Bali by Motorbike

Deserted beach Medewi

Bali isn’t all about nightlife, shopping and its white sandy beaches. One of my greatest joys while I lived on the island was touring by motorbike. For the more adventurous person seeking to get away from it all Bali does offer up some spectacular scenery. And just getting to these locations by motorbike can be as exciting as it is dangerous. I’m not suggesting riding scooters for the following trips. I would recommend renting a proper motorbike with a small amount of grunt and a great deal of breaking power. And believe me if you do decide to make one of these journeys, you will need it. I used to ride a Honda Tiger 200 with a bored out engine, which is by no means a big bike. But it did have the get up and go to get me out of trouble. And the double disk brakes did a good job of stopping me when I needed it.

If you are going to undertake one of these excursions, you will also need a great deal of courage and a healthy appetite for self-endangerment. Riding on Bali’s streets can be perilous at the best of times. The roads in the tourist areas are generally swarming with horn hooting maniacs who possess no real driving etiquette. But when you ride around the outflung rural areas of Bali the traffic flow becomes faster and accordingly the risk intensifies. The roads outside of the tourist areas can be treacherous and it is not just because a number of them are in disrepair. You will need to be prepared for irresponsible truck drivers with dangerously overloaded vehicles. And sleep deprived tour bus drivers with a need to navigate hairpin bends at breakneck speed.  You will also encounter collections of suicidal maniacs driving dilapidated automobiles who have a desperate urge to overtake.  And you will find yourself dodging thousands kamikaze scooter riders with a propensity towards playing road warrior. Sounds like fun doesn’t it?

 

My two Tigers. (You have to love what is written on her shirt)

You may be asking right now why in bloody hell would anyone want to do that, and I wouldn’t blame you. Riding a motorbike to Bali’s outlying areas is not for the fainthearted. But, for people with an adventurous soul the rewards can be truly wondrous. When you are not watching and avoiding the oncoming and overtaking traffic. You will be treated with amazing scenery and glimpses into Bali life before tourism. You will also feel the sense of freedom and anticipation that only touring to picturesque places unknown can provide. You will ride through tropical jungles and alongside deserted beaches. You will coast up and down mountains buried in thick steaming rain forests. And you will pass ancient temples and locals tending thick green rice paddies. And the best part is that you can manage to do all of these things with just one days ridding.

Strange statue in the middle of nowhere

The very best thing about touring Bali is its size and the close proximity of its attractions to the main tourist hubs of Kuta or Seminyak. For those people that have a longer journey in mind it is possible to ride around, or through the middle, of the island in around two to three days. But for those with time restrictions it is quite possible to leave Kuta or Seminyak early in the morning.  And to arrive back at the hotel for a bit of pool sitting and cocktail sipping by late afternoon. You will also find that most locals will be friendly enough to give directions and that there are plenty of places along the way where you can buy food and refreshments.

 

Riding back at night can be dangerous, but wow!

Kuta-Medewi-Kuta

This is one of my favourite trips and the route is packed with scenery.  Medewi is remote village in one of the least visited areas of Bali. And it is well known for its surfing beaches, Balian’s and Medewi Beach.

Medewi surf spot is located about 75 kilometres west of  Denpasar. The time it takes to reach Medewi by motorbike is approximately two hours. At journeys end you will find a good restaurant at the entrance to the surf beach, top of the hill left hand side. Accommodation is also available if you want to spend the night and ride back the next day.

Kuta-Candi Dasa- Kuta

Due to the newly opened east coast road this is one of the easiest rides.  Candi Dasa is approximately a one and half-hour ride from Kuta passing through the Sanur area. Candi Dasa is a sleepy tourist town but there are plenty of hotels, bars and restaurants if you wish to spend the evening and ride back the next day. Small tip, for a nice view of Bali’s islands ride though the town and up the mountain at its end.

Kuta Ubud Kuta

Again this is an easy ride but beware Ubud is very popular amongst tourists so there will be plenty of traffic to contend with. Ubud is located in central Bali and it is considered Bali’s cultural heart. It is famous as an arts and crafts hub, and much of the town and nearby villages seems to consist of artists' workshops and galleries. There is also an abundance of accommodation and restaurants and plenty to see and do. Rather than a day trip it is perhaps worth spending at least a couple of days in the small town.  

Kuta-Uluwatu-Kuta

Uluwatu is Bali’s surfing mecca and so it is well worth a visit, also some of Bali’s most stunning beaches are located in this area. And then of course there is Uluwatu Temple itself so this makes the perfect day trip. Unfortunately due to large amounts of traffic in the Bukit area this is a dangerous ride. Be very careful of the yellow trucks overloaded with limestone. And do not get caught to close behind going up the Bukit hill or too close in front coming down. Due to their massive workload the brakes in these vehicles have been known to fail. Once you are through this dangerous area the roads will open up and they will become less congested.  The trip from Kuta to Uluwatu will take an hour and half and there is plenty of accommodation and restaurants along the way or at journeys end.

 

Glimpses of surf at unknown beaches

The above places and how to get there can be found on maps or in G.P.S. systems. It is always wise when ridding long distance to have the correct equipment. A western standard motorbike helmet, and some form of protective clothing, not singlet shorts and flip flops. It would also be recommended to take a small back pack with a change of clothes just in case you want to spend the evening.

©Malcolm Scott

A Few Different Schoolie Tips

Bali Taxi Warriors

It’s that time of year again and Bali Schoolies is once again upon us. When I lived on the island this time of year always worried me. Bali is the perfect place for groups of young people to blow off steam after a year of hard studying. But this also means that a lot of first time travellers will be hitting the bars and beaches of Kuta and Seminyak. It is estimated that over six thousand schoolies from Australia will be arriving in Bali over the next two weeks.  And it is no stretch to imagine that these teenagers will be partying hard and drinking way too much in their pursuit of fun on the island. I have covered this in the past but here are a few different tips that may help out.

Make Sure You Have Travel Insurance

A number of Australians have accidents during their holidays in Bali. Whether it is scooter related, nightclub related or just simply a surfing accident. No matter what happens, it is always wise to have some level of travel insurance when heading to Bali for holidays. Recently a Bali based Australian had to be medevac’d back to Australia from Bali. The Australian had no travel insurance and the price for his evacuation ranged in the forty to fifty thousand dollar range. This is a huge amount of money for anyone so please make sure you have the appropriate travel insurance.

Bring Condoms from Home

Condoms are available in Bali but they tend to be of a substandard quality and they have a propensity break easily. It is always wise to have a sufficient supply whether you think you will be involved in this type of activity or not. Remember this is schoolies and who knows what may happen or who you may meet.  Please also be aware that there are plenty of prostitutes trawling the Bali clubs and the beaches’ of Bali. Local men and women are involved in this activity. It has also been well documented that there is a very high H.I.V. infection rate on the island. If you do meet a local man or a local lady and things graduate to a sexual level. Then please always ensure that the correct protection is used.

Western Standard Motorbike Helmet

Firstly I wouldn’t recommend that anyone traveling to Bali for schoolies hires a scooter. Most things are within walking distance and transportation is inexpensive. For around town taxis are available and the driver will wait if his customer needs to stop. For longer travel it is wise to hire a car and driver for the day. The driver will help with translation and they will be more than willing to share their local knowledge. A good idea is to pool your resources and travel with friends. Think of it as a road trip, you will have a lot more laughs and you will see a lot more of the sights. Also remember to barter when organizing the price and stipulate where you want to go and how long you want to take.

If you intend hiring a scooter in Bali then please pack a western standard motorbike helmet with your luggage. The motorbike helmets sold and supplied in Bali are cheap copies.  They will not save a person’s life if they come off a bike at speed.  Also please don’t ride if you have been drinking.  More tourists are injured or killed on motorbikes in Bali than anything else. If you have been drinking, park and lock your scooter in a busy street. And then ask a local working in a shop close by to watch it for you. I have done this hundreds of times so I can promise that it will be quite safe.  It may also be advisable to leave a small tip and then promise a further tip when you return.  If you do leave your scooter it is also sensible to carry your helmet with you or to leave it behind the counter of the shop or bar. Quality helmets that are left locked on scooters for long periods are often stolen.

Little tip: Brand new helmets may attract an import tax at customs so bring something second hand. If you do bring a new helmet, cover the Australian standard sticker with another sticker and then scuff the helmet up a little. Australian standard motorcycle helmets are prized in Bali so they are prone to being stolen.

Avoid cheap drinks and cocktails

There have been tourists injuries and deaths attributed to drinking cheap alcohol in Bali. The reason for this is that a number of these drinks are methanol based.  This is a dangerous chemical that can cause blindness, coma and death if consumed in large amounts. Cheap alcohol, otherwise known as Arak, is often brewed in backyard distilleries around Bali and throughout Indonesia. Unfortunately there is no real way for the Indonesian authorities to completely stamp out this practice.

If you have any doubts about this please visit the following link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=476423765790227&set=a.391798394252765.1073741827.389335401165731&type=1

 

Tattoo’s

Some schoolies may be attracted to the idea of getting a tattoo in Bali. I myself have had a number of them done on the island and I have never had a problem. But, when I did get my tattoos, I made sure that a packet of clean and sterilized needles was opened in front of me. And that the shop where I was having the work done was clean and sterilized looking. A good idea is to ask other tourists that have received tattoos where they received them and if they had any problems. It may also be wise to have the tattoo done on the closest day to your departure as possible. Most of Bali’s water is ground water and most of Bali’s sewage runs on a septic tank system. And with this in mind swimming or showering in Bali with a fresh tattoo is definitely not advised.

 

Check the depth of your pool before diving in.

This may sound obvious or stupid but you would be surprised at how many times I have heard about this happening. Bali pools are not built to the same building standards as western pools and a lot were built a long time ago.  For whatever reason, a number of people dive into their hotel pools without first checking the depth. And they end up with a nasty injury to begin their holiday or worse.  A very close friend of mine came very close to breaking his neck doing this. It is always wise to ask the pool guy or if you’re lucky enough the pool bar attendant. But if you happen to be too shy or no one is available, try jumping in feet first to begin with.

©Malcolm Scott

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS   

Ambulance: 118 Police: 110 Fire: 113 Search & Rescue: (0361) 111 115 151 Bali Tourist Police:  (0361) 754 599 (0361) 224 111 Red Cross: (0361) 227 224 Air Ambulance (0361) 207 7788 Electricity: 123 Taxi: (0361) 701 111

CLINICS DOCTORS HOSPITALS

Sanglah Public Hospital: (0361) 227 911 – 15 Kasih Ibu Hospital: (0361) 223 036, (0361) 237 016 Bali International Medical Center (BIMC): (0361) 761263 International SOS: (0361) 710505

AUSTRALIAN CONSULAR OFFICE (Includes Canada and New Zealand)

Phone: 235 092/3 Fax: 231 990 Email: ausconbali@denpasar.wasantara.net.id