We are all Dying, so let’s talk about Bali

I have debated a lot whether or not I should write this article. In the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic and the ever-increasing lock-downs and flight cancellations, it feels a little tone-deaf to write about tropical voyages and sipping coconut water under the sun. It is like going to a funeral and gloating about how great your house redecoration turned out. But on the other-hand, forcing ourselves to be miserable all the time just because the whole situation is and not allowing escapism can lead to psychological exhaustion and burnout. Plus this whole thing will pass and after an economic crash and a probable aviation industry collapse we will be able to travel again, maybe not in the same way we were used to, but still the beaches of Bali will be there to be walked with the flip flops of tourists throwing sand all over the place. So we still need escapism, we still need a glimpse of what life was and what it might be again. The point of this long intro is to say that I am going to talk about my trip to Bali, even if it is not 100% appropriate.

So, let’s get some things clear, if you are going to Bali in search of an isolated tropical paradise, where it will be just you, your babe and the coconut trees, then don’t go. Yes Bali is tropical, yes it is paradise-like, short of, but it is definitely not isolated. Bali is the most popular tourist destination of Indonesia. It is so popular that most people think it is a country rather than an island of a country. Flights there are relatively cheap, especially if you are coming from a neighboring country like Australia and the ever increasing photos of Instagram influences at the swings in Ubud make it a very desirable destination. That is why it is overcrowded with tourists. When you go there, prepare to be sharing the beaches, restaurants etc with many, many other tourists and to be stack in traffic (if you are using a car) for hours. The invasion of foreigners, especially westerners is very evident as you will see more white people there, than Indonesians. All of that, however did not bother me, cause I knew what I signed up for, I knew that I was one among many and it would be ridiculous to complain that there are too many tourists when you are one of them. But I can see the disappointed articles of people going there to get away from the hassle of the city, just find the same but in an island. So now you know.

Bali is indeed beautiful, so it is definitely worth a visit. The Sacred Monkey Forest of Ubud was by far the best place I went to. Walking among the monkeys and seeing them stealing fruits from tourists and unpeeling bananas like humans was a unique experience. The ticket for entering was not very expensive either. The only problem is that Ubud is far from the shores, so it will take some time to reach if you are not staying there. In Ubud you can also see some of the Rice Terraces of Bali. There are many Rice Fields around Bali, so there is no point in suggesting one specific, but you should definitely visit one of your choice. There, you can live your insta dreams of taking a picture in the swings of Bali,too. The beaches are also great for surfing. I had never seen such big waves before,except in movies and they were even more breathtaking in reality. The areas of Kuta and Canggu are pretty great as well. Kuta is a very cosmopolitan place, full of tattoo shops, food and a big beach among others. Canggu is a more relaxed, hipstery area, great for surfers, vegan food and nightlife. Tanah Lot is also a great temple to visit, on a a rock, with breathtaking scenery. The sea might or might allow you to get close as it raises blocking the path on occasion. Although if you are not Hindu (or for any other religion reason) you can not go up the temple, or in most temples in Bali for that matter.

The most important aspect of any travel though is one: food! It was the best thing ever! Yes I can not be very eloquent when it comes to that, because feelings cannot be described adequately in words. Bali is a great place for international food traveling. Unfortunately Indonesian food is not very present in Bali, but as someone living in a small Indonesian city where you can only have that and on occasion American burgers or pizza, having the choice of mexican, vegan, greek is a dream come true. Enjoying fresh fruits in smoothie bowls and mexican tacos was a treat for my taste buds, a very welcomed one. But the best of the best was of course the greek food. The meeting of a greek with the feta cheese after a long time of separation is one meant for love stories. The creamy mousaka, the garlicky skordalia and the many desserts were the reason why Bali was a paradise for me. And all that on Christma’s Eve, what a gift it was.

Bali however, is not a representation of Indonesia. Due to its touristy nature, food is more expensive that the rest of the country, especially in restaurants. Accommodation is cheap however and transportation is the same as everywhere. It is also predominantly Hindu, not Musli like the majority of the country, so the scenery is indeed different. Bali has a more Europe in the tropics vibe rather than an Indonesian one, just because it is so touristy and cosmopolitan. So, if you want to explore Indonesia and not just have a tropical adventure for your Instagram page, you have to leave that island and go around. Whether you will like the rest or not however depends on you.

Finally, two things I did not really like about Bali. First the online transportation has a big adversary in the offline one. What else is new? That is true almost everywhere. But in Bali there are places that you cannot actually order online transport. If you manage to do, you will have to be smuggled in the vehicle as quickly as possible and if you are on a bike, any obvious logos are a death sentence (so no helmets). I was literally stopped while on a bike and forced to get down and leave my ride by an offline driver, who later had the audacity to ask me if I wanted a ride with him. Thank you, I would rather walk. So finding a vehicle without being harassed by the street riders, yelling «Bike, bike» at you, like they were the seagulls in Finding Nemo, is difficult. The other thing I was not impressed by were the beaches. I did not visit many and the ones I visited were the most popular ones, so maybe my experience was not a great representation of what Bali had to offer, but the ones I went to were underwhelming at best. The color of the water was a blurry blue, in the beach it was mostly sand and a lot of open space and the cleanliness of the sea can be disputed. Generally not the characteristics of a tropical marvel, but more of a «It’s 30 degrees outside so I just want to get into a body of water quick».

Generally Bali is a place I liked much more than any other in Indonesia. I could find a multicultural atmosphere without redundant conservatism and delicious and healthy food I liked. It is not a representation of the country, however, but maybe that is why I liked it so much. Definitely worth visiting, even if you don’t get amazing beaches or tropical jungles all to yourself.