
Once upon a time there was a faraway land steeped in magic and mystery.
A land of a thousand temples where people lived in harmony with the divine, the demonic and the domestic. A place were daily life was celebrated in architecture, music, art and festivals honouring the spirits. A place far away from the invasion of the Western World, some called it Heaven.
Not so far from Western Australia, it’s a bit like Spain is to England when it comes to a holiday destination easily accessible from Perth.
That mystical land is the small tropical island called Bali.
Yes, it’s still steeped in magic and mystery and it’s still situated faraway at the end of the Malay Archipelago, less than ten degrees south of the equator, sandwiched between Java, to the west, and Lombok to the east. But times have changed and no more is it far away from the corruptions of the 21st Century.
Some people love Bali, others hate it, because over the years, like many other holiday destinations, it has inextricably altered, and any trip to Bali should come with a few warnings, that is if it’s going to be a happy holiday and live up to expectations.
Bali today
On the ethereal side of things, everyday life in Bali is woven with gods, demons and spirituality. Physically the land can be wracked by volcanic eruptions, violent seas and monsoon rains making the paradise often seem more like hell. Geographically away from the maddening crowds of the south the island is still lush, rice terraced and exquisitely beautiful, but there is an underbelly of darkness in Bali that wasn’t there when I first visited thirty years ago and perhaps it’s associated with the march of the western world.
Do I still want to visit?
Of course.
Should my expectations of paradise be curbed. Absolutely.
One of the great things about living in Western Australia is that we are so close to this tiny tropical Isle making it a quick-stop holiday destination. Amazingly it takes less time to fly to its capital Denpassar, than it does to fly to any other Australian city.
Geographically Bali is just three and a half hours flying time from Perth, but because it is so different to everything Australian it feels a veritable world away. It might in comparison be poor when judged by materialistic Western terms but it is rich in culture and art, and steeped in complex spirituality and mythology.
Arguably one of the most beautiful islands in the world its fertile volcanic soils give rise to what might be described as a tropical tsunami of flora.

The biggest plus is that you are just under four hours away from a completely different culture where sights, sounds, smells and experiences are exotic and unfamiliar. Another primary benefit is that you’ll find that nearly everything is less expensive than in Australia, and this goes for almost everything from food, drinks, trips and merchandise.
So what do you get?
First and foremost, a completely different culture.
An abundance of exotica.
Loads of interesting things to do.
Blue seas with gentle waves or if you prefer, good surf.

Less jellyfish than Australia, and they also say, ‘no man-eating sharks’ (but don’t quote me on this!) which is comforting for surfers, divers and snorkelers.
Incredible sights – imagine acres of neon green rice terraces and palm trees that stretch towards the heavens. The sort of green and verdant sights that are a gorgeous shock after the dry open spaces of WA.
5 Star hotels for less than the price you’d pay for a regular self catering cottage in Western Australia.
Bintang Beer (love Bintang beer!)
Bloody good nosh at incredibly cheap prices.
A playground of culture and also holiday excitement. Everything from 8th Century temples to water sports and elephant rides. You want it? Bali can probably provide it.
Hassle – at least once you’re outside the hotel gates.
Water that you shouldn’t drink from a tap.
An environment that is not as clean as somewhere as pristine as WA.
Heaven and Hell
It’s surreal really to be flung in such a short time, from the wide open, clean spaces of WA into the hectic, bustling, crazy, incense filled, tropical, often dirty, third world.
And it’s lovely.
Or horrible.
As you wish.
Over the years I’ve become more of a Five Star Hotel Bali fan rather than Ketut’s-Kitchen-Stall-by-the- roadside-type-of- girl, which I was, when backpacking in Bali in 1983, and how different it was then.
I think to way back then and I thought I’d found paradise. The quiet shack lined streets (yes even Kuta), the exotic smells ranging from frangipani to lemon grass, the unspoilt villages, the colours like a tropical aviary or an artist’s palette of sea blues and rice terrace greens, and the smiling friendly Balinese people, they all completely stole my heart.
Paradise lost and regained
These days the Kuta area is a chaotic fusion of scooters, trucks, cars and people trying to sell you things. Anything. T-shirts, DVD’s, trinkets, gift items, illegal chemicals, girls … you name it, and it will be for sale. It’s the place where young Australians go to play on a shoestring (as they always have) but now it’s super hectic and not very nice anymore.
At Nusa Dua, the tranquil spot on the south coast that was created specifically as a haven for tourists (with fatter wallets) you can expect the Five Star Bali where hassle is taken out of the holiday equation. And it’s gorgeous, but be warned it’s likely to take you a long time to get anywhere else.

These days, travelling from Nusa Dua to the factory outlets or the beach at Kuta in a taxi can take anything from a respectable 30 minutes, up to two hours, and travelling to the artistic mountain village of Ubud took us over two hours. In 2009 we did the journey in 1.5 hours whereas in 1983 it took about 40 minutes.
Traffic aside, there are still glimpses of the old, magical Bali that I remember although you need to travel further afield away from the south and wander up the east coast or visit the black sandy beaches of the north.
Once you get away from humanity, everything in Bali is voluptuous, bigger and brighter than in other places. Bali induces superlatives. It’s been called the split gate to heaven and Garden of Eden . You’ll be surrounded by palms and giant, waxy red and yellow flowers which hang like sculpted carvings from banana-type palm trees.
There are lilies, big white affairs and smaller feathery ones. There are hibiscus flowers everywhere along with the ever present frangipani trees, their sweet, cloying scent hanging suggestively in the air, or perhaps wafting from right behind your ear as you are offered yet another bud with which to decorate yourself.
Touts, Tourism and Religion
Daily life in Bali is indelibly linked to satisfying and appeasing not only the Gods but also the spirits and demons. There are approximately over twenty thousand temples dotted across this tiny tropical island and everywhere you look or don’t look you’ll come across small offerings of rice dedicated to both gods and demons; these are garnished with flowers set in small cupped palm leaves, and you need to be careful not to step on them.
You are likely to be stopped and tikka’d with rice on your forehead during a car journey into the mountains, and a prayer will be uttered for safe travelling, offerings might be purchased by the driver and more prayers will be said. Both comforting, and a little disconcerting as you gaze down a mountain abyss.
One day we visited the ancient Besakih Mother Temple located in the foothills of the still active Gunung Agung volcano, which erupted and spewed lava around the area in 1963.
Early in the morning when mist still hung over the mountainside it was peaceful, cool and other worldly. We encountered a few tourists, a Balinese prayer procession, and plenty of touts.
Be forewarned: 8th Century heaven has merged with 21st  century hell. For you pay to enter the area, you pay for the WC, you have to buy or rent a sarong, make a donation to the temple to get in, and pay a guide. And you have to bargain for it all excepting the official entrance fee.
Yes, there is always an ‘angle’ to obtain money from tourists in Bali, and you will have to decide whether this puts it into a heaven or hell category, because hagglers are persuasive and it can be wearing. At the very least you need to go prepared with patience and some degree of bartering power which takes into account both paying a reasonable price so that the seller can earn a fair wage, and on the other hand ensures that you are not heftily ripped off.

When to visit Bali
Just south of the equator, Bali has a tropical climate with two seasons a year; wet and dry. High season is between June to September when the weather is warm and dry. The average temperature is around 28 degrees Celcius.
Go, if you can before it’s really too late – the dry season is preferable, but the shoulder seasons just before the monsoon and after are less expensive.
Bali has long been confronted by disasters like floods and earthquakes, but the foreign invasion of tourism, that seems to be both its economic saviour and its spiritual slayer is ever present and there is evidence of yet more huge hotels growing like mushrooms. The island is getting busier, and I wonder how long the beautiful Balinese spirit can hold out against corruption. The people, the land, their art and architecture are visual statements of the harmony in which the Balinese live with one another as well as with their gods and demons, but the inescapable march of the 21st Century is chipping away at this harmony, blow by blow from the southern part of the island upwards.
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23 Comments
Hi Jo, I first visited Bali with a girlfriend 37 years ago. Our losmen was 60 cents a night, in a twin room with out own “bathroom” and squat toilet. Then Marty and I stayed there for a month on the way back from 9 months in U.K./Europe about 32 years ago. I would love to return, but Marty wants to remember it the way it was. It certainly holds a special place in our hearts. I love all of your photos, but the squirrel one is hilarious.
Lovely to hear about your interactions with Bali, Jan. Imagine, a losmen for 60 cents a night, just amazing! It’s certainly changed, although don’t lose heart, some of the more remote places still offer glimpses of the ‘old’ Bali. Thanks for your kind words, and glad you liked the squirrel photo!
Hi Jo,
This post brought me back to Bali. Especially the water photos.
I have been there quite a few times but have’nt explored some of the places you wrote about. I am glad it’s only 3 hours away for us because I would love to go back soon to do more exploring and go to those places you mentioned 🙂
Thank you for the beautiful photos. Just gorgeous!
I love the squirrel! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the post Aggie, and that it brought back some good memories. Hope you get back again to do some more exploring too. Thanks for commenting.
Great post Jo. Interesting, informative, and showing both sides of Bali. I have been a couple of times. People either love it or hate it. For Western Australian’s it is a cheap holiday to a tropical paradise. Unfortunately it has been tainted in recent years. I wish I had gone years ago before Western Civilization stepped in. If I go again I would like to go up to the hills away from the crowds.
ps – and beautiful pics!
Thanks Jill, yes the march of time has a lot to answer for! Going far away from the crowds is def the way to see the ‘real’ Bali 🙂
Thank you! For the most part … It’s very easy to photograph!
It looks heavenly in your photos 🙂
Thanks Annabel. I tend towards the heavenly too 🙂
Great article Jo.
I first visited Bali with some friends in 1981. Kuta and Legian were friendly and easy to manage. We also went to Lombok at that time which was very unspoilt and uncommercial. There is no doubt Bali has some amazing natural beauty and the Balinese people are lovely and gentle spiritual folk but the effect of the ugly Westerner has spoilt Bali in some way and the last time we went the hassle of bargaining and saying no wore me down. If we went again it would definitely be to one of the quieter spots.
Thanks Lee, and thanks for your memories of Bali too 🙂 Yes, the quieter spots are the best for me too.
Hi Jo, We had a memorable stay in Nusa Dua some years back – it was actually quite reasonable because I booked it through trailfinders with my round-the-world ticket and got a very good deal. Unfortunately, the part of the hotel we were staying in set on fire. Every one got out unharmed but it was certainly a trip to remember! I’d still go back there and seek out those quieter spots you mention.
Jeepers Tracey! That must have been hectic! I wonder which hotel you stayed at? Yes, it’s definitely still a trip worth doing, especially to the quieter places.
Hi Jo,
1991 was the first time I went to Bali, returning next in 2001 & numerous times since.. the split gate has been a part of every journey.. the highs & lows, joys & frustrations that is Bali & travel through South East Asia.. We keep returning 🙂 There is something magical about the people, the places, the culture.. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Simone 🙂 I’m glad you keep returning to Bali because it is a wonderful place with something magical about it. Here’s to your next trip! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I visited Bali a year ago and here are my thoughts of the island. I think the island is absolutely beautiful. I don’t understand people who say that Balinese people are always nice and lovely. I found staff in hotels and resorts to be so, but on the street, I just kept encountering pushy people who wouldn’t leave me alone. Having said that, I am sure that people who have no or little connection to tourism are lovely.
Because of the pushiness, I found myself staying as much as possible in my resorts. If I had to go back, I’d do so to enjoy staying in one of the many beautiful resorts in Bali, which means I won’t really be back because for me the point of travelling is to go out and explore places and see things, something which I felt uncomfortable doing in Bali. Just my 2 cents.
Thanks for your thoughts, Denise. Definitely something that other travellers should be aware of 🙂
Thank you for an insightful and honest account of Bali Jo, not like the one depicted in ‘Eat.Pray.Love’ which is as close as many of us get to see!
I would love to visit one day and your tips and advice will definitely come in handy.
Thanks Ciara, yes, Eat Pray Love depocted a v ery different Bali. Glad you enjoyed my version.
Thanks Denise. Very pertinent points 🙂
Hi I’m traveling to Bali early Nov staying inUbud and Gili Air any recommendations would be appreciated. Lady travelling alone
Hi Suzanne, so much to do in Ubud. You might like this post I wrote on Lifestyle Fifty – https://lifestylefifty.com/where-to-stay-in-ubud-bali/ which will give you ideas on where to have meals out too.