Only enthusiastic reviews full of joyful emotions are heard about this geographical point of the planet. Bali is a fabulously beautiful island with unique flora and fauna. There are also rich cultural traditions. Therefore, we can confidently say that these are real and truthful reviews of tourists. Holidays in Bali are a great opportunity to recuperate, get a charge of positive and joy.
Where to stay in Bali
The choice is small: it's either the rice plantations of Ubud or the coastal areas of the island. Away from the ocean, the infrastructure, to put it mildly, is not developed: there are interruptions in the Internet, there is practically no transport connection. But Ubud attracts tourists with low rental prices and a lack of resort fuss: life there is quiet and measured.
The coast attracts surfers from all over the world. Also, people who are simply in love with the ocean prefer to live near the water's edge. But you have to pay for beauty and convenience: prices for servicesand residence in these areas is much higher than in the "continental" part of Bali. Reviews of tourists online indicate that theft is rampant in crowded coastal areas. It is also very noisy and dirty.
In the south and southwest of Bali, life is just in full swing, and around the clock. Lots of noise, bustle, people. Not everyone likes it.
The southeast coast is much calmer. Also, the waves are not that big. It is this part of the island that is widely represented on the Internet with a large number of photos and reviews. Bali is most attractive in these places.
Renting a home
Finding and renting a house, a room, an apartment is not difficult. The easiest way is to rent a scooter or bike and ride it to the desired area. It is enough just to ask passers-by about housing. They will immediately tell you who is renting. You can search through ads on social networks (primarily on Facebook).
Many offers for renting rooms in villas or kosta.
Kost is a kind of guesthouse. Electricity is usually paid by the guest separately. You need to be prepared for poor and unstable Internet performance. But, according to the reviews, in Bali, communication with the world is not reliable anywhere.
Villas belong to elite housing. They are under round the clock security. And yet, cases of theft are not uncommon.
Moving around Bali on a moped
Bali is similar to other Asian countries in some waysregions. These territories are united by the love of their inhabitants for mopeds. Unfortunately, the movement of bikers is chaotic. There is no question of observing the rules of the road - the locals do not even know what it is.
In the summer season of 2017, renting a moped cost 800,000 rupees (4,000 rubles in our money) per month. Renting a car would cost one and a half thousand rubles a day. By the way, in order to rent a car, you need to show the rights of category B.
You can rent a vehicle without any bureaucratic delays: no contracts, just the keys are handed over. By the way, local law enforcement officers are very willing to take bribes. Tourists who have vacationed in Bali do not speak very well of local servants of the law: they like, they say, to profit from visitors.
Taxi service
In Bali, you can order a taxi through a special mobile application. But there are also many "bombs" who work unofficially. Contacts with representatives of this "caste" often end in scandal: enterprising illegal taxi drivers seek to get the maximum benefit and deceive tourists.
The services of official taxi services are distinguished by price loy alty. Last summer, a transfer from the airport to Seminyak cost only 7 dollars (about 400 rubles in equivalent). Illegal carriers have prices two to three times higher.
In addition, it is possible to call a motorcycle taxi. You will not find such a curiosity in our area.
Trading in Bali
A lot of small shops. Buyers in similarestablishments are languishing in the heat, as they, of course, do not have air conditioning. But the prices are the most attractive. There are also network sellers on the market: IndoMarket, Carrefour, Mini Mart, Pepito and others.
Tourists should be vigilant when visiting "Mini Marta": sellers in these stores do not hesitate to shortchange buyers.
And in the range of "Pepito" there are products of European origin. But this, of course, is not a cheap pleasure.
The main thing that distinguishes stores in Bali from Russian ones is the presence of a free toilet in almost every store. Free!
Internet in Bali. Reviews
Local ISPs are terrible. First, the Internet works at a snail's pace. Secondly, failures happen all the time. Often apartment owners are cunning and claim that they provide high-speed and uninterrupted access to the network. As a rule, in the vast majority of cases, this is an ordinary trick designed for tourists. One gets the impression that the island basically lacks stable and fast internet.
You can purchase SIM cards from local mobile operators that provide Internet access. In this case, for 15 gigabytes of traffic, you will have to pay about six hundred rubles (the price level of the past, 2017). But this is not a panacea: the mobile Internet also works very badly. It would seem a trifle. But this circumstance, of course, overshadows the rest in Bali. Reviews online suggest this is no exaggeration.
When is the best time to go to Bali
The high season is from May to October, that is, from late spring to mid-autumn. Going to the island in April, it should be borne in mind that you will have to become a "happy" witness to the local New Year - Nyepi. On this day, not a single institution works in Bali. Even the airport, and that one is worth it. People are not allowed to go outside. The owners of the apartments warn their guests in advance so that they stock up on provisions. The indigenous population of Bali believes that if on this special day someone goes out into the street, then evil spirits will notice this person and will run amok for a whole year. What a strange holiday!
No wonder that during the "celebration" of this peculiar New Year, many travelers leave to see the neighboring island of Lombok.
In February, Bali, according to tourists, is flooded with heavy rains. Although with a strong desire, you can enjoy a beach holiday even in winter. It usually rains in the morning and in the evening, while the weather is fine during the day. And the temperature allows you to sunbathe on the beach. Many people go to Bali in March. Reviews of tourists about the rest in early spring are also very joyful and positive. After all, March pleases vacationers with low prices for housing and food. At the same time, it rains quite rarely.
Cost of food and cuisine
The cuisine of the Indonesian islands is very diverse. The cost of food varies and depends on the level of the establishment and geographical location. Last year, you could have a bite to eat in a cafefor 450-600 rubles. For this money, they will bring 2 any dishes and 2 drinks (fruit shake or juice).
Many recommend trying the so-called bakso. This is the name of a local soup with meatballs and tofu. One serving costs only a dollar. The soup is prepared right in front of the guests. But local chefs, alas, have not heard about the observance of sanitary and hygienic standards: before starting cooking, the chef does not wash his hands, puts food on a plate with unwashed hands.
When you visit Bali, you should definitely try gado-gado (a very spicy first course based on coconut milk), fried noodles with eggs (with chicken or fish), nasi goreng (fried rice with eggs and fish or chicken).
Local drinks
On the territory of Indonesia, you can not easily buy alcohol everywhere: it is a Muslim country. Often in the menu of many catering establishments there are no alcoholic drinks at all. If you are lucky enough to find a beer, it will be sold at a very high price.
But at every step, very tasty all kinds of fruit shakes (smoothies) are sold. Drinks are prepared in front of customers. It's delicious and very he althy.
Bali is just a paradise for connoisseurs of good coffee. Here you can enjoy the rich taste of different varieties: luwak, Javanese, Balinese. There are many shops selling local coffees at affordable prices.
Local fruits
Prices for local fruits (avocado and passion fruit) are very low. What can not be said about the prices of apples and pears familiar to everyone. But almost no one takes them. Worth it or go forBali to eat pears with apples? The answer is obvious - no!
Fruits are sold by locals. They are also sold in stores. But prices in stores, of course, are much higher. In addition, local residents are happy to bargain and give samples of their products.
Excursion programs
Unfortunately, there are no programs for Russian-speaking tourists. You can join an English-speaking group. But not everyone speaks a foreign language at a level sufficient to understand the guide. But still, if you set a goal, you can find people on social networks who are ready to provide guide services in Russian.
It is better to travel and explore the island on your own, in the company of friends, by renting a car. The Internet has a fairly detailed and interesting description of all the key attractions of Bali. Reviews of such impromptu excursions are the most enthusiastic.
Of course, the Bali Volcano is a must-see, as well as a trip to the beautiful beaches of the island.
