I think what you're describing has its roots in the Grand Tour[1]. Touring Europe after college became a tradition of well-to-do Americans in the same spirit.
It used to be the best way to fulfill on the promise of education and become worldly. It was never meant to be how you found your purpose. It was supposed to create empathy and understanding of our culture.
I'm skipping over a lot of detail, of course, and Bali is far from a grand tour destination. I'm pretty sure people go to Bali because the beaches are nice and it offers a certain kind of experience. I don't think they're going there looking for the meaning of life.