Insider’s Guide to Bali

Jenn: [00:00:00] hey, everyone, and welcome back to the Travel Mug Podcast. This week, we're really excited to dive into a destination that we haven't been to yet, and that is Bali. So we are joined by Silvia, founder of The Good Observer blog, a free website for female solo travelers going to Bali and other destinations in Asia.

Silvia's been living in Bali for several years, and she has so much wisdom to share with us about planning a trip. So welcome, Silvia

Silvia: Hello. Thank you so much for having me. I'm very excited

Jenn: Yeah. So like I mentioned, you've been living in Bali. What was it about Bali that made you want to stay there rather than just visit, and how did you end up traveling there in the first place?

Silvia: So at the time, actually, I used to live in London. I lived in London for 10 years, and I think it was probably heavily advertised. I don't know. Somehow it got to my brain and I thought, "Let me try. Let me try and see what is it like." And I only had 10 days, [00:01:00] and I think between seven and 10 days is a good start anyways. And, as soon as I got to my accommodation, I just had that sense of peace I actually never experienced before. And, and I thought, "I don't want to take this for granted. I want to investigate a little bit more." And also from day one, I got involved into Balinese culture. So I've been invited to a ceremony, and it's... Balinese culture is so interesting and intriguing and fascinating that I think that played, you know, a really big role, um, the first time I went. , So I didn't have, um, you know, that kind of expats experience. I just met locals on day one, and I fell in love with that peace and that different way of living.

I was very, very interested. And so from that I understood that I wanted to move there. But then it took me three years, 'cause that was [00:02:00] seven years ago when I went the first time. And then slowly it took me three years to adjust everything and leave my job, and then move there eventually

Meggan: Amazing. That's awesome. And I think, you know, a growing sense, uh, a- among certain people that Bali is overrated or over, um, traveled to. And of course, you know, you see this in a lot of popular tourist destinations now. You clearly disagree, but it also sounds like you've maybe had a different experience right from the get-go from most people. What do you think, you know, people are missing when they say that based on their experience versus maybe how you've experienced it right from day one?

Silvia: Yeah, I love this question. I think it's very important to talk about this. And yeah, I've, I've listened in other travel podcasts as well that travelers would say, "Oh yeah, Bali's overrated," and all of that. We could stay here for hours because it's very... really touches my heart. But I think [00:03:00] is, uh, there is this reality online and on social media of Bali that is really just a bubble. Uh, it's not what Bali's really like. And, and definitely is, is crowded. Yeah, it's crowded, but not everywhere. It's very touristy. , If you go in certain areas, of course, you're going to feel like you didn't really get much out of it because there is no culture left. It's just heavily Westernized. So I understand how some people would go in certain areas like Seminyak, Kuta, Canggu, and come back and say, "Oh, it's not worth it," but they just went to the wrong place. That's, that's what I think. Yeah

Jenn: Yeah, I think that's really important to highlight that when you're planning your trip to, like, get out of those pl- places where it's basically only tourists at this point, or at least, like, overrun by tourists. So I wanna talk about slow travel. We're gonna mention in a minute that you have [00:04:00] a slow travel itinerary, but what does slo- slow travel mean to you in the context of Bali?

Like, is it traveling more slowly, or do you feel like it's a different experience of, uh... a different way of experiencing a place?

Silvia: I think it's a completely way of experiencing a place, like you said. Um, it's really following your intuition and doing what it feels good rather than what it looks good. Especially if you visit the areas of Bali that are more cultural, which is literally everywhere except for those places. Um, you, you get fully involved immediately, and you have a beautiful experience. And also something, I mean, something silly that I started to do recently, maybe I would watch a beautiful sunset, and normally you just move on and you think about the next thing, and I just got some watercolors. I'm terrible at painting, but that doesn't matter. I just want to see the colors more and the reflection of, you know, the, those colors in the water and all of this.

Just [00:05:00] taking everything in more. Otherwise, time goes by very, very fast. You come back home and you think, "Did that even happen?" You

Meggan: Hmm

Silvia: about staying in less places, but really sink in where you are and ask questions and get involved and always say yes, and also really engage with locals more than finding expats, because what was the point?

Like, you want experience a different way of living, feeling different things, being in a situation where you don't understand anything and you're worried or, you know. Put yourself in that situation because I think that's where the real growth and, you know, deep experience happen. I always say that a really good trip is when you come back home with at least one more question answered, and I think when you come back from Bali...

First of all, no one goes one time and never comes back. Everyone goes back. And also, you always come back with a lot of question answers, and answers of questions you didn't even [00:06:00] have in the first place. So it's a transformative experience, I think, you do it in the right place, in, yeah, if you go to the right places

Jenn: Yeah. I think that it, travel, especially nowadays, you know, we're in the, the era of travel blogs and podcasts and Instagram posts, and travel can start to feel like a checklist, that it's like, "Okay, saw this, saw this, saw this." And I love the idea that you're like, "No, I'm gonna sit here and I'm gonna paint the sunset, and I'm really gonna, like, soak all of this in and, like, really, really enjoy it."

'Cause it- you're right, it can be easy to just, like, okay, onto the next thing, go to the next thing, do the next thing, and you forget to, like, sit there and enjoy it

Meggan: Yeah. No, I agree, and I, I think that I, I have s- I, I probably was like that when I was younger, where I was just like, "Okay, what's next?" Like, what's next? I had a lot of, like, anxiety of itinerary. Like, what can I do now? Like, what do I have next? And I think as I've aged, and I think that's one of [00:07:00] the good things for myself, is that, you know, I try to take that mental picture.

I try to take those few extra minutes to sort of say, "You may never see this again or experience this again in your entire life," and like, what does that mean for you and how can you try to remember this? And I think that that's a, a really great way to put it. And I also think what you mentioned about going somewhere and not just looking for Westerners or people from where you're from.

Like, I didn't come didn't come here to see people. It's happened, but I didn't come here for that, and I think that that's really important too, is immersing yourself. And think I'd love for you to talk about th- the itinerary you've sort of built around this as well, because you mentioned in the beginning how you felt seven days, seven to 10 days for a first trip actually makes, you know, good sense, and you've created a, a seven-day, like, slow itinerary for first-time visitors.

So why do you think seven days works, and why did you feel the need for this particular kind of itinerary, other than the fact that we can tell you're sort of passionate about the fact that people should try to [00:08:00] immerse themselves and like enjoy it in a different way?

Silvia: So I think I've met a lot of these, all those women in person, so it's not just, uh, an online thing. I met them in person, and actually even here in Italy. So a lot of people that actually read my content online, um, they are not just first travelers in Bali, but they are first time... like, first travelers in general. So they are obviously, they are worried, they are excited, but they're also concerned. And so they've never been that far, and all of that. And so I always say take step by step, if, yeah, if you only want to go for seven days in the beginning, you can totally do that and have an amazing experience. So don't put yourself into a month, you know, abroad if you are feeling a little bit anxious about it.

You don't have to. And like I said earlier, you will go back for sure, So it's completely doable just in seven [00:09:00] days. Obviously, the first few days you might feel jet-lagged a little bit, but you're in the right place to be jet-lagged. Because you can just relax, have good food, you know, no stress. should I go through some of the itinerary, even if I

Jenn: Yeah

Silvia: through ex- just a

Meggan: give us a sense of it for sure

Jenn: Yeah

Silvia: Thank you. So basically, this itinerary is very controversial. Let me start with this. Because even if you've never been to Bali, you probably know of Ubud being the cultural hub of Bali.

So every other person who has been there before or is a Bali sort of expert would say, "Go to Ubud," and I'm the... for the first time, I'm saying, "Don't go."

Jenn: Oh

Silvia: and it's pretty controversial, even for my, for my own website, because I think, um, something that travelers really struggle with, if they've never been to Bali before, is that Bali is growing so fast [00:10:00] that changes even between three or six months. Sometimes I go to a place and it's completely different. I live there, and I'm telling you, Ubud is a little bit stressful, you know. Of... during the, the dry season, which is also the, the high season, it's very busy. I'm not saying don't go, because I do have the option on my itinerary to do a day trip, but don't be based there, because it's espe- A lot of people go to Bali because they feel burned out and all of that.

You will still feel burned out if you go there you know? So you could stay maybe outside Ubud. So I skipped it entirely, and I know it's controversial, but trust me, there's a reason for it. So, um, that's why I start the itinerary with Sidemen, which is, uh, not too far from Ubud, it's kind of still completely in the countryside.

It's beautiful, relaxing. If you want, you can still go, you know, visit Ubud for only one day if you feel like you want to spice it up, the itinerary. But [00:11:00] Sidemen is the perfect place to be and start with, because you can relax. Maybe you're jet lagged as well. And you can do a cooking class and stay in a homestay and really follow the steps of the family, you know?

The family of the homestay or the place where you're staying is going to be your own family, so they will invite you to their family prayers, their ceremonies, and you do whatever you want, and there will be animals, fireflies during the night. You can see the lighting up. It's, it's just such a beautiful experience, and you can in- mm, just join whatever they suggest, or you can just take time for yourself, do watercolor, meditating, like anything. but whatever I suggest in the itinerary is a little bit far from the busy areas, but you can still go if you feel like you're curious to see it or if you want to do some experiences, you know. Um- Yeah, so it starts there, and then we move to a fisherman village 10 kilometers south [00:12:00] of Amed. I love that village because there used to be an harbor there, so all the fishermen speak perfect English. Um, it's not there anymore, and there are literally no tourists anymore. But that, that is beautiful because you can really have long, long conversations and get to know what do they fish, what happens during the day. It's so eventful. You would think, uh, nothing happens. Everything happens if you're a fisherman.

Like, sometimes they get lost, and they come back after months, and when they're back, their family already, uh, they've done their funeral already and moved on completely. And these people come back, and they're like, "What? Who

Meggan: Oh my goodness

Silvia: It's so exciting. It's, it's so much fun. But again, if you want to go to Amed or other places, you can still go.

If you don't feel comfortable driving the scooter or anything, no problem. Everyone else drives a scooter, so the family can take you everywhere, or they know someone else. So everything is doable. [00:13:00] Yeah, and then at the end, I, I recommend staying in this beach town, Sanur. It's a little bit more known and touristy than the other places, but it's the perfect base if you want to go to other islands.

There are two really famous islands next to Bali, Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. Everyone goes to Nusa, uh, Penida. overcrowded, and it's not as nice as Nusa Lembongan, I guess. So I recommend going there maybe for a day trip or, um, yeah, to see what is it like. It's very close. It's beautiful, amazing beaches and all of that, and it's also close to the airport, so you don't have to stress out, um, you know, when you have to go back to the airport.

You're 20 minutes away, so it's perfect. It's a really good base. And obviously, I do a lot of... I give a lot of options, even to stop on the way, because you would have a driver. And which is very affordable, by the way. And yeah, you can ask, "Can you stop here for a [00:14:00] moment?" All of that. They would do it. They are used to it.

So, uh, and these are, again, not touristy thing to see, so this is fun, I guess

Meggan: Excellent. Yeah, no, I, I really like that, and I think, you know, y- you sort of sound like you understand people. So meaning will suggest this place that's way more relaxing, but here are some options 'cause I know you're probably still curious, or you may still want to do this. And I think that, you know, that, that says a lot about you, but I think it also is, um, you know, really important to give people those options, but also steer them a bit away from where everyone else goes, and I, and I, I really love that.

And I think even a- going back again, when I was younger, I thought I need to go where everyone else goes, and I do not feel that way uh, anymore. There are too many people everywhere. So I, I really lo- I really love, uh, sort of how you've laid that out.

Silvia: Thank you. I think it's very important because it's your time and your money. It's your holiday. [00:15:00] And, um, when you come back home, you want to h- to feel that difference, you

Jenn: Mm-hmm.

Silvia: you only have it if you push yourself maybe uncomfortable situation or even, but always safe anyways. Bali's super safe, especially for women. But yeah, really interact with locals. Uh, you, you would ask so many questions because there's so many, there are so many things happening. You think, "What's happening there? What is, why is that that way?"

Meggan: Right

Silvia: know. So it's very easy get into that situation. You have to op- be open, obviously

Jenn: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Yeah, I think that that's really important to, to be open, and yeah, I agree with, like, asking questions, 'cause it is a culture that is so different from es- you know, especially us. Uh, Meggan and I are in Canada, and even for people in Europe, like, it is just a, a really different way of life, and, and it is important to be curious and, and learn about it.

Um, a- and I think we've already mentioned a [00:16:00] couple of things, but what do you feel are some ways that visitors can discover the less touristy side of Bali or the other, any other things, um, that we haven't mentioned yet?

Silvia: You know, this is very difficult to find out, and I'm glad that you asked this question because like I mentioned before, Bali keeps changing over

Jenn: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Silvia: even something that I would have written last year is not relevant right now.

Jenn: Mm-hmm

Silvia: I, I try to update my articles as much as possible, but I guess it's very important to see...

That definitely if you go to the library and you see, you know, a book, w- b- a guide about Bali of 10 years ago, don't do any of those things. It would be a nightmare, you know? It's full of people. So I guess, like, I'm... I d- I'm not really on social media that much, Instagram not that mu- I only do stories, but, like, if you see some people that are in Bali, maybe look at those things.

Like, try to see what is it like at the moment. So I try to do that a lot with my website and also my [00:17:00] newsletter. I send a lot of newsletter saying, "This is what Ubud looks this month," you know, or

Meggan: Hmm

Silvia: Canggu. Like, I

Jenn: Mm.

Silvia: to keep it very realistic, because it keeps changing over and over again. But, um, I would say don't over-plan anything, and when you're there, don't d- there's no need to go to a famous temple.

They're all the same. The ones that are less known, they're just better because there are no tourists, you know? And for example, my favorite temple is the, is, is called the Bat Temple because there is a cave full of bats. is no one there, only locals, and it's the most beautiful temples I ever been.

And a beautiful temple, for me, is just, um, a temple with locals praying, you know? rather than what it looks like. It's how it makes you feel. Maybe there's a priest there or, you know, it's just, it's a beautiful feeling to be there. So [00:18:00] don't over-plan everything. Whatever you see or you hear once that you're there, then follow your intuition and go there, you know? That's how

Meggan: Yeah.

Silvia: approach it.

Meggan: Yeah, I think that that makes a lot of sense too. And if you're immersing yourself with the locals, oftentimes they're the ones who are gonna say, "This is a better spot for you to go to anyway," because they would know much more than you would from a guidebook or even, like you said, from information from maybe even in, in the last year. I think something that I wanted to touch on, and I think, you know, Jenn and I were both interested in, you mentioned to us that ceremonies and cultural events are more meaningful for you than maybe yoga retreats or, or those popular places. Um, what is it about those experiences that stayed with you and had such an impact on you?

Silvia: So I've done both, I have to say. I like meditations, yogas, and retreats as well. Um, but I really felt like I've had a much deeper [00:19:00] experience praying with the family in the morning. You know, they pray three times a day, 6:00 AM, 12, and 6:00 PM. and or going to a ceremony, I just come back feeling so relieved and so just...

I don't know. I'm not religious at all, but it, it just, it really hits you.

Jenn: Mm-hmm.

Silvia: and, and they're free, by the way, whereas yoga retreats are very expensive. And I, and I think I'm gonna come back brand new. It never happens. Um, but, um, I've had... A few months ago, I went... I was in Sidemen, actually, and the owner of my homestay, she is a priest, and she invited me to the family prayers in the morning.

And try to picture this, but it was 6:00 AM, obviously the first prayer. You have to shower before going to the prayer, and you could see the sun coming up just behind the temple, and all the incense, you know? It's, it's full of incense [00:20:00] during the prayer, and the reason why they light the incense is because that's how the prayer reach- reaches the gods is through the smoke of the incense.

And then because it was a priest, it was a different experience because they would ring the bell and do the mantras all the time, and then you would get blessings and the rice that you see on Balinese people on your f- on their forehead and here. You also have to ingest some if you want. Um, but it was such a beautiful experience 'cause it's a mix of meditation, self-awareness, and how to find that harmony with your past, with your ancestors, and it really reminds you of who you are because I feel like, although I live in Bali, sometimes I feel empty, you know, inside, and I can get slapped by any email or any stressful thing, you know?

It's because I forget that I have a past, that I am a person, you know? Y- I don't... You know? When you feel that emptiness, I feel like a ceremony and a prayer and [00:21:00] everyone is there, we are all on the floor, you know, praying together, it's beautiful. It's very powerful, and I think also because the togetherness, we all find the time, and all the flowers, and it's, it's just a very, very deep experience. there's nothing Westernized in that, and it's very pure and, you know. So I always found that you, you should say yes every time to say, "Oh, do you want to come join us?" Well, why not? Obviously you would have to, you know, borrow their clothes unless... I have my own outfits now, but you would have to cover your legs.

Um, but they will give you everything-

Jenn: Yeah, I,

Silvia: outfits, by the way.

Jenn: yeah.

Silvia: flattering colorful

Jenn: Yeah, so, uh, I, I wanna ask, like, how can a visitor experience, like, a Balinese ceremony or cultural event, and, um, the, how not to treat it as, like, a tourist attraction? Like, [00:22:00] what kind of etiquettes and behaviors, like you mentioned, like dressing appropriately

Silvia: Yeah. So they, the, the ceremonies and prayers are purely religious, so there's nothing touristy, uh, about them. So you can... Yeah, it's not many tourists join them actually,

Jenn: Okay

Meggan: Ooh.

Silvia: Um, because a lot of people don't care, but I don't know, I don't know why. It's, it's so beautiful. It's very fascinating, and it's fun as well.

Even funerals are amazing. There is so much color, so music. It's, it's, it's such a joyful day. Um, I don't know how. But anyways, very easy to get invited. Like, sometimes I wish I didn't get invited b- because maybe I had some plans, and I'm like, "Oh my God, no. Please, no. I'm not ready today." Um, but guess I ask a lot of questions. As soon as you go to a home stay, [00:23:00] even in the reception, the first thing you will see is a Balinese calendar, and that already looks weird because their calendar is six months, not 12.

Jenn: Oh.

Silvia: And it just looks like something that complete... So you then ask question, "What is that?" Like, "How can I get one?" Or like, you know. Um, and then they would say, "Well, there is a ceremony tomorrow. Do you want to join?" Or, "We're doing this. Do you want to come?" So if they say that you are open, they would invite you to absolutely everything, and that's amazing because they can explain to you everything. And then once that you get it, then if there is a public event...

So if it's a private ceremony, you have to get invited. If it's public, uh, and you see it in the village, you can just join, but you just have to make sure you cover your legs. You can go with a T-shirt, but then you have to put, like, a sarong, which is this

Meggan: Mm-hmm.

Silvia: long, um, of fabric basically, uh, or a microfiber towel. No one [00:24:00] would tell. Um, and just join, and just do whatever everyone else is doing. But I really liked your question because you kind of have to distinguish what is a touristy thing from what is not a touristy thing. And, uh, like I said, ceremonies are always very real. But if you go to a Kecak Dance, for example, which is a fire dance, that is 99.9% a touristy thing.

It's beautiful, but it's only for tourists to see, you know? And it's a show. You have to pay for it, you know. Ceremony is not. You just join. so those are the things that you have to think about. Yeah.

Meggan: Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. And I can see how, um, you know, there, there would be a difference, A, the, the paying for it. But B, something that is really important to the Balinese people is definitely not something that most tourists are like, "Yes, I need to go to that." But someone who's curious, I can also see why you would, uh, get invited, and it does sound like a really amazing [00:25:00] experience to me.

And I'm not religious at all either, but I still think it would be spiritual, and I think it would be a, a, a, a deep experience that, you know, that sounds amazing. I wanna just switch gears for a moment because, of course, if someone is going to Bali for the first time, I think, you know, accommodations can be a stress point for people.

Like, what, what could be a good choice for me? And I know everybody's needs and interests are individual, but in your opinion, of course, having lived there, what type of accommodations would you suggest for a first-time visitor to Bali?

Silvia: I would recommend homestays because they're mostly family-run, and a lot of them are within a Balinese compound, so it's the land of that family, so there would be so much going on. And every day something happens, I'm telling you. Or maybe there's a dog, a duck, or roosters, you know, and they're all into their own journey doing things. Um, so that's a lot of fun, and also, [00:26:00] I always feel like I'm treated like a daughter. You know, maybe there's a problem, I don't know how to, set up my SIM card, or this happened. They would come to you saying, "What happened? Tell me" Or like, "Who was that person? Where are you going now?" Like, they're so curious.

They want to know where you're going, where have you been, what you've been up to,

Jenn: Mm-hmm.

Silvia: of this. Um, they're super afford... They're super affordable, homestays, and most of the time in my blog I just recommend homestays, and I put pictures and how it made me feel. If it was safe. It's always safe, but, um, was it comfortable, you know, good location, and all of that.

So especially if you're on your own, I feel like you're really, um, warmly looked after in these places, and it's easy to meet other people or just locals very, very easily. But you can also switch things a little bit up, like if you want to have, uh, if you want to have one night in a beautiful resort, you can, you can do that as well. Um, but I feel like homestays are still very, [00:27:00] very clean, comfortable, most of the time breakfast and pool included, and maybe for $20, like that. Um, and so I normally recommend that. Because in a big resort, especially if you're traveling alone, you might feel a little bit, you know, lonely or something. Uh, whilst homestays, it's like you're at home. It's your new family. You can ask everything. Um, yeah, it's very easy for them to just ask you to join them, um, or help... You can ask to help, or if, if there is something going on, you can s- you can ask questions. They're more than happy to answer. And that's also, by the way, the same with drivers.

Don't be worried and, or, you know, you don't feel like it's awkward if you ask questions or what's going on around. "Oh, it looks really busy. What's happening?" And he would say, "It's a ceremony". It's normally the case. It's a ceremony. "Oh, can I

Meggan: Uhum

Silvia: Can I...?" You know. They would say yes.

Jenn: Yeah. Yeah, I think that, um, I think that home stays are really [00:28:00] unique in that way because you do get, um, like immediately immersed in, in the culture. And, um, like you said, if you really want to, um, learn more about, you know, how the Balinese people actually live and, and their culture and their ceremonies, like that's the best way to do it, is to just be with them.

Silvia: Exactly. Especially if it's your first time maybe traveling alone.

Jenn: Mm-hmm

Silvia: that you can ask any question constantly. It's like it's your mom. "So what, what about, you know,

Jenn: Yeah

Silvia: that?" You know? Sometime I cry as well. It's, it's all... They've seen me, like, in all conditions

Jenn: Just like your real family. Yeah. Yeah

Silvia: they're very, very sweet. So I just like that. So you know, I w- I want to be looked after like that, especially if I've never been to that country, you know, before. Um, when I went to Bali was the first time me going to Indonesia altogether. Bali, of course, is [00:29:00] completely different from the rest of Indonesia. Uh, it's the only place that is, is Hindu, like Balinese Hindu, uh, whereas the rest of Indonesia, it's, it's amazing, obviously, but it's, it's Muslim. So you would have to just keep in mind to dress in a different way and, and all of that. So Ba- Bali's pretty unique, and actually a lot of people think that Bali's a country. It's not, obviously. Yeah,

Jenn: Yeah.

Silvia: part of Indonesia. Yeah

Jenn: yeah. Um, let's talk about packing because especially for us coming, uh, from Canada, it's a long way to go, and so we really need to be smart about what we bring with us. So what do you recommend that people definitely pack when they're visiting Bali, or maybe something that they shouldn't bother to bring?

Silvia: Okay, okay. Um, something they shouldn't bother to bring is definitely high heels. There is just no occasion to wear them

Jenn: Good to know. Yeah

Silvia: would, you would break one in, like, two seconds as well after... There are holes all [00:30:00] over the place, so I'm just glad I haven't fallen into a hole yet by walking on the street. Um, one thing especially for women is definitely bringing tampons, because it's a little bit of a taboo there, and, um, it's not, it's not sol- It's only sold in really touristy areas, because they know that it's- we, we buy them. But if you go to a supermarket and you go in the pads section, you're not gonna find them, because they are literally hidden. So even when you go to the supermarket, that's- you have to ask, because it's a, it's a treasure hunt, quite literally. So if you bring them from home, it's a lot better. Also, because obviously they've been imported, so they are pretty expensive as well. So it's a lot easier if you just bring them. Another thing, and I mentioned that before, is the microfiber towel. It's like, it's a secret tool that I use for everything. So [00:31:00] you can shower, go to the beach, go to the temple, join, like, whatever ceremony is happening that is a public one. Not all ceremonies you can wear whatever you want.

You have to wear the you know, Balinese outfit.

Jenn: mhm.

Silvia: if it's a more of a royal one or maybe it's Galungan or Kuningan, which is, like, specific ceremonies, you have to wear specific colors. So you need to ask. But in, in general, if maybe your driver asks, uh, ask if he can just stop for a prayer in the temple quickly, you can say, "I'll come with, and I do have a microf- uh, microfiber towel, you know, just to wrap around," so you can go. And the other thing is, especially when you come from really far away, and I talk about this on my, uh, blog as well, you can actually shower during your layover. There are a lot of airports that have free showers, and you feel like you just came back to life after a shower, you know, before another a- uh, flight.

You know? It makes so much difference. So you can really use that towel everywhere. [00:32:00] Sit on it, you know, when it's uncomfortable. Great. Another thing is SPF. It's a bit expensive in Bali, so obviously I have to buy it there because I live there, but it's expensive. So I always stock up a little bit before going back every time I'm in Europe.

Jenn: Mm-hmm.

Silvia: and if you're going to in the rainy season, definitely bring a raincoat, um, that feels comfortable. Because they sell these really cheap ones for a reason. They break the day after.

Jenn: No

Silvia: the first rain, you can't use it anymore. So if there is one you already have, it's comfortable and there is elastic bands by the wrists especially, otherwise the rain comes from here when you're in the scooter, and it goes everywhere. So if there's an elastic band here by the wrists, perfect. So these are the most important things. And obviously light clothes and everything. Last thing is to just bring a shirt like this one, light, for when maybe you are in a [00:33:00] cafe or somewhere, the AC is very strong, to just to cover yourself a little bit. Or if you're on the scooter at nighttime going from one place to another. A shirt is more than enough. So that's very useful

Meggan: Excellent. That's what I call insider tips because those are, those are some things that obviously you, you probably mention them on your blog as well, which we'll talk about. But I think that that's, it's amazing when someone lives there and is able to say, "These are the essentials." I, I really love that. the next question really, I, I know you won't know for the world, and people have to do their own research, but talk to us a little bit how, uh, you were able to move and live in Bali, and, you know, typically do people need a visa? And again, I know that that's probably individual per country, but talk to us a little bit about that side of things.

Silvia: Yeah, so in general, you can get, uh, a visa called visa on arrival,

Meggan: Mm-hmm.

Silvia: and it's about 35 US dollars. [00:34:00] Um, and you can stay for one month with that visa. Then after that, you can either the classic visa run somewhere else and come back, or you can extend it. You can also, um, apply for a visa that is two months instead of one month. I find it difficult to apply for that visa. The, the official immigration website doesn't always work. Like, a lot of online, um, like, kind of government-related websites in Bali. you have to be very patient, and it almost never works for me. So I, in the beginning, when I s- when I didn't have a solid visa, I used to do the visa on arrival, and you can also buy it at the airport when you land there.

Obviously, it changes, like you said, country to country, so you have to make sure you know what to do. But I like the fact that you can buy it there as well, and you can pay cash or card or anything. there is an ATM there as well, so [00:35:00] in case you don't have, uh, Indonesian rupiah straightaway, you can cash out.

Sometimes the Wi-Fi doesn't work even at the airport. Also, some, yeah, some... Everything could happen even at the airport in Bali, so you have to be prepared for everything. And then there are different kinds of visa. For example, if you're working remotely for a company, there is a remote worker visa that is one year.

There are different things to do. Um, there are a lot of really good agencies in Bali, but you have to know them. You can't just... there are a lot of scams, so you can't just go with whatever. I would say go with the first visa fir- the, the visa on arrival first, you're, if you want to stay longer. Meet people there, find a good agency, and then, uh, see from there. Yeah. It's, it's not that difficult. It's very easy

Meggan: Excellent

Jenn: Yeah, that's really good information. So I want our listeners [00:36:00] to have a key takeaway from the episode. So what do you tell someone who says they're going to Bali for the first time? What's the advice you might give them?

Silvia: I think be open to everything once that you're there. Um, talk to everyone, like I said. Uh, Grab drivers, the, most common way to move around is by scooter with a driver, and those people will ask you, "Where are you from?" They are so curious, "Where are you from? W- what's your name?" Like this. Ask questions back, you know, um, because they are so happy to share everything. So always ask, um, don't be afraid, and when you land, you have... As soon as you land, you have to feel like you're home, um, because that's how it is. Everything is solvable, even if there is whatever issue. Um, so yeah, follow your instinct and, and all of that.

Another thing that I would say, maybe not many people talk about it, Bali belly is a thing. You could get [00:37:00] it. So I would say, especially i- if you're just visiting one week, don't eat salads that week, you know? Um, because they don't, as a rule of thumb, they don't really wash vegetables with, uh, filtered water. Um, so I normally be- like, nothing has ever happened to me eating local food because it's cooked over and over again, so nothing happens there.

But if you have fre- fresh food, freshly cut, it's, it's a bit dangerous. and same when you brush your teeth. It's better if you use a water bottle

Meggan: Good to know.

Silvia: know, every- everything adds up, you know? You might think it's a small thing, but that plus the salad or a smoothie that you had before, gonna happen.

Jenn: Yeah

Meggan: if you're there for a week, you want to avoid that

Silvia: Yeah, you will survive without salad for a [00:38:00] week. There are other things, yeah. definitely don't be scared to eat Balinese food. Maybe not from a stand that is on the street, just because I've seen them washing plates, they don't really wash plates.

Jenn: Hmm.

Meggan: Right

Silvia: if you go to a warung, which is a family-owned, uh, kind of restaurant and bus- and business, first of all, it's very, very affordable, and also it's delicious. So anywhere that you read warung, go. It's, it's totally fine. It's delicious

Jenn: Mm-hmm. Awesome.

Meggan: And we may have covered this already, but just to sort of finish things off, what common mistakes do you feel first-time visitors make? So you've talked about, you know, things you would say to people who are going for the first time, but what are some things you would say to sort of maybe not do during your trip to finish things off?

Silvia: Okay. Don't expect to receive the service or don't [00:39:00] expect all those things that you would expect in your own country because you are somewhere else. Don't expect anything, actually. That's the best way to put it. Don't expect the boats to be on time, anyone to be on time. No one cares about the time. Remove your watch. Don't look at the time. Just go with the flow, you know? Because sometimes, for example, the boats, they just wait until a certain number, so you could stay there one hour, five hours, two minutes. You don't know. It depends on how many people are coming. Um, Balinese people, they just think about today, not tomorrow, next week.

They don't care at all, and they just live the day, and you can tell, but there's a lot to learn from that as well. that's really important. And then the second thing that I think is very, very important, um, your room comes with its own geckos because they there. They lived there before you, can't pretend that you go there and they're just gonna leave.

They're not gonna leave, [00:40:00] so you just have to be with geckos. Ants, they're always on a mission, so if there's a lot of ants together, they're doing something, and then they will leave. They clean everything before they leave. I swear sometimes I think they have a Hoover because they clean up so well. So maybe an insect died or something interesting w- there.

They would go there, clean it up, and leave, so don't worry about ants as well. don't leave your food around, you know, or outside. Monkeys would come and, and eat it. Don't leave anything precious. I remember one time I was in a nice resort in Uluwatu, and a monkey came and unscrewed a light bulb even.

I don't know what she's gonna do about it , but maybe she need it for her own villa. I don't know. But they steal everything, so if you think, "Oh, surely they're not interested," they will be interested. Don't leave it outside. Um, I see as a mistake a lot of people would say, would leave a bad review at the accommodation or hotel saying, [00:41:00] "No, there were lizards inside."

Of course there were lizards. They were there before you. You are the intruder, actually. You... And, and trust me, the geckos are the ones you're gonna miss the most when you will leave. Honestly, you would say, "It's so quiet here in London. What's... Why? feels off." Yeah, so just embrace it, and that's why, um, you're in a different place and you're not in your home, to experience a different way of living, and it's okay if sometimes maybe you don't sleep perfectly, you know? Just, um, experience everything.

Jenn: Mm-hmm.

Silvia: all, yeah, just an experiment, and, and see how you feel

Meggan: I love that

Jenn: Yeah, I love that too. So, um, we've talked about your, your, um, free seven-day slow travel itinerary, so tell us where our listeners can find you online and learn more and get that itinerary

Silvia: Thank you. So this is, like you said, it's a free itinerary to [00:42:00] download. Uh, I don't know if it will also be in the description box, but if you go on my website, it's just on the homepage. It's very easy to find. Um, my website is The Good Observer Blog. Um, it's the same for social media, uh, handles. I don't do Instagram that much.

I only do stories here and there. Um, but I recommend subscribing to the newsletter if you're curious. And, um, you know, a lot of people go back to Bali as well, so it's not just about, you know, before going to the trip, but also when you're back from the trip, you still want to know what's happening and, you know, there are so many weird things happening all the time. Um, like for example, they don't wear pajamas. Did you know that?

Jenn: Oh

Silvia: PJs are not a thing. So it... Yeah, everyone, they received that newsletter and they were like, "Wait, what?" And I said, "Yeah, just in case you wanted to have a PJ business in Bali, don't do that. No one is gonna buy one."

Meggan: No one wants your PJs

Silvia: Exactly, no one. Um, but and then I have YouTube with [00:43:00] the same handle, The Good Observer, uh, and that's all basically,

Jenn: Awesome.

Silvia: yeah, that's

Jenn: Yeah.

Silvia: me

Jenn: Perfect. Yeah, those will be in the show notes, so anyone can, uh, click on those and, uh, get the itinerary, and sign up for your, your newsletter as well. Awesome

Meggan: Definitely. Well, that is it for this week's episode. Silvia, thank you so much for taking the time to come on the show, talk about Bali. Um, it isn't a place we mentioned earlier that we've explored here on the podcast or in real life for that matter, so I know our guests will find this information very useful, just like Jenn and I did. As for us, you can always find us on our website travelmugpodcast.com, on social media @travelmugpodcast, and you can buy us a coffee to support us. The link is in the show notes. Or leave us a review on Apple or Spotify. Again, thanks so much for joining us, and until next time, everyone, bye.

Silvia: Bye. Thank you so much

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