In Reply to: first visit to bali any sugesstions posted by stacey on Monday, 26. July 2004 at 04:54 Bali Time:
Before you commit yourself to a month in Kuta [or anywhere else], have a look at the Padang Bai/Candi Dasa/Amed area. You can go on cheap local public transport, a bit of a runaround, but an adventure in itself.
If you're travelling light, be ready to stay wherever you like the look of. That area is well down on tourist numbers, so there will be plenty of accomodation bargains. My suggestion, talk to other backpackers in Padang Bai and find out what they are paying. Good snorkelling there. From there, you can check out Candi Dasa and Amed for a few dollars on the back of a local guy's motor bike. Make sure he has a helmet for you, the police sometimes have roadside checks in that area and the lack of a helmet could cost you a small "donation".
If you do this, you will see places and people and have experiences that most visitors to Bali don't even know exist.