Bali tattoo spelling blunder leaves Australian tourist red-faced
It took eight hours to get the ink etched across his chest — but there was one cringe-worthy mistake.
Australians dreaming of a cheap Bali tattoo have been warned to think twice after one tourist was left with an embarrassing spelling blunder inked across his chest.
The man wanted the seven-word phrase, ”In times of peace, prepare for war”, tattooed across his upper chest during an eight-hour session at a Bali studio.
But when the job was finished, there was one glaring problem.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Instead of “peace”, the tattoo read “piece”.
The cringe-worthy mistake quickly went viral after footage was shared on Instagram, with social media users piling on the jokes.
”What a fantastic peace of work,” one quipped.
Another chimed in: ”You get what you pay for.”
The Bali tattoo studio later told Yahoo that the spelling mistake had since been corrected.
Award-winning Perth tattoo artist Khail Aitkel said the mishap should be a lesson for Australians heading overseas for cheaper ink.
“The client should have double-checked his stencil, being in a country that doesn’t typically speak English,” he said.
“With that being said, it’s the artist’s job to produce the right design for his client.
“This is what being cheap or careless will cost you.”
Bali has become a hotspot for Australians chasing bargain tattoos, with prices often a fraction of those charged at home.
While a small tattoo in Australia can cost from about $120 and a full sleeve up to $5000, similar work in Bali can start at around $60, with sleeves often costing less than $2500.
Mr Aitkel said price should never be the deciding factor.
“It’s important to look beyond cost and choose a reputable studio with experienced artists, strong reviews and clear hygiene practices,” he said.
“Lower prices can be appealing but standards, regulations and aftercare practices range differently between countries.”
A Queensland tattoo artist said that he regularly sees the aftermath of overseas ink jobs gone wrong.
“To be honest, I’m getting pretty sick of people asking me to fix Bali stuff-ups,” he said.
“Spend your money wisely, or don’t be this guy.”
Originally published on PerthNow
