The original article was published by Insider.com. Read HERE.
Writer: Marielle Descalsota
Indonesian Lucienne Anhar moved to Bali in 2004 and spent many summers living on the island as a child.
Over the years, she has seen tourists be disrespectful at sacred sites and show too much PDA.
Anhar said tourists should be more mindful of local norms when traveling to Bali.
Bali, an island province in Indonesia, is one of the most popular travel destinations in Southeast Asia.
This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Lucienne Anhar, the co-owner of Tugu Hotels and Restaurants Group in Indonesia, who shares her tips for tourists when visiting Bali. It’s been edited for length and clarity.
I was born in Malang, a city in East Java, Indonesia. I’ve lived in Bali since 2004, and before that had visited the island every summer since I was 5 years old. As a kid, I spent time learning and immersing myself in Balinese dance. Over the years, I’ve continued to develop a strong connection with Balinese culture. Our hotels in Canggu and Lombok — both hotspots for surfing — are filled with antiques that help celebrate the colorful history of Bali and Indonesia.
I still remember Bali of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s as heaven on earth — an exotic land of ancient Hindu temples and centuries-old banyan trees, endless rice fields, open fields of palm trees, empty beaches with the bluest of seas. Over the years, I’ve watched the beaches fill up, as it’s become one of the top vacation spots in Asia
In 2019, before borders closed, Bali received over 6.3 million tourists, per Statista. Bali is also gaining popularity among digital nomads — more than 3,000 digital nomads work and live from the island, according to a November report by German outlet DW.
As Bali continues to be a hotspot for expats and tourists alike, here are six things foreigners should avoid doing when visiting the island.
1. Don’t sunbathe topless and avoid wearing skimpy clothing.
2. Avoid showing too much physical affection in public.
3. Don’t limit your travel experience to just popular tourist beaches.
4. Balinese people attend many ceremonies, so don’t expect them to adjust their schedules for you.
5. Avoid falling for popular tourist traps that are set up to scam foreigners.
6. Don’t get aggressive when driving on the road.
Check the full article on INSIDER TRAVEL.
