Bali – Travel with Mi

My last trip in Bali

My last trip to Bali, where nothing goes according to plan. Yes, sometimes in life we make mistakes, but they’re not irreparable. This time I traveled as if for the last time. I challenged myself on things I’d never done in five trips!

The big pluses…

Challenges…

Those who know me know that I’m more into challenging myself than staying in my corner. Like everyone else, I have fears and phobias. But this time, there’s no question of listening to them again: solo restaurants, solo clubbing, solo walks on the beach, solo sunsets, all solo, socializing in a way that usually scares the hell out of me. A successful challenge!

Friends…

It was so nice to see my friends again, to be able to share time with them, unfortunately not all of them because of their schedules. But preparing Juliana for her interview in front of our apple crumble pie par made me extremely happy! We had a lot of laughs! Then she introduced me to her son, Nara, a real little pile of electricity, as adorable as anything, very jovial and mysterious, a bit like his mom, Agung was there too and is as adorable as ever. They’re a fantastic couple and so mythical! What a pleasure to see them! I think of Juliana as my little sister, and I love her very much!

I also meet again Batiste a old friends of mine, still so adorable !

Business class!

I was upgraded to business class on an A380 departing from denpasar. For the lucky ones, you may come across a ticket agent who tells you that the plane is overbooked and upgrades you to first or business where there’s room! What an experience! Champagne Moet & Chandon at the entrance (I confess that stressed to sleep as I was I mixed all that with my medication) result I slept like a baby for 7 hours. Menu, mattress, clean toilets, pyjamas – you guessed it, I don’t want to travel in second class anymore, it’s a horror hahah!

For those of you who don’t follow me on instagram, I got my first surfboard costumized just the way I wanted it. It’s hard to get used to balancing on it, especially as it’s so light, but riding it is a real pleasure. I left it in Bali with Ali, my instructor, and he lets me use my wonderful board, which he thinks is great!

Surfing (with Ali and Nawir)

So those who know me know that I have weight problems and therefore heart problems. I was very disappointed with myself during this trip in terms of surfing. I was fixated on productivity instead of pleasure and appeasement. I realized it too late. I say to myself that it will be for another time with Ali, the best surf instructor.
He told me what was wrong and why I still couldn’t ride a big wave like I used to. Yes, I’d lost 6 kilos since May, so I had less strength and it was showing in my paddling. Thank you Ali for your patience and kindness! You’re the best surf buddy we could ever wish to have.

The restaurants…

Wow! I went to lots of restaurants I didn’t usually go to. From the cheapest to the most affordable. One restaurant that left a deep impression on me was Ina Re, where I tasted some truly delicious dishes, all accompanied by an adorable hostess/waitress: Audrey.

Jamu couse with Jamu Sehati :

The great opportunity of participating to their work shop ! Puji is an amazing teacher, I feel blessed that we could eat together at her home. She teached me so many tips with the jamu 💓🙏🏼

A little less cool…

Aster apartment :

Unfortunately big bug for this apartment hotel, I’m not here to down accommodation I can just tell you to always, ho great god, always take you a hotel with pool.

This apartment continent of apartments: bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, washing machine and dryer. I thought to myself, this is incredible! But that wasn’t counting the mini balcony measuring 30 cm by 1 meter, and the pillows, which unfortunately smelled of mould… I loved it, but the pool, pillows and balcony are important to me.

Echo beach designer apartment :

A huge apartment that had a living room with no air-conditioning (and in Bali air-conditioning is a must). Well, discomfort after discomfort, I decided to change accommodation. I’m comfortable with the heat, but not so much when it’s 30 degrees inside my apartment, especially when I’m cooking next door.

Funny fact : I was locked out on the balcony for an hour in the middle of the night at two in the morning because the door slammed on its own, so I had to call the emergency number. They were very kind to come and open the balcony door! Really superb staff! Shame about the air-conditioning.

Jamu Sehati, jamu paradise

The story begins with a random stroll through the streets of Ubud. I was wandering the streets without necessarily having a goal. I remember stopping in front of the shop and not being able to take my eyes off the fridge with the drinks inside, the color of the neat labels, but also the smell of the shop.

I remember running into a man with black plugs in his ears, and he let me taste the Jamu Balance and the White Tumeric. I knew that Switzerland had never had anything so good on the shelves of supermarkets or even small health food stores.

I took 8 packages from him and he gave me some ecens to try out, which I found adorable. I had taken some small packages for people to try out and some large ones too. But with one suitcase I wasn’t going to get far and it was impossible to bring back more.

I returned to Switzerland depressed after the end-of-year holidays, which I’d spent alone without my family. So I put incense in my abalone and made myself a Jamu Balance (I’m writing these few lines with my Jamu Red Ginger because I’ve just eaten and it’s the only one that soothes my stomach from the pain of sibo).

There you have it, my little Indonesian corner. Then I gave a taste to some friends who really liked it, so I thought I’d take some home for them when I got back to Ubud. I took so much that I had to buy another suitcase. During my stay in Ubud, I used to drink jamu Balance every morning in a bottle, otherwise I drink it hot in Switzerland.

I then looked at the Swiss Jamu market, but found nothing. Then, at the Jamu Sehati boutique (hait means heart in Bahasa Indonesian) I find it charming, everything is well put together after three years of fetching my Jamu sometimes from Canggu where I’ve seen them grow. Their marketing is incredible, who knew you could prevent so many ailments with medicinal herbs?

Three years after their constant use, I can assure you that my blood sugar levels are better, they’ve stabilized, my hair is growing back and, above all, I feel much better inside. I no longer need a cardiologist, except for the logical follow-up once every five years.

I decided to write to them and tell them that I wanted to represent them in Switzerland, because I think they deserve to be better known throughout the country, by doctors, spas and hotels. After some discussion, we agreed that I would return from my travels with a certain quantity that I would like to resell. So if you know any buyers, please help me, tell your friends, spas, hotels, sports centers, beauty salons, etc., about me. I’ll do what’s necessary to buy large quantities and resell them to you.

http://www.jamusehatiubud.com/

The stupidity that shortened my stay by one month.

Taking my single entry visa too late before it was approved.

As you may know, you need visas to go to Bali, for example the e-voa, multiple entry and so on. But here I had promised myself to stay for two whole months, with the 60-day single entry visa that doesn’t require any renewal, so no need to take 30 days and then go to Jimbaran to reapply for a visa renewal at immigration. Basically, I bought my visa 9 days before my departure for 112.00 francs. It was indicated that the maximum return time was 8 days. To apply to the immigration service, you must guarantee that you have more than 2,000 francs in your account. Of course, you should always go through the Molina Imigrasi website for this type of procedure if you’re on your own, as it’s the one and only trustworthy site in my opinion

I arrived at Geneva airport with my visa still not approved, and the hostess told me: »You cannot board the flight if your visa is not valid for 30 days »…. I thought I was having a heart attack, so I had to change my flight from June 22 to May 22…It was horrible!600 Francs thrown out the window…But you know how I am, I always think there’s an advantage somewhere.Here the advantage was no less, as I was able to reunite with my lover, with whom it was a heartbreak to leave without him.Bali is great, but if your heart’s not in it, it can be a problem for your drive. For the first time, I was extremely sad when I got there, but I think that’s normal when you’ve found the man of your life.

In conclusion, make sure you get your visa on time, and fight for your right to a 60-day visa, even if Geneva airport thinks that only 30-day visas take precedence.Within 1 day my visa was approved. What a lesson it was the first time I’d stayed for such a short time.

Things to know about Ubud…

I wanted to write a rather personal article about my feelings towards the town of Ubud. I was very pleasantly surprised on my first trip; it went very well despite some inconveniences at a hotel that I won’t write about here. As I’ve always said, I’m not here to criticise a place or tell you anything about something I don’t like/didn’t like.

Ever since I was a little girl I’ve felt things very strongly, a little more than the average person, and having to live with my hypersensitivity isn’t easy every day. I have to pay attention to places that are steeped in history, and believe me, in Ubud it was impossible to escape my hypersensitivity.

Let’s take the hotels first, now you know one of the reasons why I had to leave my first hotel in Ubud as quickly as possible.

Now let’s talk about my second trip. Before settling into my first staycation, Ada and I went to Griya Beji Waterfall and then Goa Gajah.

I landed during a ceremony at the Waterfall, and I can still hear the screams of the people performing the ceremony. For me, it was difficult to have so many people and so much shouting around me, it had quite an impact on me – it was to exorcise their moral pain.

I felt very heavy coming out of the ceremony, a big weight on my shoulders. We took the car and ate before heading off to Goa Gajah. The Goa temple is one of the first Buddhist temples on the island. I went into the cellar at the feet of the elephant. And that was the straw that broke the camel’s back: my stomach and chest hurt for two days after I went there. The effect was quite direct, and I had a hard time getting rid of it as I didn’t have my own little tricks to get rid of what had to go and purify my hotel room (be careful when you burn palo santo or white sage in a hotel, think of the smoking detector and the smell of white sage).

Basically, my pain lasted until my next stay-cation. After that it calmed down a bit. This experience was very strong for me, especially in Bali. If you’re as sensitive as I am, Ubud is full of history and energy of all kinds. Bali is a very spiritual island, so if you’re having problems putting off your trip to the island, it’s probably because you’re not ready to embark on your spiritual journey and it would be better to take this as a sign that you can postpone your trip.

Let’s talk a little about sarongs, the magnificent, colourful pareos that the locals wear from Thursday to Sunday and on the evenings of full moons – there are two full moons a month, the new moon and the full moon.

But that’s not all: there are also ceremonies in the temples. As a tourist or expat, you should be aware that it is imperative to wear a sarong when visiting the temples. If you don’t have one, you can find them everywhere at the Ubud market, and the locals at the entrances to the temples will have some for you. Personally, I’d love to buy the lace top that the women wear with the sarong, with the belt over it. At immigration I’ve seen people in sarongs, but it’s mainly the staff who hand out sarongs to tourists/expats who aren’t dressed according to the conditions imposed to enter the state building that is immigration. A sense of the values of the country you live in is very important for social awareness.

The little extras:

When you see the little baskets of offerings on the ground, please pay attention, they are offerings.

Ada Tour

Who is Ada Tour? Here I’m going to tell you about the best tour guide I’ve ever met. Not only a great person, but an incredible concept. This person has become my friend. However, I’m going to remain objective in my article to help you choose him for his (too) many qualities. A top job for an extraordinary person! Ada tour is the company of good humor, laughter, good advice on Bali, quality videos and souvenir photos. As a solo traveler, taking videos and photos of yourself requires a lot of organization, which is why I needed a driver with experience and a passion for what he does. Really good prices, considering all the work he does! Never a hassle, only good humor!

Whether you’re a family, a couple, or solo, Ada will take you on a journey through breathtaking scenery, stopping off at restaurants where the value for money is total. I’d also like to point out that tour guides have a hectic lifestyle, are constantly on the road and have little time for themselves. If you’re self-employed, you know that if you don’t work, the money doesn’t come in. This job is extremely difficult and requires admirable tenacity!

Value for money: highly respected, for the trip from Canggu to Ubud I remember paying 200,000 IDR or 11 CHF/12.20 EUR/13 USD. For a whole day visiting Pendlipuran Village I remember paying 600,000 IDR or 34.80/36.60 EUR/39.00 USD. Ada will obviously take you to a corner of paradise if you don’t know Bali, otherwise he’ll recommend restaurants that live up to your expectations. In my opinion, for a driver who speaks perfect English and Russian, who gives excellent advice, with whom you can laugh and talk freely, and who also listens to good music and takes photos and videos to delight your family and friends, it’s a small price to pay. Not forgetting Ada, who delighted you by letting you try lots of local specialities, for me it was the durian, which has since become my favorite fruit.

I can’t think of a better driver than him. I recommend him from the bottom of my heart !

Website : https://adaqtour.wordpress.com/

YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@Ada-Evi?si=Iuub6dHTkF5y3ZYY

Solo traveler avantages & disadvantages

Loneliness is the hardest thing to deal with I’d say when you travel, maybe not the first time, but after the second time.
Sometimes you want to see places, do things, but you can’t do it simply because you’d like your friends to be with you at the snap of a finger to experience what you’re experiencing with you. Sharing has always been my kiff, I need intensity in my life and to do things with passion, otherwise I get bored very quickly.

I feel like I know Bali a little better than my own country, that I’m more touched by this country than my own. I mean, above all, the culture and the local people touch me enormously. I’ve been traveling since I was a little girl, and we moved almost every year, so I’m not particularly attached to my own country.
I like to share my experiences with you by writing, at least it’s immortalized!
This is just my opinion, not a general one.

It’s out of the question to write negative things, opinions on what I didn’t like, it’s very important for me to tell you only about what I liked, because everyone will have their own opinion on the places, the attractions, the food. What I like won’t always be to everyone’s taste. Between Indonesian restaurants, hotels/hostels and sometimes expensive attractions that are really worth it. So let’s move on to the pros and cons of traveling solo.

Advantages

– You never get bored with yourself.

– No obligations, just freedom.

– No one can put you in a bad mood but yourself.

– You do what you want, when you want, where you want. You’re in control of what you want.

– You meet people. My most memorable encounters were with locals. I fell in love with their philosophy, which I found extremely rich in knowledge and interesting.

-If you need help, ask around.

– Get out of your comfort zone. – Let yourself be guided by your own desires.

– You’re never really alone.

Disadvantages

– Feeling alone.

– Making friends when you’re an introvert can be tricky (believe me, I know what I’m talking about).

– Tourists sometimes don’t respect your limits when you’re out alone, so it’s up to you to make them respect you.

As you may have noticed, there are more positives than negatives. That’s how I felt about my various experiences as a solo traveler. Of course, there were times when I felt very alone, but out of that loneliness came ideas that I still have today. So thank you to all the people who inspired me.

Amantrana Hotel

Your journey to paradise now begins in the most balinese eco chic boutique of surroundings. You’ll fall under the spell of this establishment if you like balinese chic decor, tranquility and attentive staff.

I loved the warm welcome, the purification and protection ceremony around the place, my room overlooking the rice fields, the pool and the food.

There’s nothing I don’t like! Admittedly, it’s a long way from the beach, so you really need a scooter, a car or a gojek. But all in all, I was there mainly to rest and write, so it was clearly no problem. A real haven of peace.

The staff are so helpful, there wasn’t a day when they weren’t smiling! The fact that the establishment is run by women is also very important to me. As for the room service, your taste buds will be delighted by the copious and varied breakfast options: you can choose between an Indonesian breakfast option and a continental breakfast and juice. What else? It’s all delicious!

Maintenance is also very diligent. Let me give you an example. I don’t mind gecko, they eat mosquitoes and are as cute as can be. One snuck into my room from the ceiling. On the plus side, at least you know you’re protected by the spirits of your loved ones when they scream, especially if you believe in them, which is my experience. I called the reception directly and thirty seconds later someone came to remove it.

Another huge plus in this hotel is the whatsapp group, between you and the hotel. You can ask questions or make special requests, it’s very practical! There are only a few rooms, which gives it a special charm, and you know that if you love being quiet by the pool, this is the place to be! The place is clean. Personally, I highly recommend it for a honneymoon, or if you need to get away from the madness of Canggu and its legendary rush.

A special thank you to the three receptionists, real angels these ladies. Reception is open from 7.30 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the evening. If you arrive later than this, please let them know when you make your reservation. Great value for money! CHF 275 for 3 nights breakfast included. I recommend it and I’ll definitely be back! Leave you the link of the hotel here, have a look https://amantranacanggu.com/

What do you eat in Indonesia ?

Warung Varuna is the place to go, from the tasty yellow rice infused with coconut and lemongrass, to the nasi goreng, the vegetables are fresh and tasty, the chicken in all its forms is delicious, a rimbambelle of dishes we’d all love to try. Don’t forget your whole coconut to stay hydrated. Located a few steps from Pantai Batu Bolong beach, this is a chill & stay spot, where you can take away or stay in and finish off with a cool ice cream just outside the door. It’s a meeting place for all Indonesian culinary specialties! The price is slightly low for the quality. Try the tempe manis/sweet tempe.

Warung Inklusive is a typical Indonesian restaurant, also serving breakfast and Western food, from Bebek Goreng (fried duck) to Nasi Campur, and many other dishes. Your taste buds will be delighted. The restaurant offers happy hours, drag shows, and evenings where you can learn sign language. It’s the perfect combination of business and pleasure, with a sprinkling of fun! You’ll pay a bit more than the usual warung, but the service is good.

The Sweet Escape Bakery is a very small place for great aesthetic things, and it’s all gluten-free. I had a hard time finding it, but it’s easier to park in Gojek. They make birthday cakes on request, and the workshop is in the back. I went there for breakfast, where the pancakes were soft and fluffy at the same time, tasty. Accompanied by black tea, they were perfect.

Poke Poke is my favorite for Poke (they have other things than Poke, of course). Why my favorite? There’s the choice of size, the ingredients are fresh, you’re asked if you want spicy tuna sashimi or not, choice between white or black rice, Balinese mayonnaise (a big favorite) or other, add quinoa if you like for 25’000IDR (=1.45 CHF). Basically, you can also follow the menus or create your own Poke for less than 10 CHF. Can you believe it? The staff are simply adorable! You’ll find Indonesian specialties next door in Roti Canai such as their incredible Soto Ayam (chicken, vermicelli and egg soup served with white rice), as well as the must-try Martabak, a thin, crispy pastry enveloping vegetables and chicken served with a delicate, fragrant curry sauce. Roti Canai means roti, in other words « bread », and believe me, there’s plenty to choose from, including onion and bacon roti… I’d also recommend the breakfast menu, which includes gluten-free waffles and a whole host of delicacies. There’s something for everyone, sweet and savory.

Sukun is the Amnaya Resort Kuta’s very elaborate restaurant, where you’ll find everything from Western to Italian to Indonesian – yes, we’re in Kuta (the tourist destination) The breakfast is very copious if you can eat everything. I’d recommend the eggs Benedict, the hollandaise sauce, is really tasty if I can compare it to others where butter dominates. The gado gado is not bad at all… As for the dishes, the portions are small for the price. That said, in terms of taste and presentation everything is there, unfortunately less spicy than elsewhere, but I think that’s normal for an international hotel restaurant, as some people’s habits are not those of others.

On the Rooftop of the Beachwalk Mall in Kuta, please choose the Yuki bakso stand. Do you like fragrant broths, tasty meatballs made from chicken or beef (even fish, buffalo and so on)? Accompanied by crispy patties, kecap manis (sweet soy sauce) and sambal (chili puree), this is one of my favorite Indonesian dishes, and it’s very light, contrary to what you might think. Especially in this little stall run by a pretty lady dressed in pink and black with a warm smile. Dumplings (you can ask for tofu too), a mixture of crumb noodles and rice vermicelli covered in a light broth and you’ve got your meal for just 3 CHF.

At Bluefin Japanese fusion, I haven’t tried the teppanyaki, but I can tell you that it’s quite a presentation show that pleases their barbecues. As for me, I’d sometimes go for some sushi, gyoza, or soba (cold spelled noodles soaked in broth) served with crispy tempura.

Umane cafe and restaurant, but what a delightful aerial setting overlooking the rice fields! I advise you to look at the patisserie when you come in, you’ll see cakes, and you’ll know you’re getting a dessert 😉 . I’ve only been there once, but I can already tell you that the green curry was special, not like Thai curry, but rather a flavor I’d never eaten before and would give anything to have the recipe! My friend had a Mie goreng that looked giant and very good too. Their freshly squeezed juices and teas are sweetened with no added sugar.

The Village Green is ideal if you want a full breakfast at a more than fair price! The choice is vast, with something for every taste. From the shrimp omelette to the eggs Benedict, the brioche sandwich with rucola and tomato tapenade, and finally my favorite, the big village green breakfast (toast and two egg style, sausage, bacon, hash brown, guacamole, salad, mushrooms and spinach), all well seasoned. You can always choose between pork or beef bacon and sausage. Basically, the latter is to be avoided if you have a lunch planned, but a must if you have the famous Bali-gover (Bali hangover). The welcome is friendly, and you’re sure to bump into Liza, one of the sweetest waitresses I’ve ever met! Don’t forget the dim sum aswell they are good 😆

Passo by Nook, this restaurant is just incredible, the environment is magnificent, between swimming pool, rice fields, palm tree, the decoration but especially the cooking! This nasi goreng was by far the best I’ve had in two consecutive trips to Bali, and believe me, I’ve eaten some nasi goreng, the balance between too spicy and not spicy enough! The fresh mango juice was perfect. The wait staff were simply pleasant, smiling and helpful.

Bale Udang! Oh, my words! I lost my words on arrival! It’s such an incredible place, I’m going to put a few photos up here, so indescribable in a single paragraph dedicated to the food. It seems that the locals come here more than the tourists, which is just as well, because in Bali, fusion cuisine is often present. At Bale Udang, everything is refined, from the service to the dishes and purely local food, which is what I liked. I rediscovered the authenticity of Bali, with its chilies, garlic, and lemongrass.

HoiAn ! Tested several times… and completely adopted! Between the bun, the Pho, and so on, it was an interesting Vietnamese culinary experience, and it gave me lots of ideas to try and reproduce at home. The setting is so friendly!

Ji Restaurant is located in Canggu Pantai Batu Bolong, next to the Tugu Hotel. Japan is served directly to the plate, and there’s a huge choice of sushi, each as colorful and tasty as the next. If you can’t decide, there are tasting plates (I recommend the Tic Tac Toe) and, for dessert, the coconut crème brûlée. But there’s also a light ramen, for once the broth is fine and it’s not stuffy! The menu is precise, the choice is not exorbitant and the products are very fresh. The quality/price ratio is respected. It may seem a little expensive, but in the end, it’s better to pay a little more for quality. Don’t hesitate to go around 6 pm when the restaurant offers a magnificent view of the ocean and a magical sunset!

Stressless traveler

Tu aimerais venir à Bali mais tu as énormément de question sur comment procéder pour que ton voyage se passe bien ?

Je te laisse mon expérience ici, c’est déjà difficile de se ramasser vingt heures de voyage et garder son cerveau intacte à l’arrivée.

Lorsque tu arrives à Denpasar, soit tu arrive sans visa et tu demandes un visa de type voa (visa on arrival).
Tu vas devoir braver la maxi queue puis dépenser environ 35 CHF ou alors tu passes directement dans l’autre queue car tu auras été sous : https://molina.imigrasi.go.id/ pour faire ton E-voa (actuellement appeler E-visa, que tu auras payer avant).
Si tu fais ton visa à l’arrivée saches que si tu souhaites rester plus d’un mois la date sera bien noté sur celui-ci.
Si tu as pris un E-voa, regardes la date à laquelle tu l’as fait pour pouvoir l’étendre et ainsi de suite.
Ça te paraît compliqué ?
Si tu ne veux pas étendre ton visa ne t’ inquiète pas tu fais le voa/e-voa chacun doit le faire de toute manière.
Je continue la marche à suivre et je te fais l’update si tu souhaites étendre ton Visa après.

Après l’immigration tu passes par la douane. Tu auras remplit au préalable ta déclaration de douane ouverte 4 jours avant ton vol d’arrivée depuis le site de l’immigration : https://www.imigrasi.go.id/id/ . Prends note aussi tu pays par lequel tu transites. Puis lorsque tu auras fini, tu imprime le QRcode que tu scanneras toi même après avoir fait ton visa.
Attention ⚠️ si tu es sous traitement il faut avoir tes ordonnances préparées avec dans ton bagage à main chaque medicament dans leur emballage d’origine. Je te conseille le site de l’immigration ou de ta compagnie d’aviation qui t’expliquera au mieux certaines lois Indonésiennes à propos des médicaments considérées comme substances prohibées.

Une fois passé tout ça tu souhaites sûrement une carte sim ?
Demande au chauffeur de taxi de s’arrêter au Telkomsel shop le plus proche, les prix son moins cher qu’à l’aéroport. Ils auront besoin de voir ton passeport pour faire ta carte sim pour ton vérifié identité.

Il faudra un peu de temps avant qu’elle soit activée, en général une ou deux heures.

Pourquoi prendre une carte sim ?
1. Plus économique.
2. Pour les moyens de transport comme Gojek et/ou Grab.
3. Au moins tu auras internet en extérieur sans avoir à payer une facture impensable à ton retour de voyage.

Parenthèse : alors Gojek ou Grab?

Ces deux applications sont indispensables à Bali si tu veux mon avis, surtout si tu ne veux pas t’aventurer en scooter dans un traffic et un code de la route qui est bien différents.
Personnellement, j’ai testé que gojek, tu as des moyens de paiement différent (cash/gopay etc). Pour top up ton gopay direction indomaret si tu ne sais pas comment faire : commande ton gojek pour faire un voyage dans ton indomaret le plus proche, puis tu le paie en cash.
Lorsque tu arrives à Indomaret, demande à top up ton go pay, comme ça tu es tranquille pour ton voyage de retour ou tu n’oublieras pas enclenché la fonction : » payment by go pay » et plus en cash.
Go ride (taxi scooter), go car (taxi voiture), go food (livraison de nourriture) et bien plus. Tu peux aussi t’en servir pour faire des courses. Fonctionnalité que je n’ai jamais exploré pour le moment.

Sache que tu auras aussi besoin de l’application Satusehat (anciennement PEDULILINDUNGI) pour faire valider ta vaccination avant de partir. Autant être préparer plutôt que de stresser qu’importe qu’on te demande 2/3 doses à ton arrivée l’important est d’être sur l’application.

Voici mes conseils dans les grandes lignes pour partir et arriver tranquillement. Il n’y a rien de pire que de partir stressé à Bali.

Tu veux étendre la durée de ton visa on-arrival pour 30 jours de plus ?

Pour étendre ton voa ou evoa tu devras te rendre soit directement à l’immigration et perdre ton temps dans le stresse. Tu auras trois rendez-vous dans des villes différentes. Ou alors tu peux aller dans une agence, une conseillé par ton hôtel, et même si c’est plus cher tu te déplaceras dans une destination donnée une seule fois, par exemple à Kuta Salatan (aka Jimbaran) pour les données biométriques, la destination dépendra de ton agence aussi. L’agence garde ton passport durant tout le processus et donc te donnes en retour un feuille comme quoi ils ont ton passeport et que tu le récupéreras par la suite. Cette feuille, garde la bien, en cas de changement d’hôtel, ou en cas de pépin autre.

English Below

You’d like to come to Bali but you’ve got lots of questions about how to make your trip a success?

I’ll leave you with my experience here. It’s hard enough to get through twenty hours of travel and still have your brain intact when you arrive.

When you arrive in Denpasar, you either arrive without a visa and apply for a voa (visa on arrival). You’ll either have to brave the long queue and spend around CHF 35, or go straight to the other queue as you’ll have been under https://molina.imigrasi.go.id/ to apply for your E-voa (currently called E-visa, which you’ll have paid for beforehand).
If you get your visa on arrival, be aware that if you wish to stay longer than a month, the date will be clearly noted on your visa. If you’ve taken out an E-voa, look at the date you did so you can extend it, and so on. Sounds complicated?
If you don’t want to extend your visa, don’t worry, you can do the voa/e-voa anyway.
I’ll continue with the procedure and give you an update if you want to extend your visa afterwards.

After immigration you go through customs. You’ll need to fill out an open customs declaration 4 days before your arrival flight on the immigration website https://www.imigrasi.go.id/id/ . Take note of the country you are transiting through. Then, when you’ve finished, print out the QRcode, which you’ll scan yourself after applying for your visa.
Please note ⚠️ that if you’re on medication, you’ll need to have your prescriptions ready, as well as each drug in its original packaging, in your hand luggage. I advise you to visit the immigration website or your airline’s website, which will explain to you the Indonesian laws concerning medicines considered as prohibited substances.

Once you’ve gone through all this, you’ll probably want a sim card.
Ask the cab driver to stop at the nearest Telkomsel shop, where prices are cheaper than at the airport. They’ll need to see your passport to make your sim card for your verified identity.

It will take some time before it is activated, usually one or two hours.

Why get a sim card? 1. Cheaper.
2. For means of transport like Gojek and/or Grab.
3. At least you’ll have outdoor internet without having to pay an unthinkable bill when you get back from your trip.

So, Gojek or Grab ?
These two applications are indispensable in Bali if you ask me, especially if you don’t want to venture out on a scooter in traffic and traffic regulations that are quite different. Personally, I’ve only tested gojek, you have different payment methods (cash/gopay etc). To top up your gopay, head for indomaret if you don’t know how: order your gojek for a trip to your nearest indomaret, then pay in cash.
When you arrive in Indomaret, ask top up for your go pay, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting it on your return trip.or don’t forget to activate the go pay function, and no more cash. Go ride (scooter cab), go car (car cab), go food (food delivery) and much more. You can also use it for shopping. A function I haven’t yet explored.

You’ll also need the Satusehat app (formerly PEDULILINDUNGI) to validate your vaccinations before you leave. It’s better to be prepared than stressed, because it doesn’t matter if you’re asked for 2/3 doses on arrival, the important thing is to be on the app.

Here are my general tips for leaving and arriving serenely. There’s nothing worse than leaving for Bali stressed.

Would you like to extend your on-arrival visa for another 30 days?

To extend your voa or evoa, you’ll have to go straight to immigration and waste your time in stress. You’ll have three appointments in different cities. Or you can go to an agency, one advised by your hotel, and even if it’s more expensive you’ll move to a given destination only once, for example to Kuta Salatan (aka Jimbaran) for biometric data, the destination will depend on your agency too. The agency keeps your passport throughout the process, and gives you a sheet of paper saying that they have your passport and that you’ll get it back later. Keep this sheet in case you change hotels or have any other problems.

Travel with Mi ! Where to stay in Bali ?

En novembre 2022, je m’envolais pour la première fois seule, en voyageuse solo, n’ayant plus rien à perdre, pour une destination de rêve : Bali.

Pourquoi Bali ?

Je ne m’y étais jamais vraiment intéressée, puis en en entendant parler j’ai commencé à me dire que culturellement c’était là où je devais aller. Cette île de l’archipel Indonésien cochait toutes les cases :

# La culture
# La spiritualité
# La guérison
# Les mythes et légendes
# L’éloignement avec mon pays natal
# La diversité naturelle, entre l’océan et la jungle.
# Les sports nautiques

J’avais préparé mon voyage avec soin, ayant pour unique challenge de vivre dans l’instant présent et de me retrouver après un passage professionnel difficile.
Un mois c’était trop peu pour moi. Il m’en fallait plus.

A peine rentrée dans mon pays que je reprenais un billet d’avion pour revenir au mois de mai. Oui, je me suis fait un super cadeau d’anniversaire pour une fois j’avais envie de démystifier cette date pour la rendre meilleur à mes yeux.

11.05 je débarque à Bali à nouveau pour le meilleur ! J’étendais mon visa quelques semaines plus tard .

De retour à Bali pour partager plus avec les personnes pour qui j’avais eu un réel coup de cœur lors de mon premier voyage, tu te reconnais ? Oui, toi aussi tu en fais partie !

Cette fois je bouge d’un endroit à un autre, j’explore un peu plus certain endroit, je ressens plus ce qui me convient et ce qui me convient moins.

Si je vous dis Canggu, Ubud, Legian, et Kuta. Ce sont des endroits dont je n’avais vu qu’une toute petite partie.

Ma technique est de réserver dans des endroit de toutes catégorie : hostel, hôtel et Resort. D’observer ce qu’il s’y passe.

1. Si vous recherchez un hôtel mais que n’êtes pas sûr de votre choix, vous pouvez me contacter et me demander mon avis en toute objectivité.

2. Si vous êtes un hôtel et que vous souhaitez apparaître sur mon blog n’hésitez pas à m’envoyer un message aussi, je serais très heureuse d’y répondre.

J’attache une grande importance des endroits où je reste car ils sont tous différents dans leurs style. Par exemple, si vous avez besoin de prendre simplement du repos, si vous souhaitez être au cœur du centre mais aussi proche d’une attraction. Si vous souhaiter en savoir d’avantage sur comment vous déplacer facilement et en moindre temps de votre emplacement à une destination voulu.

Il y aura un article condensé par hostel/hôtel où j’ai/aurai séjourné depuis novembre à maintenant. Cet article sera disponible à la fin de mon séjour à Bali.

Vous y retrouvez mes coups de cœur, ceux que j’ai apprécié, ou moins apprécié pour différentes raisons.

La liste des emplacements :

1. Eastin Ashta Resort Canggu
2. Sens Hotel Ubud
3. Dinara Hotel
4. Amnaya Resort Kuta
5. Roommates Hostel Canggu By Ini Vie
6. Ubud village Hotel
7. Ketut’s Place Villa Ubud
8. AmantraNa Canggu
9. Ramayana Suites & Resort Kuta

English Below 🐚

In November 2022, I landed off for the first time on my own as a solo traveler with nothing left to lose, to a dream destination: Bali.

Why Bali?

I’d never really been interested, but when I heard about it, I began to think that, culturally, it was the place to go. This island in the Indonesian archipelago met all my expectations:

# Culture
# Spirituality
# Healing
# Myths and legends
# Distance from my home country
# Natural diversity, between ocean and jungle.
# Water sports

I had planned my trip carefully, with the only challenge of living in the moment and finding myself again after a difficult professional period.
One month wasn’t enough for me. I needed more.

As soon as I got back, I was buying a new plane ticket to come back in May. Yes, I had given myself a little birthday present, and for once, I wanted to demystify this date and make it more beautiful in my eyes.

11.05 I land in Bali, once again for the better! I extended my visa a few weeks later.

Back in Bali to share more with the people I’d fallen in love with on my first trip, do you recognize yourself? Yes, you do, too!

This time, I’m moving from place to place, exploring a little more, getting a better feel for what suits me and what doesn’t. If I say Canggu, it’s Canggu.

If I say Canggu, Ubud, Legian, and Kuta. These are places I’ve only seen a tiny fraction of.

My technique is to book in all categories: hostels, hotels, and resorts. Have a look for what’s happening there.

1. If you’re looking for a hotel but aren’t sure of your choice, you can contact me and ask for my unbiased opinion.

2. If you’re a hotel and would like to appear on my blog, please send me a message, and I’ll be happy to get back to you.

I attach a great importance to the places I stay, as they all have a different style. For example, if you just need to relax, if you want to be in the heart of the center but also close to an attraction. If you want to know more about how to get from where you are to where you want to be quickly and easily.

There will be a condensed article by hostel/hotel where I stayed from November to today. This article will be available at the end of my stay in Bali.

You’ll find my favorites, the ones I liked, or less appreciated for different reasons.

The list of places :

1. Eastin Ashta Resort Canggu
2. Sens Hotel Ubud
3. Dinara Hotel
4. Amnaya Resort Kuta
5. Roommates Hostel Canggu By Ini Vie
6. Ubud village Hotel
7. Ketut’s Place Villa Ubud
8. AmantraNa Canggu
9. Ramayana Suites & Resort Kuta