Day 558-560: April 11-13, 2026 – Port Benoa, Bali, Indonesia
I know that Bali is a popular tourist destination and many of my shipmates are loving it here. But I’m having trouble bonding with Bali. My usual plan when we get to a port is to grab my camera and spend the day walking and exploring. But Bali is not walkable. It’s one of the least pedestrian-friendly places I’ve been to. Miles of roads without any sidewalks. No public transport of any kind. I am pretty much at the mercy of taxis or Grabs (the Uber equivalent). Traffic is horrendous — no public transport means there are a million scooters on the roads, and they stop for no one.
Whenever I try to get walking directions, GPS directs me to get on a ferry to a neighboring island, then return to Bali via a different ferry to a different location. So to get to a beach that is only 5 miles away, would be a 23 hour “walk.”
Another disappointment: I was all excited because Mr. Google told me Bali has multiple Dunkin’ locations. Michelle joined me on a run to one of them, only to find it’s no longer a Dunkin’; it’s been rebranded as D2 Donuts (and therefore no longer part of the DD franchise). I gave the knockoff donuts a try, but they didn’t have any of my favorites and it just wasn’t the same. Scouting out two other potential locations confirmed that Dunkin’ no longer exists here. Boo hoo. 😢
They do have these intricate stone carvings throughout the city that are pretty impressive. Seems like every roundabout had one. So that’s something to like.
And they did a nice water cannon salute for us when we pulled into port. A water cannon salute is a ceremonial welcome for a ship entering a port for the first time. Fireboats spray arcs of water as a mark of respect and appreciation. That’s always pretty cool to see.
We’re scheduled to be back in Bali in a couple weeks. Maybe I’ll warm up to it then.
5 responses to “Not Bonding With Bali”
I was looking forward to this desitination…. thanks for the info. Maybe not on my radar.
Interesting. Its one place I refuse to go as I worked with a close relative of someone killed in the Bali bombings. Everyone I know has been for a holiday there but it has just never appealed to me. I’m happy to hear your perspective as cementing my thoughts in the place but a shame that part of your travels was a disappointment.
I was curious what was so horrible that your GPS took you on a ferry to avoid it.
Google Maps doesn’t seem to have a problem with a relatively direct route from you to Kuta Beach. Calls it 9km and two hours one-way, with two very different routes. The sidewalk picture doesn’t look great, but doesn’t look awful either.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/42hZjP5X4bsWPtRcA
Thanks for the intel. I always thought it would be fun to get to Bali at some point, but now I think I’ll pass. Too many other good spots!
It might be a different experience if you spend time in one of the pricey resorts with their own turquoise-water beaches. Which is where many of the tourists are.