My Bali drinking problem...

I woke up at 6:57 AM to screaming and crazy music outside my room, fully intending to pack my bags and escape the chaos. Instead, I was instantly pulled into a local 3-day ceremony, handed a drink, and my entire plan for the day vanished. _____________________________________ Subscribe to    / @ben.woodward   Binge non-touristy Bali👉    • Bali's Best Kept Secret (I almost didn't t...   _____________________________________ When you travel off the main tourist trail, you have to let the location dictate the schedule. What started as a very grumpy morning quickly turned into an exercise in navigating generous local hospitality which meant dodging relentless offers of arak (palm spirit) and tuak (palm wine) and beer to protect my strict rule of never drinking and riding. After negotiating down to a single drink, sticking around for an hour, and enforcing a 90-minute wait time to sober up, I finally hit the dirt roads. But the side quests were just beginning. The unofficial theme of this journey is quickly becoming "side quests, best quests". This video is a completely unfiltered look at what happens when you just let a travel day happen to you. It takes us from a loud village ceremony to a hunt for a rumored local wine industry hidden deep in rural grapevines. Eventually, I found myself trusting a group of locals to lead me down a precarious, boulder-strewn dirt track to a hidden subak irrigation river spot that definitely doesn't have a pin on Google Maps.! _____________________________________ Highlights in this Video: • The Morning Chaos: Crashing an intense local upacara (ceremony) and navigating morning moonshine. • The Budget Stay: Moving basecamp to Prabhu Suites in Banjar, North Bali – a surprisingly sophisticated AUD $17/night spot with a pool. • The Wine Hunt: Riding deep into the trellised vines looking for an off-grid alcohol industry. • The Hidden River: Following Charlie and his friends off-road to cool off in the local subak irrigation system. • Sunset Gambling: Ending the day watching a roulette-style gambling ring right on the beach. _____________________________________ 📍 Prabhu Suites location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HMAUWxdiPz9cg... 🏨 Prabhu Suites on Traveloka https://trv.lk/a43e3f62 _____________________________________ Chapters: 00:00 - Bali Cultural Ceremony & Local Welcome The day begins with an unexpected invitation to a 3-day Balinese celebration (Upacara) featuring music and karaoke. 01:00 - Arak, Tuak, and Traditional Drinks A dedicated look at local spirits like Arak and Tuak. Ben navigates the social pressure to drink while balancing travel plans. 01:58 - Scooter Safety & Drink Driving in Bali Ben discusses the importance of motorcycle safety and his personal rule of waiting before hitting the road after a drink. 02:55 - Balinese Blessing & Purification Rituals Observing a traditional ceremony at a crossroads, potentially a Melasti or purification ritual. 04:30 - Budget Travel Tips: $17/Night Accommodation A breakdown of budget-friendly stays in in Bali and how to manage a $30/night average travel budget. 06:19 - Searching for North Bali Vineyards & Wine Exploring the local grapevines of North Bali on a mission to find locally produced grape wine. 10:36 - Tempted into drinking Arak. 11:18 - Finding the Secret Bali River Spot. Following locals off the beaten path to a hidden river swimming hole and irrigation (Subak) system. 14:15 - Avoiding Dehydration & Heatstroke Risks A quick break in the shade to recover from the midday heat and ensure the alcohol has worn off before riding. 15:44 - Coffee and Local Snacks Enjoying a traditional Balinese coffee and cake snack (Kaliadram) at a local’s home. 17:10 - Prabhu Suites: AUD $17 Room Tour A walkthrough of a high-value budget stay in Banjar, featuring a pool and minimal garden layout. 19:50 - Exploring Banjar: Local Food & ATMs Practical tips for visitors, including where to find fee-free ATMs (BNI) and local food stands (Martabak). 20:42 - Traditional Balinese Gambling Games A look at local fairground-style games like roulette and character dice games found at the beach during sunset. _____________________________________ 🎬 Support the Adventure If you enjoy my travel films and want to help me become a full-time creator, there are a few ways to support the journey: 👕 The "Selalu Jalan Jalan" T-shirt means "always exploring" in Indonesian. It's become my icebreaker in places where tourists rarely venture. Get your very own at https://ben-woodward-shop.fourthwall.... 🍺 Ko-fi: Buy me a Bintang: https://www.ko-fi.com/benwoodwardyt 💸 PayPal: Support the channel via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/BenWo... 📩 Business & Contact Email: [email protected] _____________________________________ #BaliTravel #NorthBali #ArakBali #BalineseCulture #BudgetTravelBali #SoloTravelBali #HiddenGemBali