Us Aussies love Bali. To many, it’s like a second home. It’s rare for an Aussie to go to Bali just once, we keep coming back for more. Well, for me, I was late to the party. Having previously travelled to many other Southeast Asian countries and not Bali, Indonesia; I almost felt as if I was missing out.
After my first visit, I could see why so many people frequently return, or choose to even live in Bali—which is a popular option among digital nomads. But Bali isn’t all sunsets, cheap beer and aesthetic acai bowls. While every loves to rave on about how good Bali is; these are the things people usually won’t tell you about.
Drunk Aussies
I am Aussie myself and find it disrespectful how many Aussies act in Bali. We rightfully have a bad reputation—not only among the locals, but also other tourists trying to enjoy themselves.
During the annual Schoolies celebrations, acts of dumb and dangerous shit reach all-time highs. Schoolies is an opportunity for thousands of 18-year old’s to celebrate finishing high school before they enter the ‘real world,’ and so they should. However, the combination of thousands of 18-year old teenagers with the single goal of partying, cheap and readily available alcohol, locals trying to sell drugs and take advantage of drunk people, and a country far less developed—this . . . is a dangerous combination.
Now, I’m not trying to the fun police here. But there is a difference between having some drinks and getting a buzz and being sloppy drunk to the point where bad shit happens—the latter being the more popular option. I was reminded of this when I was waiting out the front of my hotel for a tour bus to pick me up. While waiting, I see some guy (aged about 18) just drop all his bottles of alcohol which smash on the floor and he basically falls to the ground right in front of my hotel. This type of thing is a common occurrence.
Thankfully, this type of behavior mainly only happens in Kuta and Legian. Nonetheless, it is a problem and is why I recommend staying away from these areas and instead stay in Seminyak or Canggu.
Scammers & People Trying to Sell You Shit
No, I don’t need a f*cking taxi, or boom boom, or weed, or a massage . . . I do however appreciate being called ‘boss’ and ‘handsome man’. While I appreciate the hustle, these sales tactics are not the most effective. As Gary Vaynerchuk would say, provide value first, don’t just go in for the right hook and yell at me to buy your fake Nikes.
For new travellers this type of thing can be very intimidating. For more experienced travellers it’s just an annoyance that is a part of travel in Southeast Asia.
I’ve been scammed my fair share of times throughout Southeast Asia and have since learned my lessons. I find it such a weight of my shoulders when for example, I go from Bali to Singapore and I no longer have to worry about being scammed or people trying to sell me shit. Constantly staying on your guard and worrying if you’re getting ripped off or scammed does get tiring, trust me.
Overtourism
While we can complain about how Bali suffers from overtourism, unless you don’t go to Bali or visit a remote area of the island, you really can’t complain about it. Yes, it sucks that Nusa Penida is no longer the ‘hidden gem’ it once was. And it’s going to take some patients to get that perfect shot for the gram. But there is a reason these locations are so popular; it doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. I wonder why no one goes to Syria for a holiday? Or Jim’s Donkey Ranch in Tennessee? Ok, I’m going on a bit of tangent here . . . .
It is what it is. Unless the government limits the number of tourists allowed at specific attractions, there will likely always be herds of tourists. So yes, everyone loves Bali, but you can be a part of the change by not going to Bali—which is unlikely.
Rubbish Everywhere
When you look at Instagram pictures of Bali what do you see? Probably white sand beaches, clear turquoise water, secluded islands, lush forests etc. Well, this is what they show you on Instagram, which isn’t the same as reality. What you won’t see in pictures and vlogs are the piles of rubbish dumped on beaches. Or the plastic bottles scattered across the roads.
This is very sad to see, as Bali is such a beautiful island. Unfortunately, in these less wealthy Southeast Asian countries this is the reality. The mass tourism in Bali also doesn’t help the cause.
In saying this, when I was in Bali, I noticed great action being taken to reduce litter and clean up. Groups of locals working for different organisations were picking up rubbish in different areas throughout Bali. Also, plastic bags were not provided wherever I shopped. Small things like the use of reusable straws made from materials such as bamboo and metal is also common in Bali.
Traffic
The traffic in Bali is something else. I think organised chaos best describes it. It is seriously interesting observing how the traffic flows . . . at least it was for me. This was when the traffic was actually moving. Most the time, especially in the tourist hotspots such as Kuta, seminyak and Ubud, the traffic is bumper to bumper and chaotic. It’s stunning how not every vehicle is scratched up from other vehicles squeezing into the tightest gaps.
So, it goes without saying, ensure you leave adequate travel time to get to your destination. Also, it’s not a good idea to learn how to ride a scooter in one of these hectic areas of Bali.
No, I do not hate Bali, there are easily more positive reasons to travel to Bali than negatives. However, no one seems to want to talk about the less glamorous side of Bali. All and all, with breathtaking landscapes, endless adventure activities, value for money, rich culture and endless dining options—Bali isn’t going off anyone’s radar anytime soon.
