Is the Bali You Know Real?

Bali is a province of Indonesia, situated east of Java and west of Lombok, including the island of Bali and some smaller neighboring islands, notably Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan. Bali is the only province in Indonesia where the majority of the population practices Hinduism, with 83.5% of its residents being Hindu.

Bali is a major tourist destination in Indonesia, with tourism experiencing significant growth since the 1980s. Tourism-related businesses account for 80% of its economy. It is renowned for its highly developed arts, including traditional and modern dance, sculpture, painting, leatherwork, metalwork, and music.

Bali is part of the Coral Triangle, an area with the highest marine biodiversity, particularly regarding fish and sea turtles. Over 500 species of reef-building corals have been found in this region alone. For comparison, this is about seven times the number in the entire Caribbean, making it an excellent spot for snorkeling and diving.

Beyond snorkeling and diving, there's a more exciting sport—surfing. Bali is world-famous as a surfing destination; locals are generally skilled surfers, and many foreign surfers come here drawn by its reputation. You can often see European guys on motorcycles, surfboards strapped on, heading to the beach under the golden sun—a truly pleasant sight.

The most convenient mode of transportation in Bali is undoubtedly the motorcycle. You can rent motorcycles everywhere, with varying prices, but a fair price is 50k IDR (about 25 RMB) per day. If you rent for a longer period, around a week, you can bargain it down to 40k IDR. The rental place will provide you with a helmet. Driving in Indonesia is on the left side, opposite to China. I had never ridden a motorcycle back home, but in Bali I enjoyed it a lot. However, the roads are quite dusty, so I recommend buying a mask and goggles at a supermarket.

1. Always wear a helmet—safety first. If you get caught by the police, you'll be fined. The police in Southeast Asia can be tricky; they often ask for $100 right away.

2. Someone might steal your helmet! So when you park, make sure to keep your helmet safe. If it's lost, you'll have to pay 200k IDR (100 RMB). My trick is to lock the helmet strap under the seat so it can't be pulled out.

If you dare not ride a motorcycle, it's fine. Download 'Indonesian Didi'—Grab—in advance. You can hail official motorcycles and taxis. Before booking, you'll see an estimated fare, and regardless of traffic, the final payment will be that estimated amount. Motorcycles are much cheaper and faster since they don't get stuck in traffic, and the driver will provide a helmet. Grab has a built-in translation function, making communication with the driver easy. Payment is all in cash, which is very convenient.

What about the locals?

Indonesians are very warm-hearted. When walking on the street, locals will smile and greet you. Besides showing hospitality, they also want to offer you their services. Most Indonesians can speak English and basic Chinese. Because they are Buddhist, they are devout, and most are kind. However, a few, perhaps driven by livelihood, may set traps for tourists. Stay alert: if a local proactively lowers the price, be cautious.

For example:

I bought a round-trip ticket to the Gili Islands, which included van transfers from the hotel to the port and back, and round-trip ferry tickets. When I returned to Bali from the Gili Islands, the ferry was crowded. As I got off, I felt a bit lost. A local who looked like a staff member looked at my ticket and asked me to follow him. He led me to the parking lot and said the van would first go to Sanur, Jimbaran, Kuta, and finally Ubud, which would take 3-4 hours. Alternatively, I could charter a car alone to go directly to Ubud for $100.

I was confused because on the way there, the van took only one hour. My ticket already included the transfer, so his price seemed too high, and I refused.

Then he said 800k IDR (400 RMB), almost half off. I sensed something off and insisted on getting my ticket back to take the free van. Later, I found that each van goes directly to the designated destination, taking only 1-1.5 hours, without the detour he mentioned.

The average local monthly salary is only 2000k IDR. These people really ask for exorbitant prices, starting at $100, just to rip off tourists.

Currently, the most developed tourism areas are Ubud, Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, Uluwatu, and Jimbaran.

I will write a separate post about each town's features and attractions. If you have any questions or want to know more, feel free to leave comments.