Ai Li Back from Bali

I was going to write a helpful for tourist-on-budget travel guide to Bali. But I'm not sure just how helpful the post will actually be. So my two cents anyway, here we go!

1) Things are really quite expensive in Bali, except for massages, if you don't mind slightly dodgy looking parlours that are actually quite clean and decent.

2) 70% of the locals you meet, even those who hound you nonstop about buying a bracelet from them cheap cheap at 1USD, are nice people. They're all just out to make a living. But there are still 30% of them who are only purely after your moolah.

Megawatt smile. Or not.

3) In Bali, give watersports a miss. Especially those at Tanjung Benoa. Too. Damn. Expensive. Try surfing in Kuta instead, I didn't try it, but I guess if you flirted a little, flash a megawatt smile here and there, you'd probably get a decent price from the many local dudes who'd be willing to give you a good price.

4) Either be prepared to spend lotsa time on the roads travelling from one place to another, ie, Kuta - Ubud, Kuta - Tanah Lot, Kuta - Tanjung Benoa because, traffic is crazy for the most of it, so you'll end up sitting in the car for more hours than you'd expect. Or, stay put at one place (Ubud, or Kuta, or Seminyak) and just do what's good to be done at that one place.

5) Also, hiring personal drivers who double as tour guides is quite the norm in Bali. Probably good to book one in advance of your trip, and just keep to that one driver so you don't have to keep building rapport with a new driver each day and just cross your fingers (and toes) that you've been assigned a nice guide. Many of them actually speak English, Japanese and/or Korean.

6) Sunsets are probably the same from whichever beach you're at. They're all magnificently beautiful.

7) Babi Guling is a MUST. Get a guide who'd take you to the local warungs instead. Denpasar is a good place to get some. Sorry not halal.

8) Skip the buffet spread and have crispy duck at the Batur Sari restaurant overlooking Mt Kintamani and Lake Batur. #milliondollarviewlunch Literally.

8) Luwak Coffee aka poop coffee, is not really poop coffee. Considering how I'm not much of a coffee extraordinaire, it tasted good but paying such a hefty price for it, I'd stick to good ol' Starbucks. But still, should give it a go, one of those once in a lifetime things.

9) Always bargain. Always. Always.

10) Just smile and be happy. People like happy people. And if you're happy, people will like you. And when people like you, they are more likely to cut you more slack. #lifelesson #true #live

Hashtagging because the travel buddy got me started on it. #thereyougo #hopeyouenjoyedit #balivacation =))