Bali, Indonesia

Do you have a holiday destination you are crazy and defensive about?
I most certainly do, Bali!

UBUD, BALI

Bali is such a common tourist destination for Australians, particularly Western Australians. Being 3.5 hours from Perth it is like a road trip down south for a few days and in all honestly, even with the flights and accommodation Bali can even work out cheaper than a trip down south… Crazy isn’t it.

Some people love it… Pick me. Others, it really isn’t their thing for several reasons. Culture, hassling on the streets, danger stories, Bali belly stories or maybe it doesn’t have the luxury some people are looking for. I do understand where some people are coming from & everyone is entitled to an opinion but… yes there is a but. Due to my love for Bali, I seem to find myself becoming so defensive when anything negative is said about the destination. I always have a positive to swing right back at you.

I believe there is a perfect combination of everything- shopping centres, stall markets, fine dining restaurants, pubs, small cafe’s, beaches, hotel pools or the rainforest and rice field areas. The different areas in Bali offer such a diverse experience depending where you spend your time. I must admit I am a slight hermit when it comes to Bali, I tend to stick with what I know which is usually Kuta and Legian for accommodation and Seminyak I visit for a dinner or two. My last trip I had the drive to book a few nights in Ubud for a new Journey, my fiancé and I LOVED it. Who wouldn’t love waking up in a villa with the rice fields in front of you in such peace and serenity?

UBUD PADI VILLAS

Bali has so many adventures to offer… you can par take in, relaxation, snorkelling, parasailing, boat trips, elephant riding, white water rafting, motorbike tours, bicycle tours, hiking, waterfall views, water parks, amazing views and my personal favourite… indulging in cultural food. As an Australian, we also have so much we can offer them… Taking over simple everyday supplies and clothing for families or doing a food shop for an orphanage. (when taking this into consideration, make sure you do your research on orphanages and give to a respectable one where the children are their tip top priority.)

ELEPHANT SAFARI PARK

SCOOTER

RAFTING, BALI ADVENTURE TOURS

JODIE O’SHEA ORPHANAGE

ROCK BAR, AYANA RESORT (JIMBARAN BAY)

The people are amazing, just fantastic. So friendly and loving they leave you feeling like a princess or prince in other cases. Over the years I have been lucky enough to make friends with a Balinese family and go to see them each time. That is another beauty about travelling, you can make so many friends along the way that may be there for years to come…. although that is another blog all on its own.

LEGIAN/KUTA BEACH

LEGIAN/KUTA BEACH

BALI AUSSIE (NOW CLOSED)

The horror stories, yes some are true and yes I will of course find a way to spin it positively. oooops.

Yes, you can get Bali belly- My tip would be to drink a glass of red cordial every morning, always use bottled water even to brush your teeth and not to eat off the streets to avoid a sensitive stomach. I have been 15 times and only have had a hint of Bali belly once by eating a certain food off the street  I wouldn’t normally. Danger in the streets, maybe if you are walking along by yourself of a night time stay out of small ally ways with no people in sight, you wouldn’t do in your home town so why would you do it in a foreign country. Although for me, I personally feel safe in Bali… just wouldn’t do the obvious mistakes.

Maybe it is all the memories I have in Bali that now attach me to the destination like a second home and make me so defensive to highlight the positives? I am not complaining, I feel so privileged to live so close to such a wonderful place that I get to visit frequently….. There are hundreds of negatives people voice and hundreds of positives if you ask a Bali lover… Pick me,  although I think some things are best left to the explorer.

I have many ideas if you want to know some beautiful places to see and things to do in Bali. Just ask, I am more than happy to share.

If you haven’t already, give Bali, Indonesia a shot. Create your own opinion, I hope you have an amazing time and return back here to tell me all about it! 🙂

-B x