Bali, an island province in Indonesia, is one of the most popular travel destinations in Southeast Asia.

This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Lucienne Anhar, the co-owner of Tugu Hotels and Restaurants Group in Indonesia, who shares her tips for tourists when visiting  Bali. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I was born in Malang, a city in East Java, Indonesia. I've lived in Bali since 2004, and before that had visited the island every summer since I was 5 years old. As a kid, I spent time learning and immersing myself in Balinese dance. Over the years, I've continued to develop a strong connection with Balinese culture. Our hotels in Canggu and Lombok — both hotspots for surfing — are filled with antiques that help celebrate the colorful history of Bali and Indonesia.

I still remember Bali of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s as heaven on earth — an exotic land of ancient Hindu temples and centuries-old banyan trees, endless rice fields, open fields of palm trees, empty beaches with the bluest of seas. Over the years, I've watched the beaches fill up, as it's become one of the top vacation spots in Asia

In 2019, before borders closed, Bali received over 6.3 million tourists, per Statista. Bali is also gaining popularity among digital nomads — more than 3,000 digital nomads work and live from the island, according to a November report by German outlet DW.

As Bali continues to be a hotspot for expats and tourists alike, here are six things foreigners should avoid doing when visiting the island.

1. Don't sunbathe topless and avoid wearing skimpy clothing.

Balinese people are too polite to say anything, but many find overly revealing clothing to be inappropriate. For example, many locals find it offensive for tourists to wear shorts that show your butt fold, or to walk around in G-string bikinis. Tourists should avoid wearing see-through or fishnet dresses on the streets. It's also not appropriate to be topless on the beach. 

As nature is considered sacred in Bali, rules on how to behave don't only apply within temples. Tourists should avoid taking Instagram photos showing off their body on Mount Agung, the most sacred mountain in Bali, or hugging sacred banyan trees naked.

I mean, you wouldn't do this in your home country, right?

2. Avoid showing too much physical affection in public.

Indonesia made headlines last year for criminalizing sex outside marriage. However, tourists can only be charged by this law — which will go into effect in 2025 — if they are reported to the police by the Indonesian national's parent or child, according to The Guardian, citing legislator Taufik Basari.

While most Balinese people are very open-minded, there are limitations to how much PDA is acceptable. For example, making out or acting overly sexual in public can make locals feel awkward. 

However, it's fine for friends of the same gender to hug or hold hands, as this is something you'll see among locals as well.

3. Don't limit your travel experience to just popular tourist beaches.

Most people travel to Bali for the beautiful beaches, but the island is really not a stereotypical beach town. There's more to Bali than just beaches. In reality, half of the island's beaches have volcanic black sand with big crashing waves that are great for surfing, but swimming there can be dangerous.

Bali's beaches are also facing environmental issues as plastic and garbage can be found in some locations. However, the sunsets are magical, the surf is great despite the crowd, and there's always great people watching.

Rather than just spending all their time at the beach, I'd recommend visitors take time to learn about what makes Bali unique. Some of these things include its Hindu culture, the temples, the artists, the mountains, the lakes, and the waterfalls. 

4. Balinese people attend many ceremonies, so don't expect them to adjust their schedules for you.

Balinese people perform many ceremonies throughout the year, including praying at their house temple, village temple, attending cremations, and even for things like filing teeth — one of the most important ceremonies for Balinese people. For every ceremony, locals ask a priest for the "hari baik" — which means the blessed date in Indonesian — that can depend on the moon, gods, and Balinese calendar.

In Bali, there are times when locals can't come to work because of these ceremonies. Some expats employ or live with house staff, so they shouldn't expect staff to work on the days they have ceremonies, or force them to reschedule the events they have to attend, as locals find these occasions very important.

There's even one day a year, Nyepi, when Bali goes silent. The airport is shut and everyone — including tourists — is meant to stay inside. This year, the "Day of Silence"  was celebrated on March 22. 

5. Avoid falling for popular tourist traps that are set up to scam foreigners.

There are several activities tourists should avoid. While traditional healing in Bali has become more popular since the film "Eat Pray Love," not all of them are real. Do your research before paying or engaging local healers, especially if they charge exorbitant prices.

Another common tourist trap consists of for-hire drivers taking foreigners to shops that sell random things like jewelry. Many times these shops sell items made with low quality silver. Tourists often find themselves pressured to purchase things they don't want. These drivers insist for them to do so as they are working for a commission. 

To avoid these situations, only hire a driver through reputable agencies.

6. Don't get aggressive when driving on the road.

Traffic in Bali has only gotten more intense over the years as more people move to the island and own cars. Even when it comes to short distances, tourists can expect to spend some time in their cars as it can get quite crowded on the road.

However, Balinese people have a very chill attitude especially when driving on the streets, and there is often no honking or swearing. Even when nobody follows traffic rules, it just works — so visitors should try to go with the flow while driving in Bali.

Correction: March 28, 2023 — An earlier version of this story misstated the extent on Indonesia's ban on premarital sex. The entire country has banned it, not just Bali.