Wandering Tales

If you think Bali is a great destination to visit, then you are absolutely right! This beautiful island located in Indonesia, a country in Southeast Asia, deserves all the hype it gets especially from couples who have either vacationed there or plan to, in the nearest future. When I was on my way to Bali, I thought that it would be my first and last time there because of how frustrating the journey was (I will explain this subsequently) but on getting there, I knew it was one of those places I would want to return to again and again…except that the next time I travel to Bali, I will be spending a much longer time.

“Now to the specifics…”

The most striking thing for me about Bali is the friendliness of the Balinese people. I was both intrigued and humbled by how warm and receptive they were especially because I faced some hostilities in Jakarta (the Capital City) and assumed that most Indonesians were that way. The Balinese people need a special award for being so sweet, open and heartwarming. They go out of their way to make you feel welcome. I felt completely at home in Bali. One time, in my quest to locate a hidden waterfall in Ubud, I got caught in the rain. My travel buddies and I met a nice man who gave us shelter, hot coffee and a local guide to help us locate the waterfall. Whilst this is not out of the ordinary, what fascinated me about this particular incidence were his mannerisms, disposition and eagerness to please. It felt very natural and unforced.

I would always refer to Bali as …’my Beautiful Bali’ because that place is indeed beautiful. There is such an abundance of beauty nestled in the lush rainforests, vibrant green rice terraces, fiery orange sunsets, lazy coconut trees, long sand beaches, crystalline blue waters and sleepy volcanoes. It is indeed a quintessential tropical paradise.
There is always something for you to do in Bali depending on your personality and preferences. You can decide to take a dip in an infinity pool (Bali has an abundance of them); treat yourself to a Balinese Massage; soak up some rays at Bali’s best beaches; see a traditional healer; chase waterfalls; explore the island on a scooter; enjoy some wild water sports; visit a traditional temple; take leisurely strolls on the rice terraces of Ubud; raid the nightclubs in Seminyak; spend some time with some elephants; enjoy the beach clubs; swing through the trees and the list goes on and on. Lazy or adventurous, there is something for you in Bali.

One amazing thing about Bali is how cheap food, accommodation and local transport is. As a Nigerian travelling to Bali, I was very grateful that I could have a really swell time without breaking my bank. I spent under $500 throughout my nine-day stay there and trust me, I did some really extra things (like hire a drone operator, lol) that made the total budget scale up. In essence, I am saying that you can be very comfortable on a 200$ – 500$ budget for a two-week stay in Bali. Might I add that accommodations in Bali are exceptional, from affordable hotels and AirBnB to breathtaking villas and rentals. As a tourist, you will have absolutely no trouble finding an accommodation that suits your style and budget – there are several great options to pick from. I was also particularly pleased that most accommodations offer infinity pools with jaw-dropping views.

I am very safe with food and do not try to experiment traditional food when I travel. I tried to stay safe with my food options for the first few days in Bali, mainly opting for burgers and sandwiches (boring I know) but eventually I stepped out of my comfort zone to try the Indonesian brown fried rice and boy, it tasted so gooood. Next time, I would attempt to try other Balinese delicacies.

This post would not be complete if I do not tell you about the nightlife in Bali. My travel buddies and I visited a nightclub in Seminyak and it was funnnnnnnnnn. I was a bit skeptical about going to club because I prefer to dance to Naija music (Afrobeats) at the clubs. I did not think that a foreign mixtape would get me hyped and dancing my feet away all night. I was so wrong. The energy, the vibes, the music…everything checked out good. The crowd was such that everyone really was out to have a good time. If you are ever in Bali, visit ShiShi Nightclub on Wednesday and thank me later.

“Now to the not-so palatable part of my trip.”

First, the journey to Bali was a nightmare. Asides from the fact that Bali is quite a distance, we made the horrible mistake of going through Jakarta perhaps to save cost but please for your sanity, ensure that your flight takes you directly to Bali unless your intention is to spend a few days in Jakarta.
The Indonesian Immigration in Bali are not the best people to deal with. They kept us waiting at the airport for about 3 hours with no explanation despite having valid visas…one of the many disadvantages of having a Nigerian passport..sigh.

The last thing which I didn’t find pleasant about my trip were the rains. It rained so much during my time there that I did not get to do some of the things I had planned on my itinerary because of the rains. Worse, the rains drop very heavily and rarely give any warning signs. The best months to visit Bali are in May, June and September where the conditions remain warm and sunny.