Bali:
Returning from the Gili Islands to the south Bali tourist strip of Kuta, Seminyak, Legian & Canguu was a total shock to the system. It felt exactly like walking out of a relaxed Grateful Dead concert and stepping straight into the middle of a supercharged Electric Daisy Carnival. Barbie and I desperately needed to recalibrate both our brains and our bodies.
We hopped off the ferry from Gili Air and decided to base ourselves in the Legian area. Talk about a culture clash. Going from simple, laid-back island life to the absolute party central of south Bali is no joke. But look on the bright side—shorts and flip-flops still remain the mandatory dress code.
Navigating the Tourist Hubs
Seminyak, Legian, Kuta & Canguu make up the main tourist grid down here. Let’s be honest: this tiny pocket of Bali is really touristy. Unless you are actively seeking out a wild party scene and a Westernized vacation experience, it’s best avoided. There is virtually nothing traditionally Balinese left about it. Instead, they just keep throwing up massive resorts and heaps of trendy restaurants to cater directly to the tourist dollar.
If you do find yourself down here, Seminyak and Legian are much better alternatives to the absolute madness of Kuta. Canguu is a big digital nomads area and this one time cool little hamlet has also been absurdly overrun. All four areas are massive hot spots for Aussies, thanks to how close it is to Australia, and they come here to party hard and surf.
Waves, Beach Vendors, and the Toejam Specialist
The sweeping beaches here are a sight to see, boasting massive waves that are a real trip to swim in. Actually, scratch that—you don’t really swim here. You just jump in and get your clock thoroughly cleaned by the strong surf, which I find incredibly fun.
The local beach vendors are definitely persistent. Like anywhere else in Asia, you quickly learn the art of the polite but firm shoo-away. We try to be as kind as possible, but these guys just do not take “no” for an answer. Beyond selling sarongs, hammocks, and the usual miscellaneous crap, they offer massages, pedicures, and literally any other spa service a human mind could conceive. At one point, a lady selling sarongs took one look at my feet and told me in broken English, “I get dead skin off heels and get toejam out your big toe.”
I passed. I’m still wondering how a beach sarong vendor also gets certified in professional toejam removal.
The Great $3 Selfie Stick Fiasco
Barbie had been eyeballing a selfie stick for a few days, and she finally decided to pull the trigger. After a long-winded negotiation with the local selfie stick guy, he stuck firm at $5. Barbie, who is incredibly frugal but not exactly an aggressive negotiator, passed the torch to me. I worked the guy into a proper sweat and ultimately secured the deal for a cool $3 bucks.
Barbie was thrilled. Unfortunately, that smile instantly dissipated after taking exactly one selfie. The stick snapped, the beach guy vanished into thin air, and he didn’t show his face for the rest of the day. Lesson learned: watch out for the selfie stick syndicate next time you’re in Bali. On the bright side, I think I can improvise and turn this broken piece of plastic into a solid back scratcher.
Sunset and the Flashpacker Verdict
When sunset hits, absolutely everyone heads to the shoreline. Every restaurant sets up its own “chill zone” right on the sand, complete with food, drinks, live music, and endless beanbags to cool out on. It turns into one massive, continuous beach party stretching all the way from Kuta through Legian and into Seminyak. The best part? Everyone is incredibly relaxed. I t’s a great outdoor beach setting, and it actually lacks the loud, aggressive party vibe you might expect at first glance.
The latest craze down here is the explosion of high-end beach clubs competing for the tourist buck. This is where the hipsters flock. You’ve got famous spots like Ku De Ta, Mozaic, Cocoon, and the most happening venue, Potato Head Beach Club. Honestly, these places are a far cry from what the real Bali is all about, so we bypassed them entirely. That’s just the way we Flashpackers roll.
The Trip Analytics
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Beaches Visited: 5. It’s a massive stretch of sand with killer waves, but the water is a bit brownish. It would easily grab a 7/10 rating if it had the crystal-clear blue water found in other parts of Bali.
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Loose Stools Index: 7. A recent Nasi Campur dish (an Indonesian staple) eaten in a remote village pushed me straight to a solid 7 on the index.
Thru the Binocs – Random Musings
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Beanbag Heaven: The Balinese love their beanbags, and they are big on comfort. They are absolutely everywhere on the Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak beaches. I am still trying to decide if I’m officially a Beanbag Guy or a Hammock Guy. Both are elite lifestyle options. Honestly, if I can spend the rest of my days in either a beanbag or a hammock, life is good.
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Untapped Indonesia: Aside from the mega-popular island of Bali, Indonesia remains one of Southeast Asia’s least explored countries when it comes to backpacker hordes and mass tourism.
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The Gilis: The Gili Islands of Lombok are wildly popular for their amazing beaches and nightlife. The trio includes Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air. We managed to visit Gili T and Gili Air this time, leaving Gili Meno on deck for a future trip.
Leaving Indonesia
Our month in Indonesia has officially come to an end, and we barely scratched the surface. We covered a solid chunk of Bali and a small sliver of Lombok via the Gili Islands, but our 30-day visas have officially run out.
When we return, the game plan is to hit the mainland of Lombok. We also want to explore the island of Java—specifically Yogyakarta to see the famous nearby temples of Borobudur and Prambanan, which I hear are mind-blowing. I’ve also been getting some great tips about Rote Island from my peeps here in Bali.
Bali really is a special place despite its rapid growth. However, in my opinion any trip to Bali must be planned carefully. I guess a very brief visit to the Southern Bali tourist hotspots is a nice novelty to witness. However, when visiting other areas on the island, the real Bali will become exposed. I will never forget the genuine smiles on every single local I interacted with, whether they worked in tourism or were just living in the villages. Everyone seems so genuinely happy and content with a slow, simple lifestyle. It’s the ultimate proof that less really can be more. They have the right outlook on life—living in total peace with nature and themselves.
If you’re planning a trip, the Gili Islands are definitely worth a visit for that ultra-laid-back beach island vibe. They make the perfect contrast to a busy Bali itinerary.
The video below perfectly encapsulates the sights and sounds of a visit to Bali.
Big Doug & Barbie Drop Out of Society 