Visit Jes from Tourist to Traveller at her website touristtotravellers.com and on Instagram.
About you
Hi, my name is Jes and I am from India. I am a working professional with a traveller’s heart. I began documenting my travels in 2018 and I mostly write about adventure activities, hotel reviews and share my travel itineraries.
Why do you travel and look for adventures?
Travel makes me happy and alive. Trying out local cuisine, meeting new people, learning about the historical places gives me happiness. Travel is my Ikigai.
What kind of adventures do you look for when you travel?
I love all sorts of adventure sports. Skydive, Bunjee Jump, parasailing, trekking, snorkeling, I have tried them all. While shortlisting a country for travel, I figure out if the country has any Adventure activities and accordingly I plan my travels.
What’s your go-to travel hack?
My absolute go to travel hack is keeping my money in an envelope in my handbag. This has saved me during my Turkey trip. While traveling in a tram in Istanbul, my wallet got flicked. Luckily the money was kept in an envelope in my handbag.
Got any gear you can’t travel without?
I cannot travel without a power adaptor.
What destination are you eager to go back to?
I would love to go back to Turkey hands down.
How do you stay safe when you’re travelling?
Travel in a group. Avoid walking on the streets alone at night. In my last trip to South Africa, we hired a local guide and the guide was with us throughout the duration of our stay. Having a guide helped us as goons were weary of approaching and intimidating us.
What’s the best way to experience a destination like a local?
Spend more time in one city / country instead of just running around and covering multiple cities/ countries. Do what the locals do, sit back , relax and have a cup of coffee watching the people pass by.
What’s your favourite word in another language?
I love Korean and am very influenced by K-pop so my favorite word in Korean is Hansamida.
When and where are you next travelling?
Oh, there are so many places on my list! I would absolutely love to travel to the Middle East countries like Iran, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan next
Indonesia will not be issuing entry to foreigner as of 20 March. It’s believed the restrictions are in place for one month, and include entry to Bali by Australians.
Following an uptick in confirmed COVID-19 cases in Indonesia, the risk of transmission is increasing across the Indonesian archipelago, including in Bali.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs announced on 18 March that there is a limited availability of testing and infection control facilities in Indonesia. Critical care for Australians who become seriously ill, including in Bali, is significantly below the standards available in Australia. Medical evacuation to Australia may be not be possible and, if it is, very expensive.
From 20 March, Indonesia will suspend its visa exemption policy for short-stay visit, visa-on-arrival and diplomatic/service visa-free facilities for all countries, for a period of 1 month.
– Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Canberra. Source
The announcement made on Smartraveller adds that if a traveller returning to Australian is suspected or confirmed to have COVID19, they will likely be placed in quarantine and be unable to leave Indonesia until cleared or recovered.
Measures to reduce the spread
Indonesian authorities have implemented a raft of measures aimed at reducing the spread of COVID19 including travel restrictions, cancellation of events, closure of tourist attractions and schools, and asking people to avoid large public gatherings.
Australian diplomatic missions in Jakarta, Bali, Makassar and Surabaya have restricted entry to all but essential visitors and for urgent business only. For passport or consular services call or e-mail in advance for an appointment.
Returning home
If you’re in Indonesia, and wish to return to Australia, it’s recommended you do so as soon as possible by commercial means.
For urgent consular assistance contact:
- +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
- 1300 555 135 from within Australia
- +61 421 269 080 from SMS
For non-urgent inquiries, email smartraveller@dfat.gov.au
Transparency and accuracy: Today’s announcement by DFAT does not include a statement on when Indonesia’s COVID19 entry visa policy will be revoked. Information regarding the 1 month period was sourced from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Canberra.
See the announcement by Smartraveller
See the update by Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Canberra
Sure you know your nasi goreng from you mie goreng, but have you ever delved deeper into Bali’s unique cuisine? Here are 5 quintessential dishes to try in Bali.
Sure, Bali might only be one of the hundreds of islands that make up Indonesia, but in reality, Bali’s culture, religion, and traditions are unique. And with that, comes a unique culinary approach you’re unlikely to find outside of the island.
Perhaps the reason why Australian tourists aren’t as exposed to Bali’s traditional dishes is that they’re a little harder to come by. This is largely down to the fact that Balinese dishes are complex and can require up to 24 hours to prepare. So if you’re keen to go authentic, do a little research.
Babi Guling
No doubt you’ve seen plenty of signs for babi guleng on your scooter rides.
That’s because babi guling, a suckling pig on a spit, is Bali’s most beloved dish.
According to a very specific recipe, the suckling pig is filled with lots of herbs and spice include coriander, chilli, garlic, ginger, shallots, turmeric, lemongrass, black pepper, shrimp paste and lime leaves. All this is served with white boiled rice.
If you’re in Ubud, make a beeline for Ibu Oka Warung, located opposite the former Royal Palace. This Ubud institution draws both locals and foodies from around the world, keen to try babi guling. The restaurant opens at around 10.30am and tables fill up quickly.
Want to know more? TripSavvy has the full scoop.
Since being ‘discovered’ by both Rick Stein and Anthony Bourdain, this local food stall has moved to larger premises with river valley views so as to cater to tourists. It’s famous for one dish: excellent Balinese-style roast babi guling (suckling pig). The set meal comes with pork, rice and soup.
– Lonely Planet
Sate Lilit – skewers of seafood on a stick of lemongrass
Sate Lilit
Familiar with the tangy peanut flavour of skewers laced in satay sauce? Bali has its own version called sate lilit. To make this popular street food skewer, all meat varieties are used including fish, however, the meat of choice is typically pork. Once again aromatic spices are part of the magic, like chili, turmeric, ginger, candlenut and coriander. To add even more flavour, the skewers themselves are sticks of lemongrass. Barbequed on a grill, sate lilit is served with peanut sauce or chili sauce.
Where should you head to devour sate lilit? Taste Atlas has done the groundwork for you with a comprehensive round up of warungs known for their sate lilit.
Bebek Betutu
Bali’s most famous dish is arguably bebek tutu – or smoked duck. Once the duck is seasoned with turmeric, ginger, galangal, lumbangana, nuts, coconut oil, onion, garlic and shrimp paste, its wrapped in banana leaves and smoked for around 24 hours. For authentic bebek betutu, look out for Bebek Bengil in Ubud.
This famous place is hugely popular for one reason: its crispy Balinese duck, which is marinated for 36 hours in spices, steamed and then fried. Those who don’t enjoy fried food can enjoy a duck salad, duck spring rolls or duck satay. You’ll eat in a huge open-air dining pavilion.
– Lonely Planet
Jaje Laklak
Laklak is a traditional Balinese cake made from rice flour, coconut flakes, and sugar.Flapjack -like in texture, laklak is round and flat in shape and either white or light green. To make green Laklak cake, Pandan leaves are added to the dough.
Vegan friendly Laklak is usually served with grated coconut sprinkled on the surface of the snack, which is soft which is then doused with syrupy brown sugar sauce. You’ll find laklak just about everywhere in Bali, from traditional warungs to street carts.
Bubur injun
Bubur injun is a Balinese sweet dessert made from black glutinous rice porridge with coconut milk and palm sugar or cane sugar. The black rice is boiled until soft, and then sugar and coconut milk is added.
