Why Bali is good for your parents

Since living in Bali I have met other expats, who have had their parents visit. The way it often works is a person moves to Bali, loves it, tells their parents about it, only to have them offer reasons why they don’t fancy coming out. These might include “Its too far,” “its too hot,” “I wouldn’t like the food,” “I can’t speak foriegn languages,” “its like the jungle,” “I heard they’re all Muslim out there.”

Let’s knock these on the head.
Its too far:
Bali is a long way fron N. America and Europe, but for mums and dads, who have time on their hands, a stopover in Dubai / Bahrein / Seoul, Hong Kong etc. could be a nice part of their trip.

Its too hot:
During the wet season (Nov-Mar) it is extremely hot and humid. At the peak of the dry season (July-Sept) the weather is warm / hot during the day, but cool in the mornings and evenings, with lower humidity. The other night I put on a sweater as I was cold.

I wouldn’t like the food:
The popular tourist areas (Kuta/Legian/Seninyak/Nusa Dua/Sanur/Ubud) have an amazing array of international food places. If I want I can get fish & chips (Wrap a Snapper), just like in London, about 5 minutes from my house in Seminyak. If you can’t handle rice or spicy food, you never have to.

I can’t speak foriegn languages:
I know expats who have lived in Bali fulltime, for 15 years and can’t speak Indonesian. You really don’t have to worry about the language barrier.

Its like the jungle:
There is a little bit of jungle left in Bali, up around Batukaru, but for the most part Bali does not resemble a jungle. Driving around East Bali, or the hills of Tabanan, most people will be impressed with the sweeping rice terraces and exotic landscapes.

I heard they’re all Muslim out there:
Indonesia is predominantly Muslim, Bali is not. Even if you you visit Muslim Java /Lombok, you will not feel any weirdness, as people are pretty cool. I’m a Muslim and I won’t give you a hard time (unless you steal my Bintang).

Talking recently to a British expat who’s parents visited, he told me they had a good time, and liked Bali as the weather was cool, in the evening. They did not care to sample Indonesian food, and that annoyed him a bit. Whatever, at least they made it out.

I reckon most parents could find something they’d like in Bali, aside from the selection of good food. Shopping for gifts, getting spa treatment, going for a drive in the mountains, checking out the Irish music at Cat & Fiddle in Sanur, visit a village with a local, see a Balinese dance in Ubud. If the parents are active, that opens up a whole other range of possibilites, including hiking, snorkeling, horse riding on Seminyak beach.

If I was retired and living in a cold climate, taking a couple of months off in Bali, would be a thing i’d do every year.