5 Reasons to Avoid Traveling to the Island of Bali

Spoiler Alert: I ADORE BALI. Not everyone agrees with me, however.

Travel recommendations

Travelers today have unparalleled access to blogs, videos, books, websites, social media, and newspaper travel sections to glean recommendations for contemplated destinations.

The vast, contradictory information can be overwhelming and confusing. Often, it isn't even particularly constructive.

Tony the Traveler loved Cambodia. Justine On The Road would never return. Paris is best in the spring. Fall is the preferred time to see Paris.

Incredible India! is just that…incredible. The noise, pollution, and poverty were awful. I hated the place.

The Italian food in Ireland was better than in Italy. This review may provide insight regarding the tourist. You can draw your own conclusion.

In researching and reading a plethora of travel materials over many years, I've reached one overriding conclusion. Each traveler has unique needs and interests.

Uniqueness of travelers

✓A tourist is a unique creature from a traveler

✓A lover of gargantuan cruise lines and solo adventurers won't enjoy the same trips

✓Introverts and extroverts have different requirements and needs

✓A thirty-year-old-live-to-party kid's interests differ from the nerdier types entranced by history, museums, or art

Follow your own advice

Individual perspectives are why accepting the advice of others with a healthy grain of salt is prudent. Or, at the very least, it is wise to factor in one's critical considerations, as the unique creature each of us is.

When I was a youngster, it was an entirely different ballgame. By my fifties and sixties, though, I learned - the hard way a few times - not to ever again follow travel advice from twenty-something-year-old backpackers.

Hostels are great for the youth but less thrilling for me. I admit to never having stayed at one. I cherish quiet, require eight hours of slumber, and have no need to bond with youngsters. Sleeping on a concrete floor in the free housing tourist building doesn't work either. My aging back needs some padding…as in a real bed.

Personal preferences

I remain intrigued by the road less traveled. Or at least exploring a variety of detours.

Discovering off-the-beaten path hovels where locals chow down. Eating tantalizing street food. Taking trains and buses whenever possible. Riding on motorbikes and in rickshaws. Avoiding overly-hyped spots.

Hence, I've curated my own checklist to sate and stimulate my travel fix.

Research of many travelers consists of a couple of blogs or YouTube videos, or a New York Times travel editor rave, or a travel company Internet site. Then, they carp about how crowded their visited locations were.

What to expect

For more than two decades, Bali, referred to as the "Island of the Gods," has become an exceedingly popular tourist destination. With that relatively recent international discovery and expanded economic development come positives and negatives.

I happen to love Bali, both when I was a visitor four years ago and now living on the island for more than a year.

Observations

These are my personal observations. If they neither intrigue nor appeal, by all means, people ought to spend travel budgets elsewhere.

1. Idyllic weather

Due to its proximity to the equator, temperatures vary little on Bali. I rarely bother to check them, but when I do, they are in the 80s°F all year round. After spending nearly two years on the island, I easily could have foregone even a long-sleeved shirt or pants or lightweight jacket for the entire time.

Many prefer vacations in torrential rain, parka-required chill, freezing snow, and slippery ice, sheets of driving sleet, or bone-chilling winds.

Those folks will detest Bali's boringly consistent tropical, breezy, sunny days, with only rainy and dry seasons. Even the rainy season is relatively mild, seldom impacting regular activities or sightseeing.

2. Unparalleled level of service

Many cultures, especially Asian ones, have deserved reputations for superlative treatment of visitors to their countries.

For example, in India, if knocking on someone's door to borrow a cup of sugar (okay, probably no one does that, but I have to obtain a rickshaw driver's number or inquire about something else of a kind neighbor), you always will be invited inside for chai.

Hindus consider all visitors as God and always welcome guests as such.

The Balinese exceed any other locations I have visited vis a vis' providing stellar service.

As an example, being greeted by "om swastiastu" with hands chest level in a prayer position (like "namaste" in India) is commonplace in restaurants, pharmacies, shops, and even grocery stores. One feels like an honored guest, not merely a patron or customer.

In a restaurant, no server places a plate or removes an item from the table without asking permission. Wait staff also always refrain from interrupting your conversation during a meal.

In spas, feet are often washed before your massage or treatment. Similarly, smiles and courtesies are genuine. The service in spas is extraordinary.

Hence, if one prefers rude treatment from restaurant personnel or service providers that occurs in certain countries (I'll not mention any) or interruptions by servers attempting to upsell additional drinks, today's special, or desserts, skip Bali.

3. Loving, thoughtful, gentle people

Related to the issue of service, but not exclusively, I have found the Balinese to be extremely kind, thoughtful, and mild-mannered.

I have met one - yes, only one in nearly two years - native Balinese who was loud, coarse, cursed a lot, and shouted. Normal-speaking voices are so soft that often my aging ears have difficulty deciphering them.

That kindness and gentleness permeate society. The Balinese walk their talk of faith, connection to tradition and ancestors, and devotion to family.

When informing my delightful landlady of my plan to die here, she replied, "Then, you should come live at my house." She meant it.

My adopted "son" became a friend during my first trip when he managed the property where I stayed. Inviting me to meet his nuclear family - parents, wife, children, and brother, they have become 'family.'

If people prefer not interacting with residents who fail to treat your visit as an intrusion or annoyance, cross Bali off your list.

4. A culture that doesn't revolve around money

Balinese Hindus take their religion seriously. It's not merely part of life, but life itself.

Important ceremonies exist for various stages, commencing with birth and commemorating other meaningful events, including elaborate ones revolving around death.

If there's a ceremony in their home village, they attend. If that means losing pay at their job, having no customers for a day or three, or closing the mom-and-pop warung or shop, so be it.

The first time my regular driver declined an opportunity for a day's pay because of a village cremation, I realized how significant these are. Initially, for my Western-trained brain, it was shocking. I've since learned to respect and appreciate this priority of customs over cash.

Work is secondary to their committed lifestyle. This is often a complaint among non-Balinese business owners - too many ceremonies when people leave their jobs to attend. As a result, many foreign or non-Hindu Indonesian owners prefer not to hire locals.

Indeed, having adequate money to survive and feed their families is essential, but it's not the driving momentum for society. Their connection to faith, ancestors, and customs provides a more contented existence. The Balinese are generally a happy people.

Another fascinating occurrence - which occurs repeatedly - is when giving a gratuity. Tipping is optional on the island, although larger or established businesses catering to tourists now add automatic service fees.

When I tip a food delivery person or staff member who renders service outside his standard job responsibilities, the response is frequently of glee or complete surprise. They so appreciate any gratuity, regardless of how token.

Therefore, for anyone who prefers locales where tips are expected or is unmoved by the endearing gratitude of kind citizens, Bali isn't for you.

5. Amazing temples

Many visitors fail to schedule time to revel in Bali's magical temples and jaw-dropping scenery.

The temples, unique Balinese architecture, and exploration of cultural practices often take a backseat to the beach and party scene, a common reason for traveling here.

My thought is, 'You can get blotted anywhere. Beaches abound in countless countries.' Bali's spectacular offerings of natural beauty, scenery, and traditions are unrivaled.

Coming upon an elaborate cremation procession, a temple event attended by many hundreds in gorgeous native garb, with magnificent offerings piled high atop women's heads, or a cremation in progress are common occurrences.

However, if you are uninterested in breathtaking vistas, spectacular architecture, and stunning temples, other places may better suit your tastes.

This is only one solitary opinion and to my point about myriad differences why people travel.

Summary

Bali certainly is not a utopia. The usual, unfortunate constellation of challenging and disturbing issues abound in all locations sought out by millions.

Bumper-to-bumper exhaustive traffic in highly touristed areas. Overpriced cocktails in the hip and happening Canggu beach clubs. Scammers in money exchanges. Over-reaching landlords. Ubud overrun with day tourists. Crowing roosters at ungodly hours. Ever-present construction. Gripping poverty. Children begging on street corners. Disrespectful, clueless tourists.

Nevertheless, none of those annoyances - many of which can be minimized with cautious planning - supersede the mesmerizing treasures giving the Island of Gods its well-deserved moniker.

Your time is valuable. Thanks for spending some of it here. Victoria

© Victoria Kjos. All Rights Reserved. 2024.