Guest Post by Lia Heath
Meet Lia Heath
Lia Heath and her family are based in Marin County, CA, in the rolling hills just north of San Francisco. She and her husband Tad have always been avid travelers and adventure-seekers. Lia initially caught her travel bug though her career as a fashion designer. She spent the first decade of her career as the women’s ski-wear designer for The North Face and traveled to garment factories all over Asia and had incredible opportunities to ski in far-off destinations around the globe. Her husband Tad spent a year in his 20’s backpacking around South America and Southeast Asia (and Lia would join him every chance she got!). Their favorite way to travel is by way of adventure, from climbing Machu Picchu and Kilimanjaro to diving the reefs of Fiji and Indonesia. Lia of course loves the luxury of an exotic meal or a sunset cocktail, but she finds they are sweeter when earned with a little sweat equity. Now that she is a mom of teenagers (13 & 15), she and Tad love bringing the kids along on their excursions and introducing them to the wonder and excitement of travel.
Lia’s Favorite Place to Travel to
While Lia has loved traveling to so many places, Tanzania is one of her favorites. It offers hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro and awe-inspiring safaris in Serengeti National Park, not to mention an incredibly vibrant African culture including the traditional Maasai tribespeople. Lia and her husband went to Tanzania on their honeymoon which makes it even more special!
Lia’s Top Travel Tips
Lia’s essential travel rule is to let go of the rules! While it is good to have a framework itinerary and places to stay, it’s best to leave some room to explore and some time to smell the roses. She finds that some of the most memorable experiences happen by chance, and if you are always focused on your well-planned schedule, you might not notice the magic around you. Mishaps can of-course happen, but they are often the most obvious when you are trying to abide by strict guidelines. Allow your mood, the advice of locals, the weather, or just the vibe to lead you along your way!
Another (perhaps surprising) essential travel rule that Lia follows is to always check a bag. Lia loves fashion but as a work-from-home Mom she doesn’t have a lot of opportunity to express her style at home. A trip can be a fun opportunity to dress well! It’s nice to have room for a couple of pairs of shoes… and she always adds some cozy loungewear for downtime on the trip. It’s also nice to have room to pick up a few things along the way – with a carry-on you can end up with a bunch of cumbersome shopping bags on the plane. She loves to show up at the airport and drop her bag at check-in… it feels like instant freedom, and your hands are free to grab a coffee and a good book or magazine.
While Lia lives for traveling, one of her favorite parts of any trip is coming home. After spending time away, she always feels a sense of appreciation for the deep roots she’s planted at home in California. Having lived in California her entire life and being married to another native, she loves her home base and the wide circle of friends and family there. There’s no place better to spend time planning for her next destination!
Q&A Guest Post with Lia Heath: Bali, Indonesia 🇮🇩
Q: Tell me why Bali is such a great travel destination.
A: Bali is a tropical paradise with rich culture. It is visually stunning! Part of the reason we went to Indonesia is that it is considered one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world with its vibrant coral and diverse sea life. The pinnacle of our trip was a 3-day adventure on a liveaboard dive boat in Komodo National Park. Our kids (12 and 14 years old) got scuba certified for the trip and it was so special to share the experience of discovering the underwater world with them!
Q: How many days should you plan to visit Bali to really experience it?
A: I would say 10 days minimum, and 2+ weeks is great. We spent 14 days there plus travel days on either end and that was a good amount of time. There are a lot of different places to visit in and around Bali and you want to spend at least a couple days in each destination. We definitely weren’t able to see all of the hot spots on our trip, but it’s always good to leave wanting more!
Q: Do you need a Visa to travel to Bali?
A: Yes, but you can get a “Visa On Arrival” (VOA) for up to 30 days. Or you can speed through customs by applying for a Visa online beforehand.
Q: When is the best time of year to visit? What is the weather like then?
A: It seems that there is never a bad time to visit Bali. The dry season is the high season – from April to October – when the weather is sunny and the rainfall is minimal. However, the shoulder months of April, May, September and October have thinner crowds and the weather is still pleasant. The rainy season is from November to March which means more rain, but the landscape is lush and green.
Q: What should you not forget to pack when visiting Bali?
A: Packing for Bali would be similar to packing for Hawaii: swimsuits, sundresses, flip flops and you’re all good. It’s the kind of place where you don’t need to think too much about it. I even wore sandals for waterfall hikes and my only cool-weather attire was a linen long sleeve button-up.
Q: When planning your trip to Bali, did you reference any blogs or guide books?
A: Yes! I read lots of online travel blogs to plan my trip, but the one I kept coming back to was called Salt in our Hair. I also purchased a good ‘ol fashioned Lonely Planet Book, and I used it a ton! It was so fun to read tips and recommendations for each leg of the trip. None of the suggestions were disappointing!
Q: Tell me a bit about the people & culture of Bali. Is English widely spoken? What is the main religion?
A: The Balinese people are incredibly friendly and hospitable to foreigners, as tourism is a significant driver of their economy. Everyone that we encountered was well-educated and spoke English. There is no shortage of culture on Bali! Balinese Hinduism is their main religion and plays a central role in their communities and everyday lives. Rituals and ceremonies are an integral part of Balinese life, marking significant milestones such as births, weddings, and cremations. It is not uncommon to come across ceremonies in action while traveling and it is fascinating to see the traditional costumes, flowers, food and music. There are temples to visit in every destination around Bali. One of the most iconic temples is Tanah Lot, which is perched on a rocky outcrop surrounded by the sea and is known for its stunning sunset views.
Q: What is the best airport to fly in/out out of?
A: The main international airport serving Bali is Ngurah Rai International Airport, also known as Denpasar Airport (DPS). It is located near the capital city of Denpasar in southern Bali and provides easy access to beaches and cultural sites.
Q: After arriving at the airport, is it best to take a taxi to your destination? Rent a car? Take public transportation? Do they have rideshare services in Bali?
A: It is best to have a driver set up ahead of time to pick you up at the airport. This can be arranged through your hotel or even through your Airbnb host. This driver will often offer to be your driver for your entire trip, which is a great option. You can also request drivers through each of your stays for a pre-arranged price, which we did. While you do see some tourists in rented cars or on scooters, this is not recommended since driving around Bali can be intimidating and dangerous with lots of traffic and unmaintained roads. There is a rideshare service called Grab which you can also use. As a last resort, there are always drivers trying to offer you a ride, which works in a pinch. Walking is best only for short distances since sidewalks are sparse.
Q: What are the best areas to stay in Bali? What are your hotel recommendations? Or do you recommend using Airbnb? Any super unique accommodations you would recommend?
A: There are so many fantastic and unique places to stay in Bali! Part of the fun of planning the trip is perusing all of the possibilities. We moved around every few days to different destinations. We stayed in everything from the liveaboard dive boat to an upscale hostel, a couple of Airbnb’s (including a treehouse!), and a couple of great hotels. None of them were disappointing and you get a lot for your money! We also did a couple of nights staying with a family in a rural part of Bali outside of Ubud, which was a great cultural experience.
Q: Is Bali kid-friendly?
A: Bali is older-kid friendly. This was our first trip overseas with our kids (12 and 14), and we felt they were the perfect age to handle the long flights, time change, and hustle of getting around. They loved it! However, I would not have been comfortable there with toddlers or younger kids. It is very crowded at many destinations in Bali and the busy streets are generally without sidewalks. Also, many of the beaches are not safe for swimming.
Q: What are some must-do activities/unique experiences to do while in Bali? What are some sites in Bali that you absolutely shouldn’t miss?
A: In addition to scuba diving (our favorite!), we spent our time visiting different towns & villages and experiencing what each had to offer. Ubud is known for the infamous monkey forest as well as its art market. Seminyak and Canggu are known for their trendy cafes and shops, as well as spas and plenty of options for yoga. There are temples to visit in each destination, as well as options for waterfall hikes. The Tegalalang Rice Terraces are also a beautiful and iconic place to visit. Of course, there are plenty of famous beaches. We also spent the night on the small neighboring island of Nusa Penida where we did an incredible cliff-side hike and found some more remote beaches.
Q: What are the best beaches to visit in Bali?
A: All of the beaches in Bali are gorgeous and each offers something unique. There are too many to list, but for a party scene you can head to Kuta, and for a more upscale scene you can go north to Seminyak. Uluwatu has great sunsets and epic surfing. Over on the island of Nusa Penida you can find incredible views at Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong. One thing to note is that swimming and surfing is not safe at many of the beaches. While Bali is known for epic surf, it is often only suitable for advanced and experienced surfers.
Q: Where can you find the best shopping in Bali? What area can you find unique, artisan goods and clothes?
A: Ubud is the cultural heart of Bali, and is well known for the Ubud Art Market where you can find plenty of Balinese crafts, textiles, wood carvings and jewelry. However, we did find that inexpensive souvenirs took up most of the market. The beachside streets of Seminyak and Canggu are lined with boutiques offering beachy dresses, swimwear, jewelry and souvenirs. There are lots of art galleries, tattoo shops and beauty salons sprinkled in as well.
Q: Tell me about the Arts scene in Bali. Where are the best places to see live performances?
A: While art galleries can be found in every town, I found that the most beautiful art is in the architecture of the temples and buildings. The carvings and sculptures are intricate and unique, and are especially dramatic set against the incredible natural landscapes. Live performances are ongoing as they are an integral part of Balinese culture. Bali hosts a variety of cultural festivals and events throughout the year that celebrate the island’s artistic heritage and traditions including temple ceremonies, art exhibitions, music and dance performances. We found that several ceremonies and dance performances were happening at the temples we visited.
Q: Let’s talk food! Tell me about the food scene in Bali. What’s the typical cuisine? What are some must-eat dishes? What restaurants should not be missed?
A: There are endless cafes and restaurants all over Bali offering food from every corner of the world. We enjoyed everything from acai bowls (a common breakfast item), to sushi, noodles and burgers. While there are some traditional Balinese dishes like roasted pig and fried rice, we found that we had limitless options everywhere we went. I would recommend not making reservations and just stopping at whichever cafe suits you as you go. The only time to grab a seat early is on the beach at sunset. There are many cafes with bean bag chairs on the sand with live music, cocktails and food.
Q: What do people mainly drink in Bali?
A: As far as drinks, Bintang beer is the local beer and can be found anywhere. Other than that, cocktail offerings are similar to here with everything available, including local wines.
Q: Any additional recommendations or tips about traveling to Bali that you’d like to share?
A: Bali is beautiful and exotic, but not for the faint of heart! While pictures of Bali highlight serene beaches and temples, the truth is that Bali is for the most part, not serene. It is a common destination for tourists from Australia as well as many Asian and South Asian countries because of the proximity and affordability. There are bachelor parties and “hen parties” for bachelorettes, as well as plenty of twenty-somethings seeking out the Vegas-style club scene. There are yoga retreats and extended family reunions and backpackers and scuba divers… In other words, Bali is very crowded! The traffic is like nothing I’ve ever seen and it is typical for a 5 to 10 mile drive to take a couple of hours. We heard while we were visiting that travelers are now seeking out other Indonesian islands nearby that offer the more tranquil vibe that was once Bali – including Lombok and the Gili Islands. While these may be worth checking out, it does give me pause to consider the sprawl of tourists encroaching on these treasured landscapes. Bali is still beautiful and an incredible cultural experience.. it’s just good to know that you won’t be the only ones enjoying its magic when you get there!
