Pewdiepie’s honeymoon trip | Czech couple ‘dishonoring’ holy temple | Bali on ‘No’ travel list | Your favorite Coconuts Bali stories of 2019

As we get that much closer to the end of the year, we here at Coconuts Bali think it’s high time to revisit some of the year’s most popular stories. 

Bali in 2019 has been interesting, to say the least. While the stories are never too far from tourism, it’s always been that Coconutty mix of weird, wondrous, and/or important every time. We know not to expect any less from the Island of the Gods, of course, and with tourists now flocking here to spend the holidays, let’s take a look at Coconuts Bali’s most read stories this year (in ascending order). 

 

Dear tourists: No, you won’t be jailed for having sex with your unmarried partner in Bali

Photo illustration. Photo: Pexels
Photo illustration. Photo: Pexels

While a Draconian revision to Indonesia’s criminal code almost passing caused quite a stir across the country, foreign tourists were particularly concerned with a so-called “Bali sex ban” that supposedly was going to come along with it. Well, we had to remind you that there’s no premarital sex ban in Bali, and explained a little more about those revisions. Read on here.

 

Tourist in Bali reportedly sent away from local village after forbidding residents from using beach in front of his villa

What may have simply been a misunderstanding between the tourists and caretaker of the villa they were staying at ended up being an unpleasant experience for everyone, and we’re reminded of how entitled some people can be. According to local residents, many tourists insist that their access to the beach should be private and off-limits to local residents when it’s actually public. Read on here.

 

Viral tweet shatters ethereal image of Bali’s ‘Gates of Heaven’

‘Gates of Heaven’ photo at Pura Lempuyang Luhur in Karangasem. Photos: Polina Marinova / Twitter

Don’t believe everything you see on Instagram. While this doesn’t make Pura Lempuyang Luhur any less beautiful, it certainly shattered the place’s popular image on social media. Hey, at least now you know what to expect for real. Read on here.

 

Family of Indian tourists caught stealing hotel accessories from Bali villa (Video)

Several scenes from the viral video. Screenshots: Hemanth / Twitter

Who doesn’t love hotel freebies? Few can resist the allure of all those complimentary pens, soaps and shampoos. But one family of Indian tourists took it a little too far and unfortunately for them, in the age of social media, everything is documented. Read on here.

 

Bali authorities weigh in on viral photo of tourist wearing skimpy bikini in a supermarket

Photo: Facebook
Photo: Facebook

We’re not one to comment on what one ought to wear or not to wear, but it’s certainly worth noting that there’s such a thing as appropriateness for certain outfits. This might not be one of those times, as we witnessed criticism after criticism over one woman’s choice to wear a skimpy bikini inside a supermarket. Read on here.

 

Travelers discouraged from visiting Bali as island enters Fodor’s ‘No’ list for 2020

A traditional gate in Bali. Photo: Unsplash
A traditional gate in Bali. Photo: Unsplash

Travel publication Fodor’s decision to place Bali as one of 13 destinations across the globe that travelers should reconsider before visiting next year was not one to be missed. Is the problem of over-tourism on the island finally getting that much-needed attention? Read on here.

 

Swedish model deletes Instagram account after commenters call her caption about Bali rice farmer insensitive

Photo: From Natalie Schlater’s now-deleted Instagram account.
Photo: From Natalie Schlater’s now-deleted Instagram account.

Nothing quite like the wrath of netizens here in Indonesia. In the case of Swedish model Natalie Schlater, a seemingly ‘reflective’ caption ended up driving her off Instagram after commenters made it clear that her deep thoughts only made her appear insensitive and shallow. Read on here.

 

Indonesians react to Bali being included on a ‘No’ travel list

A photo of Balinese women in traditional clothing. Photo: Unsplash
A photo of Balinese women in traditional clothing. Photo: Unsplash

Balinese officials evidently didn’t take it well when the island was named in a ‘No’ travel list by travel publication Fodor, but the problem of over-tourism is all too real here in Pulau Dewata. We definitely think some changes ought to be made, and we hope we’ll see improvements in 2020. Read on here.

 

Viral video of Czech couple ‘dishonoring’ holy temple in Bali sparks outrage among Indonesian netizens

Sabina Dolezalova and Zdenek Slouka of the Czech Republic sparked outrage among Indonesian netizens after showing disrespectful behavior at a holy temple in Bali. (Screenshot: Instagram)
Sabina Dolezalova and Zdenek Slouka of the Czech Republic sparked outrage among Indonesian netizens after showing disrespectful behavior at a holy temple in Bali. (Screenshot: Instagram)

Boy, this one caused quite the outrage here in Bali. No surprise there, either, as the Czech couple’s act of splashing the woman’s private parts with holy water from a Balinese Hindu temple was just plain disrespectful. We do hope this story being so popular means we’ll never see such disrespect again on the island (dare we hope?). Read on here.

 

World’s highest-earning YouTuber PewDiePie and new wife Marzia honeymoon in Bali

Left: Felix Kjellberg AKA Pewdiepie got married with longtime girlfriend Marzia Bisognin in August 2019. Photo: PewDiePie / Instagram. Right: The couple spent their honeymoon in Bali. Photo: Bagia Pradiva / Instagram
Left: Felix Kjellberg AKA Pewdiepie got married with longtime girlfriend Marzia Bisognin in August 2019. Photo: PewDiePie / Instagram. Right: The couple spent their honeymoon in Bali. Photo: Bagia Pradiva / Instagram

If anything, this story is evidence of Swedish gaming YouTuber Pewdiepie’s popularity as the second-most popular channel on the platform. While Felix Kjellberg nor his wife Marzia Bisognin didn’t exactly share where they were headed for their honeymoon, Indonesian social media was nonetheless brimming with juicy information about their Bali visit – and you best believe Coconuts Bali was on top of that. Read on here.



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