1. Scooters: Everything and everybody travels on scooters in Bali. It is super chaotic but fun at the same time. If you can get into the groove and drive like a local, you'll be fine. However, it is not for the inexperienced rider. Scooters seem to rule the roads and the local riders don't always obey the traffic rules. Sometimes you will find scooters coming at you going the wrong way in your lane, and other times you will find yourself traveling at high speed in a group of scooters which feels like a motorcycle race. If you want to give this madness a try, get an international drivers license, because if the police stop you, you may get away with just paying a small fine (i.e. bribe). Police are looking for inexperienced tourist riders to collect fines. By the way, everyone honks in Bali. It is not always clear why, but it is likely to signal that a rider wants to pass or let you know they are there. If you feel like honking just do it, it will not be weird.

2. Stairs: you can not walk anywhere in Bali without climbing or descending stairs. They are everywhere and sometimes lots of them. Get ready to get your glutes toned up!

3. Bali Belly: if you want a true experience you should eat the local food. The best option is to do it in a Warung (local restaurant). Stay away from street carts food and make sure to drink bottled water. You will not have any problem in western style restaurant but if you want to eat local just use some common sense (eat freshly cooked food) to avoid the Bali belly. Our favorite meal was the Bihun Goreng (fried rice noddles) but don't miss Nasi Goreng (fried rice), Mie Goreng (friend noodles), Nasi Compur (a bit of everything) and Babi Guling (suckling pig). We got to try also the Luwak coffee (see more below), but learning more about the treatment of the luwak (civets) we wish we did not partake. By the way food (and drinks) are extremely cheap in Bali!!

4. Monkeys: In Ubud, there is a Monkey Forest, an area in the middle of town where monkeys roam free. They are used to being around people, but there are signs to remind you that these are wild animals. Follow common sense (e.g. avoid bringing shiny objects and food since they may try to snatch them away from you). We really loved to spend time with the monkeys, and we were happy to have had many experiences with them on the island.

5. Temples and festivals: In Bali, there are temples around every corner and almost every day there is a festival. The Balinese people are very dedicated to their rituals and offerings, but they do not impose their religion and welcome everyone into the temples. We visited many temples during our stay and the only enforced requirement is to wear a sarong. If you don't have one, usually you can grab one for free (or a small fee) just before entering a temple. The Balinese are also very serious about not entering temples if you have your menstrual period! The temples are very similar but at the same time unique too. One of the most photographed temples is the Pura Lempuyang with its iconic Gates of Haven. We also suggest to check out the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple (1 hour north of Ubud), the Uluwatu Temple (on the cliff on the south west side of the island) and the Pura Tirtha Empul (near Ubud) where you can bathe in the holy spring water.

6. Waterfalls: Waterfalls are a refreshing treat from Bali's heat. We visited Kanto Lampo Waterfall, Tibumana Waterfall and Tukad Cepung Waterfall. Every waterfall has a nominal entry fee that you have to pay; it's usually only a couple of bucks. Those 3 waterfalls are beautiful and worth a visit but expect crowds. The most secluded one was 1 hour north of Ubud, called Leke Leke Waterfall, and we visited it because we spent the night in a "bubble" just a few yards away from it (this waterfall is worth it if you are in the area, but not worth it for just a destination trip). One thing to note: every waterfall have many steps that you need to climb to reach them.

7. Bali swings and bird nests: If you have seen on Instagram the beautiful pictures of people on a swing in Bali, well, they are everywhere. The Balinese have learned that tourists like this type of attraction and now you can find them at every major tourist destination. So don't panic looking for one to capture your Instagram photo, just visit a classic Bali attraction and you will find a swing and a few bird nests there. One thing to consider, you can be asked for a fee to swing and take a picture at the main sites, but if you travel off the beaten path, you may find swings and nests where you can take your epic picture for free.

8. Amed we reached Amed on the Eastern side of the island not before having a full day of adventure. We decided to leave our AirBnb in Ubud and take the road less traveled, which meant up to the top of Mt. Agung (considered the Mt. Fuji of Bali) and back down. After getting lost on the top of the mountain, we found ourselves driving down super narrow broken roads with a scooter and 2 backpacks. The villagers looked shocked to see 2 western women traveling in those remote areas on 1 scooter. We tried to get out of there respectfully and as fast as we could. However, our scooter brakes overheated due to the steep descent and what was supposed to be a 2-hour trip turned out to be a 4-hour ride. At last, we reached Amed. Amed is a snorkeling and scuba diving paradise to see different types of coral and tropical fish. This part of Bali is less developed and people here move at a slower pace. We definitely got the island vibe in Amed which was more what we were looking for. Besides enjoying the water, food and friendly people, we got to stop by a salt farm. Farmers, mostly women, harvest and extract salt from the ocean water. The process takes approximately 4 days from salt water until you get to hold salt in your hand. In Bali, you find women doing all kind of work, from construction, to farming, to cooking and preparing the offerings.

9. Lot of wildlife sounds: early in the morning and during the night is when the sounds from the jungle seemed to come to life, the calls of insects, monkeys, reptiles, you name it. The very first night we spent in Bali we were staying in a secluded jungle villa. In the middle of the night we heard 3 fast consecutive knocks and a loud "scream." It woke us up in an instant. The sound was so close, but it felt surreal. We were super confused. We think that the sound was made by a gecko, but we're still shocked by how loud it was!!! After all, this is all part of being on an island and we loved it.

10. Where are you from and where you are going?: Balinese people love to ask those 2 questions. We learned that is a cultural thing in the way that they believe that one should always have a determined journey. We got to have some fun with this, since we are digital nomads, and we got to change it up every time. We also learned that in Bali there are only 4 names. The firstborn child is named Wayan, Putu or Gede, the second is named Made or Kadek, the third child goes by Nyoman or Komang, and the fourth is named Ketut. It was a bit hard to distinguish people! The locals tend to give nicknames to understand who is who.