What not to do in Bali

The island of Bali is a place worth visiting. They say he changes people, makes them look at the world and their lives differently. You come here for something you want, but you get what you really need.

And so that only good impressions and stories become these, the lessons that the island likes to teach its guests, it is better to learn in advance and virtually. Today we’re going to tell you five things you shouldn’t do in Bali, and naturally tell you what to do instead.



1. Find the most profitable exchange rateThe first thing that tourists face in Bali is the need to change cash. The thirst for profit pushes many to search for the exchanger with the highest rate. Do not forget that free cheese is only in the mousetrap – if you see too attractive numbers, do not doubt, in this place you will be properly counted. Balinese virtuosos manage to unobtrusively throw up to a third of the cash, and if you check and see the difference, they also quietly put them back, recount and reset.

The funniest thing is that if you keep rechecking and find a discrepancy over and over, they just give you dollars and tell you to go change somewhere else. Paying with a card and withdrawing cash is a solution, but only partially. Many ATMs can have skimmers, especially if it is a small, separate pavilion without security.

In order not to lose money, it is enough to follow simple rules: to change currency only in official exchange offices - these are separate buildings where there is security and several windows with cashiers, they do not sell anything, only change money. ATMs should be used only in the bank building, access to them around the clock and there is always security.

It is better to pay with a card at a minimum, for example, in restaurants, but not in small chain stores. By the way, about shops; in the process of shopping, figure out in your mind what amount should be approximately, always carefully count the change and ask for a check to check that everything is punched correctly.



2. Riding a scooter without a helmet/drunk/very fast.You should not do all of the above at once. Yes, a moped in Asia is the most convenient means of transportation. But the risk of getting into an accident and getting injured is quite high. Road traffic in Bali is very dense and often unpredictable, there are almost no rules: the one who needs the most goes.

Therefore, situations when someone without looking leaves the road from the alley, turns right from the left lane and vice versa, goes to overtake on a blind turn – this is the norm. And this is not to mention the dogs jumping on the roads during the day, and at night generally sleeping in the most convenient place - in the center of the roadway. Over time, you get used to such traffic, but if you are an inexperienced driver and are used to regulated and clear traffic on the roads of Russia and Europe, driving here will be difficult.

In addition, even with all precautions, an inexperienced driver can fall simply because of the sand on the road. Insurance will help not to spend much money on treatment, but even light abrasions will pretty spoil the rest - the salt water of the Indian Ocean strongly corrodes open wounds, and high humidity delays the healing process.

The best way to avoid accidents is to take a taxi. In Bali, Uber works well, prices are much lower than the official taxi. And then there's a motor variant called the GoJeck. A convenient smartphone application allows for a couple of clicks to call the driver on the scooter, which for 1-2 dollars will take you to the right place. But if you still want to ride your own transport, it is better to rent a car.



3. Drinking cheap alcohol in dubious clubsUnfortunately, in Bali with enviable regularity skipping the news that one of the tourists was poisoned with methyl alcohol. Indonesia has very high excise taxes on alcohol, so unscrupulous owners of small bars in Kuta, the area with the highest tourist traffic, sin by diluting cocktails in the bar with low-quality alcohol.

It is important for such one-day bars to get you drunk so that the next day you don’t even remember where you had fun. Hence the shares “3 at price 1”, half-liter buckets of pina colada and similar “ tempting” offers.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t relax while on vacation, just go to places with a good reputation. Yes, it will be more expensive, but the quality of alcohol is not something worth saving on. In extreme cases, order beer in a bottle. It also makes sense to buy duty fries on the way; by law, one person can bring in up to 1 liter of strong alcohol and up to 1.5 liters of weak alcohol.



4. Swimming Where Banning Flags Stand Alone/NightAnother danger lies in wait for tourists in the ocean. Not everyone knows about such a phenomenon as scaling currents. The waves carry a huge mass of water, which is nailed to the shore and then looks for ways to retreat back. Water is collected in the so-called channels - areas with a strong current in the ocean.

On the beaches where rescuers are on duty, opposite the canals, red flags are always displayed, but on the wild beaches you will certainly not see them. If you are not sure that you can visually distinguish the canal from the safe area for swimming, do not go swimming alone, someone should look after you from the shore.

In addition, it is useful to know that once in the canal, in any case do not need to fight with it, since it is useless - the flow speed can reach 5-10 meters per second, even experienced swimmers can not cope with such pressure. Instead, you need to swim along the coast, usually the width of the channel does not exceed 10-15 meters, so very soon you will feel that you have stopped being carried away into the ocean, then you can turn towards the beach.

But it is better not to take risks and swim on official beaches, where rescuers are on duty and there are permitting red and yellow flags. Swimming in the afternoon with friends and sober head.



5. Trying to keep up.Bali seems like a small island only at first glance; the amount of entertainment and attractions it offers to its guests breaks all records. Bars, clubs, parties, shopping, temples, jungle, rafting, waterfalls, volcanoes, surfing, rice terraces, hundreds of beaches, zoos, snorkeling, diving - this is not a complete list of what you can do in Bali.

If you try to cram it all into two or three weeks of vacation, you don't get a rest, you get a race. In order not to beat your own nerves, do not try to see everything at once, do not plan to visit 5 attractions per day, you will still not have time - the island makes adjustments to any, even the most strict plans. No wonder all the locals live in a relaxed rhythm, under the scorching tropical sun, it is simply impossible otherwise.



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Make a list of what you are really interested in and focus on it. Don’t make the list too long, remember the main rule of Bali: one thing a day is a great result. A measured rest without unnecessary fuss is a guarantee that you will like Bali and want to return here again!



Author: Irina Krokhaleva





P.S. And remember, just changing our consumption – together we change the world!

Source: www.onetwotrip.com/en/blog/bali/what-not-to-do-in-bali