Why This German Woman Has Been Visiting Bali for 30 Years
- Mar 24
- 2 min read
This blog is based on youtube post - Why Do People From Big Cities Choose Bali? "Street Interview"
On a warm afternoon at Kuta Beach, we met a traveler whose story quietly says something powerful about Bali.
She is from Hamburg, Germany. And for the past 30 years, Bali has been part of her life.
Not just once. Not just twice.
For three decades, she has continued to return.
What makes her story interesting is that Bali was never the only place she explored. Over the years, she has traveled to many other parts of Indonesia—different islands, different cultures, different landscapes. But somehow, Bali always becomes the place she comes back to.
Part of the reason is practical.Traveling from Germany to Indonesia is already a long journey. Most flights involve a connection through the Middle East, making the trip around fifteen hours in total. When you arrive in Indonesia, Bali naturally becomes a gateway to the rest of the country.
But for her, Bali is not just a transit point.
It is a place she genuinely enjoys returning to.
She has explored beaches like Lovina, visited waterfalls, walked through temples, and spent time in cultural areas like Ubud. Over the years, her relationship with the island has slowly changed—from curiosity to familiarity.
One surprising thing she shared is her love for Indonesian food.
For many visitors from Europe, Indonesian cuisine can feel very intense at first—especially the spice. But for her, it became the opposite.
“I really enjoy spicy Indonesian food. After a while, food back in Europe starts to feel a bit bland.”
Her travels also brought her to places far away from typical tourist areas. At one point, she stayed in a rural village where there was no electricity, no Wi-Fi, and water had to be taken manually from a well.
For many travelers, that would sound uncomfortable.For her, it became one of the most memorable experiences.
“When you live simply like that, you start appreciating the things you have back home much more.”
This mindset reveals something deeper about why she keeps returning to Indonesia. Her philosophy is simple:
“If you come to Bali, try to adapt to the local life.”
Instead of expecting the island to adjust to visitors, she believes travelers should take time to understand the way people live here.
That attitude has helped her build meaningful connections with Indonesians over the years—not only in Bali, but even back in Germany. In fact, she mentioned that there is a large Indonesian community in Hamburg, and celebrations for Indonesia’s Independence Day on August 17th are often held there.
Thirty years of visits have given her something that many travelers never experience: perspective.
Bali is not just a holiday destination in her story. It is a place where she continues to learn, explore, and reflect.
And perhaps her story carries a quiet message for many people here in Bali.
Sometimes the beauty of a place is easier to see through the eyes of someone who has traveled halfway across the world just to return to it again and again.
For her, Bali is not just a destination.
It is part of a lifelong journey.
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