I think it’s safe to assume that Bali’s heightened popularity as a tourist destination has a lot to do with the huge success of Eat, Pray, Love. Before Elizabeth Gilbert made her way to this seemingly tranquil place, Bali was just another Indonesian island. However, I’m not surprised people are flocking there following her search for peace and balance – and the beautiful scenery in the picturesque movie. I must confess, it’s one of the reasons why I recently chose Bali as a holiday destination.
Ask any past tourists what they think of Bali and the answer is generally the same. “Oh, I loved Bali! It’s so beautiful, the people are so friendly, the food is so cheap and the culture is so rich. I definitely want to go back there.” And while that’s all true, there’s something that no one ever tells you. Bali is busy… very busy.
If you go to the right places in Bali, you’re likely to find yourself in an oasis of serenity. There are tropical beaches, interesting tourist attractions, lush rice terraces, yoga retreats, tranquil spas and luxurious hotels. And it’s relatively easy to lose yourself in these spots and forget about the rest of Bali. But venture outside… and hot, humid Bali hits you with all its hustle and bustle.
In fact, the hustle and bustle started from the moment we stepped off the plane into the airport. After queuing for two and a half hours with hoards of other excited tourists trying to get through immigration, I was rather worried the taxi driver wouldn’t be waiting for us anymore. But, at least, it would be easy to find him if he was still there. After all, I was sure there would only be a small group of taxi drivers holding up signs for passengers. Boy was I wrong!
We were greeted by a sea of faces all looking for assigned people whose names were printed on the sheets of paper they were holding. There were easily 300-400 taxi drivers all jostling each other as they clustered together on the other side of the barrier at the airport exit. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. How on earth were we supposed to find our driver in this throng of people!? Fortunately, he was still there and we managed to find him after searching high and low – and reading many signs – as we walked through the gauntlet. What chaos!
Sightseeing in Bali is also no picnic. There was a day when my husband and I spent over ten hours touring. Of this time, only four hours was actually spent exploring Bali’s temples and treasures. The other six and half hours were spent in the car either sitting in traffic jams or racing at breakneck speed from one point to another. The traffic is insane! The narrow, single carriageways are packed with scooters weaving in between the cars and buses. Road signs are non-existent. There are a few traffic lights, but they seem to be used at each driver’s discretion. Overtaking anywhere and everywhere (even on winding mountain passes) is standard practice and, of course, don’t forget to honk your horn. Frankly, there was a point where I was just hoping I would make it out of Bali alive. I’ve never seen anything like it!
And, if that’s not enough to keep you on your toes, there are reminders everywhere that Bali is constantly under threat of natural disasters. There are active volcanoes – one of which had a minor eruption two days before we found ourselves standing at the foot of it. Gulp! Plus there’s the risk of earthquakes and tsunamis. And don’t forget about the floods and cyclones.
This is the side of Bali that people don’t tell you about. Yes, Bali is an island paradise to some extent. And, after all is said and done, it is beautiful and has its own charm. But, when visiting Bali, it’s probably best to wrap yourself in an oasis and stay there. Otherwise, you might just get more bustle for your buck than what you expected.
Audrey Whyte 
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