Bali — an islet that’s on every rubberneck’s pail list. But how do you end up then? In our case, it was a last- nanosecond decision, a bit of frustration with Bangkok, and a whole lot of adventure.
This blog documents our entire trip from Thailand to Indonesia , our first prints of Bali, and the reality behind the ‘ islet life’ that everyone dreams of.
Bangkok to Bali Why We Left Thailand Early
We originally planned to spend weeks training in Bangkok after Phuket. But reality hit hard
1. Bangkok is just like any other big megacity — crowded, chaotic, and filled with business logjams.
2. The gymnasiums weren’t as open and vibrant as the bones we had in Phuket.
3. exchanging took too long, making everything inconvenient.
So, after 5 days, we reserved last- nanosecond tickets to Bali and decided to continue training there.
City | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Phuket | Open gymnasiums , fitness culture, beautiful strands | Limited megacity life |
Bangkok | Big megacity, accessible installations | Business, pollution, lower fitness- acquainted |
Bali | Promised adventure, strands, training | Over-commercialized, chaotic business |
Quilting & field Struggles
Tanveer’s First International Trip, My 100th Country
For me, Thailand was my 100th country. For Tanveer, it was his first transnational trip ever talk about discrepancy!
While I was used to field chaos, Tanveer was ** stressed about every little thing ** — from check- in baggage to immigration.
Bag Check- in Drama
- Allowed Weight 25 kg
- factual Weight 32 kg!
- We removed a pack of whey protein and a brace of jeans — ever reducing the weight by 4.5 kg ( which made no sense).
- They were charging ₹ 7,000($ 86) for redundant baggage , so we ever managed to repack and balance it. Tanveer’s Flight Fear
- He gets super anxious during breakouts.
- The moment the airplane took off, he started scarifying.
- The turbulence made it worse.
- But as always, we landed safely in Bali.
Bali First prints & Visa Struggles
appearance at Bali Airport
- Visa on appearance( VOA) for ₹ 2,700($ 33) — used to be free before COVID.
- The online payment system failed while applying, so we had to go through a long line.
- Tanveer shocked about getting a visa ( as if they’d shoot him back to India!).
Bali Travel Tip
- Fill out your Visa on appearance form online before landing to avoid detainments.
- Carry USD for visa payment as it’s occasionally cheaper than paying in IDR.
Bali Airport Reality Check
- 12 AM and the field was completely crowded — not at each what we anticipated from a so- called” islet life.”
- No peaceful sand vibes just business, long ranges, and overpriced food.
Currency Exchange Tip
- The exchange rates at Bali field are terrible.
- Baht to IDR was way lower than the online rate.
- We decided to exchange plutocrat in the megacity rather.
Currency | Online Rate | Airport Rate | Loss per $100 |
---|
Baht to IDR | 450 IDR | 300 IDR | ~₹600-₹1200 loss |
USD to IDR | 15,500 IDR | 14,400 IDR | ~₹500-₹700 loss |
Surviving Bali’s” Traffic Hell”
awaiting Island Vibes? suppose Again.
- We allowed Bali would be peaceful, calm, and open.
- Reality? Business worse than Delhi at 10 PM!
- The drive from the field to our hotel( 17 km) took 1.5 hours.
- Taxi Tip
- snare & Gojek are the stylish options for hacks.
- Gojek was much cheaper ( 165,000 IDR₹ 900) compared to Grab( 270,000 IDR₹ 1400).
- Avoid field hack motorists — they try to fiddle excursionists with high prices.
Taxi App | Cost from Airport to Changu (17 km) | Waiting Time |
---|
Gojek | 165,000 IDR (~₹900) | 5-10 min |
Grab | 270,000 IDR (~₹1400) | 5-10 min |
Local Taxi | 400,000+ IDR (~₹2100) | Immediate |
Hostel Life Back to Basics
Our First Stay in Bali A Surf Hostel
- Since we wanted to meet people & keep effects social , we reserved a hotel dormitory.
- Cost $ 14- 15 per night per person(₹ 1200)
- installations Pool, bar, common areas. It was a change from our private Airbnb stays in Thailand, but we liked it. Biggest palm? We got a scooter on rent without paying anything outspoken!
- The reimbursement shop proprietor trusted us and let us take the scooter first.
- Cost 80,000 IDR/ day(₹ 400) for 6 days.
Late- Night Food Hunt & ATM Drama
Chancing Food at Midnight in Bali
- Indeed at 12 AM, Bali was completely crowded!
- We went out looking for food and realized everything is precious.
- Stylish discovery? A Mexican eatery with affordable burritos & quesadillas .ATM Limitations in Bali.
- Withdrawing plutocrat in Indonesia is a headache
- The maximum ATM withdrawal limit is just ₹ 10,000 per sale.
- Bank charges ₹ 500 per pullout.
- Exchange rates at ATMs are bad too.
- result Exchange USD at original plutocrat exchangers in the megacity for better rates.
Final studies Is Bali Overestimated?
effects We Liked
✔️ The people were friendly, especially our scooter rental joe.
✔️ Hostel life gave us a chance to meet trippers from around the world.
✔️ Everything is open late at night — great for night owls.
effects We Did not Like
❌ Business was insane — indeed at 10 PM, roads were jammed.
❌ Prices are advanced than anticipated, especially in Changu.
❌ No peaceful islet feel — it felt like a crowded sightseer megacity.
Would we recommend Bali? Yes, but only if you avoid touristy areas and plan well.
Key Takeaways
✅ Skip hacks — rent a scooter.
✅ Exchange currency in the megacity, not the field.
✅ Bespeak a hotel if you want a social experience.
✅ Be set for business & commercialization.
Up next Training, exploring Bali, and chancing the real retired gems! Stay tuned.