TikTok trend of tourists risking Bali Belly by drinking tap water sparks warning by Aussie expat
Tourists flocking to Bali have been warned about a ‘dumbass’ viral trend which has turned dream holidays into travel nightmares they’d rather forget.
A growing trend has emerged on TikTok of tourists on the Indonesian paradise island drinking water straight from the tap, with the aim of strengthening their immunity.
The experiment – which often seems to induce stomach bugs – has been slammed by Australian expat Tristian Weatherburn in a viral video.
The warning comes after a British tourist was heavily criticized over a clip featuring him drinking cups of water daily from the tap during his stay.
This traveler filmed himself drinking tap water in Bali but discouraged others from doing the same
While he wasn’t struck down with Bali Belly, he didn’t recommend others follow his lead and warned about the awful taste.
‘I’m a trained professional tap water drinker! Pls don’t try this at home,’ one clip is captioned. A second video warns: ‘The water tastes a bit funny here.’
The tourist’s videos are still being inundated with comments from shocked onlookers three months later.
‘I hope you’re joking because we locals don’t even drink the tap water, because it’s not safe for drinking,’ an Indonesian viewer commented.
Another female traveler currently the island hotspot originally took to TikTok bragging she was immune to Bali Belly – but was struck down by the illness shortly afterwards.
She posted a follow-up video of herself lying in bed while feeling unwell.
‘POV, you posted a TikTok bragging how you’re immune from Bali Belly and ever since have been dying a slow painful death from it. Okay universe my bad,’ the video was captioned.
She added within the comments: ‘I’ve learned my lesson the hard way.’
Recent videos prompted Mr Weatherburn, who calls Bali home, to weigh into the trend while describing it as a dumb idea as Indonesian tap water is generally not drinkable.
The growing TikTok trend prompted Tristian Weatherburn to issue a warning to tourists
This traveler who thought she was immune from Bali was struck down with the illness
The video begins with him drinking from a bottle filled with filtered water from the tap before explaining why travelers visiting areas such as Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta or Ubud can’t do the same.
WHAT IS BALL BELLY?
Another term for gastro or food poisoning if caught on the Indonesian island.
Caused by bacteria that inflames the stomach.
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and fatigue.
Can be caught via contaminated food or water or not washing hands properly.
‘The reason why I can drink Bali water and you cannot was to do that is because I’m up in the jungle, Mr Weatherburn explained.
‘The reason I can do that is that I’m one minute away from a rainforest and that the water delivered here comes through a tiny plastic pipe which constantly leaks water, rain water.’
‘The water here is fresher than in your country. Down there is Canngu with the Instagram models and lip fillers, Seminak which is a holiday area and Kuta which is the Australian bogan drunk area.’
‘Down there, the water is very bad for you.
He assured travelers in those areas it was still okay to brush their teeth with the water to help build up immunity to viruses.
‘But there’s also a lot of calcium in the water you cannot build immunity to,’ he warned.
‘All of the stuff in the pipes down there and it just erodes the pipes and goes straight into your body.’
The traveler divided viewers with his attempts to build his immunity to Bali water
‘It will make you sick, it will give you belly belly so don’t do that, just brush your teeth with it.’
‘You need that little immunity but don’t be drinking it everyday, big glasses of it as you’re going to get sick.’
The warning comes after Love Island Australia season three winner Tina Provis recently revealed she caught ‘Bali Belly’ twice in the same holiday.
‘I didn’t think it was a thing to get Bali Belly twice, so here I am getting it at the start of my trip being like ‘hahaha at least it’s over with’ but wrong! I feel like crap,’ Ms Provis said.
The recent nightmare ordeals have sparked advice from fellow travelers.
‘Always make sure you get traveller’s insurance and avoid tap water, also brush your teeth with bottled water, and don’t get ice in drinks,’ one seasoned traveler advised.
‘Also bring over-the-counter medicines like Immodium and activated charcoal.’
Tristian Weatherburn (pictured) lives in the jungle where the rain water is drinkable