I AM LEAVING BALI | The digital nomad's paradise HAS CHANGED

[@KharismaSimpson]

as someone who is balinese, I think the digital nomad community is part of the problem. you come from a first world developed country making 1000s of dollars and then expect the same level of quality living experience on a developing island (used to be third world). digital nomads abuse the fact that its so cheap to live there so they can get richer, even though the locals barely make enough to provide for their family. if digital nomads didnt choose to live there bali would not have to build so much extra infrastructure. you cant expect to live in tourist areas on an island where 80% of the economy comes from tourism and then get mad at the fact that theres so much tourism. the locals dont want bali to be like this but they dont have a choice.

[@MeMirrorCard]

What people?

[@JonathanLifeisForLiving]

The tourists teach you cleanliness by cleaning up your dirty trash and showing you a more sustainable way of living, for example with beach cleans.

[@MsSjaakvaak]

That gives you absolute no right to patronise any local. It's their country. Yes we from the west are used to cleaning up are trash. But who is it that buys a new car, a new phone, a new laptop a fancy 1000" TV and at least 5 flights a year? Exactly, you and I. Who do you think is more polluting? Secondly, it is their country, you are solely a guest. If you don't like it you can leave. Come as a guest, and see what you can learn from the locals. Then maybe, if you earn their respect, they can learn something from you@@JonathanLifeisForLiving

[@theetravelhippie]

thank you for your input 🙏🏼

[@AdE-ep5ue]

@@JonathanLifeisForLiving 🤡

[@vividnovita6008]

Hi Rafa, I am Indonesian and have been living in Bali since late Dec 2015, I totally agree with you. Bali has changed so much not even to the better. The overdevelopment is insane that it's not gonna be sustainable in the future. Even now the rice field near where I live (seminyak) is gone. They are building big town villa and close the road and that road was jogging track during covid. Like before Bali has the magic. People were so excited to enjoy the nature, the culture, the history, but now it's becoming a party island, no one care about the culture anymore just like you mentioned, people take photos and then leave.

[@afrianisinaga6009]

Nah.. I disagree with what you have thought. She and those other (white) digital nomads who are dreaming to have a luxury life for cheap is the huge part of the problems, even trouble, in Bali. The overpopulated is not the only the problem but also reporting and paying the (income)taxes as foreigners in Bali is also challenge because of those white chipmunks are not doing that. I certainly believe she did not do that instead just complaining. However, we could take a positive side from her video therefore people are stop coming and polluting Bali. We thank for her video.

[@travelwithrafa]

yes... so sad, thank you for sharing your experience, i hope something changes in bali so it doesnt get worse :(

[@Travelife2000]

@@afrianisinaga6009 because the digital nomads living there most of them are scammers selling shit courses and other shits around and as u said expecting luxury life for cheap. they are a cheapskate. i live in Hong Kong since 2004. I own my business and i respect the culture here and i don't pretend luxury life for cheap. You have to work hard hard and hard. An when i'll visit Bali ill expect a third world country without a proper sewer and black water system not pretending and complain it's not first world country

[@jimgreat3820]

​@@Travelife2000dont blame the tourists, kid. Blame the corrupt and lazy government. Most of the tourist money ended up on their bank accounts while keep destroying their own land and people!

[@RioHelmi]

​@@afrianisinaga6009boom tish

[@LinnLinnok-fe5tq]

Also. Social media has RUINED the travel experience. Traveling in the 90s was 1000 times better than now. No one was walking around constantly staring at a screen. We talked to people face to face. We explored and found random things and enjoyed where we were, instead of having to search for the “best” thing, plan every moment and deal with every place being flooded with “influencers” jockeying for their instagram shot 🙄 These days it’s harder to find nice off the beaten path areas because it’s all on social media so every “influencer” has to go there. But you can still find those places, where more locals hang out and they’re not yet overrun with tourists. The first tip is: if it’s popular on social media, don’t go there. And when you find a gem, DO NOT RUIN IT BY PUTTING IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA!!!

[@donynuransyah]

indeed social media nowadays just became place to impress not to express

[@10TunenuT01]

What you describe is exactly what we do. Our jobs allows us to spend extended periods of time in other countries and we absolutely hated Bali. Our goal is to get off social media, and just enjoy exploring and finding hidden gems and just enjoy celebrate our time together as a couple and meeting and getting involved with locals. We went to bali this year and it was the worse holiday we been on and will never go back, I wouldn't call it bad, just isn't for us. It's far too crowded with foreigners (non-balinese) that I think it'll be it's down fall, we also purposely went in the 'off season'. In the future we will mostly travel vietnam and Thailand

[@LinnLinnok-fe5tq]

@@10TunenuT01 I deleted the Facebook app from my phone several months ago and don’t miss it AT ALL. I haven’t used any UNsocial media at all for months except KZbin and that’s mostly watching videos that teach me something. “Social” media is not actually social at all. It makes people more isolated and DIScourages real socialization and real social growth. It causes people to not learn to connect with people in real life because they use apps and text conversations as crutches. Some people conduct entire relationships over text and cannot figure out why they’re still so lonely, or why their relationships always suck, for example. Instead of learning to deal with normal emotions, they avoid it and only become more awkward and socially inept. UNsocial media has been the absolute worst thing for society IMO.

[@San_Dee]

Remember, you are the traffic.

[@shuga1245]

Classic case for "i want my peace and nature, but i want also my cinnamon apple latte macchiato"...i would say usually external experiences are a reflection of the inner word. I personally have a magic time on this paradise

[@johnratcliffe6438]

I would like to try a cinnamon apple latte macchiato.

[@fyingfish9370]

Hmm i would say this. This is subjective and to each their own. Let’s say, Nyc. Very crowded, smelly af, trash everywhere, homeless people are everywhere (literally, and also mentally ill homeless people everywhere), crime rates are high, very expensive. But I LOVE IT. Best favorite city ive ever lived in, even tho i’ve lived in japan where it’s 180 degree in terms of cleanliness and people’s attitude, i don’t love japan. So it’s all subjective, you vibe with bali, or you don’t. It’s not about the infrastructure or trash or whatever. It’s always whether you feel connected or not with a place

[@shanon72327]

I'm afraid I have to disagree. I feel I am extremely connected to the island, the land, the energy... I moved to Bali in 2015 as it was my dream to live there, so I gave up everything I had and moved there. I have visited Bali many times too over the years, and there is always a feeling of being at home. However, facts are facts, and the island is overpopulated, polluted and the traffic is a nightmare. So as much as I love Bali, I think it's not a healthy option.

[@BillPetrovas]

You're a left leaning liberal by chance?

[@seven8chase]

yeah but we get sick as hell out here

[@adrianodemarino886]

Bali was magical 10 years ago with fewer tourists, enchanting places, and untouched beauty. However, it has now transformed into a bustling destination, crowded with tourists and fake "digital nomads" from Russia, Australia, and Europe. The traffic has become chaotic, cleanliness has dwindled, and it feels underdeveloped. Sadly, many of the once-beautiful spots have been replaced by concrete apartment buildings. The fault? Fuc**** influencers. Social media and influencers are a plagues of this world. Thanks for reporting the truth about Bali.

[@Travelife2000]

agree. influencers are the CANCER of nowdays

[@tomm5023]

Sorry but I already disliked it 20 years ago. Destruction by mass tourism was pretty obvious. I had to bike all the way up north and east to get away from it. The digital culture definitely didn’t make it better. Before internet, those were the days…

[@rickytravelstheworld]

Overdevelopment is the same problem everywhere and it's the fault of people investing and trading in stock market and pure greed.

[@magicfire1]

Stomach issues are real. Never underestimate that. As someone who got parasites, bali belly, run far from this place if your stomach is weak.

[@travelwithrafa]

Exactly!!!!! I wish I had known before that...

[@Gstyle-eg9vg]

Was there 3 weeks ago… And heck yeah, after 10 days, as soon as I landed had a really painful Bali belly unforgettable experience.

[@小笠原海人-u7r]

I am Japanese and my wife is Indonesian. She said Bali is very different from other islands of Indonesia. Many foreign people out there so they are developing everything focus on foreigners. But for me, I think Indonesia these days is looks like 20 centuries in Japan. Even Japanese people was dropping trashes from anywhere. In the train, they dropped a box of Bento from the window after they finished, lying on the ground. Even 2000s - 2010, I saw bunch of trashes in the river, mountain, middle of roads... Mt Fuji is always crowded we can't hike straight to the summit at some favorite routes. Indonesia is still growing and it's super fast. If you want to come Indonesia/Bali, you need to be a patient. they don't care how long to take their destination as you are. They talk a lots, and spend many time for their friend, and family. I love Indonesia. But I can understand her opinion. I hate Tokyo lol | My POV

[@magicfire1]

100%. Bali is overhyped. Instagram killed it.

[@travelwithrafa]

so sad :(

[@IndoDiaspora]

It's hyped by the instagramers and phony influencers and unfortunately a lot of naive and uniformed people believed them without doing their research first. Prior to my first trip to Paris I did a lot of research. I read articles and watched videos about the crime there, how they hate Americans, how dirty it is, how they are rude etc., basically a lot of negative information. One of my friends who is French and grew up in Paris told me how much he dislikes it. So I was totally prepared for all the bad stuff I had learned about Paris before I went. And because I was so prepared, I had a wonderful time there, and now go back there every year because Paris is one of my favorite cities in the world. Same with Bali it is absolutely one of my favorite places to visit. I avoid Canggu, Kuta, and any place where there might be digital nomads. I avoid the areas that are croweded with tourists, and watch what I eat and drink very carefully. No, I would not want to live in Bali, but I love going there for vacation.

[@RubberontheroadIndonesia]

@@IndoDiaspora Been here for 13 years and loved every minute of it. Now 76 years old so am running out of time. By the way, Vietnam is fantastic, been there many times. Too old to move now.

[@pleasebeseatedfortakeoff]

I agree but also have to disagree. I’ve spent winters in Bali and I see us being the problem. Driving around and complaining about traffic isn’t really fair. And I don’t mean you Rafa, but anyone of us digital nomads. I had a neighbour in Ubud, who drove a scooter to the same yoga class we went. It was only a bit more than 1 km away and we walked with my hubby. Yes, not nice to walk in that smell of gas, but why people just won’t walk. Also the locals driving scooters in places like Ubud is because they cannot afford to live there anymore but drive there from villages to serve nomads and other travelers. We are the ones to cause the problem. But what we can do about it, is exactly to share information like you do here. What a coinsidence, I just shared a blog post about the same topic. We do need become more responsible travelers.

[@KapiH]

In general Indonesia is not a walking country, been around other islands and driving is chaos, pure and simple, Bali is actually besides some parts of Java like Jakarta/East Java the most walkable areas I found in Indonesia. It is just the big population the issue, other big Indonesian city's suffer from terrible driving by locals, add in foreigners like in Bali and of course it is chaos compared to western countries.

[@pleasebeseatedfortakeoff]

@@KapiH that’s very true. I felt like a lunatic walking around Jakarta. But yes, Bali in general is much more walkable than most of the big Asian cities. Sidewalks are not often in that good condition but manageable. But still, in places like Ubud us Westerners are adding much to the problem even not the onlyones causing it. When I was there I participated on poll asking about walking in Ubud and they've done a great work providing more pedestrian zones etc. But still, everyone should think is it really necessary to ride less than 2 km trips on a scooter.

[@KapiH]

@@pleasebeseatedfortakeoff fully agreed, the issue is complaints are valid, but we do add to the problem, it is another culture and they are used to living that way with traffic something we are not used to in the west, and as I like to think, we should always adapt to where we go and accept things, if we don't like it we can move, that is the whole purpose of the nomad lifestyle after all, but overall I like it more than other parts of Asia that's for sure.

[@pleasebeseatedfortakeoff]

@@KapiH yes exactly, we should adapt wherever we travel 🥰 we adapt or leave and we can’t complain about the local ways to live. But then again we need to think how to travel in sustainable way and not to cause more harms for the local society. In so many places local people start to hate clueless travelers.

[@KapiH]

@@pleasebeseatedfortakeoff yeah, I mean personally I feel embarrassed at times on the impact some tourists have in certain places, either they are super respectful or think it's a no rules party area, no inbetween. With that said, I was pleasantly surprised on the Aussie in Bali, they were far more tame than what I imagined from some stories, as a European I can go to anywhere in Europe and find delinquent tourists so I actually thought Bali was pretty nice, but the few times I saw idiots I just frowned to be fair, people need to be respectful!

[@stefanogall5028]

You made a few videos I watched, asking to foreigners how do they make money in Bali but there’s no video where u ask the same question to locals. I’m foreigner, living and working in Bali since 2 years more or less (not a digital nomad, no yoga or whatever instructor) and yeah, everything you said is true and I sincerely understand your disappointment cause i felt the same many times and sometimes I still do. The point (for me) is… what is it a digital nomad life? Working remotely from everywhere and that’s it? Which improvement is bringing a digital nomad to the place he/her decide to live in? The fact a laptop allows to work remotely from anywhere doesn’t make a person a traveler and doesn’t teach how to adapt to a different place; only experience and touch of humanity does. All those “coaches” you interviewed, do you really believe they have some skills to teach someone else how to live?😅 Isn’t a “digital nomad life” just the next frontier of human-selfishness at this point? For what concern Bali, is a turist-made island and local people need to bring food at home somehow. About yourself, simply take it for what it is… a life experience! Wish you all the best!

[@Salam_Damai431]

@@stefanogall5028 I agree. Digital nomad is a euphemism for digital bludger. Hippies were cooler, less demanding, less narcissistic; no gym required, and drank local coffee.

[@ezgioztekin7362]

best comment, one of the best perspective.

[@User-ur6vp]

I really think this is all budget related. Money is a factor in all of this. I see a lot of videos criticizing the tourists when we are all tourists... If you haven't been anywhere other than Bali than the trash and cleanliness situations are obviously things you are not used to. That doesn't mean it is a bad experience. It is just how life is there. Bali is a tourist hot spot so thinking that it won't be congested is plain absurd. If you want to travel on the cheap go somewhere that caters to it. Bali prices have gone up due to demand. That is how the world economy works. Not to be harsh but it is what it is.

[@colinanderson1655]

I have lived in Bali since 2000. I have seen a lot of changes, not just the location but also the people. After the 2002 bombings, I feel that the Balinese lost their innocence. I have Balinese friends but there is also an emotional gap between us. Amongst the expats who live there, I hear all sorts of complaints about everything from the lack of good sausages to the power cuts and poor water quality. My answer has always been: 1: You are in Indonesia; get used to it! 2: It is their country and it is up to the Indonesians to improve the things that they think should be improved. 3: Water and electricity can be a bit iffy so do something about it. I have off grid solar power and a water purification system that lets me drink my tap water - and I make my own sausages!! As other posters have mentioned, Bali has been adversely affected by low budget tourists, instagrammers and digital nomads. Enough said

[@Flunk7]

And they have the audacity to complain about tobacco lmao it's so backwards there's a special place in their brains that are broken

[@Dagestanwarrior900]

Australian India tourist bad behavior also destroy bali

[@LinnLinnok-fe5tq]

The chaos, air pollution and trash are common in many low cost of living countries. They don’t have the rules, policies and infrastructure to control it like more developed countries do and it’s often more “loose” in terms of how people manage things. If you don’t like those things, you should simply avoid most “cheap” countries. Living anywhere involves tradeoffs - chaos and trash is the tradeoff in “developing” countries.

[@bloodymerryl]

Just to let you know, tap water in Indonesia is not suitable for drinking as it's not meant for that purpose. If you're looking to drink water, you can purchase bottled or gallon mineral water from any store nearby. If you're into hiking and searching for a peaceful and quieter place with strong historical significance, then you should consider visiting Lake Toba and Samosir Island in North Sumatra. I'm Indonesian who also work as digital nomad0

[@travelwithrafa]

I never even dared trying the tap water to drink, i wasn't even brushing my teeth or opening my mouth in the shower because i was afraid of it. But even the minimal contact in salads, in restaurants, anywhere were giving me the food poisoning. Most people who get it don't drink the tap water obviously, they get from minimal contact in other things... but it is so dirty that it afects anyway... ABout sumatra, i loved it i went to bukit lawang and it was great, one day i will go to lake toba, Thanks!

[@patrickh2365]

​@@travelwithrafa i actually watched your video almost in full. in south east asia , apart from Singapore, it's a very poor continent. everyone knows you do not drink tap water, heavens knows why you ordered salad. SE asia is a poor region, hence why every western digital nomad goes - because it's cheap..! but on top of that , you expect 1st world luxuries, drinking tap water , sanitation, etc etc etc. you cannot expect 1st world luxuries, and pay 1/5th of the price. hence why Australia, USA, UK are all so expensive. as with anything, you pay a premium for quality. you're living in a dream if you expect Bali to be 1st world + cheap. go to maldives for luxury island + sanitation.

[@johannavisions9766]

You come from a very "Westernized" perspective of what you expect from a land inhabited by the Balinese people and I respect that, I'd probably feel the same way had I grew up in the West but I was born and raised in South East Asia as well and I have been observing how 'gentrification' is affecting the land and our people. Foreigners come to our land expecting paradise.... paradise in the form of 'wellness' meets nature, hip tropical cafes and beach clubs, yoga studios, gym, reformer pilates, new age communities, etc... While I respect that, just know that for most of our people, those things that foreigners expect from the land feels very out-of-touch with our reality. Most Balinese people (reaching 80%) makes a living out of tourism, serving to make the experiences for your "paradise" available while most of them return to their traditional homes with their families while most foreigners return to their tropical island villas.. And while this benefits the local people financially, I just hope this 'awareness' of the true reality of the land bring a sense of consciousness the next time foreigners define what "paradise" means for them...

[@thisbrendalee]

I moved to Bali earlier this year, this was my 3rd time there, but this time to live. I left 4.5 months later because the traffic was so bad, got food poisoning many times, sprained my ankle because the roads weren't flat, had a motorbike accident, just the standards there overtime (after the oh my gosh, this place is so cool, honeymoon phase wears off), you'll start seeing the cracks of an over-populated and overly touristy 3rd world country. I then had an overwhelming amount of gratitude for Australia (where I am from). I would go there for a holiday again, but not to live. How much I paid for the gym in Bali is twice as much as in Australia lol. The prices there are crazy for a 3rd world country and the standards really low for how much you pay for - like cleanliness, there is was a huge mould problem in a lot of accomodation I stayed at! I flew back to Australia and random af stuff like having FLAT ROADS to walk on without thinking and needing to look down on felt SOO RELAXING. I could go for a nature, suburban quiet walk without bikes beeping or need to be careful of potholes/uneven ground. Drinking from the water and going to a clean modern grocery store, man living in a 1st world country is freaking privilege. It really is, you don't realise this until it's all taken away!

[@Dreamerz1234X]

interesting !

[@travelwithrafa]

I had exactly the same feeling when I went away from bali, a simple sidewalk with trees and quietness gave me so much peace hahaha it is crazy life in bali, definitely not for me. Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@IronedDweller]

Word !!!!

[@fyingfish9370]

The way you keep saying “third world country” is very disgusting, i want you to know that is an offensice term. The condescending tone of your comment is plain disgusting.

[@IndoDiaspora]

@@travelwithrafa I watched your video and was surprised that you didn't do research before moving to Bali. With the vast amount of information available online, you weren't prepared for the traffic, congestion, lack of cleanliness etc??? Who told you Bali was paradise? Do you so easily believe what people tell you and you don't verify it?

[@NomadicRuss]

I have to agree with you on this. I moved to Da Nang after Bali and it was SOOOO nice to be able to walk around easily and drive around without any traffic

[@travelwithrafa]

I bet it was so much better!!!

[@NomadicRuss]

@@travelwithrafa yes, but ngl Bali did have it’s charms too. And a bigger nomad community

[@AK-xl7xz]

Would you please mind sharing your Da Nang experience more…considering this as well in a few months❤

[@KapiH]

Curious about Da Nang, I like Bali/Thailand but tempted to try other places eventually when I grow tired of where I usually stay, many foreigners there or just mainly locals?

[@NomadicRuss]

@@KapiH mainly locals but a solid DN community too

[@albagomez3858]

Thanks for sharing your experience in Bali. Honestly babe, the thing you said about the "people who go there to make the picture", I think that is a behaviour which you can see everywhere. We live in the Social Media Era. People make things just to show others how amazing their lives are when probably the reality is totally different.... It'S not only Bali, it's Berlin, it's México, Spain, London, US.... You're just starting to perceive this by observing your enviroment. Dont give up, keep on creating and over all, keep on Enjoying the NATURE

[@travelwithrafa]

Thank you for sharing your view, in my opinion I had a feeling that it was worse there.. but maybe I am wrong! I agree that many touristy attractions are like this tho

[@davidward1721]

creating🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@kyoungheemin5109]

Taking a selfie is a recent phenomenon in human history

[@WYorg]

i lived in Bali permanently 2019-2023 & decided to leave. Eventhough i caught a completely extraordinary time when the island was without tourism, it was insanely genuine time, those like myself felt it so much when tourism restarted with prices skyrocketing, noise & traffic being back, so i decided to leave as i was not seeing myself fitting in with the New Bali normal. Thanks to this island so much for all it's unique energy, i stayed mostly in Ubud. I am not really feeling like to come back anytime soon but yes to explore other Asian destinations as a nomad. I used to live in Koh Samui (Thailand) now it feels like exploring a new destination. There are so many great places to explore & i feel like to going into less touristy & exploited destinations for sure.

[@oldomerkokenn]

Goverment should do some regulations about traffice and infrastructure investment

[@waylinnelson]

I agree with a lot of your points and the reason I will not be back to Bali again as well. I was sick 4 times in a month. I’ve travelled a lot of places in the world and have never got sick like that over and over again. Great video! Bali is overrated! So many better places to see.

[@magicfire1]

Same ! Got huge stomach issues 2 times in a span of 2 months, each lasted 7-10 days. Nightmare.

[@travelwithrafa]

Thank you for sharing your experience! I also never got sick these many times, I used to consider my stomach strong for things like street food in different countries... but not in bali definitely 😅😅

[@IndoDiaspora]

Bali is overrated? By whom? By the loser influencers who show highly edited views and stories and hide the truth. It is a poor third world country, what were you expecting? I have been to Bali every year for the past 20 years and have never once gotten sick. Why? Because I am careful with what I allow myself to eat and be exposed to. Most of the people who get sick just eat without carefully checking first how the food they are about to eat is being handled and prepared, so no surprise that they get sick.

[@waylinnelson]

@@IndoDiaspora cool bro! I guess I should have asked to go into the kitchen every time I ordered food to see how it was handled and prepared. That doesn’t even make sense, but I guess we all have our own experiences.

[@IndoDiaspora]

@@waylinnelson No, I was not recommending you go to a kitchen every time you go to a restaurant. I look at the cleanliness of the place (tables, chairs etc.), and I look at how clean the staff look. If you eat at the warungs or street vendors or cheap restaurants then your chances of getting something increase dramatically. I also make sure to only eat cooked food and only drink bottled or hot beverages. Nothing is fool proof and you can still get sick, but so far it's worked for me. This applies to any third world country, not just Bali.

[@STREETFOODJOURNEY5]

girl, please don't drink tap water in Bali. It's not suitable for drinking 😅

[@travelwithrafa]

Maybe you didn’t understand what I said 😅 I didn’t even dare drinking tao water, I was so paranoid I was even brushing my teeth with bottled water and not opening my mouth when showering… but the water quality is so bad that even from eating a salad in a restaurant that was washed with tap water could give you food poisoning… even the minimal contact that happens will give people and mostly tourists food poisoning

[@travelwithrafa]

Tap* water

[@STREETFOODJOURNEY5]

@@travelwithrafa ah i see, i am sorry you couldn't make the career you have been thinking of in Bali. I am sure you can make it somewhere else. I had been living in Bali for few years before and overall is good for me. I never had Diarrhea or Bali Belly. Most of food vendors in Bali are pretty clean in my opinion especially in the restaurants. The only problem i had was, yes, some areas just too crowded. And lots of tourists with bad behavior especially in Canggu.

[@primemarketing7218]

​​@@STREETFOODJOURNEY5exactly, i just wondering before came to Bali are she never watching any video about people say Bali trrafic, trash in Bali, people take Instagram photo, no proper sidewalk, not to drink tap water, if she havent Been and for the first day or first week she stay there are she don't see all of that? Why she have to wait for 9 month to go back home it doesnt make sense Bali is already has all that problem in the early 2000, glad she don't experience Bali before tol Bali Mandara and underpass sunsetroad has build other wise she Will passed out because the trrafic just stop from sunset road up to Jimbaran until midnight

[@fyingfish9370]

@@primemarketing7218agree!!!!

[@ptr8198]

This lady is completely wrong about hiking. I've lived here since I was 12, 19 years ago, I'm in a hiking club where we go every Saturday.

[@johnlong6010]

The new tram and train lines commence construction in sept 2024 so expect a lot more inconvenience, The cost of everything is bali is on a par with western nations so its no longer a cheap holiday spot and she is right about being charged for everything as its gotten out of hand , locals will actually abuse you for not buying or having a massage yet charge western prices for bali items .... There are a lot of people from other island like java etc in bali making good money off of tourists and when the new train joins java to bali one could only imagine this will increase and with it comes a certain element of individual so unfortunately its a catch 22 suitation .

[@MyBrokenPassport]

You literally moved to the biggest tourist neighbourhood in the biggest tourist island in the world. What did you expect? It's actually really sad to see what's happening to Bali.

[@travelwithrafa]

Maybe you didn't watch the video... I lived in Tabanan for 5 months

[@nikmatdunia2708]

but you lived 5 month😂

[@travelwithrafa]

@@nikmatdunia2708 tabanan is super quiet and local, not touristy like canggu.. so I don’t understand your comment 😅 maybe you don’t know tabanan

[@IndoDiaspora]

@@travelwithrafa So you lived in Tabanan for 5 months. It is still a poor undeveloped third world area. What were you expecting it to be like? Hawaii? lol Did you expect it to be cleaner, more modern with side walks, wide roads etc? smh.

[@GeziyoruzAbi]

Yep! Bali changed a lot! After 2019 i have been to Bali in 2023 and the experience was bad. Not fun anymore...

[@MrTonycapt]

your the person who says " Im stuck in traffic" in stead of I am the traffic. "The forigners are bad except me". What do you give back to the island. I too am a bule, as well I've been here 16 years not 9 months and live with a Balinese family and I support 2 local orphans and their auntie. I dont know you but most young people I see here are self seeking.

[@andreibarsan9630]

The peace is within you not in Bali . Everywhere you go you bring yourself

[@bodyimagept4398]

100% true, I just came back from Bali. Traffic is chaos and it’s over crowded. This is the last time I will visit Bali.

[@peteraustin9170]

A well-considered and accurate commentary Rafa. Many of the issues you raise are indeed challenges for the regional government in Bali. Some are difficult to resolve, but the fundamental issue is that there is no real development or land use control in Bali, it is a free for all if you are politically connected. And Indonesia is not a developing country, contrary to common misconception, it is a upper-middle income country, the second highest category, and so resolving these issues is not constrained by economics.

[@dutchiebali579]

Bali experience can be great when ignoring all tiktok, instagram recommendations. Explore the island using your fantasy rather then copy those of the digital nomads. Don’t opt to take a 17 hours flight to do things you can do in your hometown.

[@hstchooump]

its like she says. pure hell for digital nomads. the gods are testing these people. (no high speed internet! mold on the walls! God help you!) hope the self entitled ones stop coming. its a beautiful island, safe and lovely people. every day is a wonderland if you just enjoy the complexity language art.

[@subtitlingwithclaudia]

After listening to your experience there and from what other people told me as well, I honestly lost so much interest in visiting Bali, even though the landscapes are absolutely gorgeous and I would really love to connect with local people. One day I might go and see myself, but right now I don't think I will!

[@travelwithrafa]

yeah, i would really think twice before going hahaha let's look for another cool place and more chill to visit hahaha

[@IndoDiaspora]

@@travelwithrafa Yes, please spread the word around the world so people will avoid Bali. The fewer the visitors the better it is for us who do appreciate what Bali has to offer.

[@alanwatts7434]

Agree with many points. The beaches in Bali were mostly unswimmable and with garbage floating in the water 😢. Similarly the waterfalls and other nice spots have become more about the photo than the experience. I was scolded for going in the water near a waterfall because there were many tourists who just wanted a photo and then leave. Not to mention the monetization of many natural spots. Traffic is bad as well.

[@chloethenewone9128]

Hey Rafa. Thank you for sharing this as this problem needs to be addressed. I lived in Bali last year in a few different places as a vegan and became a raw vegan/fruitarian there, as there was not much food for me. I was struggling a lot with the ways you are explaining. I do love Balinese, but unfortunately, my experience wasn't the best one either. Much love to you and I hope you find a solution for your health issues.

[@BillPetrovas]

Did you feel safe? Did you experience crime?

[@JonathanLifeisForLiving]

Great video, thanks for your transparency Im sure this will help alot of people. I lived there and experienced the same

[@travelwithrafa]

Thank you! I am glad you liked it :)

[@hasindugunathilaka5773]

Come down to Sri Lanka!!!

[@retribution999]

Agree with much of what youve said. Its not hateful, its just objective and such things need to be said if there is to be improvement. Trash, traffic and trashy tourists with no interest in or respect for Balinese culture. Ive learnt to navigate my way around most of the issues you raise and Ive never had Bali belly thankfully despite eating street food most days. I think the bottled water is ok. Given the amount of tourist money that pours into Bali it would be great to see better traffic management, safe road crossing places and good rubbish collection facilities. Also attention to pavements which are often broken and very dangerous for pedestrians. We all love Bali and hope to see it improve rather than get progressively worse.

[@DB-su5qp]

Ubud was paradise 30 years ago. Glad I have the memories.

[@ronbeaubien]

Traffic, trash, and inability to walk anywhere, were problems in Bali even 10 years ago when I was there. Obviously, not to the degree that they are problems now, but they were still problems even back then.

[@mklrodzpad4629]

Is it possible to have a continuous source of bottled water instead of tap

[@davidlopes3154]

You need to try Madeira! A small portuguese island. Not cheap as asia/Indonesia but will tick all your other criterias for sure

[@globalasia3768]

I did Tenerife 14 days all inclusive 4* hotel 600€

[@doreenthurm6216]

First I thought - oh wow, another privileged person, talking shit now about Bali :D But I stuck to your lips until the end of your video, cause I was feeling every single word! And at the point of tourism and how to experience traveling, I guess we do have pretty much the same travel style. I'm so glad I went to Bali back in 2018 and I spent wonderful 2 months there. But I got to see the whole island and have to say it's very different everywhere. Kuta, Ubud and Seminyak have been always hotspots and I never understood how people hold up there for longer. The comparism with the rice fields getting removed for villas is awful to me! And that is one of the biggest issues in my opinion, digital nomads are not bringing for good. Everyone needs a villa and everyone needs scooters, to go around. Everyone produces more trash, that will end up in the ocean, cause there's no recycling system. I wonder what happened to homestays, I had such a great experience staying with locals or at local houses, trying to experience the culture. But I never see any videos of anyone going to Bali staying in homestays :D Maybe it's not a thing anymore, as they couldn't stand the amount of villas? However, I agree, that if it's going on like this, Bali will loose it's magic. The culture and the people were amazing, but if it's going on like this we will only experience mass tourism, that's not fun anymore. It wasn't built for that huge amount of people and these are the consequences I guess. Thanks for your video, that kinda proofed the thoughts I built up, by watching videos from people living in Bali. Enjoy Eataly ;) (with hopefully less stomach problems).

[@thomaskimble8089]

I am here in Bali in the low season and the traffic is too bad, I cant imagine it in the high season. It's not just too much traffic as well, its the lack of safety. Its really dangerous driving here. Also agree that not being able to walk around is quite unpleasant.

[@IndoDiaspora]

Yes, traffic is bad and it is dangerous to drive there. And few or no sidewalks. It's a poor third world country. What were you expecting? Hawaii?

[@SharvanZuilecom]

apparently it is high season all the time...

[@user-sp1ri]

its typical bali/indonesia, all the money from tourism gets pocketed (by whoever), you think they would spend any of it on infrastructure or even planning, you've got to be joking, You go to bali these days for a (relatively) cheap holiday forget all the natural beauty stuff you have to survive the traffic jams first to get to any of these places and if you get there the area has now been ruined by ramshakle over development.

[@LoOpY-dude]

I agree with everything you said, don't drink the tap water...its not good, always buy bottled. I spent ages moving around Bali looking for the "right" place to settle and i soon realized the whole island is like a giant theme park. Over priced and over run with people. (tourists and Indonesians) . Sulawesi Selatan is an amazing island.

[@travelwithrafa]

exactly i was looking for a place in Bali until i realized the entire island is chaotic and not for me.. thanks for sharing your experience!

[@shadowdude90]

As a local indonesian (not living in bali), bali is still a magical place 10 years ago but become more and more crowded each year. My government should turn it back into holiday destination kinda place and make stricter rule on the visa. Also too many overstayed foreigner, misusing visa rules right there.😂 It always go back to the government. They shouldve seen it coming, the wave of bali being digital nomads destination. Shouldve made super strict rule years ago. Make it lil bit harder for longer stays.😅

[@Khariz79]

I would suggest there is an MRT, MTR, public bicycle. bus station I will fight as an Indonesian citizen. Hopefully there will be other supporters who suggest this.

[@KapiH]

All I can say is in some parts of the other Islands the traffic is worse than in Bali, I found it pretty tame compared to the rest of Java for example! or similar to Bangkok. And that is pretty much the only thing I hate about that part of the world, Traffic, not being as walkable as in Western Europe, but it's like everything, there is no perfect place to be in the world, just what you tolerate in exchange for other things.

[@hafsashaikh9173]

I don't know how you lasted 9 months there. I just went for my honeymoon and felt the same. I loved the hotel but whenever I went out I just felt overwhelmed by the instagram culture and traffic.

[@travelwithrafa]

Now thinking back I dont know how I stayed 9 months either 😂😂

[@BaliLifeWithJLB]

@@travelwithrafa You have an an extreme sense of over-entitlement and self-importance.

[@trading_sharks]

I lived in Bali in 2017 and then again in 2023 and I agree with uou that it has changed a lot and it's overdeveloped. Regarding the food, I reañly think ot depends on your budget. If you only go to jealthy cafes I honestly think it is the healthiest place to eat in the world. I tried one waring with great reviews one day and jad the worst experience of my life. Good video and great info

[@elsienorback7689]

I agree, no matter where you go on Bali island the traffic is terrible. It was bad when I visited during the winter months Nov-Feb from 2012-2020.

[@prchaser2081]

So Rafa, where did you go after Bali,

[@travelwithrafa]

Italy!! My next videos will be there :)

[@prchaser2081]

isn't it unsafe and expensive there? Why not Vietnam?@@travelwithrafa

[@travelwithrafa]

@@prchaser2081 Italy is super safe! And more expensive than bali but I prefer a place with better quality of life even if I need to pay more.. The visa options in vietnam are not the best for long term stays..

[@primemarketing7218]

​@@prchaser2081she back home to her mother

[@prchaser2081]

You went back to stay with your mom? @@travelwithrafa

[@ЕкатеринаГолуб-р2ж]

Hiii! Thank you for the content! What camera do you use to make the blog?

[@gloresternchen]

I had also the same experience! I was there for 5 weeks (I wanted to stay 6 months) but I had no energy to go outside everything was so terrible, I thought it is the best nomad-spot but I agree with every point you said 😢

[@travelwithrafa]

exactly, days I decided to go out of my house were extremely overwelming so i decided to leave less and less from home, which is not what you want to happen :(

[@Travelife2000]

what u mean: I had no energy to go outside? because u need the fuc***** scooter all the time to reach any single place?

[@CarynConnolly]

Wait. So you’re a photographer and trashing people who want to take photos?

[@primemarketing7218]

I also don't get it are she never see some video about people talk about Bali traffic, trash in Bali, no sidewalk and if there is there's a hole on it, not to drink the tap water, about people take a picture for Instagram even though she never see any of that at the first day or first week she in Bali did she never see all of that are she sleep or what, why she have to live for 9 months like a new born baby go back to her mother, Bali is already like that in early 2000, its not like Bali in 70's anymore around the world has change in 50 years

[@lavista4u]

@@primemarketing7218 exactly, she milked Bali for views and this is her last video to trash Bali for more views. What human being takes nine months see the problems she mentions

[@travelwithrafa]

@@primemarketing7218 I understand your view and yes I had seen vidoes talking about the reality of bali but from 100 talking about paradise only 1 would be about problems so I thought it wouldnt be as bad. I made this video so something can change in the island because the problems are worse than people imagine... i stayed 9 months for other reasons too, I went there with the mentality of settling down so changing the plans like that were not an easy decision even if it might look to you... And no i did not fly back to my mom 😂😂 she went visiting me in italy (she does not live there and neither do i) hahaha

[@EmmGee-pele77]

Light bulb idea. Let’s go to Bali and be digital nomad in paradise. Beach, sun, cheap, relaxing. Funny how a few million others have the same thoughts and all congregate to…….you guessed it ….Bali. Of course it’s become overcrowded. Try going to Bandung or Yogyakarta, if you want cultural experience.

[@palmbaybali6138]

Good points, thank you for this concise video. Bali is being lost. The magic is here still but, you are correct. The magic is hard to find now. Keep going with your travels Rafa. An honest review of a review! :)

[@r-e-s-o-n-a-n-t]

Traffic is a problem everywhere in the world. Hopefully in the future we have less noise and pollution. Walkable cities are gems.

[@morganstubie]

Think you for sharing!!! I’m in Penang right now and was “debating” going with all of your hesitations. I know I won’t like the tourists and traffic. I wanted to hike too!

[@travelwithrafa]

Glad I helped you! If you dont like too many tourists and traffic definitely not the place for you

[@helena20000]

What do you think of Penang/how're you finding Penang so far : the pros, cons, etc., ?

[@HeatherMJephcott]

Many of us who know Bali could have told you what Bali is like. The problems caused by expatriates and tourists are huge, local tourists included. Do you understand why there's not much of a hiking culture in Bali/Indonesia? It's because of the hot, humid, weather. Other than on the top of mountains it's too hot to walk far. I walk every day in Surabaya, East Java, but rarely walk other than early morning. It would be nice to be able to walk on foot paths but these are rare. I have learned to walk on the road but in less busy areas. I personally love Bali but not the south. Even Sanur has become too busy. We were in Amed recently and it was lovely. We enjoyed wonderful interactions with the locals and as we are fluent in Indonesia this helps a lot. Some Balinese do not like tourists...it can be interesting talking to them. There's no perfect place on earth. We are here to serve others and where God wants us to be is definitely the best place to be.

[@hello_world_104]

Awesome honesty. Thanks!

[@JuanJose-xu4ip]

We really appreciate this video. Social media doesn´t mention all of this. We where in Bali 12 years ago and went back last year.

[@nasiaking]

Lets try Jembrana. Perhaps we can open new hiking trail there.

[@CarlTravels]

I 100% agree with everything you have said, do you have a new destination in mind?

[@travelwithrafa]

Thank you!! I am in Italy now, content from here coming soon!

[@odetoazam]

@@travelwithrafa come to Medellin :)

[@annaawbl]

My teeth started to hurt after 3 weeks in Bali, which is so random, because I never had any problems with my teeth before. I also got a cold and headache now for a week, it's just not getting better. Going to the dentist in 2 days and decided to leave Bali this week already, even though I planned to stay a lot longer. But it's just not the place to be, I totally feel you.

[@BuleGamer96]

So basically, you are complaining that people are trying to achieve what you achive, I have seen that exact situation with Japan and videogames; people complaining that they cant buy cheap videogames because many people are trying to do as same as they do. Some of the problems that you mentioned are a direct cause of having soo many digital nomads, tourist, etc... And same of those problems are already the same that I saw and liive in Jakarta. Indonesia is a developing country with less taxes than Europe, Us, etc... People in general cant pretend to avoid paying taxes, buying cheap things and have the same services as Europe, US, etc...

[@elsienorback7689]

You will get Bali belly or issues with the gut when you travel in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand or any country in that area. You just have to be very cautious and only drink bottled water and stay at better accommodations other than places that cost very little. It’s not easy, but it takes a conscious mind to really keep your stomach/intestinal track healthy in any country.

[@PatriciaK.-tq1dt]

Thank you so much for your honesty and your great great content! Being so brave and showing different aspects of your travel experiences helps others so much. Please keep up the great work

[@SuzannePowell-fb6lw]

You are so right they have got very greedy building with no infrastructure I have been going over40 yrs I ended up in hospital never been well since I have serious health problems,I have lived in new Guinea for years and very out back Australia so I am used to rough ,Bali has become over run with filth people crime traffic it really is not paradise

[@beatrizcascelli]

Rafa, a última vez que estive em Bali foi em 2019 e já estava virando o caos. Depois da pandemia então, nem consigo imaginar! Que bom que você está em um local melhor agora ❤

[@travelwithrafa]

Que loucura Bia, ja era loucura e a galera continua indo... nao sei oq vai ser de bali!

[@Enetimi]

I live here now and I agree. I believe too many people came here and its not built to handle all these people. I stay in the house most of the time to avoid traffic but I will also be leaving soon even though I have a 2 year visa.

[@travelwithrafa]

wow, I am sorry you decided to leave even after getting the 2 year visa, but i completetly understand you.. it is way too much to handle

[@CommoditySC]

How did you get the 2 year visa?

[@Salam_Damai431]

Digital nomads are not tourists apparently. They get a long-term visa thru a back door agent, make money while they’re here but don’t pay any tax, don’t employ any local, ride on a motorcycle without protective clothing, have an accident and get mad at the hospital cashier because they can’t afford the treatment and don’t have insurance. They want a lot from Bali, but what do they actually bring, if they are not tourists? You want to go for long walks on a flat pavement with no rubbish or holes in the sidewalk, high speed internet, good hygiene, etc? Stay in a five star hotel in Nusa Dua or Sanur.

[@Travelife2000]

well said. Luckly we don't have this type of digital nomad "cheapskate" in hong kong that can't earn enough to live well in a first world international place and pretend to live a luxury life in a third world country where the sewer system is not working properly and if u get hurt seriously they have to be airlifted to Singapore. They keep saying "So cool So cheap So cool So cheap...oh my god the best place ever" then u take a swim and eat shit, eat a salad and have diarrea for 2 months. We live in a world where unlucky ppl illegally try to find fortune in the first world countries and then lucky ppl born in first world countries move in the third world.

[@polinessa_s0306]

Absolutely agree💯

[@azar...]

Where are you going next?

[@cocostrandz]

what did you expect you put everything on youtube , your nomadic video got 1 million views where people shared their monthly income and said it was cheap to live in Bali, so obviously people are going to flood the place duh 🙄

[@xanderandkim]

We love your videos and this one is spot on! Looking forward to your Italian videos, another amazing country we love to visit ❤

[@WeDidntExpectthis]

Great video - very important for people who are considering moving to Bali to watch. Am wondering if u will be doing any videos on Argentina?

[@tomaanoshkina]

Thank you so much for your honesty!!!!!

[@HeatherMJephcott]

Of course it's not a healthy place to be. But it's healthier than most other places in Indonesia. In general, Indonesians definitely only go to tourist places for a photo..no problem with that. Maybe for the experience too. Now Bali is just a tiny part of Indonesia.

[@SolidMiguelito]

This video is 💯 accurate. Heading back to USA after 1 month in Bali. Bali USED TO have the best of all worlds- beaches, cafes, hiking, etc. but has become CONGESTED and COMMERCIALIZED. It’s still a fun and unique experience. However, for digital nomads it is difficult to get ur work and play done on the same day.

[@rakelllindsay6600]

Interesting. Congs on surviving 9 months in a different culture. I also hope you do a video about what you liked. Yes over tourism for sure. As for the water alot of countries you cannot drink the water.

[@ELB-v7b]

Thanks Rafa. This was a huge eye-opener. I'm looking for somewhere peaceful to write my book, but Bali sounds horribly intense.

[@alexgodman181]

I would enjoy Bali much more if I saw the locals enjoying some places, too. The locals are exceptional, especially their hospitality, and I commend the Grab drivers, but I feel strange not seeing the locals dining and eating at the many lovely cafes/restaurants. There is a noticeable inequality; in Canggu, there are some hidden gems, but mainly Westerners enjoy them. In August 2024, construction is everywhere in Canggu. The traffic is okay because of shoulder season, but I struggle with short walks on the street. The rice fields from the main roads are gone. When you go further out, Tanah Lot, some beautiful quiet places are nearby. I'd like to know what that will be like in 10 years. I hope they preserve the natural beauty away from the city and not build it everywhere.

[@michaeldoring270]

Any recommendation where to go?

[@nikmatdunia2708]

bali is smal iland. if you dont like it just lived 3 day in bali and go to nather countries. whai you live ther for 5 month?

[@travelwithrafa]

You obviously didn’t watch my video or did not understand what I said - first of all I lived there for 9 months, 3-4 in canggu and then 5 months in tabanan (local area) I stayed longer because I went there to stay long term and I had to change all my plans to leave

[@roamingrucksack]

I absolutely love Bali, the people, the culture, the food, the lifestyle it offers nomads; but I think it has become trendy to MOVE to Bali. And that is the problem. The idea of being a digital nomad is to spend time in a place, to work from and contribute to that place, but then to leave. The sad reality is that people aren't leaving nearly as much as they are arriving.

[@86Nebraska]

It is very important what you shared.

[@Travelife2000]

is there sewage and black water system in Bali? if not, where the shit goes? into the ocean where u swim? thats why more and more tourists gets infection to their ears?

[@ursdreyer3122]

No, there is no sewage system, the black water normally goes into septic tanks, but not that of the animals... Yes, the infrastructure in Bali is 3rd world, you have to know that, it is like that and has always been like that. There was never a general so-called spatial planning for tourism, and if there was, then the projects all failed. Now everything is scattered wildly like an octopus, no corresponding roads, everything is improvised... Even all the garbage, in 2024 there is still no waste concept for 283 million inhabitants... buy a new capital is being built on Kalimantan... 😂

[@sunlit777]

for water just get Balian - its only 30K per 19L jug and its magnificent - from the source at the mount Agung!

[@rafad9770]

I visited Havelock last year, and I would like recommend you. Although this place has not hike routes, and The tap water quality is not The best but the island is so beautiful. We spend three days there, and We did not see more than five tourists. The unique transport is The scooter too, however i drove alone all day. Radhanagar beach is a nice place to relax, and its so clean. Out topic, your videos are useful to me for improve my english listening haha

[@travelwithrafa]

Thank you for your recommendation!!

[@TravellingKim]

I appreciate your honesty and transparence 😊 I'm the same. I have been to Bali 6 weeks ago during only 2 weeks 😍 LOVED IT 💯‼️ also suffered from diarrhea though after I came back... I am currently interested in knowing more about living abroad as a digital nomad 😊 but I would NOT choose Canngu ever!! I avoided it during my holiday. Ow and I also agree on your idea about the swings (hate them) 😊

[@zaneunderthesun]

Perfect description

[@sncpaypal2804]

I'm thinking of going there just to change the surroundings and get out of my comfort zone. Is 3,000 dollars enough for me to start with?

[@esthergarcia5615]

100% accurate! I came for two months to test and Got the same outilnes from day 1

[@Z3NZUN0]

Right on point!

[@adamlorden5666]

its funny how the same person that complains and decides to live are also the same type of person that created these problems. People just making tonnes of money and giving zero back just abusing it like there is no tomorrow.