful, jungle paradise.
TRANSPORTATION
BlueBird taxi- when you get in a taxi, you could ask if they use a meter and/or if they could turn it on so you should never have any surprises. There is also a BlueBird app as well, which might be worth a shot.
Grab – is the most convenient booking service for private cars and taxis including food delivery and cashless payments in-app. I mainly used this app, I found it very easy and economical.
Ojek – Motorbike taxis, or ojek, are used primarily by locals. To get an ojek, simply flag one down or go to a post.
Go-Jek – Go-Jek is the motorbike equivalent of Uber and uses a ratings system for all trips and calculates prices automatically. You can pre-load the app with credit just like Uber app and eliminate the need to carry cash. There is also an option to tip the driver when paying with this method.
Kura-Kura Bus (privately owned minibus) – These modern buses are a good option for public transportation going far north. The Kura-Kura buses is slow and stops along many of the most popular tourist areas of Bali.
All buses (there are 3 different sized buses) are equipped with air conditioning.
MAIN AREAS IN BALI
South West Bali:
Kuta & Legian – Fun and Party, Beaches, Nightlife : in-expensive
Seminyak, Kerobokan, Canggu – Family Friendly, Beaches, Day and Night Clubs: medium to upper Class
Central Bali:
Ubud – Art, Yoga, traditional dance performances, good for excursions
South East Bali:
Sanur- Classy & Quiet, Family Friendly Candi Dasa – Laid Back
South Bali:
Nusa Dua – Family Friendly, Water Sports. Beach Resorts: medium Class
Jimbaran – Beach Front, 5 star Resorts, seafood
Uluwatu – Beaches, Remote, Surfing
North Bali:
Amed, Tulamben (North East) – Diving. Nature,
Lovina & Singaraja – Remote, small hotels
East of Bali:
Nusa Lembongan, Ceningan – diving, snorkeling, quiet
THINGS TO DO
There are endless things to see and do in Bali. Here are some of the ones I did.
- Snorkeling with giant Manta Rays, sea turtles, colorful fish and more in Nusa Penida. The tour normally include a ride in a gondola or kayak in a mangrove.
2) Chill in rooftop jacuzzi, drink and watch sunset on the rooftop of hotel Daun Bali Seminyak’s Sky Tryst Bar. There was no fee to use the Jacuzzi. Cocktails, beer, wine and snacks are available at the bar.
3) Visit the Tegallalang Rice Terraces. It is a terraced hillside with rice paddies, a busy spot for tourists to stop and take photos. Painters and nature lovers will enjoy visiting this area. There is also a zip line and a swing. In addition, there are many art kiosks and cafés near the ledge.
4) Take photos at the Monkey Forest in Ubud. Here you can get up close with the monkeys and baby monkeys, about 600 of them. Watch playful monkeys in their natural habitat, feeding on bananas, playing with one another, swinging through canopies and whatever they feel like doing . You will also find Balinese Hindu temples, unique statues, green rivers, beautiful moss-covered stones and stunning forested areas to explore. It’s fun taking walks along the paved pathways through the forest. Admission is approx $5
5) Bali Safari and Marine Park, one of Bali’s largest wildlife parks and home to over 80 species, all of which roam free in large enclosures that mimic their natural habitats. There is a lot of animal shows and wildlife to see. The facilities were well-maintained and the elephants seem to be well taken care of.
6) Experience Blangsinga Waterfall and Swing. About 30 mins from Ubud, lies one of my favorite picturesque waterfall and surroundings. There is a 3 tiered infinity pool, restaurant, several swings and photograph spots.
7) Upside Down World, a fun place to take photos. Entrance fee approx $7 per person. Nice concept where furnitures and props are upside down. Best to have the staff help take photos of you. The facilities is very clean and the staff are friendly.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS
Bali has 1200 spas with massage costing less than $10.
While Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim country, Bali’s predominant religion is Balinese Hinduism.
Babi guling ( suckling pig) is a must.
SOME OF MY FAVORITE EATERIES
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Water in Bali isn’t safe to drink unless it’s boiled. Don’t brush your teeth with the tap water. Ask for no ice in your drinks, just in case it’s not been made with boiled water.
A drink to be avoided in Bali is arak, which is a distilled rice spirit that can be deadly if you drink from a bad batch. I did try Arak at restaurants in the tourists area and they were fine.
Bali is safe to travel alone, even as a female traveller. However, exercise a caution when it comes to your personal safety as you would elsewhere.
Before travelling to Bali, make sure routine vaccinations are up to date and speak to a doctor about other travel vaccinations.
Have you been to Bali? what are your favorite memories? Please comment below.
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