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AUSTRALIAN MEDIA PLEASE NOTE…..BALI IS NOT LOMBOK

Sensationalism by the media in labelling this a “Bali Earthquake” can only do further harm to Bali’s already fragile tourism economy that is still struggling to fully regain traction following the September 2017 eruption of Mt Agung (some 54 years since its last eruption back in 1963). 

The Australian media should deal with facts not sensationalism to sell more newspapers or gain better TV ratings. We urge all media reporting on this tragedy to keep things focussed on Lombok where help in the form of donations and relief will be sorely needed in bucket loads. So common Aussie media get serious, get real and report the “facts”. Fact 1. Yesterday (Sunday 5/08/2018) at approx. 7:46PM Bali time a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck on the Indonesian island of LOMBOK. Authorities said the epicentre was approx.. 2km east-southeast of Loloan (in the province of Nusa Tenggara Barat), and measured at a depth of approx. 10.5km (6 miles).

Fact 2. Despite popular belief amongst the Australian media the Indonesian island of LOMBOK is NOT a part of BALI, it is an island due east of Bali with several other islands in between including Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan.      

Fact 3. The distance from southern Bali’s main tourist areas of Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Sanur and Bali’s capital (Denpasar) to the epicentre of yesterday quake is approximately 150 kilometers (as the crow flies).

Fact 4. The island of Bali experienced a severe tremor associated with the Lombok quake resulting in the deaths of 2 locals in Bali’s capital Denpasar (one the result of a collapsed wall), and in many areas there was minor-moderate damage of buildings and infrastructure but NOTHING that would in any way compare with the loss of life or damage to property caused in Lombok.

What we know so far

Ninety-one people so far have been confirmed dead and 209 people have been “severely injured” after a magnitude-7.0 earthquake hit the Indonesian island of Lombok at about 6:45pm local time last night.

All of those confirmed dead in the earthquake are Indonesian.

The largest number of people killed were in North Lombok, near the epicentre of the quake, where 72 died and 63 people were injured.

One person has been confirmed dead on the Gili islands. Two people died in Denpasar, Bali, one after being hit by a falling wall.

Most died after being hit by collapsing buildings, some also died from shock, suffering from a stroke after the earthquake struck.

Three thousand homes have been damaged, leaving many displaced, authorities have warned.

Families of those killed in the earthquake will receive 15 million rupiah (US$1036) in compensation from the government. Those injured will receive as much as 2.5 million rupiah (US$172).

Police, military, government agencies and volunteers were coordinating on emergency and relief efforts.

Foreign tourists have gathered at Lombok airport, and airport authorities have requested additional flights to accommodate them.

1,000 tourists were evacuated from the Gili islands, north-west of Lombok, by boat.

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Balinese “KISSING RITUAL” Omed Omedan

So everyone has heard of Nyepi (Bali's Day Of Silence) right ?....But what about the day after Nyepi when the "Omed Omedan" (Bali's Kissing Ritual) is performed ?

Bali has many unique traditions and rituals and this one, is on top of the list. The Omed Omedan is a Balinese Kissing ritual that is over 100 years old. Like many other celebrations, Omed Omedan is an annual event, held after Nyepi day (Balinese New year).

The celebration occurred in the Sesetan Village, in Denpasar. In Balinese, the word “Omed Omed” means “pull and pull.” The event is essentially a kissing ritual between the boys and girls of the village. It is also considered to be how young singles in the village meet.

The event kicks off with a blessing for the New Year. Once the prayers have been conducted, boys and girls from the village are divided into two groups—separated by facing each other. At a signal from the leaders, both sides approach each other, and participants start to “pull and pull,” hug and kiss. The spectacle is both exciting and funny. 

While the boys and girls are kissing and hugging, the crowds pour buckets of water at the participants. According to the locals, the spiritual aspect of this ritual is that the pull and pull represent the taking of positive energy and the letting out the negative energy. Some have also said that the ceremony has become a successful platform for the singles to find their future partner.

With the culture of Bali, you can find many ceremony and events that is spectacular to see. Many have become famous worldwide, but if you look deep into each village, you can find a culture that is unique to Bali. Omed Omedan is one example. Travel to the Sesetan village and join the celebration of Love, a must see event when you are in Bali!

Source: baligolive.com

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The extended Christmas and New Year Holidays in Bali saw thousands of domestic and international tourists flock to the newly established Krisna Funtastic Land in Buleleng, North Bali. Funtastic Land is located in the village of Temukus, Buleleng on the road from Singaraja to Gilimanuk.Opening in late 2016, Krisna Funtastic Land’s visitors are dominated by domestic tourists and local residents.Among the attractions available at the amusement park include: Airborne Shot, Dragon Coaster, Singaraja Flyer, Flying Cakra, Boom Boom Car, Rumah Lampion and a flight simulator that puts visitors at the controls of a simulated airline flight.

Beritabali.com reports that over the peak holiday period an average 7.000 visitors attended Krisna Funtastic Day per day. Prior to the holiday rush, an average of 2,000 daily visitors come to the park. Admission to the Park is Rp. 10,000 on weekdays and Rp. 15,000 on weekends. The cost per ride for individual attractions ranges between Rp. 8,000 and Rp. 20,000. Tickets that allow free access to all rides and attractions are sold for Rp. 95,000 per person. The Krisna Funtastic Land is open daily from 4:00 pm until 10:00 pm.

Source: © Bali Discovery Tours

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Religious Leaders in Bali Issue Guidelines for Nyepi Observance on March 9, 2016

NYEPI CELEBRATIONS TIMELINE

Sunday 6th March 2016

One of the most important preparations for the coming New Year is the Purification Ceremony, known locally as “Melasti”. The local Balinese will take offerings and holy objects such as statues and “keris” to the beach for ritual cleansing. They will also conduct prayers & cleanse themselves in the sea.  Local authorities invite you to witness this ceremony with decorum & from a distance. Tourist are requested to walk around public areas &/or the beach in proper clothing NOT bikinis for women or bare chested for men.

Monday 7 March 2016

Ceremonies will be held at temples across Bali, please expect there to be some traffic delays during this time

Tuesday 8  March 2016

The climax of ritual activity is on the eve of Nyepi. During these solemn, powerful hours, priests throughout Bali will perform a “Tawur Agung”, praying and ritually sacrificing a variety of animals to appease the demons and honour the gods in an attempt to harmonize the conflicting universal powers of good and evil. Please ask your hotel staff should you require any assistance in communicating with your contact for transportation. Many villages will have a Ogoh Ogoh (Paper Mache) Parade. Join in the fun of watching this special Balinese event and enjoy the evening festivities.

THE DAY OF COMPLETE SILENCE

Wednesday 9st March 2016

The first day of the Caka New Year, also known as Hari Raya Nyepi, is a Day of Complete Silence in Bali.  The whole island will be void of people on the streets (since it is mandatory for everyone to stay indoors) and there shall be NO noise, NO lights and NO activities whatsoever.  The airport is closed and no cars, bikes or people are permitted on the streets, the whole island of Bali shall appear deserted and therefore it is believed that the evil spirits will pass over the island.

We seek your cooperation in observing the following mandatory rules issued by the Religious Department of Bali during the celebration of Hari Raya Nyepi. Guests are not permitted to leave the grounds of their Hotels or Villas commencing 6:00 a.m. Wednesday 9st March to 6:00 a.m, Thursday 10th March 2016. To do so is considered a criminal act and you WILL be punished if you disrespect this order.

All guestroom night curtains are required to be fully drawn from 6:00 p.m, Wednesday 9st March to 6:00 a.m, Thursday 10th March 2016. You are requested to keep lighting to a minimum as no lights are to be seen from the outside. The entire hotel’s outdoor lighting will be completely switched off following sunset on Wednesday 9st March 2016 until sunrise on Thursday 10th March 2016. This means that your Hotel’s swimming pool & pool bar will also be closed from 6 p.m, Wednesday 9st March 2016 till the following morning and dinner will usually be served by candle light, but check with your hotel on this.

In addition, as per a new regulation of the Government of Bali, all television providers including cable channels are not permitted to broadcast during Nyepi Day. So it’s a good idea to have/hire a DVD player and to stock up on some movies to watch.

Thursday 10th March 2016

The second day of the Caka New Year, also known as “Ngembak Geni”, is a Day for Hindu people to do ”Sima Krama/Dharma Santi”, which entails visiting and apologizing to one another.

Thank You For Your Support and Understanding

The people of Bali would like to thank you and other tourists and westerners for respecting Bali’s local culture and customs during this auspicious occasion & we all look forward to celebrating “Hari Raya Nyepi” together with you.

Hindu religious council members in Bali have issued directives in connection with the celebration of theBali-Hindu New Year and the official 24-hour period of Silence on Nyepi on March 9, 2016.

As reported by BaliDiscovery.com and NusaBali, the directive was issued in a joint communiqué from the Provincial Ministry of Religion office in Bali on Tuesday, February 16, 2016. The directives were issued in order to safeguard inter-faith toleration because the date when the Hindu celebration of Nyepi coincides with Muslim prayers for a total eclipse. Instructions were also issued forbidding hotels advertising “Nyepi Accommodation Packages” to create programs designed for entertainment purposes. The head of the Religious Tolerance Council for the Province of Bali (FKUB), Ida I Dewa Gede Ngurah Swastha, said that with the arrival of Nyepi each year there is an underlying fear of intolerants acts between various religious factions. The convocation of religious leaders from all faiths sitting down together permits peaceful solutions to be worked out to ensure the peace, said Swastha. Swastha continued: “The celebration of Nyepi does not reduce the freedom of those embracing other religions to undertake worship, providing they are done in such a way to safeguard the sacredness of Nyepi. The goals remain the same to preserve religious toleration and fellowship.” The head of the Ministry of Religion office for Bali, AA Gede Muliawan, added that even though Bali will have no activities outside the home on the official day of silence – “Nyepi’ �� his office continues to ask all citizens to protect the peace in Bali, remembering the ongoing threat of terrorist acts. In order to create a greater understanding and appreciation of the true meaning of Nyepi, Muliawan said religious teachers working in grade schools to university level are being invited to deliver talks to the public on the meaning and history of Nyepi and the day of silence. Among the directives issued in connection with Nyepi and the total eclipse on March 9th is a prohibition on cable and national broadcasts in Bali during the 24-hour period of silence. The people have also been ordered not to ignite fireworks, use public broadcast systems or noisemaker, or commit acts that will otherwise disturb the silence. Hotels offering Nyepi packages are asked to refrain from promoting entertainment activities during the day of silence. This means hotels should not play music, present dances or serve drinks in party atmospheres – all of which would detract from the solemnity and silence of Nyepi day. Those determined to be acting in violation of the directives issued in connection with Nyepi observances will be subject to sanctions and punishments. General managers of a hotel or villa is found to be violating the law they could face deportation. Balinese who disregard the directives could be punished and made an example for the community. Muliawan added, “When there is noise, this represents a stain on the sanctity of Nyepi and in turn a stain on the Hindu faith.” Accommodations have been made for Moslems living in Bali wishing to pray in connection with the total eclipse of sun. In coordination with the Islamic Council (MUI), Moslems are permitted to attend morning prayers that end at 7:15 am providing this is done at the nearest mosque within walking distance of their home or hotel. These prayers will be consolidated with traditional pre-dawn prayers and the use of loudspeakers on the exteriors of mosques will not be allowed. Pioldolan or anniversary of community temples that fall on Nyepi will be allowed to mark the occasion until 6:00 am on March 9, 2016 and can only be celebrated without the use of gongs and noise-making regalia, the burning of incense or the invitation of fellow worshippers from distant locales. Ideally, odalans on Nyepi could be postponed for six months for the time when the anniversary next falls on the Balinese calendar.

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Todays newspaper and digital media headlines read : “Police investigate terror threat in Bali”- Sydney Morning Herald; “Australia warns of threat to Westerners”- Daily Mail; “Terror threat alert issued for Aussie tourists in Bali”- Daily Telegraph; “ready to blow up Bali” - News.com.au

But I think that everyone should take a deep breath and listen for a minute.

The point of terrorism is to cause terror, sometimes to further a political goal and sometimes out of sheer hatred. But those innocent people terrorists kill are not the targets, they are collateral damage, and blowing up buses, planes, trains, and marketplaces is not the goal, those are just their tactics. The real targets of terrorism are not the ones that are killed but the rest of us, the billions of us who are left terrorised as a result of those killings.

The real point of terrorism is not the act of terrorism itself, but our reaction to it.

And we're all doing exactly what the terrorists want…..

We're all feeling a little jumpy after the recent Jakarta bombings and our memories and emotions are still raw from the atrocities that happened here in Bali on the 22nd October 2002 when 202 lost their lives (including 88 Australians) and 209 were injured when two popular Kuta nightclubs and the US Consular office were attacked with suicide vests and car bombs, then again on the 1st October 2005 saw 4 Australians killed among the 20 innocent victims as well as 129 injured when suicide vest bombers attacked a restaurant in Kuta and two warungs on Jimbaran Beach around dinner time.

Regardless of the threat, from the bombers' perspective, the explosive vests and car bombs are merely tactics. Their goal was to cause terror, and in that they've succeeded.

Our politicians help the terrorists succeed in their goal every time they use fear as an election  platform or campaign tactic. The press helps every time it writes scare stories about supposed plots and threats. And if we're terrified, and we share that fear, then we too also help them. All of these actions intensify and repeat the terrorists' actions, and in doing so increase the effects of their terrorist acts.

The implausible plots and false alarms raised by a frenzied press and digital media actually hurt us in two ways. Not only do they increase the level of fear, but they also waste time and resources that could be better spent fighting the real threats and increasing actual security. I'll bet the terrorists are laughing at us at times, arresting innocent people only to let them go when nothing can be substantiated.

It's time we all calmed down and took a big deep breath and began fighting terror with “anti-terror”. This does not mean that we simply roll over and accept terrorism, no… there are things our government can and should do to fight terrorism, most of them involving intelligence and investigation but not just focusing on specific plots that are being worked up by the sensationalised news stories generated by our press.

Our job together as a community and singularly as a citizen is to remain steadfast in the face of terror, and to refuse to be terrorized. Our job is not to panic every time two Muslims stand together in the street texting on their cell phones. Our job is to think critically and rationally, and to ignore the cacophony of other interests trying to use terrorism to advance their own political careers or increase their television show's ratings or a newspaper increasing its readership.

I’m not saying that another terrorist attack will never happen in Bali, indeed anywhere not just Bali as the atrocities in France recently reminded us that nowhere is safe and only a fool would make a statement like that. But as I said what are we to do, lie down and take it, lock ourselves indoors never to travel again….if we do this then these savages have won their terrorist battle.

“The surest defense against terrorism is to refuse to be terrorized.” 

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Bali popular with elderly retirees..... In addition to its status as a world tourism destination, Bali is also proving extremely popular for elderly tourists to spend their retirement. According to Adrianus Van Leeuwen, one elderly tourist from the Netherlands, one of the most popular spots for retirees is Sanur. “I really like the atmosphere of Sanur, especially, the scenery, the friendly people as well as a wide variety of food in Bali which I think is very interesting,” he told to reporters at Mertasari beach yesterday. Also from the Netherlands, Robert Alfons Vermeeren, stated that after decades of living in his home country, he chose to spend his life in Bali. “For me, Bali has been providing comfort, serenity, and peace. All of my family is in the Netherlands, I actually found the spirit of life here and I want to enjoy my life in Bali,” he said. However, according to Ni Made Citra Dewi, consultant for Expats in Bali obtaining the correct paperwork to retire in Bali is not easy. To get a permanent residency card (Kitap) they must pass through various stringent requirements. “The minimum age is 55 years old and they must have been in Bali for a long time. Other requirements, they should have a retirement savings or deposit enough money as collateral for live or stay in Bali,” she explained. “There are a lot of elderly tourists who are keen to spend retirement in Bali, but most are from the Netherlands, about 70%,” she added.   Source: beatmag.com

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THE 8 EXPAT 'TYPES' YOU’LL FIND IN BALI

Bali’s crawling with tourists, but there’s also a fair share of Bules (foreigners) who just never leave, permanently taking up residence on the Island of the Gods.

So while we’ve already explored the different

types of Bali Tourists

you’ll find wandering about the island, we now turn our attention to Bali’s Expats, who also have a tendency to share certain characteristics that distinguish them from one another. 

Everyone’s got their own story and may not slot neatly into one of the categories we list. They might fit into one, or two, or none. Like a travel blogger who falls in love with a Balinese person, gets married, and then settles down to start a family in Bali. Or a surfer gallivanting around the globe who decides to retire in Bali and take up painting.

That said, based on continual research and of course straight-up people-watching, it’s apparent that bules and foreigners living in Bali generally fall into one or more of the following categories :

The eight expats of Bali.....

                                                                                                     1. The English Teacher

An obvious choice of employment for bules who want to live on the Island of the Gods, it's no surprise that substantive numbers of Bali expats are English teachers. While a number chose to stay long-term, many of these English teachers generally have an end date to their time in Bali. Especially those who may have done so on their gap years, or are doing it in between careers until they figure out "what they really want to do". This bunch isn't always liked by those who were already qualified teachers in their home countries, particularly if they don't take their teaching job seriously and tell non-teachers that "anyone can teach English overseas".

                                                  2. The Business Owner

What do you do when no one wants to hire you? Start your own business, of course !  The frustrating convoluted, and painfully difficult process of obtaining employment and KITAS (a.k.a. the loved/hated work permit) has prompted many individuals to start their own businesses (which can be an equally frustrating process). Over the years business-savvy individuals have taken advantage of the fact that Bali is a tourist hub where visitors flock to with money to spend. Aside from your standard hoteliers and restaurateurs, the increased number of visitors to Bali has opened up a market for businesses catered to a niche group of individuals.

                                                 3. The Internet Entrepreneur

They all call themselves by different titles, but all these

Digital Nomad/Internet Entrepreneur/Travel Bloggers

all have one thing in common — the only thing that their work requires is a working Internet connection. They might be making a living by writing about how awesome it is to stay at a luxury resort (how do we get that gig?), selling random stuff over the web, or coaching others on how to do what they're doing (which a lot of them seem to do). We also feature them as a Bali Tourist Group, but also include them in our expat group because some of them end up staying for more than a few months, indeed as the money flows in from their IT associations they can settle down in Bali for life. 

                                                 4. The Retiree

Indonesia has a special visa for those who want to retire here. Also the affordable cost of living and access to luxuries at a fraction of the cost in many of the developed world makes Bali quite an enticing destination. Many retirees who have chosen Bali as their retirement destination generally adopt the "let Bali happen" mentality. That is, live a very slow pace of life and actually enjoy doing very little day-to-day. If they don't, they will start going crazy and probably leave Bali before they even begin the transition from Bali tourist to Bali expat, this is quite common or the need for better health care as they get older forces them to retreat back "home".

                                                  5. The Surfer

While a majority of the surfers are seasonal and therefore lean more towards the "tourist" spectrum, there are a small number who fall in love with Bali (or a Balinese individual) and decide to linger here. Obviously, only a minority of surfers actually go pro and make a living out of hitting the waves, so surfer expats make their living in Bali through various creative ways. Those who got on to it early enough and are lucky run surf-schools or surf retreats, some own guest houses, or start other businesses, or do the online thing to pay the bills and spend as much time on the ocean as they physically can until the money runs out.

                                                  6. The Life Escapist

Those who have come to Bali to get away from something back home, whether it be a job that burnt them out (quite common), a messy breakup (also quite common, though further details are generally difficult to elicit for obvious reasons), failed professional ventures, and many other reasons that remain a mystery to us all. The transition from tourist to expat usually involve some sort of "building a life in Bali" activity, where they figure out how they can continue to live here when the funds in their bank accounts run out. When they are a little bit more settled and are out of "escape" mode, they may open up a little bit more about their past life story to those who asks, though not always.

                                                  7. The Artist / Writer

This lot has been flocking to Bali before it became trendy for everyone else to do it. Ubud provided a secret sweet spot for them until the yogis and vegans took over, eventually attracting swarms of tourists. While Ubud's shift to modernity has sent some artists packing, some chose to stay and evolve with what the area now represents, this involves teaching art classes and holding art retreats. Writers tend to be the more transient as many of them fall for the romantic attraction of sitting on a beach sipping Pina Colada's and penning their ultimate novel, but sadly truth is the money usually runs out before they get to the second chapter.   

                                                  8. The Spouse Of A Local

Balinese have the reputation of being really warm, welcoming, and friendly people. If you're a single individual, there is a risk that you might fall in love with one and end up marrying them. By the way, being of a certain age does not make you immune to this risk. Of course, your spouse may choose to leave Bali and live with you in your home country. But for a culture that really prioritizes family and community, there is a big chance that marrying a Balinese will mean making Bali your permanent home. In which case you will go a step further from being a Bali expat, and you transition into being the closest you can get to an actual Balinese.

So which one are you ????

Also checkout 37 Ways To Know If You Are A Bali Expat

Source: coconuts.co

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THE 9 TOURIST 'TYPES' YOU'LL FIND IN BALI

On an island where travel brochures and blogs scream "tropical paradise" and the attractions so varied that it provides something for everyone, you're bound to run into a few different types of tourists.

After looking at the

8 Types of Bali Expats

we now take a look at the 9 various types of Bali Tourists. It's only natural that when you get a bunch of people travelling to one island from all over the world, all with different purposes, you'll start to notice the ones that are similar from one another. As it seems, they do too. Then you start to notice that they begin to do similar things, go to similar places and even form their own similar language. This may or may not intensify when they start hanging out with each other.

Before you know it, they might even give themselves a name. Or you might. And that name becomes their Bali-tourist identifier. Now, we know that stereotypes don't always hold true. People after all are individual and unique creatures. But research and some people watching have led us to conclude that some groups do share similar characteristics, which makes us identify them as....

1. The Partying Backpackers

Likely to be hanging around Kuta, Bali backpackers can generally be found donning harem pants, cut-offs or board shorts paired with singlets and flip-flops. During the day you will probably find them sitting around the beach sunbathing and drinking Bintangs, or ticking off the "main" tourist attractions (i.e. Tanah Lot and monkey forest) while pouring over their Lonely Planet guide. At night, they might class up their attire a little bit and hang out at Sky Garden for some booze-laden times. Many of them will venture to Gili Trawangan to continue this routine. Due to the cheap tickets and proximity from Bali, a great number of them hail from down-under, though you will also find a great number of backpackers from other parts of the western world who has decided to include Bali as a stop in their mission to tick off the banana pancake trail.   

2. The Earth-Loving Hippies

Generally can be spotted in abundant numbers around Ubud or one of Bali's numerous yoga retreats. Not the too luxurious ones though (but the wannabe hippies who don't want to give up their comforts could possibly be found here). Usually hails from the US of A or somewhere in Scandinavia. Harem pants, flowing patterned skirts, dreadlocks and green juice are all characteristics of the Bali earth-loving hippies. In and around Ubud, you will find many of them at vegan cafes and at the Yoga Barn, getting their spiritual moves on at the ecstatic dance sessions. 

3. The Digital Nomads

These guys and gals generally hang around cafes where there is a decent internet connection, usually in the corner and permanently huddled to their laptops. If you do hear them converse with one another, you'll probably hear them swap reviews on web hosting companies, drop-shipping strategies and which latest training video to watch/business podcast to listen to. On the beach, you can probably find them engrossed in books such as the 

4-Hour Workweek

, 

The Lean Startup 

or 

Vagabonding

. These guys are the epitome of wanting to be their own boss and are hell bent on making their millions while gallivanting around the globe — one wireless cafe at a time. 

   4. The Young(ish) Families

Indonesia isn't the easiest place to travel with kids, but Bali's abundant natural (and actual) playground makes it an attractive place for young families to get a little RnR and bonding (and affordability compared to other tropical destinations). You will find many of them at family-friendly villas and resorts, though where there are hotels with kid-friendly pools or any kid facilities, you can bet that young families will be somewhere in the guest list. Sanur is especially popular with young families, due to its more "sleepier" reputation, though the developed infrastructures of Seminyak and Kuta also make them popular places with young families. Many will include the Waterbom Waterpark and Bali Safari Marine Park in their itineraries. 

5. The Surfer Dudes and Chicks

One the most passionate tourists of the lot, this group will literally travel the globe in search for that one magic wave. Bali provides that potential. Hailing from all over the world (a great number from USA, Australia, New Zealand and Brazil), these water lovers tend to be pretty chilled (and tanned). Though they're pretty serious once they get in the water. A lot also love to drink although their commitment to rising ridiculously early means that they tend to be a little bit more sensible with their Bintang intake than the backpackers. Congregates around Uluwatu and Padang Padang. 

6. The Wellness and Enlightenment Seeking Individuals

Can be found where the earth-loving hippies hang out, though are generally of a different breed. Overworked, disillusioned professionals or individuals who have experienced some major event in their life and are seeking spiritual guidance. Or just some time to "figure it out". Many of them will travel solo and will either tell you all about why they came to Bali or do their best to change the subject when someone ask them their plans. The retreats are a good place to find the overworked ones who are looking for a temporary reprieve, where some of them might be inspired to make drastic life changes which may or may not involve relocating to a tropical island. 

7. The Lovebirds and Honeymooners

We'll just say, it's Bali. There's so many romantic lookouts. And luxuries specifically created for lovebirds. And lots of places where you can get couple massages. Not to mention get married with million dollar views.  Can be found lovingly gazing into each other's eyes at all of the sexy sunset spots, before taking a lovey-dovey selfie to make their not-in-Bali couple friends jealous. 

8. The "Semi"- Retirees

You'll see these guys mountain biking down the Ubud hills with a sense of newfound freedom. Or motorbiking around the island like they have no care in the world or nowhere to be. Unlike the expat retiree who is living permanently in Bali these long-term retired visitors will probably adopt the island's laidback way of life and be chatting and laughing with locals but usually spend as much time back "home" as what they do in Bali alternating back and forth every 2 or 3 months or so. Some of them might even start businesses in Bali, and many will have very interesting life stories that are worth listening to and learning from.  

9. The Anti-tourist tourists  

Ah, haven't we ALL been one of those before? This is the tourist that insists they want to go nowhere near Kuta or Seminyak and they really want to discover the "real" Bali. "We're really not interested in doing any of the touristy stuff", they smugly say. At some point, they will usually succumb to doing at least one touristy thing or end up eating at a touristy place because Bali belly has hit them. When they do visit a tourist attraction they will probably complain that there are too many tourists, but they will still take touristy photos and post them on Facebook anyway.

Source: coconuts.co

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