An enthusiastic Bali traveller has shared more than 50 reasons why she didn’t want not to come home to Australia after visiting the Indonesian hotspot.
With international borders finally reopening around the world, Australians are flocking back to their most beloved holiday destination.
Bali has been waiting for its regular influx of Australian visitors ever since the pandemic closed the door between us and Indonesia.
If you’re in need of any further reasons to throw on your Bintang singlet and practise your scooter riding, an avid Bali supporter has shared not one, but over 50 reasons she doesn’t want to come home from the tropical paradise.
Kay Ward, 31, from the Sunshine Coast, took to the popular “Bali Bogans” Facebook page to share her pros/cons list of returning home from her current Bali trip.
With only three pros – those being regular use of tap water, beloved pets and a lack of monkeys trying to steal things – Ms Ward had over 50 cons about returning from the Indonesian hotspot.
The “cons” of returning to Queensland, she wrote, included general politeness shown in Bali towards visitors.
“Randoms on the street don’t say good morning to me, people don’t offer me a lift for $1, even though I only have 500m to walk to the pub,” Ms Ward wrote about Australia.
Other cons to returning included not being able to sit in a sunset bar pool while sipping on cocktails if she returned home.
“I have to go to the toilet and can’t pee in the pool (admit it, you’ve all done it),” she wrote as a con.
She fondly reminisced about her experience on a “beer cycle” where she had one too many drinks.
“(In Australia) I don’t have a local Beer Cycle on a Thursday night that will drive me around for 2 hours while I drink as many drinks as I can, cheering at people on the streets, only to get off at the end of the tour and realise how many Bintangs and Smirnoffs I’ve demolished and realise how drunk I actually am,” she wrote.
“Then scootering all the way to Mexicola, only to realise the place is a sauna and all the unlimited Bintangs have gone to my head and that going home is probably the best idea I’ve had all night.”
“Then the next day when you’re hungover as hell, watching the Beer Cycle do its next tour and seeing a bunch of drunks in Hawaiian shirts and Bintang hats yahooing and you’re that sickly ill from the night before, you sit and think “what a bunch of bloody Bali Bogan drongos” forgetting that you were in that exact seat last night.”
Ms Ward, who first visited Indonesia pre-pandemic in 2019, has just returned from a three-week holiday and has mastered the art of being a Bali tourist, offering those planning their first visit some valuable information.
“Use reputable money exchangers, don’t drink water, use gojek for taxis. Bag snatching is a big thing over there,” Ms Ward told NCA NewsWire.
“Book a driver,” she said.
“I use “like a sunrise transport”. The lady who runs that is Aussie, she does everything. Just tell her where you want to go, what you want to do and she’ll organise the tours.
“See the sights. Tip everyone. Barter for everything. Respect the culture.”
Ms Ward said any solo travellers looking for some fellow Australians to “hang with at night” should go to Billy’s 69 pub in Legian.
“It’s where all the Aussies go,” she said.
“Live music every night, great cocktails and everyone is super friendly and inviting to solo travellers.”
Ms Ward finished her pros/cons list with an urgent message for those about to travel.
She expressed the importance of supporting the locals who’ve done it tough through the pandemic, and urged travellers to stop complaining about airport delays.
“They’re doing all they can. Everyone is understaffed, please just be thankful that we can travel again. Don’t take things for granted. Life is way too short,” she wrote.
“If you can, please get back over to Bali. Support the locals after Covid. If you can afford a $5 tip every meal, do it. Tip if you can, shop as you please, book tours, see the sights, enjoy the luxury and understand the culture.”
“Do what you can, say please and thanks, respect their culture, listen and laugh, be happy and enjoy everything Bali has to offer.”
Our Apps