BALI, INDONESIA
Welcome to the infamous Bali Island, located in the heart of Indonesia. We visited Bali at the very start of our 4 month sabbatical. We mainly stayed in Ubud, central Bali, before then heading to neighbouring Gili Islands and Komodo Islands.
While the traffic in Bali is somewhat surprisingly chaotic, there are of course moments of calm and tranquility at the end destination which gives Bali its infamous reputation. From sunlit rice terraces, dreamy flower baths after a Balinese massage, exploring temples and trekking to idyllic jungle waterfalls – there is no shortage of things to do here!
Not to mention, the Balinese are some of the nicest people we have ever come across. They themselves would make it a pleasure to return here, and I sure hope we do, as we have a list as long as our arm to still tick off!
Our favourite posts about Bali:
More posts about Bali:
Bali Travel Itineraries:
Bali Useful Guides:
Bali Facts
Bahasa Indonesia is the country’s official language, however most Balinese speak 3 languages: Balinese, Indonesian and English.
A staggering 80% of Bali’s economy depends on tourism! This includes hotels, restaurants and tours / leisure activities.
The Balinese will always have one of the following four names: Wayan, Made, Nyoman or Ketut. They are in place to highlight whether you are first born, second born, third born and fourth born – applying to both for males and females! This then is followed by a “second” name of their choosing. Fun fact: If they have a fifth child, they start the process all over again!
For the first three months of their lives, Balinese babies are (quite literally) carried everywhere, as they are forbidden to touch the ground! At this age, they are considered ‘angels’, their connection to the spirits retained by not touching the ground. When they are finally allowed to touch the ground, a special ceremony is held to celebrate!
Another celebration performed is the “tooth filing ceremony”, an incredibly sacred Hindu right of passage for coming of age adolescents. The tooth filing ceremony files the person’s canine teeth (regarded as an animalistic feature), transitioning them from animal to human. It is believed that if not completed, they may be denied entrance into heaven as they may be mistaken for animals! The ceremony also looks to eradicate the 6 human evils (called Sad Ripu): anger, greed, lust / desire, jealousy, stupidity and ill-will.
The Balinese is the only place in the world to celebrate the New Calendar year across a 6-day festival called ‘Nyepi’. Spectularly, Day 3 of 6 is the official ‘Nyepi Day’: A day of silence, meditation and fasting for the Balinese. For this day only, the whole island shuts down. No work, no driving, no walking around, no flights, no shops, no restaurants! All inhabitants and visitors must stay inside, ensuring all light sources and audio device volumes are kept to an absolute minimum! It usually takes place in March every year. It is said to protect Bali from evil spirits, fooling them to believe Bali is an deserted / uninhabited island.
Fact: Local guards (known as Pecalang) are specifically deployed to ensure Nyepi rules are in place over the island.
Bali is home to the world’s most expensive – and somewhat unique – coffee. Called ‘Kopi Luwak’, the coffee bean is collected from the excretions of a Civat Cat, a timid cat-like mammal from Asia. The Civat cat is renowned for its fine taste of only the ripest, finest coffee cherries – though its system does not digest the actual coffee bean itself.
The Indonesian waters surrounding Bali are home to a staggering 3,000+ species of fish – double the amount found in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef!
Bali Capital City:
DENPASAR
Bali’s capital city is Denpasar, located in the South of Bali! Located in Denpasar is Bali’s main International Airport: Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS)
Bali Weather & Seasons
Bali has two distinct seasons: Wet and Dry Seasons. Despite this, expect hot and humid temperatures of 26-29°c throughout the entire year. The only main difference is the amount of rainfall and the resultant implications that may have on certain activities.
Dry Season
Bali’s ‘Dry Season’ occurs between April – September. Chance of sporadic rainfall reduces significantly in April descending into Dry Season. May is Bali’s hottest month, averaging a maximum of 29°c, and is still relatively quiet. Glorious sunshine continues into June, still with fairly low tourist numbers. July – August averages 10 hours of sunshine with the least amount of rain, though now high season has well and truly started, it will be far more busy and full of tourists. Look to go inland to Ubud during this time, seeking relief from the crowds and hot weather. September is predominantly dry, wit clear skies and sunshine, with crowds slowly falling as the European Summer ends.
Wet Season
Bali’s ‘Wet Season’ occurs between October – March. October hints at the Wet Season with an increase in sporadic rain, though still enjoys pleasant weather. The rainfall gets in full swing in November – March, January being the wettest month. During this period, Mount Batur and mountain trekking are not advised. In February, diving and snorkelling are greatly reduced due to resultant rough seas and poor visibility. March’s humidity is intense as the average temperature increases to 27°c.
Bali Wildlife
Long-Tailed Macaques
Spotted roaming all across Bali, head to the Sacey Sanctuary in Ubud to see them wild in mass numbers! Be careful – They are expert thieves and will steal anything attractive and shiny, like jewellery!
Bali Starling “Jalak Bali”
A critically endangered bird originally found in North West of Bali. Being the rarest bird in the world (only 6 left worldwide in 2001!), they are now only found in Bali Barat National Park, guarded by armed personnel! There are currently intense operations to reintroduce the captive-bred Starlings to bolster Bali’s wild population. Beautiful birds with striking white plumage, bright blue around their eyes and black-tipped wings.