Like moths to a flame and a sailor to a siren, the majority of the tourists that descend on Bali tend to get washed up in the south peninsula, pitch up their tents, and stay put.
OK, so there are reasons aplenty – the pulsating nightlife, the plethora of restaurants that cater to every taste, the innumerable shops and boutiques, and the vibrant beach scene. But it is very busy, maybe too busy, and has perhaps reached saturation point.
If the tourists cared (or indeed dared) to step out of their comfort zones, they would find there is more out there. So much more. There’s an Aladin’s Cave of barely hidden treasures, a world of natural beauty and diversity that needs to be explored.
If you want relaxation, there’s any number of beautiful beaches with their own little communities – from Lovina in the north, where the pace is slow and the tourists still mix with the locals as one like in the old days, and Permuteran with its light blond sand, great diving, and a calming stillness, to Balangan Beach in the south, a stretch of restaurants and humble accommodation and what is in effect, your own private beach, and Balian Beach in the west, a surfer’s delight but also a picture-perfect collection of cute, affordable, and luxurious huts right on the beach.
Or you could go inland, up in the mountains and try living in a postcard for a few days, perhaps in Toya Bungkan on the edge of the lake and the crater of Mount Batur – the scenery and spectacular countryside is truly awesome. Or spend a few days in one of the any number of secluded and often luxurious hotels, tucked away in little corners of the mountains, and which tend to offer peace, quiet, and panoramic views.
And if you want diving, take your pick – Lembongan, Amed, Tulamben, Candi Dasa, Padang Bai, they all offer different and unique underwater experiences, as well having their own distinct character on land.
It’s all out there, waiting to be seen and felt and devoured. So many places with unlimited potential. And don’t worry if you think you’ll be on your own, you won’t be – hardy travelers, divers, eclectic tourists, discerning residents, honeymooning couples, like-minded souls, they’re all there, not in their droves but in sufficient numbers. And best of all, when you get there, you feel like you’re in on a little secret that the rest of the tourist hordes know nothing about.
Meanwhile, everyone’s back in Kuta. What can be done about this? Well, knowledge is power, information is the key, and marketing’s the tool. If Bali wants more tourists, then show them where to go. More advertising, by the tourist board, and the more creative the better – push it, put it out there, make the tourists feel like they’re missing out.
Perhaps another reason for this disparity is due to the roads – maybe better roads and better access to some of these places, especially since the airport is all the way down south rather than in the middle of the island, would see a change. The distances are not that great, they just seem that way when you’re stuck behind Miss Daisy on a one lane road whilst you’re shaken up and down from the potholes. Spend some money, improve the roads, and make it a smoother ride to paradise.
But it’s also a chicken ‘n’ egg thing, a Catch 22. If there aren’t enough guesthouses, bars or restaurants, most people don’t want to know. Investment in the more obscure places needs to be encouraged for these places to prosper. But again, advertising is the key. Investment is useless on its own – if restaurants and bars get built but no one promotes the fact, no one will go there (this is what has happened in Amed and Candi Dasa amongst others).
However, even if these places stay the same and never attract bigger numbers of people (and this would be my preference), go anyway. Why be part of the crowd? There’s a world of magic out there, the same magic that enticed and entranced the first travelers to hit these shores many years ago. That’s how Bali became famous. But the landscape has changed, as it was always bound to do.
Kuta and Selminak are fine, great for a western-style holiday. Plenty of sun, beach relaxation, nice dining, and a few cocktails in the evening, before dancing the night away til the early hours. But you can do that anywhere. Bali has more than that. There’s a richness of variety that’s unique, it’s itching and it needs to be scratched. And someone, somehow, needs to tell the incoming tourist masses.