When you think of Bali, the most popular Indonestian island, you imagine a tropical paradise home to picturesque sandy beaches with crystal clear water, sprinkled with traditional culture and rich history
When you think of Bali, the most popular Indonestian island, you imagine a tropical paradise home to picturesque sandy beaches with crystal clear water, sprinkled with traditional culture and rich history.
It’s a very popular choice for young solo travellers, thanks to its vibrant nightlife, hostels, and tours that are available.
However, one British tourist who’s travelling through the Indonesian island has been left with a less than Instagram-worthy experience.
Taking to social media, she expressed her shock at the ‘disgusting’ beaches, claiming she was ‘not expecting’ it to be like that.
Travel influencer Anya Roscoe posted a TikTok of the rubbish-lined area under her handle @anyaroscoe, and it has already been seen by more than 400,000 people.
One British tourist who’s travelling through the Indonesian island has been left with a less than Instagram-worthy experience
Alongside footage she filmed, she wrote on the screen: ‘Wow. I was not expecting Bali to be so disgusting. This is Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta and Legian’.
The clip showed the beaches full of rubbish- crisp packets, plastic containers, and empty bottles.
The sea also appeared to be a dark muddy colour, which is a far cry from the sparkling blue waters the traveller thought she would be visiting.
Anya added in the caption: ‘If this is what’s on the surface, imagine what’s at the bottom of the ocean, so depressing.’
However, the video sparked a heated debate, with people rushing to defend the island.
One user angrily penned: ‘You are so f****** superficial. Go to Ibiza then and leave Bali alone, I would gladly live there for the rest of my life.’
A second added: ‘Some white travelers or travelers from western nations are really something else. You realise Bali and Indonesia have locals who have their own lives and problems.’
Meanwhile, a third quipped: ‘Umm first of all I bet that the tourists have trashed Bali in the first place.’
The clip showed the beaches full of rubbish- crisp packets, plastic containers and empty bottles
Anya added in the caption: Betting app hoaxes ‘If this is whats on the surface, imagine what’s at the bottom of the ocean, so depressing’
However, the video sparked a heated debate, with people rushing to defend the island
A fourth questioned: ‘Maybe you get out of the capital and actually visit Bali?’
Canggu, Seminyak, and Kuta are all on the southern side of Bali, with Legian on the west coast, north of Kuta and south of Seminyak – they are all areas frequented by travellers.
It comes as Bali introduced its new tourist tax last month, meaning foreign tourists must now pay a 150,000 rupiah (£7.60) levy to enter the popular destination – forking out upon arrival at Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport or Benoa Harbour port.
Some Brits agreed with Anya’s perception of Bali and shared their own ‘disappointing experiences’.
Someone recalled: ‘Me and my boyfriend sunbathed for a whole hour next to a dead, rotting dog’s body in Bali, we were so confused as to why it stank and why all the stray dogs were coming over and smelling behind our heads. Genuinely cried after.’
Another added: ‘Seminyak was the most vile place I’ve been to,’ with someone else writing: ‘Also my experience of Bali sadly. The north was beautiful but I was so shocked by the tourist places’.
Someone else advised: ‘I was so disappointed about that. If you want to help there are some groups that clean the beaches every day!’
One traveller suggested: ‘These areas aren’t the well renowned beach places so obviously they’re not gonna be great. Uluwatu is where the beaches are loved and they’re a lot nicer.’
However, some Britons agreed with Anya and shared their own ‘disappointing experiences’
READ MORE: Terrifying moment a woman in Ubud tries to rescue her passport before it was shredded by an aggressive monkey at famous Bali tourist spot
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However, Anya replied: ‘I’ll update you we go there soon but I’ve seen pictures of people there now and it looks the same sadly.’
Others remarked: ‘I think this is the impact of westernisation on Bali’ and ‘Gili Islands are what you expect Bali to be! They’re a must. And Ubud is great!’
Another chimed in with: ‘Sorry but if you do a little bit of research you know that Seminyak and Kuta are not beautiful, Bali is so beautiful you just have to visit the right places.’
Someone else reminisced: ‘Wow Seminyak was not like this in 2017! This makes me so sad’.
The divisive video comes not long after another British traveller revealed why she ‘absolutely hates’ Bali and attempted to warn people of the side ‘people don’t show you’.
Corrin, who posts under the handle @corr_98 on TikTok, racked up views for warning her followers about the destination by filming busy roads and rubbish-lined beaches.
In one video, she said: ‘Everyone says come to Bali, it’s an amazing place to come – honestly I absolutely hate it, look at this,’ as she points the camera towards chaotic traffic.
She adds: ‘Traffic is everywhere, look how built up it is, it’s awful, you can’t even move, you can’t even cross the road.
‘You stand at a zebra crossing and everyone still goes by. Literally, you’re about to just ask yourself to be run over – the traffic is unbearable and I’ve never seen something like this in my life. Honestly, it’s changed my perspective completely.’
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Read more:
website a solo British traveller – here is why I HATED the beaches in Bali