What not to eat in Bali, what not to drink and how to avoid traveler’s diarrhea. When travel to different country every tourist want to see and do so many things. Here we will tell you how to discover Bali, without getting ill.
When traveling it is good to try new things. Activities, emotions and often even foods that are far from those present in your routine. What you absolutely must try: sushi in Japan, feijoada in Brazil, smelly but delicious durian in Thailand.
There is always at least one local dish that you need to taste. But beware, however, there is also something that when you are away from home you must absolutely avoid in order not to come into contact with viruses, germs and bacteria that could ruin your stay and also have far more serious consequences than spending most of your holiday with stomach ache or sitting on the toilet … or both together!
Many are familiar with “traveler’s diarrhea“. But perhaps not everyone knows what not to eat in Bali, this splendid Indonesian island that has inspired many poets and writers but unfortunately also exhausted with its intestinal viruses so many travelers.
What not to eat in Bali to avoid or traveler’s diarrhea
Fortunately, the disease is becoming less and less common but, as in any other trip away from home, the advice is to use even stricter hygiene rules than those you are used to at home.
For example, avoid ingesting foods that are not cooked or that may contain or have come into contact with non-potable water. Even vegetables and salad can be a risk in this sense. Beware of ice in drinks on the street or in the characteristic “warungs” (small family-run restaurants): it is often made with tap water and therefore potentially at risk.
The same goes for the fruit sellers on the street. Unfortunately, the hygienic conditions are often not what is expected.
What not to drink in Bali!
Absolutely do not drink running water and if you can avoid or limit it in contact with eyes, nose and mouth. Better if you also use bottled water to brush your teeth, for example. If you are looking for a typical Bali alcoholic drink, the most traditional is definitely the Arak. Don’t worry, you can drink it, indeed maybe you should just if you want to find something really special. But be careful: make absolutely sure of the origin. Some unscrupulous sellers mix methanol in it because it is cheaper. The same can also arise due to errors in the distillation process. And unfortunately, here you don’t just risk spending terrible painful moments getting rid of the unnecessary weight of your belly. You just risk getting dry! Only drink it in places with a guaranteed reputation and always check where it comes from. If you buy it, do it only in the safest grocery stores… even at the airport if you have doubts, even if it is certainly not the cheapest choice.
What not to eat in Bali for ethical reasons too
Dog meat: as well as against some religions, the sale of this dish hides an illegal trade in which these poor animals are stolen, beaten, tortured, poisoned and killed in a cruel way.
What not to eat in Bali except with special attention
Going to eat fish in Jimbaran is a typical tourist attraction in Bali. It is not recommended to have dinner on the beach but do it very carefully. Moreover, like all things that are too touristy it can hide traps and therefore the risk of paying a very high bill for food of very poor quality. Also beware that after dark the beaches where there are restaurants are covered with garbage, which is not exactly romantic. Maybe consider a choice a little off the beaten track like the “Made Bagus”. Which should also limit somewhat the aggressiveness typical of some players in asking for tips in places that are too touristy.
Even if you love spicy food and rightly want to try strong local tastes, always keep in mind that Indonesian culture have a much higher tolerance threshold for spices than we Westerners. So be careful because maybe too spicy food can also seem good and fragrant at the beginning … but all this could disappear after a few minutes if it forces you to run to the bathroom!
It is well known that on holiday there are many exceptions to one’s diet and that fried foods (there called “gorengan“) are always good and attractive. But if you buy gorengan on the street, try to take a hard look at the oil used first. Some vendors don’t change it often enough even when it gets dangerously thick and cloudy.
Also pay attention to the price if it is too tempting. The warungs can be very cheap, but if they start to serve large quantities of meat or fish to a dollar do yourself some questions.
The very cheap “instant noodles” are sometimes prepared in containers of “Styrofoam”, a material born as an insulator and which is suspected to be highly carcinogenic (as well as being undoubtedly harmful to the environment).
It is obvious that this is an exemplary and non-exhaustive list of what not to eat in Bali. Yes, we know on vacation you have to feel freer and you want to try a little bit of everything and it is also right that you should. But keep in mind that the general rule is that if you have even the slightest doubt it is better to avoid taking risks.