Bali – Leo’s View

When we first landed in Bali, I was expecting that deserted tropical island vibe—white sand, crystal clear water, the whole deal. Turns out, the reality was a bit different 😅. I knew it was a tourist hotspot before we got here, but I definitely didn’t expect it to be this extreme.

That said, I really liked our first place. We stayed in a quiet village near Canggu, specifically in the Pererenan area. What I loved most was the peace and quiet—no bars, no shops, no loud clubs. But if we ever wanted to dive into the city chaos, Canggu was only about a five-minute walk away. My dad picked this spot on purpose, and I have to say, he nailed it 🙂. Plus, we had our own pool, which ended up being a trend for all three of our stays in Bali.

Canggu is one of the most famous spots on the island, mostly packed with young people and couples. It’s loaded with restaurants, bars, clubs, and just a ton of stuff to do. On our first day, we headed down to the beach, and the first thing that hit me was the waves—they were massive. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s hard to even capture on camera because they look way smaller on video than they do in person.

The second thing that caught me off guard—and something I had no clue about—was the sheer amount of trash, especially on the beaches. The ocean washes it up every single day. It’s not just organic stuff like coconuts or bamboo; it’s plastic, nails, bags, cans—you name it.

It’s not as bad near the resorts and restaurants because the staff keeps those areas clean. But in the more remote spots where nobody’s around, the trash is everywhere. Honestly, I think this is something people need to know before visiting Bali because you hardly ever read about it unless you’re specifically looking for it. I can totally see how it would put some people off from even getting in the water.

We even saw a couple doing a wedding shoot on the beach, and they were desperately trying to angle the shots so you couldn’t see the trash 😅. I get it, but seeing a wedding shoot in the middle of all that garbage felt pretty ridiculous.

Another thing to keep in mind is that November, December, and January are the rainy season here. It rains every day, but it’s not as bad as the weather apps make it out to look. You can’t really trust the forecast—it says it’s going to rain 24/7, seven days a week, but usually, it just pours once or twice a day for an hour or two. Sometimes the rain is actually a relief when the sun’s been beating down on you all day.

While it’s freezing back home in Slovakia, it’s consistently between 75–85°F (24–29°C) here, which is a huge plus. Though for some, the humidity might be a downside. When it rains, the temperature only drops maybe 5 or 6 degrees, and there’s almost no breeze. Back home, a summer rain might drop the temp by 20 degrees, but in Bali, it’s like a greenhouse—even if it’s 80 degrees, it feels more like 95.

What I really like about Bali is that you have this tropical island where you can experience spiritual life and beautiful nature, but the second you want a night out, you’re in the right place 😄. Some of the clubs here are world-class, they’re open seven days a week, and they’re packed even on weeknights. I’ve seen a few of them now, and I have to say, the “bang for your buck” is great. There’s a huge variety of music and endless ways to have fun. You can also get into all kinds of sports—surfing is the big one here. I gave it a shot, but it wasn’t really my thing.

As for the prices, Bali is super cheap—even cheaper than I expected. To give you an idea, a pack of cigarettes back home is around $4.50; here, it’s about 80 cents 😄. If you’re a smoker, this place is paradise. There isn’t as much street food as in Thailand, but you can find food markets on your phone and just hop on a scooter to get there.

Alternatively, you can use an app to order pretty much anything for a great price—usually around $3 to $6 depending on what you get. You can have everything delivered to your door: food, drinks, even medicine. And it usually shows up in under 30 minutes.

If you’re just here for a two-week vacation and aren’t strictly budget-conscious, there are plenty of high-quality restaurants along the roads where the food is amazing. Prices in those spots are roughly what you’d pay in Bratislava or maybe a bit less, so nothing crazy.

If you’re planning a family trip to Bali, there’s one—and in my opinion, the most important—thing to mention: you basically don’t walk anywhere. The infrastructure just isn’t built for it. There are very few sidewalks, and when there are, they’re narrow and usually blocked by a parked car or scooter. You’re constantly stepping out into traffic and having to watch your back because the locals drive pretty wild.

That’s why almost everyone gets around on a scooter or uses apps like Grab or Gojek for a taxi, which usually costs less than a dollar. If you want to go for a run or a romantic stroll, stick to the beach, because walking the streets is a struggle.

As for the people, they’re incredibly nice and friendly—sometimes a little too friendly 😄. On a typical day, if you’re walking along the road, scooter taxis will constantly pull up next to you with the same line: “You want bike, bike?”

Same goes for massages—on every corner, there are girls from the massage parlors calling out, “Massage, massage?” They can be pretty pushy, sometimes even grabbing your arm to try and convince you 🤣.

Basically, when you’re walking down the street, you’re like a walking ATM to them, and you’ll get attention from the locals everywhere you go.

When you first arrive, it feels like something out of a fairy tale—the locals are always smiling, greeting you, and you feel this massive wave of hospitality and positivity. It might be because their standard of living has gone up since the tourists started coming, and they know they rely on us, so they stay welcoming.

But what I really don’t like about Bali is how much the island has been ruined by tourism. The locals know people come here to spend money, so almost every attraction has a price tag. You have to pay for everything, and I don’t even know where to start.

For example, those famous jungle swings over deep ravines that you always see on Instagram—you have to pay for those too. One thing that’s actually more expensive here than back home is the gym. There are plenty to choose from, and we picked a mid-range one near our place. It was a decent gym, but a monthly pass cost me about $45, which is what I’d pay back home—and honestly, the quality wasn’t even close.

Still, I’d definitely want to come back to Bali someday.

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