A Life
of Travel

Bali & the Gili Islands, Indonesia

As an Australian - an Australian who grew up a few hours north of Sydney in major surfing territory - my perception of Bali has always been one of a place where too many Aussies go for a cheap holiday simply to booze up and surf. Now to be fair there could be worse holidays - but I personally prefer to engage in the culture of the places I go. So I was a little trepidacious about heading to Bali for a 10 day trip with friends.

Bali gave me a much needed wakeup call. Yes it's touristy. Yes it's filled with bogan aussies. But its also incredibly beautiful, spiritual and cultural. And the locals are not yet (miraculously) jaded. It was a reminder that you need to experience it for yourself. 

So. The recap. 

Bali has something for everyone. Whether you like beautiful mountains, exceptional surf or luscious beaches. You can enjoy world class fine-dining restaurants or experience street food; party til the early hours with new friends of delight in a exceptionally crafted classic cocktail.

THE ONE THING NOT TO MISS:  Snorkelling or diving of the Gili Islands. We spent most time on GIli T (which is an exceptionally touristy party island, does not have any cars - walk/bicycle or horse & cart), but would highly recommend visiting Gili Meno for the best underwater experience. 

BEST TIME OF YEAR: June - September

RECOMMENDED NUMBER OF DAYS TO STAY:

10-14 nights

HOW TO GET THERE:  Many airlines fly into Bali's airport. If you fly into Jakarta you will need to get an internal flight to Bali (unless you have unlimited amount of time). 

NEARBY ACTIVITIES (LESS THAN 2 HR TRAVEL):

• In Bali: Ubud is only 1.5 hour drive away from Seminyak. It will cost you about INR 200,000 for a one way drop (easily split in a group). 

• Uluwatu (45min from Seminyak) is amazing - we didnt get to stay but I would recommend that you do. Its rocky, with amazing surf. 

• Jimbaran - A beautiful beach with restaurants lining the shore. It's here that most come for seafood. As far as we could tell food quality was fairly similar, so I would pick basis price. 

TOP 3 TIPS FOR BALI & GILI T

1. Gili Twarangan is a beautiful island. There are definately more tourists than locals, and the nighlife is lively. Whilst there are many bars & restaurants, each one has a main night, so follow the crowds for the best music & deals.

2. When booking a boat ticket to the Gili Islands shop around and bargain. You can usually get a return ticket (if you know your dates of travel) for INR400,000 return, INCLUDING pick up from (e.g. Ubud) to the ferry, then on return drop to either Seminyak or directly to the airport. 

3. When coming back from the Gili Islands, if it is your final destination in Indonesia and you are flying out from Bali, ensure that you come back a day early. Ferries are often late or cancelled and it can be extremely problematic - I saw several people get in trouble with this!!!

FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER: EVERYWHERE! Uluwatu is a must, as are the Gili Islands.

BASIC PRICE GUIDE (as of SEPT 2015)

Traditional Meal for Two (Street food): INR 20,000

Traditional Meal for Two (High End): INR 650,000 incl. drinks per person

Glass / Bottle Wine*: INR 150,000 / INR 400,000+++

Local Beer (5* Hotel/beach front): INR 55,000 per bottle
Local Beer bought at liquor store: INR 20,000 per bottle 

Cocktail: starting at INR 100,000

Cabs: Are generally cheap, but insist on having the meter on - else you are likely to get charged more than double. 

RESTAURANT TIP:  Whilst its definately high-end fine dining in Bali, I highly recommend a visit to "BAMBU." It's unsurpassed fine dining Balinese cuisine - worth the money!!