Bali- Fact and Fiction

Bali is one of 3 places in the book and movie Eat, Pray, Love. Julia Roberts was the star of the movie staying at a gorgeous real cheap villa, the scenery was breathtaking, the people seemed wonderful and it looked like paradise. Being here for a while now, things have somewhat changed since the book was published in 2006. Here's an update-

Fact or Fiction- you ride a bike to get around

Fiction- you almost can't find a pedal bike. Motorbikes have taken over the road thanks mainly to the Chinese cheap bikes. In fact, we've seen thousands and thousands of motorbikes and only a dozen or so bikes. We did see a small tour operator in Ubud offering electric bikes with a back-up golf cart for those who get tired (they said it's primarily for the Chinese who come over thinking they can just get on a bike and pedal- and when they can't stay up, they just pack it in and travel the road by golf cart!)

Fact of Fiction- the scenery is breath-taking

Outside of the major cities, it's a fact. There are terraced rice fields and all kinds of vegetables and spices growing along flats and hillsides:

But in Denpasar, Ubud and Sanur it's pretty well like anywhere else in Asia- just big with lots of people.

Fact or Fiction- people come here to find their inner peace and balance

Fact. There are a lot of yoga and retreat centres here, like the one we stayed in. And Julia stayed at an Ashram much like the one we had across the street from where we were:

In an Ashram, you have chores to do and you stay for free or a minimal amount to yoga and contemplate the meaning of life. It's noted that the younger crowd were staying for weeks and months (you wonder how they manage it with real life).

Fact or Fiction- villas like the one Julia rented are reasonable

It depends on 'reasonable'. For Julia, she hasn't made a picture in the last 10 years less than $20 million, so around $500- $600 U.S. per night is probably reasonable. But we didn't see any like this. Bali is inexpensive compared to other Asian countries but there are no 'reasonable' villa deals, although food is cheap.