Going to Bali? Here are some tips

Shaken, not stirred (see below)!

One incredible asset of living in Singapore is the physical proximity to dozens of interesting countries, and I recently took advantage of this to visit Bali, the “Island of the Gods,” over the holidays. I’m not sure if I’ll ever go back (too many other places worth visiting), but I would definitely make sure to do a few things differently if given the opportunity. Bali is one of the prototypical vacation destinations, and, if you’re considering a visit, I’ll make a few suggestions:

1. Befriend the local monkeys

Pay a nominal entrance fee at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (Jalan Monkey Forest) and roam these hallowed grounds of a Hindu temple complex for as long as you’d like. The monkeys are tame and adorable yet surprisingly brave when confronted with tepid visitors holding bananas! Don’t worry when you amble into other monkey gangs, either, they’re familiar with tourists.

Monkeying around

Low-fives on Mount Batur

2. Hike the Tjampuhan Valley

There is a great walking trail just outside of Ubud offering great views of the Balinese landscape. You’re sure to encounter plenty of coconut trees, rice terraces, and friendly locals along the trail.

Tjampuhan Valley Trail

Cocos nucifera

3. Eat at Naughty Nuri’s

Undoubtedly, there are many travel guides recommending this charismatic roadside stall, and it’s for a very good reason. Naughty Nuri’s (Jalan Sanggingan) specializes in barbecuing meats of all origin, especially ribs, which they prepare on a smoky charcoal grill along the road, front and center. (If you are, how shall I say, “food conscious,” you might consider an alternative vegetarian restaurant, Kafe.) Here, it’s required that you indulge yourself. In my case, I ordered one enormous hamburger and one dry gin martini, and I’m fairly certain it will be the only time in my life I simultaneously consume a bourgeois burger with a high-class cocktail in a rickety shack! (Note: you also must try the local Indonesian delicacies, including nasi campur, nasi goreng, satay, and many others.).

Naughty Nuri's

Enormous, delicious burger

4. Sleep in a rice field

There is an abundance of terraced rice fields throughout Bali, and you should settle for no less than a hotel room overlooking these community-owned agrarian relics. If you go outside of the busy season (1. Christmas holidays and 2. July to September), you might consider going without a hotel booking and sourcing the perfect spot once you arrive. If you’re going during peak, I would suggest that you book a room at Tegal Sari (Jalan Hanoman; +62 361 973318) far in advance. It is, hands down the best value for money.

Now, isn't that serene?

5. Shop yourself to death

Bali is a place where the traditions of craftsmen are alive and well. In an era of mass, cheap industrial production, we should carefully guard these havens of authentic craftsmanship. In Bali, this means carpenters, masons, and artisans are all working feverishly to produce interesting pieces for you to pick up! There is an incredible density of shops selling their wares in an area called Tegalalang, north of Ubud along Jalan Raya Andong, but you can also find many comparable shops in central Ubud. We found one terrific shop that produced furniture made with wood salvaged from old fishing boats!

Envison your new coffee table.

6. Intuitively explore the countryside

Finally and, perhaps, most importantly, you should get out into the rural areas to explore the wealth of Balinese architecture and community life. Just don’t trust any tour guide with the task. I’ve been on a lot of “sightseeing tours” that could be more aptly called visits to those destinations offering healthy kickbacks to our guide. In one episode, a guide offered to take us to a coffee plantation and we agreed to visit based on his description. After arriving, we realized it was a small house with three coffee trees and an elaborate souvenir shop, serendipitously available to all of the tourists stupid enough to submit to itinerary meddling! In the end, it’s often better to buy a map, ask a local waitress, or consult a travel guidebook about the places to visit. In Bali, you can rent a car or motorbike for a few dollars, and it makes the unstructured process of exploring so much more enjoyable!

Easy rider!

Temple architecture