In Reply to: JBR First Timer posted by Morganna55 on Friday, 18. February 2005 at 20:55 Bali Time:
Great jbr Morganna,
As I read it the memories of last July just came flooding back, as you say that first taste of Bali at the airport is pretty intense. I unlike you did not think to get a nicotine patch so after about 9 hrs cold turkey, the heat,the porters and just the stress of going through the voa and customs I was getting a touch frazzled.
I found this forum about 6 weeks before we went and spent hours reading up on the best places to go,eat and shop as well as what scams and pitfalls to avoid.
As useful as that information is it does nothing to prepare you for the reality of Bali.
I found the Hawkers and touts the worst part of my Bali experience but after the first couple of days I learnt to just ignore them and keep walking, unfortunately you have to be a bit rude or it will take all day just to walk a couple of blocks in Kuta.
The worst Hawkers in Bali would have to be at Kintamani and at the rice terraces near there, I made the mistake of getting out of the bemo to try and take a picture of the rice fields and next minute I was mobbed my wife and 15 yr old son still in the bemo were mobbed and these people just dont wanna take no for an answer!
That was on our second day and we did end up buying a couple of pieces from them (some carved wooden and bone ornaments that had been thrown into the bemo lol) at the cheapest price of anywhere in bali about 5000 a piece.
Any way we too will be back in september and like you will be wiser and better prepared.
thanks for the jbr