We never thought we’d go on a Bali adventure, honestly. Megan and I always dreamed of Europe, England, the USA – places like that. By 2014, we were still pretty new to traveling, having only been on a couple of cruises in the South Pacific.
The Plan
I was all for exploring New Zealand, either on a cruise or a road trip. But Megan? She wasn’t keen on New Zealand. She was eyeing a long trip to the USA, thinking Disneyworld and Vegas.
How Bali Came Up
Bali wasn’t even on our radar until some friends, who had moved to Darwin and frequently visited Bali, talked about it. They loved chilling in private villas, getting massages, and lounging by the pool. Sounded nice, but not quite our idea of a holiday. We’re more into exploring and experiencing new things, not just relaxing.
The Turning Point
So, why Bali? Well, those same friends decided to tie the knot – in Bali, on a beach! Suddenly, Bali was a real option for our next trip, and the kids were not coming!
Discovering Bali
Once we started looking into Bali, beyond just relaxation, we found temples, volcanoes, Monkey forests, and rice fields. Interesting stuff! Plus, we had timeshare options there, making it budget-friendly. But yeah, we had our concerns: corruption, pushy sellers, Bali belly, you name it.
Decision Time
Eventually, we decided to go in May 2015, staying for 10 nights. A friend’s wedding and some cheap flight deals sealed the deal.
First Impressions
Landing in Bali was intense – lots of drivers vying for attention. Glad we arranged hotel transport in advance! The ride to the hotel was wild, with bikes zooming everywhere and a slightly scary armed checkpoint to get into our gated community.
Exploring Bali
Our hotel was the Novotel in Nusa Dua. Right off, we had to venture out for cash and food. It was a bit daunting – dodgy ATMs, low-hanging cables, and a slightly sketchy street scene. But, getting out there helped us adapt quickly.
Every Day A New Discovery
Each day in Bali was about exploring something new. Temples, markets, traffic in Kuta… it was all an adventure. We made sure to use metered taxis and learned to navigate the intense market scene.
Final Thoughts
Bali was an 8 out of 10 for us. We saw so much, but there’s still more to explore. We’ll definitely go back. Pro tips: be ready for the airport chaos, stick to metered taxis, watch out in markets, and be careful at ATMs.
The Wedding
Oh, and the beach wedding? Absolutely beautiful.
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