Barely Bali

Why barely, I confess this by no mean can be a comprehensive report about Bali, furthermore it is written from a tourist perspective who only visited this place twice. However, if you manage to avoid any pitfall from this reading then you know who to thank for.

To many Bali is sold as a romantic, arts and crafts destination, but in general I felt more like a walking ATM in the eyes of the local. For accountant wannabe, I can give you all the figures and you do the accounting.

Started right from the airport, while purchased taxi coupon at counter, when you thought that was part of the service -- two guys dress in similar uniform will try initiate conversation and lead you to a taxi by carting your luggage less than 80 meters away, upon reaching the taxi, their true color shown - daringly request for RP100,000 tips, while our taxi fare to Kuta was merely RP55,000 (later found out if you pre-book with known transporter it can cost less than RP 20,000). After that experience, you will start feeling uneasy whenever you are confronted by over-friendly stranger, more likely or not they are expecting something from you. What a start.

Tip: it pays to do your homework before arriving Bali. eg. a call to those number from leaflet, rental car with driver go at the price of Rp500,000/day (10 hours), whereas for known contact the charges can be only Rp350,000 full day (10 hours).

Between a Rock and a Hard place?

Kuta Square main street

Kuta is undisputed busiest town on the island so naturally attract a lot of traffic, Legian and Kuta square are the most popular hang out spots for tourist be it entertainment or shopping, no coincident that Hard Rock cafe is also within this vicinity, looking around you can't help but notice most caucasian on the road are dressing pretty 'environmental friendly', Australian make up majority of the visitors.

Tip: There is a popular supermarket called Matahari at Kuta Square, if you missed buying souvenir at any other tourist spots, this supermarket can be a good place to fill the void especially if you lack the bargaining skill plus harassment free. About 150 meters from this supermarket, you will discover their biggest shopping mall -- Discovery.

Beach View behind Discovery Shopping mall

back view of Discovery Shopping Mall, Kuta

Next stop, Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Cultural Park where you can witness the tallest statue in Indonesia. According to our driver, in local term, Garuda = mystical Bird, Wisnu = the god of water and kencana = vehicle. Entrance fee: Rp50,000 per pax.

Garuda

fountain after GWK entrance

Lord Wisnu

Not too far from GWK there is a beach side called Dreamland - was told that this area is part of Tommy Suharto's development project, at the main entrance sit a fairy big statue that surely attract your eyeballs and a heartwarming signboard indicate no fee to be paid, but 9km further down the road you are fooled, there will be self-appointed guard collected Rp15,000 per vehicle, this is a rip off for the fact that you have to park at muddy place and to walk through totally uneven rocky slope testing your balancing skill (make you wonder if you are on moon) just to reach a beach side which is unjustifiable. Indeed a dreamland for fee collector.

naughty

Uluwatu, this is a place where you find temple build on steep cliff, beware of the aggressive monkeys which will try to snatch away your glasses, hats, sandal, earring or hanging stuff.

Entrance fee Rp3,000 per person + Rp50,000 for an unofficial guide who will approach you offering their service i.e. to help you shoo away monkeys with a stick and brief explanation about this place. Not really necessary, unless donation is your hobby.

If there is only one place you can choose to visit in Bali, this must be the place -- Tanah Lot, located about 1 hour drive (43KM) from Kuta, along the way take note of those hillside trek rice fields which efficiently utilize hill slope for cultivation, quite a unique scene. Crown jewel of Tanah Lot is the temple that stand on top of a rock in the ocean, and there are many stalls readily assist you to part with your money. Entrance Fee: Rp10,000 per pax + Rp 5,000 per vehicle

Much talk about Seafood barbecue dinner at Jimbaran bay, can cost you Rp875,000 for two with basket of seafood include lobster, fish, mussel, prawn and squid. Mainly cooked in BBQ style either spicy or cheese. Their table setting is on the beach facing the sea, oversee airport at your right, basically you are only paying for the ambience. Skip this if you are on tight budget, to food hunter worth his salt this meal is forgettable.

Other places of interest:
i) If you are into art then you should head to Ubud art galleries(showcasing handicrafts, wood carving, painting, cultural dance and etc).

ii) All over the island there are a lot of temples(over 20000), in the interest of time suggest to visit not more than three.
iii) Kintamani to view volcano and lake Batur, plan your trip accordingly this can be quite a long drive (2 hours one way)

Other Activities to try in Bali:
Tried the much shout about Bali SPA at hotel about Rp150,000 for an hour, imho it's too mild to my liking.
Local Bali food - Nasi Babi Guling @ Rp40,000 per plate, non halal of course.

Babi Guling Set

Lastly, remember not to spend all your cash, reserve Rp150,000 per person for the airport departure tax before they let you exit.
My parting word for Bali, though it is no fault of you but for this place to stand a chance to embrace more return visitors, rent seeking mentality among tourist related people need to be curtailed if not eliminated. May be it's just me, it's no fun visiting place that you can't lower your guard. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

Sunset at dreamland