Bali, Indonesia: A Love-Hate Adventure

Where to Stay (If You Must)

🟢 Sanur – Chill, local vibes
A quieter coastal town on the southeast—perfect if you’re over Canggu’s chaos. Think early morning beach walks, older locals, and less TikTok energy.

🟢 Nusa Lembongan & Nusa Ceningan – The hidden gems
Two smaller islands a short ferry from Sanur. Clean beaches, fewer people, and a slower pace. Ceningan feels like a private oasis if you book right.

🔴 Canggu / Seminyak / Kuta – Enter at your own risk
Ground zero for crypto bros, digital nomads with ring lights, and Aussie bogans on Bintangs. Fancy resorts are surrounded by filthy streets, mid beaches, and soul-destroying traffic.

Getting Around

• Scooter Rental: A$6–A$10/day. Best if you’re comfortable risking it. Helmets optional (but not really).
• Taxis & Grab: Cheap, but gridlocked. A 15km trip from Denpasar Airport to Canggu can take 3 hours on a Sunday.
• Boats to Nusa Islands: Ferries from Sanur to Lembongan/Ceningan cost A$20–A$30 return.

Getting to Bali

Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Denpasar is the main hub, well-connected to Australia, Asia, and beyond.

• By Air: Direct flights from Sydney (~6h, A$300–600), Singapore (~2.5h), or Jakarta (~2h).
• By Ferry: From Java, ferries to Gilimanuk take ~1h (A$10–15), then a 3–4h drive to southern Bali.

The Bali Experience

✅ What’s Still Good

• Sanur Boardwalk: Peaceful sunrise walks, mostly free of TikTokers.
• Massage & Spa Culture: A$10–A$30 for a legit hour-long massage.
• Bali Food Scene: Authentic Indonesian food if you skip the avocado toast cafés.
• The Nusas: Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan are what Bali used to be—clean, quiet, and real.

❌ What’s Overrated

• Canggu’s Nightlife: Watered-down drinks and influencer meetups disguised as raves.
• Yoga Studios: 3x the price for half the soul.
• Ubud’s Monkey Forest: Cute until they steal your sunglasses and pee on your backpack.
• Digital Nomad Cafes: Slow Wi-Fi, overpriced coffee, and podcast bros at every table.

“Bali is a destination chewed up by tourism and spat out into hashtags.”

My Bali Vlogs

From the reality of digital nomading to the serene Nusa Ceningan, these vlogs capture Bali’s highs and lows.

Reflections from a Traveller

As an Australian, I’m used to beaches and laid-back vibes, but Bali’s a different beast. It’s a paradox—beautiful at a glance, a headache once you’re in it. The Nusa islands and Sanur gave me moments of peace, but the chaos of Canggu and Kuta reminded me why I hesitated to return. Bali’s not paradise—it’s a situationship. You’ll probably go back, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Travel Essentials

Cost Breakdown

Final Thoughts

Bali’s not the paradise it’s cracked up to be, but it’s worth a look if you know where to go. Skip Canggu’s chaos, head to Sanur or the Nusa islands, and embrace the irony of it all. Share your Bali stories in the comments on my YouTube channel or via my contact form!

Want more honest travel takes? Check out my Kyoto travel guide!