In Reply to: Why you should take bali off your bucket posted by hotone on Tuesday, 18. March 2014 at 20:21 Bali Time:
I've been to Bali about 8 times - granted that's not a lot compared to Aussies, but I AM coming from NZ so it's a bit harder to get there. The last time we went was this January in the rainy season, took about 12 rellies and friends - most had never been there before.
It's funny hearing their comments after we're all back from our 2-3 week holiday .. and these are the reasons why Bali is still tops for me and was for the ones that went on to travel Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Burma for a couple of months..
Bali was the best because it was FUN. There wasn't the same fun in any of those other beautiful countries ... Bali has a huge diversity - crazy wild nightlife or relaxing in peace & quiet; amazing luxury accommodation or very cheap and desperate; hustle & bustle of hilarious market-style shopping or relaxed and expensive but still amazing value for money; and top of everything, and most of all, was the friendship and great times with family that were there which you can't measure and value as priceless.
We had a lot of Bali newbies who saw everything, the annoying grasping hands, the rubbish on the beaches, the unfortunate vomiting bug that we all caught and had 2 days to get over, the expensive dinners that weren't as good as the really really cheap ones.. but they also saw the happy and friendly Balinese faces (granted, not all of them but still enough to make an impression); the amazing value for money at the hotel we stayed at in Seminyak - Puri Dewa Bharta (a bit like the Melasti Beach Resort before it got worse and then slightly better); the sunshine between the rainy bits and there was MORE sunshine; and weighing it all up, good and bad, Bali is the BEST.
If you are sick of Bali take a break .. you'll always go back.. Sometimes you need to starve yourself to appreciate a good meal all the more.