00:52.4
Which is why it is difficult to not get overexcited.
00:55.4
So much so, let's get started.
00:56.1
So much so that sometimes, we tend to overlook the other aspects of a trip that could lead us to making bad decisions.
01:02.5
So, without further ado, here are the mistakes you should avoid when traveling to Bali.
01:12.0
I made my first mistake even before I arrived in the island.
01:15.8
For some reason, I assumed that Bali is just as small as Phuket or Santorini or Singapore.
01:21.5
My friends, Bali is a hell of a lot bigger than those.
01:27.5
It is 8 times bigger than Singapore,
01:29.9
10 times bigger than Phuket,
01:31.8
64 times bigger than Santorini,
01:34.5
and 500 plus times bigger than Boracay.
01:37.8
Keep that in mind when building your itinerary.
01:41.0
Don't schedule your activities immediately after another if they're in different parts of the island.
01:46.5
Getting from, say, Kuta to Ubud does not take just a few minutes.
01:51.3
It takes a couple of hours.
01:52.8
And those faraway temples like Lempuyang,
01:56.6
much, much longer.
01:58.6
Depending on your itinerary and what you're in Bali for, to begin with,
02:02.5
you need to pick the most ideal area to stay so you won't waste too much time on the road.
02:07.9
If you're staying in the Kuta or Seminyak area,
02:10.4
there's another thing you shouldn't underestimate.
02:16.9
Bali welcomes millions and millions of visitors per year.
02:20.7
In fact, from January to October 2023 alone,
02:23.9
it has recorded almost 1 million visitors per year.
02:24.6
It has recorded almost 1 million visitors per year.
02:25.1
It has recorded almost 4.4 million foreign tourist arrivals.
02:28.2
And a great fraction of them chose to stay in this area,
02:31.8
where you'll find Kuta and Seminyak.
02:33.8
And most of them do not use the public transportation,
02:36.8
which is not as reliable as one could hope.
02:39.8
Most tourists prefer a private tour by car or booking Grab or Gojek
02:44.1
to get from one place to another.
02:46.1
It's no wonder traffic buildup is a constant occurrence here.
02:49.9
So if you have a tour, a show, or a flight to catch,
02:52.9
it's always best to have plenty of lead time.
02:55.1
Traffic is not as bad in other areas, though.
02:58.1
But I also noticed traffic jams in Ubud City Center.
03:05.6
While we're in the subject of food, do not, I repeat,
03:08.9
do not drink tap water.
03:10.9
Not even the locals do this,
03:12.9
and they highly discourage me too.
03:14.9
Most accommodations provide filtered water.
03:17.9
If not, head to the grocery and buy those giant containers
03:21.4
and just refill your reusable bottle every now and then.
03:26.1
Because tap water in Bali is gonna whoop your insides like it did mine.
03:30.1
I never really believed in the term Bali-Beli until it was happening to me.
03:35.1
I spent an entire night in the toilet without ever coming out
03:39.1
because every 15 minutes, something inside me was starting a revolution.
03:43.1
So no, don't drink tap water, I beg you.
03:47.1
And don't forget to bring anti-diarrhea meds too.
03:55.1
Partly because of the many expats who call this island home,
03:58.1
Bali has a vibrant international food scene.
04:01.1
Before coming to Bali, my friends told me I should try this place
04:04.1
with the best burgers and the best Greek food and the best tacos and so on.
04:08.1
Lots of fast food chains and cafes too.
04:11.1
And that's great and all, but don't leave without digging into local food.
04:15.1
Balinese cuisine is spectacular to say the least.
04:18.1
From the mouth-watering babi guling or spit-roasted pork,
04:21.1
to the ubiquitous sate and nasi campur,
04:24.1
to traditional cakes.
04:26.1
The best part, they're everywhere too.
04:28.1
You'll find them at high-end restaurants,
04:30.1
to humble warung or small family-run eateries.
04:33.1
Most of them serve homey, hearty meals.
04:36.1
But if you want insider scoop, best to book a guided food tour.
04:40.1
By joining a food tour, you'll get to know the local favorites
04:43.1
and sample them while learning more about the Balinese food culture and other tips.
04:47.1
Thankfully, there are a lot of food tours available on Get Your Guide,
04:51.1
the sponsor of this video.
04:54.1
We actually booked our food tour in Bali with Get Your Guide
04:59.1
even before they approached us.
05:01.1
So we're really happy that we're now collaborating for this video
05:04.1
because we already trusted them even before.
05:07.1
We booked an authentic food tour from Ubud
05:10.1
and our guide John K was polite, friendly, and knowledgeable
05:13.1
and could communicate in English really well.
05:16.1
He brought us to this babi guling place outside the city center
05:19.1
as well as this coffee luwak farm
05:21.1
and to Gyanyar Night Market
05:23.1
where he introduced to us more traditional dishes like betutu
05:26.1
and an assortment of desserts.
05:28.1
In between food stops, we dropped by rice terraces
05:31.1
and Tirta Empul, one of the holiest temples in the island.
05:35.1
This is just one of the many food-related activities available on Get Your Guide.
05:40.1
Some tours are for join-in while others are private.
05:43.1
Some will show you around the market so you get a better understanding
05:46.1
of the local ingredients and other produce.
05:48.1
You could also join a cooking class.
05:50.1
And these are just the food-related tours.
05:53.1
With more than 60,000 curated activities
05:56.1
in over 3,600 destinations around the world,
06:00.1
from tours like this to skip-the-line tickets,
06:03.1
Get Your Guide is the best place to discover
06:05.1
the world's most unforgettable travel experiences.
06:08.1
And their tours are always led by knowledgeable local experts,
06:11.1
giving insights into the culture.
06:13.1
We booked our Bali food tour using the app
06:16.1
and we never needed to print anything.
06:18.1
24x7 support and free cancellation up to 24 hours before schedule.
06:22.1
are also available.
06:24.1
To download the Get Your Guide app,
06:26.1
just click the link in the description and pinned comment.
06:34.1
And by street ATMs,
06:36.1
I mean those cash machines that you see in the streets,
06:39.1
out in the open and can easily be tampered with.
06:42.1
If you need to withdraw from an ATM,
06:44.1
choose a machine that is inside a bank
06:46.1
or other guarded or enclosed establishments,
06:48.1
but the bank is your best bet.
06:50.1
And you'll find a lot of virus-reputable banks,
06:52.1
throughout the island.
06:54.1
If you must withdraw from a street ATM,
06:57.1
always double-check for signs of tampering.
06:59.1
When in doubt, don't do it
07:01.1
and just find another way to pay or get cash.
07:04.1
Speaking of cash,
07:11.1
In Bali, the official currency is the Indonesian rupiah.
07:14.1
And 100 USD is roughly 1.5 million rupiah.
07:18.1
The highest denomination is 100,000.
07:21.1
Yes, that's 1 followed by 5 zeros.
07:24.1
For those who are familiar with the currency,
07:26.1
the notes can be easily differentiated by the color.
07:33.1
20,000 is green, and so on.
07:35.1
But for us who aren't used to seeing that many zeros,
07:38.1
it can be a bit confusing,
07:40.1
especially because these zeros don't have a thousand separator.
07:43.1
No period, no comma, no space, nada.
07:46.1
So it's easy to think that 10,000 is 100,000.
07:50.1
It was so easy to make that mistake.
07:52.1
And just like any other destination,
07:54.1
you may run into someone who is willing to take advantage
07:57.1
when the opportunity presents itself.
07:59.1
It was already my fourth day when I finally got the hang of it.
08:03.1
But maybe I'm just slow in general.
08:06.1
But thankfully, I never really had to pay cash that much.
08:09.1
Most of my tours had been pre-booked
08:11.1
and I usually paid by card when available.
08:13.1
Fortunately, the supermarket in front of our hotel accepted credit cards.
08:20.1
Bali is generally safe and has a relatively low crime rate,
08:24.1
considering how busy and touristy it is.
08:27.1
But like many other tourist hotspots,
08:29.1
petty crimes do exist in Bali,
08:31.1
especially within developed areas like Kuta.
08:33.1
So, don't hold your phone, purse, or wallet out in the open
08:37.1
when walking or standing by the road
08:39.1
because someone on a motorbike might just snatch it away.
08:42.1
Keep it away from other people's reach
08:44.1
and don't leave them unattended on the beach
08:46.1
or use them to reserve a table at a food court.
08:50.1
Overpricing Taxis
08:52.1
Overpricing taxis are rampant in Bali.
08:55.1
In fact, we have been told by the locals to not hail a cab,
08:58.1
but use Grab or Go-Jek instead.
09:01.1
And if we must, only use Bluebird,
09:03.1
said to be the only reputable taxi company on the island.
09:07.1
If coming from the airport,
09:08.1
you may also pre-arrange a pickup service online.
09:11.1
If you prefer traveling by motorbike,
09:13.1
beware of scams too.
09:15.1
I don't ride motorcycles abroad,
09:17.1
so this isn't something I'm concerned about.
09:19.1
But I had been warned about rental shops
09:21.1
that would charge you for pre-existing damages on the bike.
09:24.1
Police scams are said to be prevalent too.
09:26.1
They say that some officers would just stop motorbike drivers
09:29.1
for whatever reason they could think of
09:31.1
just so you could pay them to let you go.
09:33.1
But if you insist on renting a motorbike,
09:36.1
make sure you have the proper driving license
09:38.1
and always wear a helmet.
09:45.1
Before you book multiple day tours,
09:47.1
check the itinerary first.
09:48.1
Most tours in Bali have similar attractions.
09:52.1
Usually, there's a stop at Tegalalang Rice Terraces,
09:55.1
a coffee luwak farm where you could taste
09:57.1
a variety of coffee and tea flavors,
09:59.1
and Instagrammable spots with a giant swing and the like.
10:03.1
And to be honest,
10:04.1
if you've experienced one of each kind,
10:06.1
you've experienced them all.
10:08.1
So if you're booking more than one private tour,
10:10.1
ask your contact or guide if you could replace
10:12.1
some of these stops to avoid a repetitive journey
10:15.1
and you could experience more of Bali.
10:17.1
We've done it before and every guide obliged
10:20.1
because it's not difficult to find another point of interest along the route.
10:29.1
Of all the destinations I had set foot in,
10:31.1
Bali is perhaps the most IG-worthy.
10:34.1
It's just bursting with Instagrammable spots,
10:36.1
both natural and man-made.
10:38.1
By now, you probably know about this,
10:41.1
the Gate of Heaven at Lempuyang Temple.
10:43.1
And you might already be aware that this is just a mirror trick
10:46.1
and that there's no body of water on site.
10:49.1
But that's not the only thing you should be aware of.
10:52.1
You see, it's so popular that the line for this photo
10:55.1
can get crazy long.
10:58.1
We're talking about up to three hours of waiting time here,
11:01.1
just for a minute of photo session.
11:04.1
On our last trip,
11:05.1
we arrived in the afternoon in time for the sunset
11:08.1
and we waited two and a half hours.
11:10.1
They say that to avoid waiting times,
11:12.1
go in the early morning.
11:13.1
My teammate Paikan did just that
11:15.1
in time for sunrise.
11:17.1
They were second in line.
11:19.1
But even if your timing is right,
11:20.1
don't expect everything to be picture perfect.
11:23.1
Most photos you see were either taken under the best conditions
11:27.1
or enhanced digitally.
11:29.1
Often, the skies don't cooperate.
11:31.1
It's more likely that you'll get a plain white backdrop
11:33.1
because the mountain is hiding behind the clouds or fog.
11:36.1
A lookalike can be found in the north.
11:38.1
This is Handara Gate,
11:40.1
which also has the same effect.
11:42.1
It's not as popular as the Gate of Heaven,
11:44.1
but you could still wait for 40 minutes to an hour for your turn.
11:48.1
Even here at Tirta Ganga,
11:50.1
the lines can get crazy long,
11:51.1
especially at this spot.
11:53.1
I personally don't mind the waiting times
11:55.1
because I know how to keep myself busy.
11:57.1
I usually spend the time chatting with our guide and other locals.
12:00.1
But if you're not really into IG-worthy spots
12:03.1
and you want to maximize your stay,
12:05.1
you might just be wasting a lot of time queuing.
12:08.1
There are other picturesque but less crowded attractions elsewhere in the island.
12:12.1
But if you really want these shots,
12:15.1
You're already in Bali,
12:16.1
might as well experience the full package,
12:24.1
Since we're already talking about temples,
12:26.1
know that you must dress modestly within the vicinity.
12:30.1
Some temples provide sarongs that you may borrow,
12:33.1
just wear something that covers your shoulders,
12:35.1
upper arms, and legs.
12:37.1
This applies to both men and women.
12:40.1
If you're bleeding,
12:41.1
say you have an open wound,
12:44.1
if you're menstruating,
12:46.1
you should not enter the temples.
12:48.1
Even when there's a lot of tourism activity in the island,
12:51.1
Bali remains religious,
12:54.1
It will become apparent to you on your first day
12:57.1
just by taking a short walk.
12:59.1
In front of the houses and on the sidewalk,
13:01.1
you'll see small palm trees with flowers and food.
13:04.1
These are Chanang Sari,
13:06.1
which are daily offerings to the Supreme God of Indonesian Hinduism
13:10.1
as a symbol of gratitude.
13:11.1
So watch your step and please do not step on them.
13:14.1
Also, when handing out something to a local,
13:16.1
always use your right hand.
13:18.1
Your left hand is considered dirty and is for toilet duties.
13:22.1
And never touch anyone's head,
13:24.1
which is considered a sacred part of the body.
13:33.1
Mosquitoes are common in Bali,
13:35.1
so it's best to be prepared.
13:37.1
We didn't think of it until we checked into our hotel room
13:40.1
where we found a free mosquito repellent spray.
13:47.1
some places and some months are more prone than others,
13:50.1
but to be on the safe side,
13:51.1
just bring one with you when touring.
13:53.1
The last thing you want is to catch dengue or other mozzie-related diseases.
14:03.1
When we think of Bali,
14:04.1
we immediately conjure up images of its beaches.
14:08.1
I thought of Bali as a beach paradise.
14:10.1
But when I was there,
14:11.1
I realized that Bali's biggest assets are not its sandy shores,
14:15.1
but its well-preserved culture and inland natural attractions.
14:19.1
I was much more awed by its temples and waterfalls and cuisine
14:24.1
than by its beaches.
14:26.1
Don't get me wrong,
14:27.1
the beaches here are not bad.
14:30.1
But just to manage your expectations,
14:32.1
if you've been to other beaches in Indonesia
14:35.1
and you're expecting Bali to give you the same sparkling beach scape,
14:38.1
then you'll be underwhelmed.
14:39.1
That's not to say that you shouldn't come to Bali at all
14:42.1
because you definitely should.
14:45.1
But there's so much more to Bali than its shores.
14:53.1
I know it sounds obvious,
14:54.1
but it is very important that you know this.
14:58.1
don't do drugs anywhere you travel to.
15:01.1
But especially here in Bali
15:03.1
because Indonesia has some of the strictest laws
15:06.1
when it comes to drugs.
15:08.1
Possession is punishable by imprisonment for 4 to 12 years or
15:12.1
if the amount is big enough,
15:14.1
you can be imprisoned for life
15:16.1
plus fines of up to 8 billion rupiah.
15:20.1
the death penalty may be imposed.
15:22.1
That's not the kind of adventure you want to experience abroad.
15:27.1
In our next video,
15:28.1
we'll be sharing with you how to plan a trip to Bali.
15:30.1
Yes, that's our comprehensive Bali travel guide
15:33.1
so don't forget to subscribe to this channel
15:35.1
and ring the bell if you're on YouTube.
15:38.1
Or follow and like this page if you're on Facebook.
15:41.1
If you're feeling generous, tip us.
15:43.1
Just visit www.thepoortraveler.net
15:47.1
and we'll give you a shoutout in one of our future videos.
15:50.1
If you have questions,
15:52.1
make good use of the comment section below.
15:54.1
You can follow our messages on Instagram,
15:56.1
TikTok, and Twitter.
15:58.1
Just look for at thepoortraveler, single L.
16:01.1
If you have a Spotify account or Apple Podcasts app,
16:03.1
follow and tune in to The Poor Traveler Podcast.
16:06.1
That's all for now.
16:07.1
Remember, plan smart, travel safe,
16:09.1
and make every trip worth it!
