Israeli traveler explores the world’s largest Muslim nation—while keeping a secret

Dani Sinai’s trip to Indonesia was out of the ordinary from the very start—mainly because she had a special travel companion: her father. “There’s nothing better than this,” she said with excitement. “My dad grew up in a family of travelers, and there’s nothing more fun than going with him. He loves exploring cultures and meeting new people, and every trip with him becomes unique, personal and full of surprises.”

Sinai, 23, is a law and business student at Reichman University and a solo travel blogger. She managed to enter Indonesia using a foreign passport. Despite her experience as a traveler, this time she didn’t plan the trip herself—artificial intelligence did. “We decided to let ChatGPT plan it for us. To our surprise, it came up with an itinerary that fit exactly what we wanted, including an easy start without unnecessary moving around.”

Dani Sinai in Indonesia

(Photo: Courtesy)

After a short connection in Singapore—considered one of the most beautiful airports in the world—Dani and her father landed at Bali’s international airport and headed straight to Canggu, the trendy surfing town. “It’s a beach town full of restaurants and cafés right on the water, with people carrying surfboards all day long, in a young and fun atmosphere.”

They spent their first two days in Canggu resting, adjusting and visiting two well-known beach clubs. “You pay a daily entrance fee that lets you enjoy food, drinks and pools—all at very reasonable prices. A full day costs about 250 shekels, including alcohol and unlimited food. We watched the sunset, listened to live music and reset after the flights. It was the perfect way to start the trip. You pay prices similar to Thailand, but the food and hospitality are on a much higher level.”

Indonesia beach club

(Photo: Dani Sinai)

Some of the journey was left unplanned. “We committed to not booking nights in advance until we arrived somewhere. The big advantage is that you can feel out exactly where it’s best to stay, but sometimes you get stuck without accommodations. We also traveled with just carry-ons, which helped a lot given the many flight delays.”

Traveling with your father is nice, but doesn’t it hurt your independence?
“I don’t think it takes away from my independence. My dad gives me space—he lets me plan and lead with my own vision but always adds his touch. As a young woman, it can sometimes be difficult to get into certain places, especially in cultures where men dominate. My dad opened a lot of doors for us.”

Dani Sinai in Indonesia

(Photo: Courtesy)

And what if you meet someone cute and want to go on a date?
“When someone hit on me, my dad would say, ‘It’s okay, I’m her father, you can go ahead.’ It was funny, because he looks really young, so people often thought he was my boyfriend. I even set a rule—if someone wanted to take me out, my dad had to come along on the date. A few actually agreed. In the end, I didn’t go because it felt a bit much, but they stayed friends with my dad.”

After settling in, the journey continued to Bali’s lush green center—the town of Ubud. “Ubud is full of rice fields and beautiful temples. We did zip-lining over the rice terraces, coffee tours, and, most of all, had authentic encounters in the villages.

Dani Sinai in Ubud

(Photo: Courtesy)

“On the drives between villages, we suddenly came across wedding ceremonies and religious processions and joined to watch up close. Everywhere we went, we saw traditional rituals. It was inspiring. We were the only tourists there. The ceremonies included music, drumming and the participation of the entire village, who spent the day placing offerings and flowers. You learn so much about their culture.”

The next stage was a boat trip to Nusa Penida, where they went diving with giant manta rays. “It was incredible. We sailed there privately, and it was magical. One of the highlights was visiting a wildlife sanctuary for rare animals. It was the most amazing habitat I’ve ever seen. The animals weren’t in cages—they were completely free and not sedated. There were elephants, orangutans and even a special crocodile brought there after it attacked a villager. The sanctuary saved it from being executed. My dad loves animals, so for him this was unbelievable.”

Local placing offerings

(Photo: Dani Sinai)

At the animal shelter

(Photo: Dani Sinai)

Later, they reached the surfer town of Uluwatu, which she enthusiastically described as “a surfer’s paradise.” That’s where they finally met some fellow Israelis. “We hardly saw any Israelis during the trip, and suddenly here we met five Israeli surfers. It was really fun and moving.”

“In towns like these, people pass the time between waves, and there’s so much to do—even if you don’t surf. My dad took surfing lessons. I didn’t, but I didn’t feel like I was missing out. On the contrary, if I had surfed, I would have skipped so many other things the place offers, like yoga, powerful nature, peace and quiet.”

Their next stop was the town of Gili Trawangan. “There are no cars there at all, only e-bikes or horses. It feels like stepping back in time—everyone spends the day cycling or riding. The island is off Bali, so suddenly you hear the call to prayer and see more people with head coverings and keffiyehs, fewer Hindus like in Bali. But nothing disturbed us from walking around and enjoying ourselves. Everything was calm and tasteful.”

Gili Trawangan

(Photo: Dani Sinai)

Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim-majority country—did you have to hide the fact that you were Israeli?
“At first, we were a bit afraid to reveal where we were from. We didn’t know how people would react to Israelis. We discovered they simply don’t know Israel—not positively, not negatively. So with locals, we mostly avoided saying. With European tourists, though, there was no problem at all. They were excited to meet Israelis. Of course, we didn’t walk around in an ‘I love Israel’ shirt, but overall, we felt completely safe. It was an adventure in every sense.”

And the prices?
“We stayed in a room with a private pool overlooking rice fields for just 355 shekels a night, and they even brought us a coconut to the room. What more could you want? On average, our budget was about $100 per person per day—including accommodation, food, alcohol and activities. Some days were more expensive, like the animal sanctuary visit, and we also ate in excellent restaurants at prices similar to a good meal in Tel Aviv—only with a breathtaking tropical view.”

After visiting nearly 40 countries, Sinai says Bali is now her favorite in the world. “It was my childhood dream and it took the top spot in my heart. Everything there is incredibly stylish. I never imagined I’d find that much taste and design—from the places you stay to the way food is presented. And the most amazing part is, it’s not even a matter of price.”

Dani’s dad and a monkey

(Photo: Dani Sinai)

At the animal shelter

(Photo: Dani Sinai)

So, will there be more trips with your dad?
“Honestly, I hope to travel with him my whole life. He’s my best friend. I’ve learned so much from him about balancing business with life, and about the importance of dedicating time to your kids and showing them the world.”

As of August 2025, the National Security Council classifies Indonesia as a country with a “high, combined threat—Level 4” and advises Israelis to avoid traveling there. The same warning applies to West Papua, Sulawesi, Sumatra, the Aceh region and parts of Java, according to its website.

Still, for those who want to visit now or in the future, Sinai explains there are three ways for Israelis to enter Bali: “First, with a foreign passport, like I did. Second, with a tourist visa that costs about $500 but is very difficult to obtain under current conditions. And third, with a business visa, which costs around $1,200.”

She noted that a secret Facebook group called Indonesia for Travelers once served as a semi-underground hub for information, allowing people to obtain visas through fixers. “Anyone in the group knew you had to contact one of the admins, pay him and he would arrange the visa. It was all done quietly under the radar—until an article or influencer’s post exposed it. Then the requests poured in, and Indonesian authorities shut down that route.”

Sinai herself returned from Indonesia with only warm feelings. “Every morning I begin with prayer—that’s my way of connecting to Judaism and gratitude. That’s why I felt so connected to what I saw in Bali—everywhere there are offerings, flowers, small temples and words of thanks. It’s not just ritual; it’s a way of life. I was deeply moved to see an entire people living in gratitude. That’s something I’ll carry with me forever.”