Leave to live in Bali: detailed instructions with prices and useful tips. Secret beaches and Russian dachas. Bali is a great place for recreation and tourism. The rest is debatable

IN Lately I often come across materials about how our compatriots leave for the distant island of Bali. And I hear from friends beautiful stories about exotic island, about how one of the friends left. So the question arose: “Is everyone already in Bali?” And they don't go to rest. And to live. Someone is experimenting with terms, planning to live for several months. Someone stays for a long time. And, of course, we wondered how you can pick up and leave like that? Throw a habitual way of life? To radically change the situation, environment, place of residence, climate, in the end?

Meet the participants of our conversation

Evgenia, St. Petersburg, 22 years old

Kristina and Kolya, Tyumen, 23 and 25 years old

Why Bali? What attracted you to this island?

Evgenia: The island of Bali was chosen by me by chance, before that I lived on the coast for six months mediterranean sea and the plan was to continue to do so. But one fine day, it was my birthday, my friend, with whom we lived in Tunisia, flew to Bali and said that she was waiting for me there. There was no time to think about whether it was good or bad at all, the ticket was bought three hours before departure.

Christina: We started planning our departure 6 months in advance. We started researching travel information, reading blogs and choosing a place for our first long trip. And I absolutely accidentally stumbled upon the film "Life in Travel", it was filmed mainly in Bali, I was just blown away by how beautiful it is there! I even sat closer to the monitor and at one moment imagined myself in the place of the main characters, even goosebumps ran. And so the search began for information specifically about Bali, visas, ticket prices, how much housing, food, and more. The choice seemed obvious, the island simply beckoned me, I couldn’t even think of anything else, I infected Kolya with my enthusiasm, and together we started preparing more seriously! The island attracts many with its beautiful nature, on one seemingly small island, you can freeze in one day (somewhere in the mountains) and burn in the sun (on the coast), you can climb to the top of a volcano or cool off under a chilling stream of a waterfall, this list is endless ...

How easy/difficult is it to go to Bali and settle down? How long have you been living here? And what are you doing?

Evgenia: I think in modern world if you have money (and not such large sums as many people imagine), it is easy to go anywhere. Bali is generally beautiful in terms of arrangement, there is everything for every taste and color, for every budget. Very comfortable weather, a very large Russian community that communicates very well within itself and supports each other. I have been living in Bali for 10 months, six of them I did nothing: traveled, painted, danced and watched a lot of films. Recently I have been working on the Internet and decorating wedding ceremonies.

Christina: It's simple, if there is a goal, then everything will work out! For example, at the beginning of the trip we had savings, which we set aside for ourselves for the first time, while we got used to it, and then we planned to earn money on the spot! Everything turned out exactly as planned, after 2 months we have already begun to earn the first money. Kolya conducts photo shoots on the island, I help him, and in free time I do everything that does not bring money, for the soul: I draw, I write about our trips to the group "We are in Bali" I photograph landscapes and all sorts of beautiful things! We have been living in Bali for 7 months and have become very attached to this island, from the first month we felt at home here.

Are there many Russians living on the island? Do they interact with each other? Maybe join communities?

Evgenia: There is one of the strongest Russian communities in Bali than anywhere else. We all communicate very closely, constantly intersect, there are many events, many places opened by Russians. Everyone supports each other and everyone knows about each other. Because the village is small

Christina: Regarding Thailand or Goa, there are not so many Russians in Bali. Many communicate, but everyone is divided into small “interest groups”, someone does yoga together, someone surfs, but there are also just random magical acquaintances that bring you exactly with your people. So we found very cool friends here, with whom we continue to communicate even after they leave the island! And I am grateful that we met in Bali, because in Russia it would be quite problematic for us to meet, and even make friends!

Favorite place on the island?

Christina: Of course, it is very difficult to choose just one favorite place because there are a lot of them in Bali! But still, I will highlight one thing, this is the village of Ubud, it is located in the heart of the island, surrounded by jungle and rice terraces! A calm, peaceful atmosphere reigns here, there is a lot of greenery around, and locals honor traditions more carefully than in the south of the island! Ubud is also considered cultural center Bali is home to many artists, artisans, musicians and other creative people.

This place is called the island of the gods: paradise in the Indian Ocean, where exotic lovers from all over the world come together for the sake of beautiful beaches and cheap living. As part of the Lenty.ru project, we talked with Alexei about Russians who left for other countries. He moved to Bali seven years ago.

I was born and raised in St. Petersburg, but I decided to go to university in the capital, where I learned to be a programmer. The soul has always been in web design; in fact, I did it all my free time and after graduating from the university I began to draw sites. He was never attached to the office, he worked, as they say, “on wheels”. Either I’ll hit the road in St. Petersburg, I’ll live there for a week or two, then I’ll visit friends in Finland. I could work from anywhere, as long as I had the Internet and inspiration. At some point, everything got tired - it became boring in Moscow, and I also got tired of driving around like that. I read on the forums how people live and work in Asia, and thought, why not. There is work, which means money too, there were no relationships at that time, I was not particularly attached to anyone. Started choosing a country.

An easy choice

Asia was also attractive because life there is cheaper than, say, in Europe. When I left, the sad events with the ruble exchange rate were still far away, so I didn’t bother much about whether I had enough money or not.

The choice was between Goa, Sri Lanka and Bali. In the first version, it didn’t suit the fact that this is, in fact, India, and it’s dirty there and it’s very cheap - people come there in droves. I have been to Sri Lanka, in general, everything was fine, but it seemed somehow boring. Bali really attracted me: I had never been there, I heard a lot of good things about this island, and besides, I had a friend there who promised to help with housing, and generally bring me up to date. That's where I sharpened my skis.

ticket to heaven

I am not one of those who likes to romanticize and dramatize everything too much. Moved very easily and quickly. It took me two or three weeks to settle things in my homeland - to sell the car, say goodbye to everyone and buy some minimum necessary things. I remember that first of all I stocked up on medicines: they told me that everything is different there and if you get sick, it will not be easy to quickly find the right medicine. So I bought everything with a margin - some antiviral pills, ointments, antibiotics. I took one suitcase with me - I decided that I would get everything I needed on the spot. I read that it’s better to get long-term insurance in Russia, because if something happens, it’s too expensive to go to a hospital in Bali. And the insurance company has to pay everything. By the way, the insurance was useful to me.

I didn’t have to bother with a visa - it was issued upon arrival, and it could be extended in order to stay on the island for a total of two months. Then you fly to neighboring country eat ice cream and the next day you can return to Indonesia again.

I bought a one way ticket to Bali. Initially, I needed to find housing and generally understand how life on the island works. Therefore, the first month I had a vacation, I did not work at all.

advertised island

I would like to talk about how life works in Bali, for those who do not know. It's relative small island, the only place in the country where Hinduism still remains - on the rest of the islands there is Islam and very few Catholics. Largely due to the local religion, there is a kind of freedom that is not found in other parts of Indonesia.

Just a few decades ago there was nothing in Bali. All its virtues were first noticed by the Australians: these beautiful waves for surfing, beautiful beaches, low prices. Now tourists from all over the world come here, this is an overloaded, advertised island. If you look at neighboring Lombok or the island of Flores, this is the same Bali many years ago, and there are very few tourists there.

Felt like a king

Most offers for renting houses simply do not exist on the Internet. Therefore, the search is as follows: you choose the area in which you want to live, get on a bike and drive around, looking for signs with the inscription for rent. This is absolutely normal practice.

The areas on the island are very different. My first home was in Kuta - this is such a tourist hell, where there are a lot of restaurants, hotels and nightclubs. Noisy and a lot of people, the beaches, frankly, are not impressive precisely because of the abundance of infrastructure and crowds of Chinese. I lived in the guesthouse for a couple of weeks while I was looking for a suitable villa.

I will briefly tell you what areas there are in Bali. Tourist Mecca are Kuta, Seminyak, Legian. There are areas with luxury hotels and impeccable beaches- Nusa Dua, Uluwatu. And there is something in between - this is Jimbaran, Sanur, Changu. In addition, remote places in the north and east of the island, not everyone gets there - Lovina, Amed. And Ubud is in the center of the island, where people go to do yoga, immerse themselves in cultural life and enjoy the peace and quiet.

As a result, I settled in Canggu - quietly, calmly, good nature and the ocean is nearby. At the same time, there are amazing cafes and restaurants, good supermarkets - everything that people from the West love.

I rented a villa at ridiculous prices for Moscow - about 20 thousand rubles a month. For this money - a bedroom, a huge living room, a bathroom, open kitchen outside, veranda and private pool. I also had a servant who cleaned everything, washed, washed my things and sometimes cooked dinners.

Photo: Yuan Adriles / ZUMA / Globallookpres.com

What can I say, I felt like a king! I had to pay immediately for the year, but at a discount - I got a month for free. Now, taking into account the exchange rate, such a villa costs twice as much.

A year later, I moved and lived in Ubud for six months, then returned to the coast again and managed to change three villas in different areas. Now I'm back in Canggu, I really like it here. There is a swimming pool, and a store nearby, and a place for guests - sometimes relatives and friends fly to me. True, in the last two years less often, because it has become much more expensive. When all this trouble happened with the exchange rate, it also affected me, because some of my customers are from Russia, and they pay me in rubles.

secret beaches and Russian dachas

At first, I rode around the island with my friend and a couple of Russians, enjoying life. About a month later, I realized that it was time to return to work. There were no problems with this at all: during the day, until the heat subsided, I sat in my villa and worked, and in the mornings and evenings I swam in the ocean, walked.

In general, if officially, without work visa I am not allowed to work in Bali. But when it comes to remote work, everyone here does it, because no one knows what you do there in your villa.

My weekends are still floating - when there are no orders, I take one of my friends or meet some tourists, and we go for a drive around the island. Until now, I have not been to many places, but there are those where I want to return. There are many waterfalls, lakes, volcanoes and just hiking trails. My favorite places are the secret beaches of Uluwatu, I can spend the whole day there. Tourists almost do not go there, because few people know about them. You lie on the sand, listen to the sound of the ocean, and rocks rise above you - a magical place!

Once or twice a month I go to Ubud, where I have many acquaintances. Sometimes I go to all sorts of yoga practices, unload the brain. I treat yoga as a way to pass the time: I like to meditate, bend, but I understand that for most people this is something more.

There is a place in Ubud called Bali Dacha. Yes, a dacha in our Russian sense. Founded by Russians. You can rent a room from them, relax in the garden, take a steam bath in a real bath. Sometimes they have parties where you can meet the most different people from all over the world. Amazing place I sometimes look there.

Many Russians here like to wait out the winter or spend a period before changing jobs. warm ocean and a pleasant climate really help to find oneself, to think, to relax both in body and soul.

"They were reading 'Eat, Pray, Love'"

There is an opinion that in Bali you either fall in love at first sight or you hate it. I know both people who are crazy about the island, and those who did not like it. It seems to me that it depends on the person - on what he is looking for when he comes here. Someone wants white sandy beaches, tranquility, excellent service and impeccable beauty around - well, you don’t need to go here for this. And someone, like me, wants adventure, suspense, new acquaintances and impressions - then Bali will reciprocate.

Photo: Veri Sanovri / Xinhua / Globallookpres.com

There is a certain class of tourists. These are girls and boys who have read books and seen movies like Eat, Pray, Love. They think that Bali is heaven on earth, where they will definitely find their love. Firstly, sometimes they are disappointed because this is not the Maldives. Secondly, I feel sorry for them, because they only go to places worn by tourists and do not see the real beauty of the island.

Roads on the island of the gods - a living hell

Roads in Bali separate topic. I'll start with the simplest and inexpensive way moving around the island is a scooter. If you don’t know how to drive it, it’s better not to come here at all, because you won’t see the islands. Or you have to go bust on a taxi.

White people on bikes feed the police here, so you need to follow all the rules. Ride only with a helmet. It is desirable to have international law to control the bike, at least fake ones, otherwise you will have to pay off every time. I mostly ride a bike to shops, cafes and to the ocean, and when I want to travel or go to another part of the island, I rent a car - it's safer and calmer.

Once I was on a bike in a small accident. A car cut me off and I fell off the side of the road. Nothing serious, but scratched badly. I had to apply to the insurance company, they paid for the treatment: they made dressings, gave some ointments. The bill was astronomical, and it's good that I had insurance.

The roads themselves are a living hell. With the exception of a few highways, everything else is one or two narrow lanes, you can only pass by a miracle. Such narrow roads are here because of expensive land: it is believed that on the space saved from the roadbed, you can build a house, hotel, cafe, which will generate income.

Tricky locals

When someone comes to visit me or I just get acquainted with those who have just come to live in Bali, I hear this: “The locals are so friendly, they all smile and bow, they are good.” Every time I say the same thing: "Wait, this is for the time being."

When it comes to money, the locals are not at all kind, they defend their interests almost to the point of a fight. This applies to taxi drivers, traders in the markets and everyone who works in the entertainment industry.

Here's what I want to say - everything is really cheap in Bali, but it used to be even cheaper. It seems to me that this island was spoiled by the Australians and Europeans, who were always throwing money and huge tips, and the locals began to raise prices several times.

Longing for the cold

You can get a social visa and legally stay here for six months, but I don't want to bother. I just go to some country every two months: before it was only Malaysia and Singapore, now I fly to Cambodia, Thailand, China, the Philippines. Firstly, I need to renew my visa, and secondly, I want some kind of adventure.

I like Bali. I no longer perceive it as some kind of resort, I consider the island my home. My friends are here, I'm used to working here, I have favorite places where I go. I eat fresh every day tropical fruits, swimming in the pool or in the ocean - isn't that happiness?

The island is really beautiful - climate, nature. Many who have moved here say that they have recovered from chronic diseases - perhaps just because of the climate. I believe that a person should live where he feels good, where he is comfortable in all respects. So far, I like it here, and I'm not going to move anywhere. Next trip to Russia will be on New Year, I have already bought tickets - I will see all my relatives, friends. And yes, I missed the cold.

The Indonesian island of Bali is home to 4 million people. From capital airport in Denpasar, tourists and downshifters go to the resort of Kuta or the green and mountainous Ubud. Every year the number of visitors increases by 10%. Tourists travel to the island for thousands of temples for surfing, diving and evergreen forests. The Village found out how much those who live on the coast spend on living indian ocean and drinks kopi-luwak in the morning.

IDR 1.5 million

about 6,500 rubles

Minimum wage

Up to IDR 2 million

about 8,700 rubles

low income

Up to IDR 5 million

approximately 21,700 rubles

Average income

From 10 million Indonesian Rupiah

approximately 43,500 rubles

High income

Housing

from 1 to 20 million Indonesian rupiah per month (4,400 - 87,000 rubles)

The most inexpensive option for Bali is called kos, or pondok. This is a small square room with a low ceiling and with all amenities, except for the kitchen. The kitchen here will be one for all. Rental prices start from one million rupees per month. For a slightly larger amount of 1.7 million rupees (about 7,400 rubles) in a spit or pondok there will already be a small gym and a swimming pool.

The next option, homestay, will cost from 2.5 million rupees per month (about 10,800 rubles). The room will be larger, the ceiling will be much higher. At the same time, inside the room there is a small kitchenette where you can cook breakfast, and outside there will definitely be a spacious veranda or balcony. The pool or seating area in a homestay is usually located in a shared yard.

Renting a mini-hotel or villa in Bali will cost from 10-20 million rupees per month (up to 87 thousand rubles). The cost entirely depends on the area, the proximity of the ocean and the season, and the owners allow the joint rental of such housing.

Electricity in Bali is almost always paid separately, but it is included in the rental price of hotels and villas. They pay regularly for electricity on the island: meters with an advance payment system are installed everywhere. No money - no light.

Transport

Buses

2 thousand rupees (9 rubles) per ticket

The main transport in Bali is the bus - it can take you to almost anywhere on the island. The bus ride is traditionally long due to traffic, but the price matches the quality.

Rent and gasoline

about 1 million rupees per month (4,400 rubles)

The most optimal and popular way to travel in Bali is a personal scooter. Simple and everyday Vario and Scoopy can be rented for an amount of 800 thousand rupees per month (about 3,500 rubles), a modern and solid Kawasaki will cost 2 million rupees (8,700 rubles).

It is best to rent a scooter from an operating company that cooperates with many large and small rental agencies. Another plus is Russian-speaking managers. Prices from such companies are usually lower than “on the corner at Ketut”, and the bikes themselves are always new and undergo monthly maintenance.

The cost of gasoline in Bali is low and starts at 6.5 thousand rupees (about 28 rubles) per liter, and new car can be rented for about 8 million rupees per month (about 35 thousand rubles). For example, a 2016 Toyota Avanza Automatic will cost so much.

Taxi

from 50 thousand rupees per trip (about 220 rubles)

In Bali, there is a popular taxi Blue Bird with blue cars, expensive and conservative. A trip on it will cost from 200 thousand rupees (about 870 rubles). A ride on Uber or Grab is cheaper - from 50 thousand rupees (about 220 rubles), but there are problems. Blue Bird squeezes foreign competitors from all sides, so calling an Uber to the airport or to a popular nightclub will not work - drivers will simply not be allowed to drive up.

There is also a motorcycle taxi in Bali, which is very efficient and convenient. A trip to Go-Jek will cost 20 thousand rupees (about 87 rubles), you can go to Grab for 8 thousand (about 35 rubles). The first company oppresses the second, as in the case of a taxi.

Food

from 800 thousand to 1.35 million rupees per month (3,500 - 5,900 rubles)

Food prices in supermarkets are similar to Russian ones. French Carrefour and popular local chains of convenience stores Alfamart, Indomaret, Mini Mart and others operate in Bali. On the shelves you can find almost any familiar product, with the exception of milk, kefir or sour cream. And Balinese products are delicious and emphatically natural.

Alcohol in Bali is quite expensive: a bottle of beer costs from 25 thousand rupees (about 108 rubles), a bottle of local wine - from 170 thousand (about 740 rubles), strong alcohol - from 250 thousand (about a thousand rubles).

Locals and confident expats eat in warungs: it's easier and more economical than cooking lunch and dinner at home. A typical meal in Bali consists of rice and various additions: vegetables, tofu, tempeh, eggs, noodles, potatoes, chicken, beef or simple seafood. It will cost 10-15 thousand rupees (up to 65 rubles). Appearance establishments hardly pulls on the top three, but the food is very tasty. The cost of breakfast in European-style establishments starts from 75 thousand rupees (about 330 rubles), lunch and dinner are even more expensive.

Entertainment

Clubs

from 25 thousand rupees (about 110 rubles) for entry

All the main and noisy entertainments of Bali are concentrated in the areas of Kuta, Seminyak and Canggu. At the same time, you can live anywhere: in 15–20 minutes by bike it is easy to get, for example, from Jimbaran to Kuta. Night life and illegal pleasures in Kuta are somehow connected with Legian Street. You can drink coffee in a music bar for 100 thousand rupees (about 430 rubles), go to a performance by a famous DJ in a huge night club for 200 thousand rupees (about 860 rubles) and drink a cocktail there for 150 thousand (about 650 rubles). You can lose control and easily lose something of value.

Restaurants

from 100 thousand rupees for a dinner for two (430 rubles)

Conventionally, restaurants in Bali can be divided into three groups. The average check in the usual restaurants with national Italian, Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Russian, Argentinean, Mexican or Indonesian cuisine starts from 100 thousand rupees for two (about 430 rubles). Dinner in original establishments with molecular Korean desserts or Australian steaks will cost at least 600,000 rupees (about 2,600 rubles). Places like a bar with a doorman and flowing Moët & Chandon champagne will require a check of 1 million rupees for two (about 4,350 rubles).

Surfing

from 100-150 thousand rupees (430-650 rubles) per day

Surfing is one of the things people come to live in Bali for. Studying theory at school and training with a coach, including analysis of mistakes, will cost from 250 thousand rupees (about 1,090 rubles) per lesson. It is quite possible to comprehend the basics in three or four lessons, and it is advisable to do this in a Russian school like Surf Discovery.

You can rent a surfboard for 100-150 thousand rupees per day (430-650 rubles), purchase - for 1 million or more.

Coffee

from 230 thousand rupees (about 1,000 rubles) per pack

Another popular entertainment on the island is called coffee ambulance. At any time of the day, the Balinese deliver real kopi-luwak to their homes and arrange a tasting of the most expensive coffee in the world. Often

I will say right away: I do not see any reason to live in Bali, unless you are a surfer and not a volcano explorer. Surfing in Bali is a paradise. Nature on the island fantastic beauty: mountains, waterfalls, green fields and rice terraces. But that's all. This will be the first impression of a few days. And if you decide to stay on the island longer, you will certainly encounter another, real side of life in Bali. This is what I want to talk about in this article. It will be useful to anyone who plans to move and live in Bali. Instructions for renting housing in Bali with a description of all areas are located.

Crime and corruption

We must recognize the fact that Indonesia is a third world country with all the ensuing consequences. First of all, it is poverty and a huge stratification of society, monstrous corruption at all levels of government, non-compliance or ignorance of laws and a high level of crime. Tourists are especially often victims of criminals. Most likely the tourist already has return ticket and there is no time to investigate the crime. Most likely, he does not know the Indonesian language and will not be able to explain anything to the police.

Crime in Bali is a constant and hot topic on local forums. Try google and you will find hundreds real stories how in Bali they rob apartments, villas, steal things from cars, steal bikes. Many have come to terms with this and say that “this is how it is everywhere”. No, guys, it's not like that everywhere. In Bali, the chances of being robbed are much higher than in India, Thailand or China. If you like to constantly be in suspense and think about the safety of your property, then welcome to fabulous Bali.

Street crime in Bali

You have probably already read how bags and phones are torn out of hands in Bali, backpacks are torn off (even if you are riding a bike) and other delights. If you have been robbed or robbed of a car or house, you can assume that there is no chance of finding the perpetrators. The police can only find a bunch of reasons not to accept your application, and if they accept, they will not do anything. Even if you yourself find the thieves and point them out to the police, they will not do anything. My friends got out of the car and stole a bag with an iPhone. Through the application, it was possible to establish its location up to the house. However, the police did nothing. It turns out that in Indonesia the police do not solve anything. The banjars, the councils of the elders, decide. An informal structure, like a village council. They can influence the police or even find criminals, but they will have to somehow negotiate because they will not do anything for free.

Carding and skimming in Bali

A very common type of fraud in Bali is skimming (plastic card cloning). An inconspicuous reader is installed on the ATM, which copies the card data and pin code. In the future, scammers make a clone of the card and withdraw money with it. Try to google the English internet and you will see hundreds of stories of people losing all their money months after a two week holiday in Bali.

This phenomenon is massive and put on stream. The police and banks do nothing. Opinions are openly expressed that data copying credit cards happens at the level of ATMs and bank security services, which then simply sell the data to fraudsters. I have no doubts about this, since the level of corruption in the country is really very high. It is almost impossible to prove the guilt of the bank, and how will you do it if the Indonesian police are investigating the case?

Charges on the roads

Separately, it is worth mentioning the topic of extortions that the local traffic police arranges on the roads. A particularly desirable victim for the police will be European tourist on a bike and of course without a license. I have already told you how it is possible, which operate in all countries of the region, including Indonesia. But even when I presented such a certificate, the police told me that this certificate was not valid here and that I had to pay a fine. They may also say that you have a bad helmet, problems with your bike, or some other problem that you have to pay them for. Ask them to write a protocol. In many situations, this upsets the police and they let go. There were cases when the police tried to snatch money directly from the wallet, when tourists took it out to find rights there. The police on the roads behave very arrogantly and familiarly.

Where can you fly cheap from Bali?

Dirt and trash

This is what catches your eye from the first minutes of your stay on the island. Even the most prosperous and environmentally friendly areas such as Bukit will delight you with frequent dumps along the roads. For an Indonesian, throwing trash out a car window or on the beach is a common thing. We have repeatedly witnessed and even sometimes returned their garbage back to them. Bali is beautiful place, with insanely beautiful nature, but because of the mountains of garbage, your impression will be forever spoiled.

In Bali, you rarely see a bin or a janitor, so the locals simply burn garbage right next to the roads.

Internet in Bali

For me personally, this turned out to be the main problem, which significantly lowered the rating of Bali as a place to live. To be honest, I don't understand how all these thousands of freelancers live and work here. It doesn't matter what type of connection you use: a SIM card, fiber optic or radio modem - the entire Internet in Bali comes through several very weak backbone channels. And on the island itself, this moment, almost 3 million people live, and each of them has a smartphone that is connected to the Internet. As you might guess, the channel is simply not enough for everyone. Whatever type of connection you use, you will always face the problem of slow internet and session disconnection. Bad internet is what makes life in Bali much more difficult for me personally.

Roads and traffic

In terms of trash and disorder, Balinese roads can only be compared with Indian ones. There is one difference - average speed in Bali is much higher than in India. The roads in Bali are very narrow, people will walk on them, they will dry clothes and rice on them. I have not seen road markings, and lighting is only on major highways. Add to this terrible traffic jams and you get absolutely hellish and dangerous traffic. Trips to the neighboring beach will seem easy to you only on Googlemaps. In reality, they take a lot of time and effort.

During my life in Bali, I met another very interesting phenomenon - this paid parking. Money will be taken from you everywhere: on the beach, near the store or near the temple. Naturally, no one will guard your car or bike.

Uber and Grab operate everywhere on the island. But there are areas where the drivers of these services do not call, as local taxi drivers do not like them. The prices for the service are lower than the Central Asian ones.

Bali beaches

If you have ever been to Goa or Phuket, then the Bali beaches will not impress you at all. The beaches in Kuta are dirty and you don’t want to swim there at all. The beaches in the south in Bukit are clean, but hard-to-reach places. They are cut off by high cliffs. You need to either go down the stairs for a long time, or along a long serpentine on a bike. On southern beaches always very windy and huge waves. Therefore, it’s impossible to swim there just like that, but for surfers it’s real paradise. The beaches in the north are quieter, and you can swim, but they are all rocky, and the rare sand on them is black. northern beaches ideal for diving and snorkeling. They are quiet and deserted.

Rain season. Climate in Bali

It was a discovery for me that in Bali there is a rainy season in December-January and it is quite noticeable. When planning your trip to Bali, keep this in mind. The rainy season here is not the same as in Phuket, when the downpour passes and after 10 minutes it is already dry. In Bali, the sky will be completely covered with dense clouds for two months. Sometimes a downpour can go on for a day or more without a break, so that it will be very problematic to move around.

In the rainy season, the activity of all kinds of living creatures and insects increases. For example, mosquitoes that carry dangerous viruses such as dengue fever. Last time a strong epidemic on the island was in 2017.

Another important point- this is a very strong humidity, due to which many things become moldy. Local habitually solve the problem of mold by treating things with a solution of vinegar. Take note of this lifehack, it will really come in handy for life in Bali!

Safety hacks in Bali

• Choose ATMs that are located in bank branches. Avoid stand-alone ATMs at intersections and busy streets in Bali. Visually check the ATM for foreign installations on the card capture reader and keyboard.
• Use two cards. One is for basic savings and the other is for cash withdrawals. Top up the second card with exactly the amount you want to withdraw.
• If you have one card, then create a deposit on it and withdraw small amounts from the deposit that you plan to cash out or spend.
• Don't take out your phone when riding your bike in the evening. At night, robbers, with lights off, catch up with tourists and grab phones or bags. Very often, in Bali, criminals snatch the phone from the bike passenger when he is navigating the navigator or taking pictures.
• Houses and villas rented by tourists are regularly robbed and video surveillance does not save. It will be very good if there is a safe in the house where you live. The safe must be bolted to the wall tightly with anchor bolts. Leave all valuables in the safe - this will make your life in Bali a little more relaxed.
• It is better not to settle in a villa next to which there is a construction site. It is believed that the villas are often robbed by visiting guest workers from the island of Java. In general, the Balinese blame all the problems with crime on visitors.
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18.02.2019 Alexey Glazunov

More than a hundred articles have been written about Bali on our blog - for us it is one of the most beloved places on Earth, and this is partly why most of these articles reveal the island from a positive side.

Meanwhile, we periodically receive comments and messages in a personal message that Bali is far from being as perfect as we make it out to be.

It so happened that we concentrate more on positive things (often even unconsciously), so many of the minuses fall out of sight. It's much easier to live this way, but for bloggers it's not very good quality, so from time to time we still try to be more objective and look closely, including at the minuses too (of which there are also plenty here).

Bali is an island with character, it is quite contrasting, there are many different speculations and stereotypes about it, and unlike the almost perfect Thailand, which almost everyone loves, after Bali, some tourists spit and swear that they will never come here again. The other part, despite not all the disadvantages, considers it ideal and falls in love with the island irrevocably!

With this article, we decided to put everything in its place and talk about the pros and cons of Bali.

Cons of Bali

Traffic and driving style. For us, this is perhaps the most significant disadvantage - on the roads, especially in the southern part of the island, chaos is happening here.

Cocktail from incredible amount motorbikes, narrow roads and reckless driving style result in traffic jams and make getting from point A to point B a real torture. ⠀

At the same time, sometimes it is worth turning aside to a secondary street and immediately the traffic disappears instantly.

Mediocre beaches. We have said it many times and will say it again, Bali is not for a beach holiday. There are no “bounty” beaches here, and most of them are either shallow or big waves, or there is no infrastructure, or very crowded. There are exceptions, but there are few of them, and it is not a fact that it will turn out to settle right next to them. ⠀

High humidity. The humidity level here rarely drops below 80%, so the heat on the island is rather difficult to bear. In addition to this - long-drying things, mold on your favorite clothes and lenses. ⠀

Dangerous sun. Being in the sun during the daytime here is tantamount to suicide. The skin, especially unaccustomed to the sun, burns instantly and can burn several times during the holidays. ⠀

Rain season. Unlike most resorts around the world, winter is not the season here. Hot, humid and lots of rain. Moreover, the rains are quite long, so if you are going to Bali to celebrate the New Year, be prepared for the fact that you may have to ride a bike ankle-deep in the water.

And yet, the rainy season is very dirty beaches and a lot of garbage on the ocean. ⠀

Expensive seafood. Surprisingly, despite the fact that Bali is surrounded on all sides by water, seafood here is quite expensive. ⠀

At the same time, it is worth moving away from the coast and they disappear, almost completely.

Lack of public transport. If you are used to using buses, trains, tuk-tuks, jeepneys, songthaews and others vehicles public, then here you will be disappointed, there is nothing like this and without your own transport (or using a taxi) it will be very difficult here. ⠀

Taxi mafia. At the same time, taxis here are quite expensive by Asian standards, and besides, local taxi drivers are actively at war with cheap Uber and Hornbeam, up to the use of physical force, which significantly reduces their number and makes life difficult for visitors.

Growing crime scene. Recently, cases of attacks on tourists have become more frequent - they tear off handbags and chains, snatch out phones, push them off bikes, climb into houses and villas. It is worth noting that this mainly happens at night and in the south of Bali. ⠀

Tasteless local food. Dishes that are prepared in warungs (local cafes) are often heavily fried, fatty and spicy. IN tourist places it’s easier with this, but it’s worth moving a little to the side, and only two dishes will be waiting for you on the menu - mi goreng and nasi goreng (fried noodles and fried rice).

There are literally a couple of dishes that we like, but in general, the cuisine here is not very expressive and few people like it, except for the Balinese themselves. ⠀

High prices in restaurants. If we focus on the average level, then the cost of cafes and restaurants here will be higher than in the same Thailand.

If you are used to good restaurants, then you will hardly notice the difference,

and if you want to eat cheap, then - see the previous paragraph. ⠀

Fraud with bank cards. very much in Bali common cases skimming, when some time after you have withdrawn money from an ATM, additional debits occur from the card. It is necessary to choose an ATM very carefully so as not to become a victim of scammers. ⠀

Calculation. In small shops here, they may incorrectly give change or break through excess goods. In the exchanger, you can easily see professional money tricks that look spectacular, but are not cheap.

We have heard about this many times, but have never encountered it, maybe because we most often buy in large supermarkets, do not change currency and rarely go to the criminal south of the island. ⠀

High level of corruption. The police often deliberately arrange raids in order to shake off the treasured dollars from tourists.

However, if everything is in order with your documents, you do not violate anything, then most likely there will be no problems.

Slow Internet connection. In general, the situation is noticeably improving, fiber optics are being laid in many places and the speed becomes stable (we have 10 Mbps at home), but often it is still quite unhurried on the island.

Dirt and trash. Despite the fact that the Balinese themselves are very clean, neat and tidy,

roads and beaches, especially during the rainy season, can be quite dirty.

Whether it's the visiting Indonesians from other islands, or their culture, which, accustomed to organic waste, did not have time to adapt to a huge amount of plastic and other inorganic waste.

Active and diverse fauna. This is not exactly a minus, but rather a fairly common moment for Asia.

There is a huge number of all those who fly, crawl and jump - insects, frogs, lizards, geckos, snakes, scorpions, etc. the vast majority are not dangerous, but out of habit they can, at least, be annoying. There are also quite a lot of stray dogs here, which, again, are usually not aggressive, but like to bark and jump out into the road in front of the bike.

Cataclysms. Bali is located in an earthquake-prone region, so it shakes periodically. Earthquakes are usually not strong and do not happen very often, but anything can happen. There are also several volcanoes here, in particular the active Batur. It does not pose a serious danger, but for example, in the early 2000s, a small ash ejection occurred, which reached 300 meters in height.

The absence of sidewalks. In some places they are found, but in general, it is better not to count on them. Even where they are, they can be filled with bikes, be half-broken, etc. As a result, it is quite difficult to defile here in a long dress with heels, as well as walking with a stroller if you are traveling with a small child. The locals here, in general, rarely travel on foot - whenever possible, they get on a bike, even if they need to travel 100 meters.

A large number of tourists. Especially Chinese, and every year there are more and more of them. In popular attractions (for example, in the temples of Tanah Lot or Uluwatu), there is simply no crowding during the day. A life hack for the non-lazy - come early in the morning, to the opening, then there is a chance to walk almost alone.

Taxes in restaurants. Most cafes and restaurants here do not include taxes and service fees in the price, as a rule, it is 15-21%. Judging by the fact that in some establishments the amount is already included, there is no single rule or law on this matter, so this can be considered a ploy by the owners in order to make the price visually lower. Tax information is usually listed at the bottom of the menu, but it also happens (infrequently) that this is reported after the fact.

Paid parking. Quite often, near beaches or attractions, locals charge money for parking. Most often they give out a ticket, but it happens that they just collect it. The cost is small, usually 0.15-0.4$ per bike and about 1$ per car, but many people don't like it much, so let's write it down =)

There is no direct flight. Well, one more minus is that Bali is quite long and difficult to get to. There are no direct flights, from Moscow, as a rule, they fly with two connections, and if you do not live in the capital, then add one more. Sometimes you can pick up a flight with one transfer, but it will be significantly more expensive.

Pros of Bali

Large selection of vegetables and tropical fruits especially in August/September and also in winter.

Dragonfruit, grapes, mangosteen, vani, marquises, durians, vani, rambutans, longans - all this can be found in Bali in certain seasons,

and pineapples, papayas, bananas, watermelons, herring, tangerines, strawberries, young coconuts grow here all year round.

Amazing nature. There is an ocean and volcanoes,

rocks and mountain lakes, jungle, rice terraces and waterfalls -

such diversity on one island is quite difficult to find anywhere else.

The nature here is not only diverse, but also very photogenic,

a real paradise for photographers

and lovers of beautiful views.

Picturesque ocean. Although beach holiday we put it in the cons section, the ocean itself is very impressive, especially when you look at it from the side.

Lots of tourist activities. There is diving, snokeling, rafting,

safari park, elephant park, water park, bird park, cultural park, etc.

Surfing. It should be highlighted in a separate paragraph, because here it is really cool. There are waves all the time, all year round, there are a lot of spots, both for beginners and professionals - it’s not for nothing that a huge number of Australians who know a lot about surfing come here for surfing. And besides, all this is very cheap here.

And there are also many surf schools with Russian and Russian-speaking instructors, so the language barrier will not become an obstacle between you and the ocean.

A huge number of attractions. In Bali, there is no question of what to do with your time,

rather, on the contrary - "how to cram all this into your short vacation."

Compactness. All the joys of life from the previous two points are located on a relatively small area, the distance from the southernmost to the very northern point~120 km.

Unique culture and religion. Daily religious ceremonies and offerings in themselves already delight many, and there are also many bright holidays (Nyepi, Galungan, Kuningan), impressive cremations,

and a thousand other ceremonies,

when the locals in their outfits carry offerings to the gods and demons -

it all looks amazing.

Friendly local people. The Balinese are very friendly, helpful and, in our opinion, smile much more than the same Thais from the “land of smiles”. Of course, in the tourist epicenters, you will most likely be considered as a source of income, but a little aside, they are really cool and sincere.

Great architecture. Carved windows, doors, facades near houses, beautiful temples V picturesque places, stylish cafes and restaurants -

Balinese hands grow from where they need to, they are quite hardworking and this immediately catches your eye, literally as soon as you go down from the plane.

Wide choice of housing. Here you can easily rent a simple room in a guesthouse for $15, or rent a luxurious villa for several hundred dollars a day.

There are no problems with both daily and long-term rentals.

Civilized contingent of Russian tourists. Due to the significant remoteness and a small number of " all inclusive» The audience here, for the most part, is quite decent. Anything can happen, of course. =)

Good selection of cafes and restaurants. Despite the fact that we wrote down the local food as a minus, it is difficult to die of hunger in Bali - here you can find almost any cuisine,

various areas and specializations,

including organic, vegetarian, etc.

Many restaurants are very stylish

atmospheric,

or just with a great view.

Good selection of yoga schools. Many people go to Bali (and especially to Ubud) in order to join yoga and everything is really good here - there are many schools, studios and private teachers,

both with classical directions, and with more refined ones - for example, roll and release, yoga on a rope x, acro yoga, etc.