Join us on a trip into the belly of the Bali beast, Kuta, where we discover some nasty nightlife pitfalls, plus find out how to come home with (some of) your memories in tact.
We're not going to sugar coat it. One of the main reasons people come to Kuta is to party hard. It's no surprise that some people go a little overboard, and land themselves in some pretty hot water.
For some, the temptation to push it to the extreme can lead to some fairly hefty consequences, including drunken motorbike injuries, violence, inebriation and lengthy Indonesian jail sentences for drug use and possession – and now, even public displays of affection in some areas of Indonesia can cause major issues. Not the best way to end your island adventure – but an end that many travelers face nonetheless.
Under the influence in Bali
In the video, Jesse speaks to Craig Beveridge, head of the BIMC hospital in Bali, who speaks about some of the mind-boggling things travelers do under the influence.
"Yeah, look, I think a lot of them do things here in Bali that they wouldn't normally do at home. As an example, riding a motorbike without a helmet. You know you just wouldn't do it at home, and the roads are certainly no softer here.
"The thing is you can really hurt yourself on these things, especially if you aren't wearing shoes, a helmet, or pants. So if you find yourself in Bali not wearing pants for all the wrong reasons, you might want to get yourself a four-wheeled vehicle, at least you won't need to worry about complicated things like, you know, gravity."
Oh, and if you have travel insurance, you can forget about making a claim if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It's just not going to happen.
Drink spiking and drugs in Bali
Drink spiking has always been a problem for travelers in Southeast Asia, so it's vital that you keep an eye on your drink at all times. If you're not careful, who knows what might happen.
There's no doubt that Kuta sells practically any drug you can think of: ecstasy, LSD, magic mushrooms, marijuana.
Remember that while these drugs are easy to find, it's even easier for you to get a jail sentence of up to 30 years, or face the firing squad if you're caught in possession of drugs. Just don't do it, okay?
We asked a few travelers about drugs in Bali, and it went like this...
Jesse: Have you heard about drugs over here?
Traveler 1: I know about magic mushrooms, and I had bad experiences.
Traveler 2: My boyfriend had (magic mushrooms), and it was not good.
Jesse: What happened to him?
Traveler 2: He thought he was dead actually, and I had to convince him that he wasn't. And that wasn't very fun at all.
Our advice to Kuta party-goers
So, if you have any memories left, and you'd like to take them home in one piece, keep these things in mind:
- Excessive drinking can lead to exaggerated egos, poor dancing, vomiting and fighting. Usually in that order
- Avoid the motorbike taxis if you don't want to add full-body gravel rash into the equation
- Keep an eye on your drinks – spiking is pretty common, and seriously, 20 years in a Bali prison with a cellmate called Brutal, it's just not worth getting high for.
If you enjoyed Kuta's nightlife, it's likely Thailand's party scene is next on your list, watch what happens at Thailand's infamous Full Moon Party.
Related articles
Simple and flexible travel insurance
You can buy at home or while traveling, and claim online from anywhere in the world. With 150+ adventure activities covered and 24/7 emergency assistance.
Get a quote
2 Comments
"He thought he was dead actually, and I had to convince him that he wasn't. And that wasn't very fun at all." Sounds like fun to me. haha your boyfriend is a lightweight and should stay at home next time.
In the words of Leslie chow no one died stewie. 🙏