‘Embarrassing’ tourist stunt in Bali luxury hotel leaves internet furious: ‘I would leave the country’
A tourist has copped major flak online after engaging in an “embarrassing” act at a luxury resort in Bali.
The British traveller was believed to be staying at the 5-star Apurva Kempinski hotel in Nusa Dua, considered the island’s most luxurious location, when he decided to put his face in a large metal bowl filled with water and flower petals.
In the viral TikTok, which has amassed more than 33 million views, he could be seen approaching the decorative bowl where the woman filming can be heard saying, “OK put your face in it”.
He grabs either side of the bowl and leans into it before it tips towards him with water gushing all over the floor and on his clothes.
Furious viewers were quick to comment, branding the man’s actions as “stupid” and reaffirming why tourists get a bad rep on the island.
“You come to Bali without bringing your brain? Why do you have to destroy everything in someone else’s country?” one person wrote.
“Omg money can’t buy brains,” said another.
A third added: “Well that’s just lovely isn’t it, so careful and respectful and cultured.”
However, among the more than 22,600 comments, many chimed in to defend the man.
“I mean it’s just a bowl of water and flowers. Nothing broke it’ll be OK. Just say you’re sorry,” one person said.
“Am I the only one who feels bad for him,” another wrote.
Others got into a heated discussion about the positioning of the decorative bowl.
“To be fair that should have been secured better idk,” one said.
Other viewers admitted they would be “mortified” if it had happened to them.
“I would just lay on the floor like I passed out,” one joked. “I would leave the country,” another wrote.
It’s not clear what happened afterwards but many were hopeful the tourist helped staff clean up the mess.
The man’s stunt comes as the Island of Gods continues to combat unruly tourists.
Bali’s peak tourism body, Wonderful Indonesia, recently released new guidelines titled Travel with Respect highlighting local laws and customs for visitors.
“For Balinese locals who welcome visitors as guests with open hearts and arms, it’s a sacred land where ancient traditions and modern life intertwine,” the guidelines read.
“To truly enjoy the magic of this island paradise while you’re here, it’s essential to understand and respect local customers and way of life.
“Trust us, a little bit of understanding goes a long way in ensuring that your Bali adventure is filled with incredible memories, meaningful connections, and unforgettable experiences.”
Speaking to reporters this week, Bali’s tourism board chairman, IB Agung Partha Adnyana, said: “The stigma of a free Bali must be changed, yes … the dos and don’ts must also be tightened again.”
The list was released in 2023 with a flyer put into passports on arrival.
“Indeed, it was already there visually (in the form of a billboard, announcements, web pages), but many people didn’t see it afterwards. Now we are trying again as before, manually,” Mr Adnyana said.
He wants to see the flyers reintroduced and the do’s and don’t communicate more broadly, according to the Bali Sun.
He wants to try and stop the stigma of Bali being a destination that can be disrespected by foreigners who are under the misguided belief that criminal, culturally disrespectful, reckless, and irresponsible behaviour will be blindly tolerated; it won’t, the publication reported.
