The Terrific3 travel blog

I’m going to admit that this post is likely going to be very biased, given we spent a month in Thailand and just arrived in Bali and are staying at a resort. More so because I feel more vulnerable now, having been scammed coming into the country, and then hit with a mysterious illness that I’m still recovering from.

Regardless, I think first impressions can be fascinating, so here it goes in no particular order.

Let’s start with weather in June/July. Bali is much more pleasant, usually in the 70s, a little breezy, not very humid. Whereas Chiang mai at times was insufferably hot and humid, such that you realize why you must siesta after 12 because moving in 99 degree 99% humidity is very difficult. It’s easier to run here and the kids haven’t whines about weather. Which is why it’s peak season here and low season in Thailand.

Next…mosquitoes… I felt like we were ravaged in Thailand, more in chiang mai than phuket. We put on Picardin cream every morning PLUS 30% DEET on top of that multiple times a day, and still the mosquitos would somehow find the couple of spots we missed or bite through. It was relentless. My skin is just really unhappy from DEET, sunscreen, and bites, so I’m grateful to have a break. We haven’t used any insect repellent yet. Let’s see if it changes in Ubud.

Next…food. Again, I’m biased just a few days in, with possibly a food related illness, so take this as you may. But moving to Indonesian food after a month of delicious Thai food has so far been…quite disappointing, especially for this vegan/vegetarian. Thai food seems so much more plant-forward, and Chiang Mai especially had so many vegan/vegetarian restaurants that I probably got spoiled. Even at this fancy hotel, the only 2 vegan things on the menu are a pretty dry falafel wrap or a tempeh wrap with peanut sauce. My kids have been thriving on pizza and pasta. And when I asked them to cook me some vegan Indonesian food, I got very oily nasi goreng, which is flavored rice, with about 3 pieces of vegetable inside. I’m willing to give it a bit more time though as I’ve definitely had great Indonesian food outside of Indonesia before.

The people… I’m holding judgment here. Hard to tell. There was something so internally peaceful and calm about the Thais; the hotel staff here are nice, and most other interactions have been with aggressive vendors trying to sell us something. But yet, I sense something different/deeper, maybe some internal strife or suffering in people I didn’t sense in Thailand. Time will tell, but the energy feels different to me.

Beauty…. We’ll both are beautiful countries so hard to compare. I loved the mountains and countryside of Chiang Mai and the beaches of Phuket, which were kept meticulously clean by beach sweepers consistently. The beach here in Nusa Dua is pretty , but not sure if you’ve noticed the piles of trash in my photos. They are everywhere. There is maybe one guy up there sweeping trash but it’s a big job. And it makes me sad for our ocean and world. Plastic bottles and junk everywhere. Which also doesn’t make swimming on this beach at all appalling. Maybe it’ll feel different in Sanur? Flying into the country was amazing—this gorgeous island surrounded by water. Wish it was just better appreciated and cared for.

Cost… price seems about equivalent to our experience in Thailand, plus or minus. You can still get $10/hour massages here. Childcare is $5/hour. Most tours are about $40/person for a 1/2 day. People seem more desperate for work here so I’ve definitely had more people reach out or approach me.

The pizza… so far, it was far better in Thailand. The pizza in Thailand was impressive. Even the Italian yoga teacher we met thought it rivaled Italy. I’m willing to give it more time to decide here.

One interesting thing is that everyone calls me “Mrs” here. In Thailand it was “madame,” which is also used here, but “Mrs” more. Obviously I’m not nor have ever been a Mrs, but get this is a cultural assumption and just let it be.

The temples and the history…remains to be seen! We still have lots of exploring to do. We have 3 more weeks in Bali, we’ve passed the halfway point of our trip and it’s all a little crazy!