Posted by Liz on Monday, 5. October 1998 at 21:16 Bali Time:
Just got back from Bali yesterday. It was my 6th trip (the first being 1982) - boy has it changed - and not all for the best. What used to be a 5 minute trip by bemo from Legian to Kuta now can take more than half an hour in peak hour (yes peak hour - bumper to bumper) traffic. It is so busy now with lots of fixed price and brand name shops. I found the beach to be filthy - I did not go swimming at Legian once in two weeks - there is so much rubbish in and out of the water. Don't get me wrong I still love Bali but would consider staying elsewhere on the island or staying on Nusa Lembogan or going back to Lombok and only staying around Legian/Kuta for a few days. This time we took our 20month old daughter - she had a ball!! Not a place for strollers though. The price of things is so cheap you feel lousy haggling over 10,000 Rp (about $1-60). Caruso's restuarant at Seminyak is worth a visit - great atmosphere so is Gosha in Melasti street (an old favourite).
Watch to money changers - take your own calculator - also watch Logi supermarkets too if you are buying a lot of stuff - get them to add the stuff on the calculator and check the printout - they tend to add a few thousand rupiah on sometimes!!!
Does anyone feel the same about the changes to Bali - let me know!!
Happy haggling